Rep. Christopher H. Smith

Payment Choice Act of 202 3 This bill requires retail businesses to accept cash as a form of payment for on-site sales of $500 or less, and it prohibits them from charging cash-paying customers a higher price compared to customers not paying with cash. Businesses covered by this bill are those engaged in the business of selling or offering goods or services at retail to the public that accept in-person payments at a physical location. The bill provides for enforcement through preventative relief, damages, and civil penalties.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1199) commemorates the 50th anniversary of Turkey's 1974 military invasion and ongoing occupation of northern Cyprus. It formally condemns Turkey's continued occupation, calls for the immediate withdrawal of its 35,000 troops, and demands the removal of over 200,000 Turkish settlers from the occupied territory. The resolution also urges Turkey to assist in repatriating displaced Cypriot refugees and to cooperate on resolving the fate of missing persons, including U.S. citizens. As a symbolic congressional statement, it does not create binding law but expresses the House's position on the Cyprus issue.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1198) commemorates the 105th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the United States and Poland, established in 1919. It honors historical milestones including Poland’s fight for independence, Polish-American contributions (like the Blue Army and figures such as Kosciuszko and Paderewski), and shared democratic values. The resolution highlights key events like the 1918 Fourteen Points and Poland’s NATO/EU membership, but does not create new laws or affect any individuals or entities. It serves as a ceremonial recognition of enduring U.S.-Poland ties, reaffirming mutual commitment to democracy and security. As a commemorative resolution, it has no legal effect beyond expressing congressional sentiment.

Maddy summaryHR 3325, the Recruit and Retain Act of 2024, expands how federal COPS grants can be used to help law enforcement agencies hire officers. It allows grants to cover application fees (like background checks) for agencies facing declining recruitment, permits up to 2% of grant funds for administrative costs, and creates a new "Pipeline Partnership Program" requiring law enforcement agencies to partner with schools or colleges to engage students through career events, mentoring, and internships. The bill also adds guidance for agencies operating below budgeted staffing levels and mandates a Comptroller General study on recruitment/attrition trends across all levels of law enforcement. These changes directly affect local, state, and tribal police departments struggling to recruit or retain officers, as well as educational institutions partnering with them.

Maddy summaryHRES 1187 is a House resolution recognizing the 49th anniversary of Black April and the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. It honors Vietnamese Americans for building communities in the U.S. over 49 years, acknowledges South Vietnamese military who fought alongside U.S. forces, and commemorates those who died fleeing Vietnam. The resolution encourages all Americans to remember this anniversary and support freedom, human rights, and democracy in Vietnam. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges historical events and community contributions.

Maddy summaryThe Captive Primate Safety Act prohibits the import, export, sale, transport, breeding, or possession of certain nonhuman primates - including chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, and their hybrids - in interstate or foreign commerce. It directly affects private owners, breeders, and commercial traders of these animals, with limited exceptions for pre-enactment animals (requiring registration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and restrictions on breeding/sale) and registered research facilities. The law amends the Lacey Act to add these primates to prohibited species lists, effective upon enactment, with regulations to be issued within 180 days. Enforcement remains active even if regulations are delayed, ensuring immediate prohibitions on commercial trade and possession.

Maddy summaryHRES 1172 is a ceremonial resolution expressing the House of Representatives' sorrow over the death of former New Jersey Representative Donald M. Payne, Jr. It formally acknowledges his passing, directs the Clerk to notify the Senate and Payne's family, and calls for the House to adjourn immediately as a mark of respect. This resolution does not create any policy changes or affect any laws, as it is purely a memorial gesture for a deceased member of Congress.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1157) is a symbolic gesture recognizing the work of linemen. It does not create new laws or policies; instead, it formally expresses the House's support for designating April 18, 2024, as "National Lineman Appreciation Day." The resolution highlights linemen's critical role in maintaining power infrastructure, their work as first responders during emergencies, and their safety risks. It directly affects no individuals or entities through policy changes - it solely offers ceremonial recognition of linemen's contributions to public safety.

Maddy summaryThe Defund NPR Act would prohibit all federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and any successor organization. This means public broadcast stations receiving federal funds could no longer use those funds to pay for NPR programming or dues. The bill would take effect upon enactment, eliminating federal financial support for NPR through any channel. It directly affects NPR and public broadcasters that rely on federal funds for programming partnerships.

Maddy summaryHR 8082, the Securing Local Communities Input in Broadband Development Act, prevents the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from enforcing two specific rules that aimed to accelerate broadband deployment by limiting state and local government regulations. The bill voids the FCC's 2018 "Accelerating Wireless and Wireline Broadband Deployment" rule (83 Fed. Reg. 51867) and its "Third Report and Order" ruling (FCC 18-111), which had sought to override local permitting and zoning requirements for broadband infrastructure. This means state and local governments retain full authority to regulate broadband projects without federal interference. The bill does not create new policy but reverses existing federal efforts to streamline broadband expansion.