Rep. Nancy Mace

Maddy summaryThe Cost Estimates Improvement Act (HR 8341) requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) to include, to the extent practicable, the costs of servicing the national debt - such as interest payments - in their budget estimates. This change makes cost analyses more comprehensive by reflecting the full financial burden of government borrowing. The bill amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to add this requirement, directly affecting how the CBO and JCT produce their budget reports. It does not alter spending or tax laws but ensures estimates better account for long-term debt costs when Congress reviews legislation.

Maddy summaryThe READ Act Reauthorization Act of 2023 extends the authorization period for the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act (commonly known as the READ Act) from five to ten fiscal years. This change allows U.S. international education programs, administered by agencies like USAID, to operate without annual reauthorization for a longer period. The bill directly affects programs providing educational support in developing countries, such as teacher training and literacy initiatives. The key mechanism is amending Section 4(a) of the existing law to adjust the funding duration, ensuring continued program stability.

Maddy summaryHRES 1210 is a non-binding House resolution condemning the Biden administration's border policies as the cause of a crisis that burdens law enforcement. It claims these policies led to record illegal border crossings, security threats (including encounters with individuals on terrorist watch lists), and increased crime involving migrants, citing specific incidents like assaults on officers and violent crimes. The resolution urges the administration and local officials to support law enforcement and recognizes the mental, physical, and psychological stress faced by officers. As a symbolic resolution, it does not enact legal changes but expresses the House's position on border policy.

Maddy summaryHR 5255 requires federal contractors with large contracts (over $250,000) to implement vulnerability disclosure policies aligned with NIST cybersecurity guidelines. It directs the Office of Management and Budget to update the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Department rules (DFARS) within 180 days to mandate that contractors report security flaws in their systems. The policy excludes small contractors below the simplified acquisition threshold and allows national security waivers for specific cases. This law aims to standardize how contractors handle and disclose cybersecurity risks across federal systems.

Maddy summaryHRES 1226 is a non-binding resolution honoring 282 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty during 2023, listed by name in the resolution. It formally acknowledges their sacrifice, expresses unwavering support for current officers, and recognizes the need for adequate resources to protect them. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a ceremonial tribute to memorialize fallen officers and support their families, aligning with existing National Police Week observances established since 1962.

Maddy summaryThe VANISH Act (HR 8387) makes it a federal crime to nonconsensually share intimate images of identifiable people, such as photos or videos showing genitals, pubic areas, or sexual conduct without the depicted individual's consent. It directly affects victims of nonconsensual image sharing, clarifying that consent for creating the image does not cover its disclosure, and protects all individuals regardless of public status. Key provisions include criminal penalties (up to 5 years in prison), exceptions for law enforcement reporting, medical treatment, and public interest disclosures, while exempting service providers from liability for user content they didn't intentionally promote. The law defines "intimate visual depiction" broadly to cover specific body parts or sexual conduct, ensuring clear protections for victims.

Maddy summaryHR 7109, the Equal Representation Act, requires the U.S. Census Bureau to add a citizenship status checkbox to the 2030 and future decennial censuses, asking respondents to identify if they are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful residents, or unlawful residents. It then mandates excluding noncitizens (both lawful and unlawful residents) from the population count used to determine each state's number of congressional seats and electoral votes starting with the 2030 census. This bill directly affects how states are apportioned representation in Congress and presidential electoral votes, based solely on the citizen population. The key change is shifting the apportionment base from total population to citizen population alone, using the new census data.

Maddy summaryHRES 1223 designates October 10, 2024, as "American Girls in Sports Day" through a symbolic resolution. It recognizes the impact of women in sports history, emphasizes the importance of Title IX protections for female athletes, and urges sports organizations to safeguard opportunities for biological girls in competition. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal acknowledgment of existing policy goals. It directly affects the symbolic recognition of women's sports participation, with no concrete policy changes or affected groups beyond this designation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to implement a public blockchain platform within 18 months to modernize border security operations. It mandates using blockchain for real-time verification of travel documents, tracking goods through customs, managing personnel deployment, and enabling secure data sharing between federal agencies like CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The system aims to enhance security through tamper-proof records, improve efficiency by reducing manual processes, and increase transparency in border control. CBP must report to Congress on implementation progress and annual operations, with the platform designed to integrate existing systems like biometric data and visa information.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates legal definitions in customs law to replace the outdated "four leagues" standard with current international law boundaries. It clarifies that U.S. customs enforcement applies to waters within the U.S. territorial sea (up to 12 nautical miles, as defined in Presidential Proclamation 5928) and contiguous zone (up to 24 nautical miles, as defined in Proclamation 7219). The change directly affects U.S. Customs and Border Protection's maritime enforcement operations but does not alter the actual geographic scope of enforcement areas. The bill amends the Tariff Act of 1930 and the Anti-Smuggling Act to align their language with existing international law standards.