Rep. Jodey C. Arrington

Maddy summaryThis bill defines "sex," "male," and "female" in federal law based on biological characteristics present at birth, specifically referencing reproductive anatomy (e.g., sperm production for males, egg production for females). It mandates that all federal agencies, courts, and laws interpret these terms strictly according to this biological definition, excluding self-identification or gender identity. The bill directly affects how federal programs, regulations, and legal decisions interpret terms like "sex," "gender," and "gender identity" in all federal contexts. Key provisions clarify that "gender" refers only to biological sex differences and explicitly states that gender identity does not override these definitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of Department of Defense (DoD) funds to operate military aircraft for transporting Palestinian refugees to the United States. It directly affects Palestinian refugees seeking relocation and the DoD's ability to use its aviation resources for this purpose. The key provision blocks any funding authorized for the DoD from being used to cover the operational costs of aircraft transporting these individuals. The bill does not address refugee admission policies or create new immigration pathways, only restricting the use of existing defense funding for this specific transportation method.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends U.S. immigration law to deny asylum and other immigration status to non-citizens who destroy border defensive barriers or use force against National Guard members. It directly affects individuals committing these specific acts by making them automatically ineligible for asylum applications and subject to removal within 72 hours of arrest. Key provisions include a permanent bar to asylum or status applications and a strict 72-hour expedited removal timeline after apprehension. The law applies only to those who cause border barrier destruction or assault National Guard personnel, with no broader immigration eligibility changes.

Maddy summaryThe SAVE Act (HR 8281) requires U.S. citizens to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It defines acceptable proof as documents like passports, REAL ID-compliant IDs, military IDs, or birth certificates, and mandates that states verify citizenship using information from government agencies like DHS and Social Security. States must establish processes for voters without required documentation to provide an attestation under penalty of perjury. The law also requires states to remove noncitizens from voter rolls when verified evidence shows they're not citizens. This bill directly affects all applicants registering to vote in federal elections and state election officials who must implement these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends U.S. immigration law to make certain military property trespassing a basis for denying entry or deporting non-citizens. It adds to the Immigration and Nationality Act that anyone convicted of entering military, naval, or Coast Guard property without authorization (as defined under 18 U.S.C. §1382) is both inadmissible upon arrival and deportable if already in the U.S. The law directly affects non-citizens with prior convictions for this specific offense. The key mechanism is updating existing immigration grounds for inadmissibility and deportability to include unauthorized entry onto military installations.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow families to deduct the cost of private umbilical cord blood or tissue banking as a medical expense on their federal income taxes. It directly affects families who pay for these services through accredited banks meeting specific health regulations. The key change amends tax law to add private cord blood/tissue banking services to the list of deductible medical care expenses, effective for tax years starting in 2024. This makes the cost of storing a newborn's cord blood or tissue for potential future family use tax-deductible, similar to other medical services.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution establishes the federal budget for fiscal years 2025 through 2034, setting specific revenue, spending, and deficit targets for each year. It categorizes federal spending across 21 major functional areas including national defense, health care, Social Security, and infrastructure. The resolution includes budget enforcement mechanisms to limit increases in direct spending and advance appropriations. It also incorporates policy statements on key issues like economic growth, Medicare, and the opioid epidemic, providing guidance for future budget decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HJRES 169) is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that would have listed six freshwater mussels as endangered and one as threatened, with critical habitat protections. It directly aims to block the rule's implementation, preventing federal protections for species like the Guadalupe Fatmucket and Texas Fawnsfoot. The resolution would nullify the rule (published June 4, 2024) under a specific legal process, meaning the listed mussels would not receive the designated endangered or threatened status and habitat protections. The bill does not create new protections but seeks to halt an existing regulatory action.

Maddy summaryThis bill rescinds unspent funds from specific federal programs. It targets leftover money from pandemic relief (like the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan) and certain infrastructure initiatives (including education stabilization funds and transportation programs like the Congestion Mitigation Program). The rescission is limited to amounts already allocated for Israel, Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific security supplements under recent appropriations. Unspent funds must be returned to the Treasury, with no new spending created.

Maddy summaryHRES 1303 is a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 14, 2024, that condemns the Biden administration's suspension of pending approvals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to countries without free trade agreements with the U.S. The resolution argues this action is politically motivated, citing studies showing economic benefits of LNG exports and noting that previous administrations conducted similar environmental reviews without halting permits. It calls for lifting the suspension to restore confidence in the energy sector, prioritize U.S. workers and communities, and align with the administration's stated goals of economic growth. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change policy but formally expresses congressional disapproval of the administration's approach.