Rep. Nancy Mace

This bill requires the Department of State to make certain information regarding the 2021 withdrawal of U.S. personnel from Afghanistan available to Congress and to the public. Specifically, the State Department must provide Congress with the July 13, 2021, dissent channel cable regarding the likely consequences of a U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the official State Department response to the cable. (The dissent channel is a tool that foreign service officers may use to communicate alternative or dissenting views about foreign policy matters with senior State Department officials. ) The unredacted cable and official response must be provided to Congress within five days of the bill's enactment, except that the names of the cable signatories may be redacted. The bill also requires the State Department to complete a declassification review of (1) the dissent channel cable and official response, and (2) the after-action review developed with respect to the Afghanistan withdrawal. After determining what information may be declassified, the State Department must publish such information online within 60 days of the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes an age restriction for expunging certain criminal records. It amends federal law to eliminate the requirement that a nonviolent offender must have been under 21 years old at the time of a simple possession conviction involving controlled substances. As a result, individuals convicted of these offenses who are now 21 or older can now qualify for record expungement, regardless of their age at the time of the offense. The bill directly affects nonviolent offenders with past simple possession convictions who previously could not seek expungement due to their age when convicted. This change expands eligibility for record clearance under federal expungement provisions.

Maddy summaryHR 4999, the ALYSSA Act, requires school districts receiving federal education funds to install silent panic alarms in every elementary and secondary school. These alarms, defined as manual devices for signaling life-threatening emergencies (like active shooters or lockdowns), must be used to alert law enforcement during security crises. The bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to make this requirement a condition for receiving federal funds, directly affecting all local educational agencies that receive such funding. It mandates that schools be prepared for security emergencies through these silent alarm systems, with no mention of funding specifics or implementation details beyond the basic requirement.

Maddy summaryThe National Security Reforms and Accountability Act (HR 4928) strengthens congressional oversight of military deployments, arms exports, and national emergencies. It requires specific congressional authorization for military force deployments (except for immediate defense), with a 20-day deadline for approval, and mandates regular reporting on military operations including costs and mission objectives. The bill also requires congressional approval for certain arms sales over $14 million, prohibits arms exports to countries committing genocide or violations of international humanitarian law, and limits national emergencies to 5 years with required reporting. These provisions affect the President's authority to deploy military forces, sell defense equipment, and declare national emergencies without congressional consent.

Maddy summaryThe COREY Safety Act of 2023 requires colleges and universities to report accident statistics that cause serious physical injury or death, expanding the Clery Act's scope beyond crime data. It mandates detailed reporting on accident types - including transportation incidents, slips/falls, overdoses, and choking - broken down by category and location. Institutions must also publicly list the closest Level I and Level II trauma centers on campus websites and in safety reports. These changes, effective after a two-year implementation period, aim to improve transparency and data collection for campus safety decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. President to sell up to two nuclear-powered attack submarines (Virginia-class) from the U.S. Navy inventory to Australia over a 15-year period to support the AUKUS security partnership. It requires Australia to cover all costs, including repairs performed at U.S. shipyards, and mandates detailed certifications to Congress on national security impacts, U.S. industrial capacity, and Australia's ability to operate the submarines. The bill also requires annual reports for 15 years on submarine transfers, defense service exports, and production schedules. This directly affects Australia's naval capabilities and U.S.-Australia defense cooperation under the AUKUS framework.

Maddy summaryHR 1776, the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2023, would amend U.S. foreign assistance law to strengthen global tuberculosis (TB) programs. The bill requires U.S. assistance to align with the World Health Organization's End TB Strategy, aiming to reduce TB deaths by 95% and incidence by 90% by 2035. It mandates annual reporting on TB diagnosis and treatment progress, prioritizes research for new diagnostics and treatments, and emphasizes integrating TB services into primary health care. The legislation affects U.S. government agencies, global health partners, and countries with high TB burdens, particularly focusing on low- and middle-income nations.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins marking the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary in 2025. It authorizes three coin types: $5 gold coins (max 50,000), $1 silver coins (max 400,000), and half-dollar coins (max 750,000), with surcharges of $35, $10, and $5 respectively. The surcharge proceeds will fund the Marine Corps Heritage Center's educational programs, with no net cost to taxpayers as the Treasury must recover all minting costs through the surcharges. The coins can only be issued during 2025, and the Treasury must ensure all costs are covered before distributing funds to the Heritage Foundation.

Maddy summaryHR 4860, the PROTECT the Second Amendment Act, prevents landlords in specific federally assisted housing from banning or restricting residents' lawful possession of firearms in their private units or during travel between units and common areas. It directly affects tenants in housing funded by HUD or USDA programs, including public housing, Section 8 vouchers, and housing for veterans or people with disabilities. The bill prohibits landlords from imposing firearm bans or additional conditions on residents who lawfully carry firearms within their dwelling units or while moving through common areas to reach their units. This changes current policies in these housing programs by explicitly allowing firearm possession where state law permits.

Migrant Child Safety Act This bill requires actions relating to placing unaccompanied alien children with a sponsor, such as requiring the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collect and share specified information about prospective sponsors. Before placing such a child with a prospective sponsor, HHS must gather and provide to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) specified information about the prospective sponsor, including (1) proof of address for the residence where the child will be placed; (2) results of background checks for the sponsor and any adult household members, (3) the sponsor's immigration status, if known; and (4) any evidence to prove any claimed relationship between the child and the sponsor. HHS may not waive any part of this requirement. After receiving this information, if DHS determines that the sponsor is unlawfully present in the United States, the sponsor must be placed in removal proceedings. No later than 30 days after placing the child, HHS must also provide this information and any other relevant information to the appropriate state or local health or welfare agency. If HHS cannot contact the sponsor for a follow-up or well-being check during the 120 days after the child's placement, HHS must report the child as missing to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. HHS must attempt to contact the child's parents, to the extent practicable.