Rep. Erin Houchin

Maddy summaryThis bill would restructure the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from a single-director agency to a 5-member commission with staggered terms, requiring at least 2 members to have private sector experience in consumer financial services. It would require the CFPB to conduct detailed cost-benefit analyses for proposed rules, including impacts on small businesses, and establish an Office of Economic Analysis to assess regulatory impacts. The bill would also create a whistleblower program that would award up to 30% of monetary sanctions collected to individuals who provide original information leading to successful enforcement actions. These changes would directly affect the CFPB's internal operations, rulemaking process, and its engagement with small businesses and whistleblowers. The bill aims to increase transparency, accountability, and economic analysis in the CFPB's regulatory decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to obtain fingerprints from noncitizen children under 14 years old if officers suspect they are trafficking victims upon entering the U.S. It also creates a new federal crime for adults (18+) who knowingly use a minor for entry without being a relative or guardian, punishable by fines or up to 10 years in prison. The bill mandates sharing fingerprints collected under this provision with the Department of Health and Human Services for unaccompanied minors and requires CBP to report monthly data on trafficking-related apprehensions and annual data on fingerprinting to Congress. These provisions directly affect CBP officers, unaccompanied children, and individuals suspected of exploiting minors for entry.

Maddy summaryThe Southern Border Transparency Act of 2023 (HR 6523) requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to publish specific immigration data online. It mandates monthly reports on parole grants at ports of entry (including numbers by nationality and family status), quarterly reports on processing outcomes for aliens encountered at the southern border (disaggregated by nationality, demographics, and processing paths), and annual reports on parolees (including employment status and status changes). These reports must be posted on agency websites and submitted to relevant congressional committees. The bill directly affects federal agencies responsible for border processing and aims to increase public and congressional transparency about immigration enforcement practices at the southern border.

Maddy summaryHRES 793 is a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives calling on Hamas to immediately release all 199 hostages taken during Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The resolution condemns Hamas for the attack, the taking of hostages, and threats against hostages, while stating that holding hostages violates international humanitarian law under the Geneva Conventions. It demands the immediate release of all hostages and expresses sympathy for victims and their families. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create legal obligations but formally expresses the House's position.

Maddy summaryHRES 683 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House's support for diplomatic efforts to encourage Mexico to fulfill annual water delivery commitments under the 1944 U.S.-Mexico treaty. The treaty requires Mexico to deliver an average of 350,000 acre-feet of water annually (over a 5-year cycle) to the U.S., but Mexico has historically delayed deliveries until the cycle ends. The resolution specifically acknowledges water shortages faced by South Texas farmers and urges Mexico to meet its annual obligations, while supporting negotiations for more reliable water agreements. It does not create new legal requirements but formally encourages diplomatic action to address the delivery delays.

Maddy summaryHRES 875 is a symbolic House resolution expressing support for National Adoption Day (November 18, 2023) and National Adoption Month (November). It does not create new laws or policies but formally encourages the public to consider adoption and recognizes the importance of permanent families for children in foster care. The resolution highlights that approximately 114,000 children in the U.S. foster system await adoption and emphasizes the goal of securing safety and permanency for all children. It urges Americans to support adoption efforts during November and throughout the year. This resolution has no direct legal effect on adoption processes or funding.

Maddy summaryHJRES 103 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a Department of Labor rule updating the Davis-Bacon Act regulations. It specifically targets the rule published in the Federal Register on August 23, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 57526), which would have modified requirements for paying prevailing wages on federal construction projects. The resolution invokes Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code, to formally disapprove the rule, stating it "shall have no force or effect" if passed. This procedural measure directly affects federal contractors and the Department of Labor, aiming to prevent the implementation of the updated wage regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $14.3 billion in supplemental security funding to Israel following the October 7, 2023 attacks. The funding includes $4 billion for Iron Dome and David's Sling defense systems, $1.35 billion for the Iron Beam defense system development, and $3.5 billion for foreign military financing. The bill requires regular reporting to Congress on security assistance provided to Israel and designates all funds as "emergency requirements" under federal budget law. It also modifies existing laws to facilitate the transfer of defense articles and services to Israel, aiming to strengthen Israel's defense capabilities against rocket threats.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 859) is a ceremonial House measure honoring U.S. veterans on Veterans Day 2023. It formally recognizes veterans' service and sacrifice, calling on the American public to observe Veterans Day to acknowledge their role in protecting U.S. freedoms. The resolution does not create new policies, allocate funds, or affect specific groups - it is purely symbolic. It was introduced by 33 bipartisan House members and passed by the House without committee action.

Strengthen Taxpayer Rights Act of 2023 This bill prohibits Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees, except for employees of the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, from participating in a conference brought by such office to resolve a taxpayer's disputed tax liability without the taxpayer's consent.