Rep. John R. Carter

Maddy summaryHR 146, the "Old Glory Only Act," prohibits U.S. diplomatic and consular posts from flying any flag other than the U.S. flag above the buildings. This law directly affects all U.S. embassies, consulates, and other official diplomatic facilities abroad. The Secretary of State is required to ensure compliance with this rule, mandating that only the U.S. flag be displayed at these locations. The bill makes no exceptions for foreign flags or other symbols at these specific government properties.

This act designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 651 Business Interstate Highway 35 North Suite 420 in New Braunfels, Texas, as the Bob Krueger Post Office.

This act designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4110 Bluebonnet Drive in Stafford, Texas, as the Leonard Scarcella Post Office Building.

This act designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4020 Broadway Street in Houston, Texas, as the Benny C. Martinez Post Office Building.

This act directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to commemorate Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, four Americans killed in the September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. (Stevens was the U.S. Ambassador to Libya at the time, Smith was an officer in the Foreign Service, and Doherty and Woods were both government contractors and former Navy SEALs.) After the medal has been awarded, it shall be given to the Central Intelligence Agency Museum.

American Safety And Fairness through Expedited Removal Act of 2022 or the American SAFER Act of 2022 This bill expands the classes of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who are subject to expedited removal (i.e., removal from the United States without further hearing or review). Specifically, the bill nullifies a 2004 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule  that generally limits expedited removal to certain situations, such as for non-U.S. nationals encountered within 14 days of entry into the United States without inspection and within 100 miles of a U.S. international land border. The bill also (1) prohibits DHS from implementing a rule that limits expedited removal based on how far a non-U.S. national was from the border when encountered or apprehended, and (2) modifies the relevant statute to state that expedited removal authority applies regardless of where the non-U.S. national was encountered or apprehended.

Maddy summaryHRES 1484 is a ceremonial resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives to honor the 2022 World Series Champion Houston Astros baseball team, their manager Dusty Baker, and standout player Jeremy Peña. It formally recognizes their championship victory, Baker’s historic achievements as a manager, and Peña’s breakthrough season as a rookie World Series MVP. The resolution highlights the team’s resilience, community contributions (including post-Hurricane Harvey efforts), and embodies values like perseverance and teamwork. It does not create new laws or affect any policies - it is a symbolic expression of praise from Congress. The resolution was introduced by multiple Texas representatives and passed unanimously on November 17, 2022.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a federal tax rule to align with Texas law, ensuring the Permanent University Fund (PUF) can maintain its existing financial benefits. Specifically, it changes a key date in federal tax law from October 9, 1969, to March 1, 1985, resolving a conflict that threatened the fund’s tax advantages. The PUF, which supports Texas public universities, directly benefits from this correction to continue leveraging its financial resources. The change is technical, adjusting a date in existing law without altering the fund’s operations or funding structure.

Declaring War on the Cartels Act of 2022 This bill enhances the term of federal imprisonment for members of certain transnational criminal cartels (i.e., Mexican cartels) who are repeat offenders. It also establishes penalties for U.S. banks and foreign governments that support or otherwise have dealings with these cartels. Specifically, cartel members are subject to an additional 10 to 20 years imprisonment if they are convicted of certain federal crimes (e.g., crimes of violence, fraud, or sexual exploitation) and have been previously convicted of similar crimes (including at the state or local level) within the last five years. Any U.S. national who is convicted as an accessory to such crimes is also subject to up to 15 years of additional imprisonment. The bill also prohibits cartel members from using U.S. banks to conduct business and subjects any related assets to federal seizure. Banks that intentionally do business with cartel members are subject to civil penalties. Additionally, the bill (1) bars noncitizen cartel members and their immediate family from admission into the United States, (2) authorizes sanctions against foreign governments and persons (individuals or entities) that support cartel activity, and (3) requires certain federal agencies to work with foreign governments on combatting cartels. The bill applies to members of the following cartels: The Sinaloa Cartel, The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, The Beltran-Leyva Cartel, The Gulf Cartel, The Los Zetas Cartel, The Tijuana Cartel, and The La Familia Michoacána/Knights Templar Cartel.

Maddy summaryHRES 1462 is a symbolic resolution expressing support for designating November 2022 as "National Career Development Month." It does not create new laws or policies but urges the public to recognize career development services as valuable resources. The resolution highlights that career professionals help individuals align skills with job opportunities and emphasizes the importance of career counseling for workforce readiness. It specifically encourages workers, students, and employers to utilize career development services, though it does not mandate any actions or affect specific groups through binding legislation.