Rep. Andy Harris

Maddy summaryHR 6211, the SAFE Act of 2023, prohibits U.S. immigration benefits for individuals holding passports issued by the Palestinian Authority. It blocks the issuance or renewal of visas, temporary protected status, asylum, refugee status, and parole for these individuals, and mandates the revocation of any such status granted on or after October 1, 2023. The bill also declares covered aliens inadmissible and requires immigration authorities to identify and remove Palestinians without lawful status who arrived after that date. This law directly affects Palestinian passport holders seeking to enter or remain in the United States through standard immigration pathways.

Maddy summaryHR 6200, the Terrorist Inadmissibility Codification Act, amends U.S. immigration law to expand the list of groups whose members are considered "engaged in terrorist activity." The bill specifically adds Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Palestine Islamic Jihad to the existing list, along with their spokespersons or members who endorse these groups' activities. This change directly affects foreign nationals who are members of, support, or endorse these designated groups, making them inadmissible to the United States. The key mechanism is updating the legal definition within the Immigration and Nationality Act to explicitly include these organizations in the criteria for denying visas or entry.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 74 is a non-binding congressional resolution expressing support for the Geneva Consensus Declaration, a 2020 agreement signed by 36 countries affirming that no international right to abortion exists, protecting life at all stages, and prioritizing the family as society's foundation. It urges the U.S. to rejoin this declaration, which the Biden administration temporarily withdrew from, while noting existing U.S. laws already prohibit federal funding for abortions or coercive family planning abroad. The resolution does not create new laws but calls on the President to restore U.S. participation and directs oversight to ensure U.S. foreign aid aligns with current abortion funding restrictions. It directly addresses U.S. foreign policy engagement with international health initiatives but does not affect domestic laws or policies.

Maddy summaryHRES 771 is a non-binding resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. It condemns Hamas' actions, affirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls for the immediate release of hostages. The resolution also urges enforcement of existing laws restricting aid to terrorists and sanctions against Iran for supporting Hamas. It does not create new policies or allocate funds, as it is a symbolic statement of congressional support.

Maddy summaryHRES 768 is a symbolic House Resolution expressing congressional support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks. It condemns Hamas' actions, reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls for the immediate release of hostages. The resolution references the U.S. commitment to Israel's security through existing military aid programs, including the 2016 U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding, and emphasizes enforcement of laws like the Taylor Force Act to prevent U.S. aid from reaching terrorist groups. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new policy but serves as a statement of congressional support for Israel.

Maddy summaryHR 5948 terminates the Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Executive Office of the President upon enactment and prohibits the President from creating any similar successor office. The bill also bans the use of federal funds for salaries or expenses related to this office or any future equivalent. This legislation directly affects the federal executive branch by eliminating a specific office and restricting future funding for comparable initiatives.

Employee Business Expense Deduction Reinstatement Act of 2023 This bill reinstates the tax deduction for the itemized miscellaneous expenses of employees performing services in a trade or busines (the deduction is currently suspended for the period beginning in 2018 through 2025). The amount the an employee may take into account in computing the deduction is 85% of unreimbursed food, lodging, travel, or transportation expenses. The bill also lowers the threshold for the deduction to the extent its aggregate amount exceeds 1% (2% under current law).

Maddy summary# Summary of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 This comprehensive appropriations bill provides funding for the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and Farm Credit Administration for fiscal year 2024. The bill contains numerous provisions governing how funds may be used, with over 700 specific restrictions and prohibitions. ## Key Funding Areas - **Rural Development Programs**: Funding for rural housing, water systems, broadband, and business development - **Food Assistance Programs**: Support for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), school meal programs, and food for education - **Agricultural Research**: Funding for USDA research, extension, and education programs - **Food Safety and Inspection**: Resources for USDA food safety and inspection services - **Farm Credit**: Support for farm credit institutions and programs ## Major Restrictions and Prohibitions 1. **Reprogramming Restrictions**: Section 716 requires 30-day congressional notification and approval for any reprogramming of funds that creates new programs, eliminates existing programs, increases funding for restricted projects, relocates offices, reorganizes programs, or contracts out functions. 2. **Critical Race Theory Prohibition**: Section 757 explicitly prohibits using funds to carry out any program, project, or activity that promotes or advances Critical Race Theory. 3. **Food and Product Restrictions**: - Section 751 prohibits using funds to procure poultry products from China for school lunch programs - Section 737 prohibits using funds to implement or enforce certain proposed rules on poultry contracting - Section 772 prohibits using funds to fly any flag other than the U.S. flag at agency facilities 4. **Specific Program Restrictions**: - Section 754 prohibits using funds to support the Wuhan Institute of Virology or similar facilities - Section 760 prohibits using funds to inspect horses under certain provisions - Section 761 nullifies modifications to mifepristone risk evaluation strategies 5. **Material Requirements**: Section 735 requires U.S.-made iron and steel products for certain rural water and waste disposal projects unless a waiver is granted. 6. **Funding Limitations**: - Section 714 limits Section 32 program funding to $1,573,666,000 - Section 739 authorizes $2 million for pilot projects to allow SNAP benefits for nutrient-dense foods - Section 771 authorizes $2 million for pilot projects to support tribal school meal programs 7. **Rescissions**: - Section 722 rescinds $500 million from unobligated balances - Section 731 rescinds $500 million from unobligated balances for the WIC program - Section 733 rescinds $1 billion from unobligated balances for rural development The bill represents a comprehensive framework for agricultural and food-related spending with extensive limitations on how funds can be used, reflecting significant congressional oversight and policy priorities for the 2024 fiscal year.

Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act This bill provides FY2024 appropriations for the salaries and expenses of certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees who are required to work during a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown) in FY2024. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to CBP for the salaries and expenses of agents of the U.S. Border Patrol and officers of the Office of Field Operations who are excepted from furlough (i.e., required to work) during a lapse in discretionary appropriations in FY2024.

Maddy summaryHR 5561, the Protecting the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Act of 2023, prevents federal agencies from using emergency declarations to implement gun control measures. It specifically prohibits the President from declaring a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford Act for gun control purposes, and stops the Health and Human Services Secretary from declaring a public health emergency under the Public Health Service Act for the same reason. The bill also amends the Stafford Act to explicitly prohibit any emergency-related restrictions on possessing, manufacturing, selling, or transferring firearms, ammunition, ammunition feeding devices, or firearm accessories. This directly affects how federal agencies can respond during emergencies without violating the Second Amendment. The law aims to limit executive actions during emergencies that could restrict gun rights.