Rep. Beth Van Duyne

Secure Testing Resources Instead of Prosecuting Act or the STRIP Act This bill exempts the possession, sale, or purchase of fentanyl drug testing equipment, including test strips, from criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Treasury Secretary to report quarterly on foreign countries imposing "extraterritorial" or "discriminatory" taxes targeting U.S. businesses. It mandates progressively higher tax rates (starting at 5% and increasing to 20% over time) on income and payments from foreign individuals and corporations in those countries. The U.S. government can also restrict federal procurement from such entities and consider these taxes in trade negotiations. These measures directly affect foreign businesses operating in the U.S. or conducting transactions with U.S. entities. The policy aims to counter foreign tax policies that the U.S. views as unfair under international tax norms.

Financing Our Energy Future Act This bill expands the types of partnerships that qualify for treatment as publicly traded partnerships instead of as corporations for tax purposes. Under current law, partnerships that meet certain gross income requirements (i.e., at least 90% of the partnership's gross income in a taxable year consists of qualifying income) are excepted from being treated as a corporation for tax purposes. This bill expands the sources of income that are considered qualifying income and make a partnership eligible for such an exception. Specifically, the bill provides that income derived from the generation of specified alternative energy, alternative fuel projects, or the associated property, storage, or transportation for such projects (e.g., the conversion of renewable biomass into renewable fuel or the storage or transportation of such fuel) is considered qualifying income.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all non-profit organizations receiving federal funds to certify they comply with anti-human trafficking, anti-smuggling, and fraud laws, and have no convictions under immigration law (8 U.S.C. 1324). Nonprofits must submit this certification within 60-120 days of the law's enactment; failure to certify or violation of the law results in repayment of funds and potential loss of tax-exempt status. The Department of Homeland Security must create compliance guides and publish violation data, while the GAO will report annually on non-compliance. The law applies to all nonprofits with federal contracts, grants, or agreements, aiming to prevent federal funds from supporting entities involved in trafficking or smuggling.

Tribal Gaming Regulatory Compliance Act This bill allows the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta tribes to conduct gaming activities on their land in Texas if certain conditions are met. Currently, the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act prohibits the tribes from conducting gaming activities on their land if those activities are prohibited by Texas law. The bill repeals those provisions and instead applies the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) to gaming activities on Indian lands of the tribes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a reimbursement program for businesses that handle permanently dyed diesel fuel or kerosene previously taxed under highway fuel tax rules but exempt from those taxes. The IRS will pay eligible businesses the amount of tax they paid on this fuel when it was removed from terminals, provided the fuel meets specific criteria (previously taxed but exempt under Section 4082). It directly affects fuel distributors and businesses using non-highway fuel, such as for agricultural or construction purposes. The payment applies to fuel removed 180 days after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the transfer of unused materials from previous border wall construction funding to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It allows the Homeland Security Secretary and Army Chief of Engineers to move these materials without new appropriations. The materials were originally allocated for border wall construction in those states but remain unused as of the bill's enactment. The bill specifically targets existing, unspent resources to support ongoing or future border wall projects in the three states.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows current federal law enforcement officers to purchase retired handguns from their agency within six months of the weapon being declared surplus. Officers must be in good standing with their agency and buy the handgun at its fair market value, considering the weapon's age and condition. The program requires the General Services Administrator to establish the purchasing system within one year of the bill's enactment. It directly affects active federal law enforcement officers who are retiring or leaving service and wish to retain their issued firearms.

Maddy summaryThe POLICE Act of 2023 would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make it a grounds for deportation if a non-citizen assaults a law enforcement officer. This provision directly affects non-citizens (aliens) who commit such assaults, requiring mandatory deportation proceedings under immigration law. The bill adds a specific clause to the list of deportable offenses without changing criminal penalties for the assault itself. As a result, non-citizens who physically attack police officers or other law enforcement personnel would automatically face deportation as a consequence of their actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Higher Education Act to expand how student loan default rates are calculated and reported. It requires colleges to include Federal Direct PLUS Loans taken by parents and loans under section 428B (for graduate students) in default rate calculations, which previously excluded these loan types. This change directly affects institutions of higher education, as their reported default rates will now reflect these additional loans. The policy update aims to provide a more complete picture of borrower repayment patterns by including these specific loan categories in federal reporting.