Rep. August Pfluger

Maddy summaryHRES 1148 is a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that condemns the Iranian government for supporting terrorism, regional proxy conflicts, and internal suppression of dissent - including its crackdown on protests following Mahsa Amini's death in 2022. It specifically calls for maintaining sanctions against Iran, supporting the Iranian Resistance's Ten-Point Plan (which advocates for a democratic, secular, nonnuclear Iran), and protecting Iranian political refugees in Albania. The resolution also affirms the Iranian people's right to self-determination under international law and urges the U.S. to recognize their struggle for freedom. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally expresses congressional stance.

Maddy summaryHR 8011, the Iranian Terror Prevention Act, requires the U.S. Secretary of State to designate 12 Iranian-affiliated military groups and any entity controlled by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as Foreign Terrorist Organizations within 90 days. It mandates the President to decide within 60 days whether to impose sanctions under existing law (Executive Order 13224) on these groups, which would block their U.S. assets and restrict transactions. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to submit regular reports to Congress on new entities meeting designation criteria and the President to explain any decisions not to impose sanctions. This law directly affects the listed Iranian military groups and any new entities linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from closing, consolidating, or changing operations at mail processing facilities without prior approval. It blocks USPS from implementing facility changes until the Postal Regulatory Commission issues an advisory opinion within 120 business days of the USPS submitting a proposed change. The bill directly affects USPS operations and mail processing facilities nationwide, preventing unilateral decisions by the Postal Service. It requires a formal review process before any facility modifications can proceed.

Maddy summaryHJRES 128 is a congressional resolution seeking to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that set emissions standards for oil and natural gas facilities. If passed, it would use the Congressional Review Act to formally disapprove the EPA's "Climate Review" rule, which established new requirements for emissions from new, modified, and existing oil and gas sources. The rule directly affects oil and gas companies operating in the U.S., as it would have imposed new regulatory standards on their emissions. This resolution does not create new law but aims to halt the EPA's existing rule from taking effect.

Maddy summaryHJRES 123 is a resolution seeking congressional disapproval of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule published on March 11, 2024, which would have required chemical facilities to implement new safety measures under the Clean Air Act to prevent accidental releases. The rule, titled "Accidental Release Prevention Requirements: Risk Management Programs Under the Clean Air Act; Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention," aimed to strengthen existing risk management programs at chemical plants. If passed, this resolution would block the rule from taking effect by invoking a federal process for disapproving agency regulations. It directly affects the EPA's regulatory authority and the chemical industry's compliance obligations under the Clean Air Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Transnational Repression Office within Homeland Security Investigations to analyze and monitor threats where foreign governments or their agents target U.S. people through harassment, threats, coercion, or intimidation - such as stalking, surveillance, or efforts to silence dissent. The office must issue annual reports to Congress detailing incidents, perpetrators, and U.S. government responses, while sharing threat information with state and local law enforcement. It directly affects U.S. citizens and residents targeted by foreign actors engaging in transnational repression, including those facing threats to their First Amendment rights or physical safety. The office will operate for 10 years before sunset, with no new funding or personnel required beyond existing DHS resources.

Maddy summaryHR 7433, the Law Enforcement Support and Transnational Repression Hotline Act, creates a new hotline for U.S. citizens and residents who believe they are victims of transnational repression by foreign governments or their agents - such as threats, harassment, or coercion for exercising First Amendment rights. The Department of Homeland Security must establish this anonymous hotline and run a public service campaign in multiple languages (including Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, and Russian) to educate the public about transnational repression and available resources. The bill also requires research into new technologies to help law enforcement combat such threats while protecting privacy and civil liberties. This legislation directly supports victims of foreign government intimidation and enhances federal coordination to address cross-border repression tactics.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new training program for state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement to identify and respond to transnational repression - where foreign governments cross borders to intimidate or harm people for exercising free speech, religion, or assembly. The training covers identifying repression tactics, collecting relevant data, and teaching personal safety practices for targeted individuals and communities. It also requires community awareness briefings to help people recognize and protect against such threats, connecting them to victim support resources. The program is developed through the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers and must prioritize privacy and civil liberties.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects licensed amateur radio operators' ability to install antennas for emergency communications by preventing homeowners' associations and private land use restrictions from blocking such installations. It requires communities to allow antennas that don’t impair emergency use, with exceptions only for safety, structural requirements, or minimal visual impact (e.g., screened enclosures). Small antennas (under 1 meter diameter), flagpoles (under 43 feet), and wire/vertical antennas don’t require prior approval, and communities must approve applications within 45 days. The law directly affects over 770,000 licensed amateur operators who rely on these antennas for life-saving emergency communications during disasters.

Maddy summaryHR 661, "Sarah’s Law," requires U.S. immigration authorities to detain certain immigrants charged with crimes causing death or serious injury. It applies to immigrants who entered without proper inspection, held revoked temporary visas, or fall under specific deportation categories, and who face charges for violent crimes. The bill mandates that immigration officials notify victims or their families (like parents or spouses) about the immigrant’s identity, immigration status, custody details, and removal efforts. This law does not change existing victim rights but adds specific notification requirements for these cases.