Rep. Thomas H. Kean, Jr.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 46, the "Fiscal State of the Nation Resolution," requires the House and Senate Budget Committees to hold an annual joint hearing within 45 days of the Treasury's submission of the federal government's audited financial statement. At this hearing, the Comptroller General will present an objective, nonpartisan analysis of the government's financial condition, including deficits, surpluses, and long-term fiscal projections, as required by the Government Accountability Office's standards. The hearing must be open to the public and allow all members of Congress to participate, regardless of committee membership. This resolution ensures Congress receives regular, factual reviews of federal finances without political bias.

This resolution calls for the immediate extradition or rendering of convicted criminals William Morales, Joanne Chesimard, and others receiving safe harbor in Cuba to the United States. The resolution also urges the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and international community to continue to press for the immediate return of all fugitives from justice to the United States.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes federal standards for labor-management cooperation between public safety employers (state and local governments) and public safety workers (law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel). It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if states substantially provide rights like collective bargaining, union representation, and binding arbitration for these workers. States found lacking would need to follow federal bargaining procedures after a two-year transition period or following the next legislative session. The bill explicitly respects existing state laws that provide comparable or better rights to public safety workers. It also prohibits strikes or work stoppages that would disrupt emergency services.

Walter Patterson and Werner Foerster Justice and Extradition Act This bill directs the President to report annually to Congress on fugitives and other individuals with respect to whom the United States is seeking extradition from other countries. The report shall contain information on the number of such individuals, U.S. diplomatic efforts to secure their return, and the factors that have prevented the resolution of outstanding cases.

Maddy summaryThe PATH to College Act (HR 3411) provides federal grants to public transit providers partnering with specific colleges to improve student transportation access. It targets community colleges, historically Black colleges (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges, and minority-serving institutions, prioritizing partnerships where over 25% of students receive Federal Pell Grants. The bill funds new transit routes, added stops, increased service frequency, or operating costs for routes connecting campuses to students’ neighborhoods or other cities. Funding starts at $2 million in 2025 and grows to $10 million annually from 2029 through 2031, with the federal government covering up to 80% of capital projects and 50% of operating costs. This directly supports students at eligible institutions by making public transit to campus more reliable and accessible.

Maddy summaryHR 3442, the America’s CHILDREN Act of 2023, creates a pathway to permanent residency for certain college graduates who entered the U.S. as children on specific work visas. It directly affects individuals who were lawfully present as dependents of nonimmigrant visa holders (like H-4 or L-2) for at least 8 years, graduated from a U.S. college, and have lived in the U.S. for 10+ years total. Key provisions include protecting applicants from "aging out" of eligibility by basing age calculations on when their parent’s visa petition was filed (not current age), and allowing them to retain their original visa application date ("priority date") if they later switch to a different visa category. The bill aims to provide stability for young adults who grew up in the U.S. but face immigration barriers due to visa status.

Maddy summaryHR 3435, the Charitable Act, creates a temporary tax deduction for charitable contributions for individual taxpayers who do not itemize deductions. It allows these taxpayers to deduct up to one-third of their standard deduction amount for charitable gifts in 2023 and 2024. The bill directly affects millions of filers who typically take the standard deduction instead of itemizing, making charitable giving more tax-advantageous for them during these two years. The provision expires after 2024 and does not change the standard deduction amount itself.

National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish a National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Program. The bill further directs DOJ to award a grant under the program to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for the expenses associated with community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness programs operated by the of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and National Law Enforcement Museum.

Maddy summaryHR 3205, the Project Precursor Act, authorizes $64 million to strengthen Mexican law enforcement's capacity to disrupt fentanyl supply chains through equipment, training, and forensic support for agencies targeting fentanyl trafficking. The bill requires the U.S. to prioritize Mexico in anti-fentanyl efforts and mandates using U.S. fentanyl-related death tolls as the primary metric to evaluate program success, rather than drug seizure statistics. It also includes provisions for a public diplomacy campaign to delegitimize cartels, a report on Chinese operations in Mexico related to fentanyl, and expanded sanctions against foreign banks, money transmitters, and transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartels.

Maddy summaryHRES 363 is a resolution expressing support for recognizing National Police Week, an annual observance established by law to honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The resolution acknowledges 556 officers killed in the line of duty during 2022 and calls for ensuring law enforcement officers have necessary equipment, training, and resources to protect both themselves and the public. It encourages the American public to observe National Police Week by honoring law enforcement personnel and recognizing their essential mission in serving communities across the United States. This resolution does not create new law but formally expresses congressional support for an existing observance.