Capital Loss Inflation Fairness Act This bill increases the allowance for capital losses and adjusts the increased allowance amount for inflation after 2023.
Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses congressional support for designating April 5, 2023, as "Barth Syndrome Awareness Day" in the United States. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or change policies - it solely recognizes the importance of raising public awareness about Barth syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting primarily males. The resolution highlights the condition's severity (with high infant mortality and limited treatment options) and emphasizes the need for improved diagnosis, research, and patient support. It directly affects individuals with Barth syndrome, their families, and advocacy groups like the Barth Syndrome Foundation, which organizes this awareness day. The resolution serves as a symbolic gesture to promote understanding of this ultrarare condition.
Maddy summaryHR 2581, the ALVIN Act, prohibits all federal funding for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. It cancels unspent federal funds allocated to the office and requires the office to repay all federal money spent since January 1, 2022. The bill directly affects the Manhattan DA’s Office by cutting its federal financial support and mandating reimbursement for past expenses. It does not change any laws or policies but alters the funding relationship with the federal government.
Maddy summaryThis bill terminates the national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020, under the National Emergencies Act. It ends the executive branch's authority to use emergency powers related to that specific declaration. The resolution passed both chambers in early 2023 and took effect April 10, 2023, without creating new policies or affecting specific groups.
Maddy summaryHR 2380, the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2023, allows state and federal correctional facilities (like prisons and jails) to operate cellphone jamming systems to block wireless signals from contraband devices or communications involving individuals held in the facility. The bill restricts the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from blocking such jamming systems, but requires facilities to limit jamming only to housing areas, have state facilities cover all costs, and consult with local law enforcement before implementation. It defines "jamming systems" broadly to include all necessary equipment and installation details. This bill directly affects correctional facilities seeking to prevent cell phone use by inmates, particularly for security purposes related to contraband. The law does not create new restrictions on cellphone use but changes how facilities can deploy jamming technology.
Maddy summaryHR 1839, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, makes the illicit use and distribution of xylazine a federal crime by adding it to the Controlled Substances Act. The bill broadly defines xylazine to cover numerous chemical variants and prohibits human use or non-licit distribution, while preserving legitimate veterinary and pharmaceutical uses. It requires tracking xylazine in drug supply chains and mandates two reports to Congress within 1 and 4 years on its prevalence, sources, and whether it should be rescheduled. The bill directly affects individuals distributing or using xylazine illicitly, including as an additive to drugs like fentanyl, and aims to address its public health risks. Congress declared illicit xylazine an "emerging drug threat" under existing law.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) mission to prioritize fair and transparent markets while explicitly adding a focus on strengthening private sector competition without government interference or subsidies. It requires the CFPB to establish an Office of Economic Analysis to review all proposed rules, assess their impact on consumer choice, credit access, and pricing, and publish these findings in the Federal Register. The bill also mandates that new rules must identify the specific problem they solve and include measurable metrics - like changes in consumer access and cost of financial products - to evaluate success. Existing rules must be periodically reviewed (after 1, 2, 5, and 10 years) to determine if they effectively addressed their intended problem.
This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau titled Small Business Lending under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) and published on May 31, 2023. The rule requires financial institutions to collect and report to the bureau credit application data for small businesses. On July 31, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas ordered the bureau not to implement or enforce the rule until a related pending case is resolved.
Maddy summaryHJRES 47 proposes a constitutional amendment to repeal the 16th Amendment, which established Congress's authority to levy federal income taxes. If ratified, this amendment would eliminate the federal government's power to tax income from any source (except during a formally declared war by Congress) within two years of ratification. The bill directly affects the federal tax system by removing the constitutional basis for income taxation, fundamentally changing how the government would fund itself. It requires the Secretary of the Treasury to submit implementation recommendations to Congress within 180 days of ratification. This is a procedural constitutional amendment proposal, not a direct tax law change.
Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 2451 (Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2023), prevents colleges receiving federal funds from punishing students or single-sex social organizations (like fraternities/sororities) solely because of their single-sex membership policies. It prohibits actions such as denying housing, scholarships, or leadership roles, or forcing students to waive these protections as a condition of enrollment. The law does not require colleges to recognize such groups, nor does it block disciplinary action for misconduct unrelated to membership (e.g., academic issues). It directly affects students in single-sex organizations and institutions participating in federal student aid programs under Title IV.
