Rep. Mike Flood

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of September 25-29, 2023, as "National Clean Energy Week" to recognize the growing role of clean energy in the U.S. economy. It expresses support for clean energy jobs and innovation, noting the sector employed about 8.1 million people in 2022. The resolution encourages federal, state, and local investment in affordable clean energy technologies and promotes "commonsense solutions" for energy needs. As a symbolic gesture, it has no legal force or funding implications - it simply urges recognition of clean energy's economic and environmental contributions.

Maddy summaryHJRES 11 proposes a constitutional amendment that would limit Members of Congress to serving a maximum of three terms in the House of Representatives and two terms in the Senate. If passed and ratified, it would prevent any member who has already served the maximum terms from running for re-election, including time spent filling vacancies (for more than one year in the House or three years in the Senate). This amendment directly affects current and future members of Congress by changing eligibility rules for re-election. The proposal is currently a joint resolution in the House, requiring ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures to become part of the Constitution.

Maddy summaryHR 5808, the Preventing Deep Fake Scams Act, establishes a federal Task Force to address AI-driven financial fraud risks. The Task Force, composed of key financial regulators (Treasury, Federal Reserve, CFPB, FDIC, and others), must issue a report within one year detailing current protections, standard AI definitions, deep fake risks, best practices for institutions, and regulatory recommendations. This bill directly affects banks, credit unions, and financial service providers by requiring them to report on AI security measures and collaborate with the Task Force. The report aims to help financial institutions protect consumers from identity theft and fraud using deep fake technology, without creating new regulations itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents federal regulators from requiring banks, credit unions, and trust companies to treat custody assets (like digital assets held for clients) as liabilities on their financial statements or to hold extra capital against them. It specifically stops institutions from recognizing liabilities for digital asset services they don’t own, unless those liabilities exceed related expenses. The law applies broadly to depository institutions but includes an exception: commingled cash held for third parties must still be listed as a liability. Key provisions aim to clarify accounting rules for digital assets, reducing regulatory complexity for financial institutions managing client custody. It directly affects banks, credit unions, and trust companies handling digital assets or custody services.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes federal funding for precision agriculture workforce training programs. It adds "precision agriculture workforce development" as a specific purpose for research and extension grants under the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990. It also directs the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative to fund cooperative education programs at colleges and universities that improve precision agriculture training. These changes directly affect educational institutions partnering with public or private entities to develop workforce training curricula.

Maddy summaryHR 5337, the Retirement Proxy Protection Act, amends ERISA to clarify how retirement plan fiduciaries (like 401(k) plan managers) must handle voting on company shareholder proxies. It requires fiduciaries to act solely in participants' financial interest when deciding whether to vote, considering economic impact and costs, while allowing them to skip voting on proposals affecting less than 5% of plan assets in a company. The bill establishes "safe harbor" rules that protect fiduciaries from liability if they follow policies limiting voting to proposals with material economic impact or asset thresholds. It also mandates recordkeeping of voting decisions and monitoring of third-party advisors managing these votes, effective January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHRES 684 is a symbolic congressional resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on September 14, 2023, condemning New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's emergency order that temporarily suspended open and concealed carry firearm rights for 30 days. The resolution asserts the order violated the Second Amendment, citing Supreme Court precedents (Heller, McDonald, Bruen) and noting a federal judge had already blocked the order's firearm restrictions. It does not change any laws or impose legal consequences - it is solely a formal expression of disapproval from Congress. The resolution directly addresses the Governor's actions but has no effect on New Mexico's laws or citizens' rights.

Maddy summaryThe Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act amends the USDA's BioPreferred Program to increase federal purchasing of biobased products made from agricultural commodities like corn and soybeans. It requires federal agencies to annually update their procurement targets for biobased products, establishes a new USDA task force to coordinate biobased product programs, and creates new labeling and reporting requirements. The bill affects federal procurement agencies, USDA's programs, and manufacturers of biobased products including personal care items, paints, construction materials, and textiles. Key mechanisms include mandatory federal procurement targets, annual updates to procurement requirements, training for procurement staff, and public marketing initiatives to promote biobased products.

Maddy summaryHR 5106 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to publish food safety criteria for meat and poultry processing plants seeking to operate under alternative inspection rates (above standard rates) within 90 days of enactment. It mandates that the Secretary review and respond to such requests within 90 days, automatically approving requests if they miss the deadline. Existing plants already using alternative rates can continue operating while their requests are reviewed, provided they maintain food safety standards, and must be given a 180-day grace period to address any noncompliance before potential revocation. The bill also requires the Secretary to minimize disruptions during rate adjustments by consulting affected plants and considering impacts on animal producers and contractual obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires parties in civil lawsuits to disclose any foreign entities funding their case - including names, addresses, and countries of origin - within 30 days of filing or signing funding agreements. It specifically prohibits foreign governments and sovereign wealth funds from funding litigation where payment depends on the case outcome, banning such agreements entirely. Parties must also certify if foreign money is used and submit annual reports to Congress detailing foreign funders, judicial districts involved, and case types. The law applies to all civil cases filed after enactment, aiming to increase transparency about foreign influence in U.S. courts.