Rep. Ann Wagner

Maddy summaryThe SEC Regulatory Accountability Act requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to conduct detailed cost-benefit analyses before proposing or finalizing new regulations. It mandates that the SEC assess how regulations impact market participants, evaluate alternatives to minimize burden, and ensure rules are written in plain language with clear justifications. For major regulations, the bill also requires the SEC to establish post-implementation assessment plans to measure economic effects and report on outcomes within four years. This bill directly affects the SEC and other securities regulators like the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, altering their rulemaking processes to prioritize cost-effectiveness and transparency.

Maddy summaryHR 8240, the SEC Cybersecurity Act of 2024, mandates a one-year GAO audit of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) IT infrastructure and data handling practices. The audit will compare the SEC’s IT spending to other federal financial regulators, assess the quality of its IT contracting, evaluate cybersecurity systems, and review recent security incidents. The GAO must report findings and recommendations to the SEC and relevant congressional committees (Financial Services and Banking committees) to identify improvements. This procedural bill does not create new regulations but requires an independent review of the SEC’s current cybersecurity posture.

Maddy summaryHR 8222, the RACE Act of 2024, amends the Securities Act of 1933 to streamline the approval process for certain small securities offerings. It allows companies that have previously issued exempt securities to automatically have subsequent "substantially similar" offerings approved by the SEC upon filing, without additional review, if each new offering is under $5 million and the total annual offerings under this rule stay under $5 million. This primarily affects small businesses and startups using specific exemptions for securities offerings, reducing administrative burdens for repeat issuers of similar securities. The bill defines "substantially similar" broadly, allowing securities to share key features without identical terms or structure. It does not change the underlying exemption rules but simplifies the process for qualifying repeat offerings.

Maddy summaryHR 615, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023, prevents federal agencies from banning lead ammunition or tackle on public lands and waters managed for hunting or fishing, except in specific cases. The bill allows exceptions only if a state wildlife department confirms lead use is harming local wildlife, and the federal action aligns with state law or state agency approval. It directly affects hunters and anglers using federal lands and waters, ensuring they can continue using lead products unless a state verifies a local wildlife issue requiring a ban. The law requires federal agencies to justify any exception with state data and policy compliance in official notices.

Maddy summaryHR 8190 requires the U.S. Secretary of State to review Qatar's status as a Major Non-NATO Ally within 90 days of the bill's enactment. The review must assess Qatar's relationship with Hamas (a U.S.-designated terrorist group hosting its leaders), efforts to secure U.S. hostages held by Hamas, and whether Qatar supports terrorism or Hamas. The resulting report must include a certification on these points, posted publicly. If the certification cannot confirm Qatar meets the criteria, the U.S. must terminate Qatar's ally status under existing law. This bill directly affects U.S. foreign policy toward Qatar and the designation's future.

Maddy summaryThe EARN IT Act of 2023 clarifies that Section 230 of the Communications Act does not shield online service providers from liability for child sexual abuse material, while specifically protecting providers who use encryption technologies from liability for using those technologies. The bill amends over 50 federal statutes to replace "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material" to ensure consistent terminology across legal contexts. It updates the CyberTipline (operated by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children) to improve reporting of child sexual abuse material, extending the preservation period for reports from 90 days to one year. The law affects internet service providers, law enforcement, and child protection programs by clarifying legal responsibilities around child sexual abuse material.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the reporting requirement under the 2018 Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act from every six years to every twelve years. It directly affects U.S. government agencies responsible for producing these reports on global genocide and atrocities prevention efforts. The key change is a simple amendment to Section 5(a) of the 2018 Act, altering the frequency of mandatory government reporting. This is a procedural extension of existing obligations, not a new policy. The bill does not create new programs or affect specific groups.

Maddy summaryHR 8061, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024, ensures stable funding for the Crime Victims Fund by directing certain False Claims Act collections into it from 2024 through 2029. Specifically, it adds a provision requiring that amounts collected under the False Claims Act (excluding whistleblower rewards and government reimbursement for damages) be deposited into the fund during this period. This directly affects crime victims who rely on the fund for services like counseling and emergency aid, as it prevents potential shortfalls in funding. The bill makes a concrete policy change by redirecting specific federal civil penalties into the fund, rather than altering the fund's existing purposes or eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHR 5947 terminates specific U.S. waivers and licenses related to Iran, ending a 2023 waiver that allowed funds transfer from South Korea to Qatar. It prohibits the Treasury Department from reissuing similar waivers or licenses for the same purpose and blocks the President from granting Iran access to certain designated financial accounts established under prior laws. The bill directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation by restricting how Treasury handles Iran-related financial transactions. It enacts concrete policy changes by ending existing authorizations and preventing future approvals for Iran to access specific accounts.

Maddy summaryHR 5917, the "Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act," expands sanctions against foreign individuals and entities that direct the use of civilians as human shields. It specifically adds members or agents of Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) to the list of targets for sanctions when they order or control civilians to shield military objectives. The bill requires the President to justify sanction decisions to Congress within 120 days and extends the sunset date for related sanctions from 2023 to 2030. Additionally, it mandates a Department of Defense report within 120 days detailing strategies to counter human shield tactics used by groups like Hamas and PIJ, including plans for international coordination.