Rep. Russell Fry

Maddy summaryThe REMAIN in Mexico Act of 2024 would require the U.S. government to reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), a policy that forces certain asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their U.S. immigration cases are processed. It directly affects asylum seekers from Mexico and Central America who are seeking entry to the United States and would be subject to the MPP under this law. The bill mandates implementation of the MPP as described in a 2019 policy memo by former Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen. This would reverse the current administration's decision to end the program, requiring asylum seekers to remain in Mexico during their immigration proceedings.

Maddy summaryHR 6941, the Criminalize Fleeing from Immigration Enforcement Act of 2024, would make it a federal crime for individuals to flee or evade law enforcement officers enforcing specific immigration laws, including unauthorized entry (INA §275), re-entry after deportation (INA §276), or document fraud (INA §274). It directly affects people who flee officers identified as enforcing these immigration provisions or flee immigration checkpoints. The bill would impose penalties of up to five years in prison or fines for fleeing, with up to eight years for fleeing in a vehicle exceeding the speed limit. This amendment to Title 18, U.S. Code, creates a new criminal offense without changing existing immigration enforcement procedures.

Maddy summaryThe Count Only Citizens Act requires the U.S. Census Bureau to include a citizenship or lawful presence question on the 2030 and future decennial census forms. It mandates that the Secretary of Commerce adjust population counts for congressional apportionment to exclude non-citizens and individuals not lawfully present in the U.S. This change directly affects how congressional seats are allocated among states, potentially reducing representation for states with large non-citizen populations. The bill does not alter census counts used for other purposes, such as federal funding distribution.

Maddy summaryHR 6926, the Safe and Open Streets Act, makes it a federal crime to intentionally block public roads or highways to disrupt the movement of goods or commerce. The bill adds a specific offense under federal law for purposefully obstructing, delaying, or affecting commerce by blocking roads, with penalties including fines or up to five years in prison. It directly affects individuals who block roads to interfere with transportation or delivery of goods, such as during protests or demonstrations. The law updates existing statutes to clarify and strengthen penalties for this specific type of obstruction, without changing broader traffic or protest laws.

Maddy summaryHR 6753, the PLCAA Federal Jurisdiction Act, amends the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act to allow gun manufacturers, sellers, and trade associations to move certain lawsuits from state courts to federal courts. Specifically, if these defendants claim a case falls under the PLCAA's protections against liability for gun-related injuries, they can request the case be removed to federal district court. The federal court would then determine if the case qualifies under PLCAA and dismiss it if it does. This change directly affects gun industry defendants by shifting jurisdiction for these specific lawsuits to federal courts.

Maddy summaryHR 6734 prohibits the use of federal funds to finalize, implement, or enforce the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' (ATF) proposed rule (2022R-17) defining "engaged in the business as a dealer in firearms." This bill directly affects the ATF by blocking funding for this specific regulatory rule, which was proposed in August 2023. The legislation does not create new requirements but prevents federal resources from being used to advance this particular ATF regulation.

Maddy summaryHR 357, the Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act, requires federal agencies to have rules signed by Senate-confirmed appointees (or senior appointees for initiation), aiming to increase oversight of regulatory decisions. It directly affects all federal agencies creating rules under standard procedures (covered by 5 U.S.C. § 553), ensuring higher-level accountability for rulemaking. Exceptions exist only if an agency head certifies that compliance would impede public safety/security, with required notifications to the OIRA Administrator and Federal Register publication. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) will monitor agency compliance with these requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 6728, the Save Women’s Sports Act of 2023, requires schools receiving federal funding to designate athletic teams as male, female, or coed based strictly on biological sex at birth. Female-designated teams must be composed exclusively of students biologically female at birth. Schools failing to comply risk losing all federal financial assistance. The bill directly affects public and private schools participating in federally funded sports programs.

Maddy summaryHR 6619, the PATROL Act, prevents the federal government from suing states for building border barriers. It specifically blocks the Attorney General from filing civil lawsuits under the 1899 Act against states that construct physical barriers (like walls, fences, or buoys) along the border to stop illegal entry or protect state territory. The law directly affects states building such barriers and the federal government’s legal authority to challenge those actions. This is a procedural change that removes a legal obstacle for states pursuing border security measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts warrantless surveillance of U.S. persons by amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. It limits who can conduct queries of U.S. person data (capping at five personnel per FBI field office), prohibits using such queries for law enforcement without proper authorization, and requires documentation of all queries. The bill creates exceptions for emergencies, consent, and cybersecurity, but prohibits using metadata results to access protected communications. It also limits how information acquired under Section 702 can be used in criminal proceedings, requiring specific approvals for such use.