Rep. Kevin Hern

Maddy summaryThe SAFER at the Border Act prohibits the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from temporarily admitting (paroling) certain individuals at the border. It defines "known terrorists" (those arrested, charged, or convicted for terrorism), "suspected terrorists" (reasonably suspected of terrorism), and "special interest aliens" (those with potential terrorism links based on travel patterns). The bill explicitly bans parole for these individuals, even for humanitarian reasons or public benefit, and also prohibits parole for refugees. Additionally, it allows states to sue the Department of Homeland Security if they suffer financial harm exceeding $100 from the parole of such individuals.

Maddy summaryHR 8757, the REAL Meat Act of 2024, prohibits federal funding for cell-cultured meat production, research, promotion, or related facilities. It directly affects federal programs, agencies, and recipients of agricultural funding by banning the use of taxpayer money for any activity involving lab-produced meat. The bill defines cell-cultured meat as meat grown from animal cells in a lab and exempts NASA funding intended for space consumption. This policy change restricts federal support for the emerging cell-cultured meat industry while allowing specific space-related research.

Maddy summaryThis resolution aims to block a rule issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that sets new fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars, light trucks (starting in 2027), and heavy-duty pickup trucks/vans (starting in 2030). If passed, it would prevent this specific rule from taking effect by disapproving it under a congressional review process. The rule directly affects vehicle manufacturers by requiring them to meet these updated fuel economy targets for future model years. This is a procedural resolution, not a new law, focused solely on halting the implementation of the existing NHTSA rule.

Maddy summaryThe HOUSE Act of 2024 withdraws a federal rule requiring new housing projects financed by HUD and USDA to meet specific energy efficiency standards. It prohibits federal agencies from using funds to implement or enforce this rule or similar rules, mandating a return to the previous energy efficiency standards for these housing programs. The bill also extends these restrictions to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Additionally, it amends a law to allow states with energy efficiency standards meeting or exceeding the previous federal requirements (if at least 26 states have adopted such standards) to be used instead of federal rules.

Maddy summaryHRES 1371 is a House resolution condemning the Biden Administration and Vice President Kamala Harris for failing to secure the U.S. border. It cites statistics including over 9.7 million illegal immigration encounters since 2021 and the end of the Remain in Mexico program as evidence. As a symbolic resolution with no policy changes, it publicly expresses the House's disapproval of current border policies without altering any laws or enforcement actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes sanctions on individuals and entities within the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) that administer or support a system paying terrorists and their families. It targets PA/PLO officials, specific entities like the Commission of Prisoners, and financial institutions processing these payments, requiring property blocking, visa bans, and restrictions on U.S. financial transactions. The sanctions apply if the PA/PLO continues payments described in the Taylor Force Act (2018), which previously mandated ending such payments. The bill terminates if the Secretary of State certifies the PA/PLO has ceased these payments.

Maddy summaryHJRES 165 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a Department of Education rule issued in April 2024 that updated protections against sex discrimination in schools receiving federal funding. The resolution aims to disapprove this specific rule (published as 89 Fed. Reg. 33474), which would have required schools to address sex-based discrimination in educational programs. If passed, the rule would no longer be in effect, meaning schools would not need to comply with its requirements. This resolution directly affects all schools and educational programs receiving federal financial assistance, as it targets the implementation of the new nondiscrimination standard.

Maddy summaryHR 9109, the IRS Overreach Prevention Act, prohibits the IRS from continuing its Direct File program or developing any successor program that offers free, public electronic tax filing. This bill directly affects taxpayers who might have used the free service, as it prevents the IRS from providing this specific option. The key provision explicitly bans the Secretary of the Treasury from maintaining or creating any free, public electronic return-filing service. The bill does not change tax laws or filing requirements but restricts the IRS’s ability to offer this particular service. It is a procedural measure focused solely on prohibiting the specific program described in the bill text.

Maddy summaryThe SAVE Act (HR 8281) requires U.S. citizens to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It defines acceptable proof as documents like passports, REAL ID-compliant IDs, military IDs, or birth certificates, and mandates that states verify citizenship using information from government agencies like DHS and Social Security. States must establish processes for voters without required documentation to provide an attestation under penalty of perjury. The law also requires states to remove noncitizens from voter rolls when verified evidence shows they're not citizens. This bill directly affects all applicants registering to vote in federal elections and state election officials who must implement these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies U.S. tax depreciation rules for commercial and rental real estate. It changes the standard depreciation period for nonresidential real property (like offices) and residential rental property (like apartment buildings) to 20 years, removing bonus depreciation for these assets. It also creates a "neutral cost recovery" system that adjusts annual tax deductions based on GDP inflation data to maintain consistent tax treatment over time. These changes apply to property placed in service after the bill’s enactment date, affecting commercial property owners and rental investors through revised tax calculations.