Rep. Mary E. Miller

Maddy summaryHRES 396 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing motherhood on Mother's Day. It expresses support for the term "mother" and criticizes language alternatives like "pregnant people" or "birthing person," while stating mothers are defined as women. The resolution contains no policy changes or concrete effects - it is purely symbolic, affirming traditional definitions of motherhood without altering laws or impacting any programs. It was introduced by multiple House members and referred to the Education and Workforce Committee.

Maddy summaryThe ACRE Act of 2023 amends the tax code to exclude interest income from certain rural and agricultural loans from taxable income for eligible lenders. It directly affects banks, savings associations, and their wholly-owned entities that provide qualified loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate, including single-family homes in designated rural areas (with a $750,000 loan balance cap) or aquaculture facilities. The key provision allows these lenders to exclude interest earned on qualifying loans from their gross income, effectively reducing their tax liability on such lending activity. The bill applies to loans made after its enactment date and aligns with existing definitions of rural property from the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987.

Stand Your Ground Act of 2023 This bill establishes affirmative defenses for individuals who use (or threaten or attempt to use) force in the commission of certain federal criminal violations. First, an individual is justified in using (or threatening or attempting to use) non-deadly force if the individual reasonably believes it is necessary to defend against an imminent use of unlawful force. An individual who uses or threatens to use non-deadly force in accordance with this affirmative defense does not have a duty to retreat before using or threatening to use such force. Second, an individual is justified in using (or threatening or attempting to use) deadly force if the individual reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony. An individual who uses, threatens, or attempts to use deadly force in accordance with this affirmative defense does not have a duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground so long as the individual is not engaged in a criminal activity and is in a place where he or she has a right to be.

Traditional Passport Act or the TPA Act This bill requires the Department of State to only permit passport applicants to select a gender designation that matches their biological gender. In addition, the gender designation may only be either male or female . The bill defines biological gender as the biological classification of the applicant as of the male or female sex in the context of reproductive potential or capacity as indicated by sex chromosomes, naturally occurring sex hormones, gonads, and nonambiguous internal and external genitalia present at birth.

Traditional Screening Application Act or the TSA Act This bill prohibits the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from using the X gender designation in the TSA PreCheck advanced security program and instead authorizes the TSA to allow program applicants and participants to select from only Male or Female . The bill defines the terms male and female as the biological classification of male and female sex in the context of reproductive potential or capacity, as indicated by sex chromosomes, naturally occurring sex hormones, gonads, and nonambiguous internal and external genitalia present at birth.

Scope 3 Act This bill prohibits any securities law requirement that an issuer of securities must disclose the greenhouse gas emissions of its value chain (i.e., scope 3 emissions).

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits financial institutions (like banks and credit card processors) from using special transaction codes that separately identify firearm or ammunition sellers. It directly affects gun retailers and the financial services they use, ensuring these businesses are treated the same as other merchants for payment processing. The key provision amends the Truth in Lending Act to ban covered entities from categorizing firearm transactions differently, requiring uniform handling of all business types. This changes how payment systems classify transactions but does not alter gun ownership laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the President to determine within 90 days whether to apply sanctions under existing law against the Iran Airports Company, a state-owned entity that facilitates Mahan Air's operations. Mahan Air, already sanctioned by the Treasury for supporting Iran's Revolutionary Guards and regional destabilization, uses Iran Airports Company's infrastructure for flights. The bill does not create new sanctions but requires a formal presidential assessment of whether the airport company should face penalties under Executive Order 13224, which targets entities aiding terrorism. It directly affects Iran Airports Company as the specific entity under review.

Maddy summaryThe Employee Rights Act (HR 2700) amends key labor laws to strengthen employee rights in collective bargaining and privacy. It requires employers to use secret ballot elections for selecting bargaining representatives and to provide labor organizations with voter lists containing employee names and one form of contact information (chosen by the employee) within two business days of an election. The bill prohibits employers from using employee personal information for non-organizing purposes and mandates written authorization for using union dues on non-bargaining activities, with authorizations expiring after one year. Additionally, it clarifies joint employment standards to prevent misclassification and adds tribal sovereignty protections to labor law definitions.

Maddy summaryHR 2826, the Save Local Business Act, clarifies when multiple businesses can be held jointly responsible for labor laws. It amends the National Labor Relations Act and Fair Labor Standards Act to state that a business is only a joint employer if it directly controls key employment terms like hiring, pay, schedules, or discipline for another business's workers. This directly affects franchisors, contractors, and similar business models that might previously have been deemed joint employers under broader interpretations. The bill aims to limit joint employer liability to cases where one business has clear, day-to-day control over essential worker conditions.