Maddy summaryHR 5337, the Retirement Proxy Protection Act, amends ERISA to clarify how retirement plan fiduciaries (like 401(k) plan managers) must handle voting on company shareholder proxies. It requires fiduciaries to act solely in participants' financial interest when deciding whether to vote, considering economic impact and costs, while allowing them to skip voting on proposals affecting less than 5% of plan assets in a company. The bill establishes "safe harbor" rules that protect fiduciaries from liability if they follow policies limiting voting to proposals with material economic impact or asset thresholds. It also mandates recordkeeping of voting decisions and monitoring of third-party advisors managing these votes, effective January 1, 2024.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHRES 684 is a symbolic congressional resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on September 14, 2023, condemning New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's emergency order that temporarily suspended open and concealed carry firearm rights for 30 days. The resolution asserts the order violated the Second Amendment, citing Supreme Court precedents (Heller, McDonald, Bruen) and noting a federal judge had already blocked the order's firearm restrictions. It does not change any laws or impose legal consequences - it is solely a formal expression of disapproval from Congress. The resolution directly addresses the Governor's actions but has no effect on New Mexico's laws or citizens' rights.
Maddy summaryHR 5636, the "Protect Children’s Innocence Act," prohibits federal criminal penalties for performing gender-affirming medical care on minors under specific circumstances. It defines prohibited care as surgeries (like hysterectomy or mastectomy), puberty blockers, and hormone therapies at supraphysiologic doses, with exceptions for medical emergencies, intersex conditions, or life-threatening illnesses. The law only applies when the care involves interstate commerce (e.g., payments, communications, or travel across state lines). Minors receiving such care cannot be prosecuted, but they may sue providers for civil damages. The bill directly affects minors under 18, healthcare providers, and families seeking gender-affirming medical treatment.
Maddy summaryHR 5577, the FACE Act Repeal Act of 2023, would repeal a federal law (Section 248 of Title 18, U.S. Code) that made it a crime to block access to abortion clinics or threaten clinic staff. This repeal would remove criminal penalties for obstructing access to clinics, affecting abortion providers, clinic staff, and individuals attempting to access or block clinic entrances. The bill specifically targets the repeal of this prohibition, applying to prosecutions pending or initiated after the law's enactment. It does not change other abortion-related laws or create new policies.
Maddy summaryHR 4831, the Fair Pay for Federal Firefighters Act, increases pay for wildland firefighters employed by the Forest Service or Department of the Interior during fiscal years 2024-2025. It establishes special pay rates (ranging from 1.5% to 42% above standard General Schedule rates, depending on grade) that replace regular pay for these workers. The bill also creates a new "incident response premium pay" provision, entitling eligible firefighters to 450% of their hourly rate for each day deployed on qualifying wildfires or fire-related incidents, capped at $9,000 annually per employee. This premium pay is excluded from calculations for benefits like leave accruals, overtime, or retirement. The bill directly affects federal wildland firefighters whose duties focus on forest, range, or wildland fires (not structural fires).
Maddy summaryThe Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act (HR 3200) helps communities near federal recreation areas - like national parks and forests - manage tourism impacts. It requires the Interior and Agriculture Secretaries to assess local needs (such as housing shortages and infrastructure demands) and provide financial or technical assistance to businesses (e.g., hotels, campgrounds) to support sustainable visitation. The bill also establishes a unified system for tracking annual visitor numbers, launches a pilot program for real-time visitation data at 20+ recreation sites, and mandates a digital version of national park passes by January 2024. These changes directly affect gateway communities, federal land managers, and tourism businesses, aiming to distribute visitor traffic more evenly and improve data transparency.
Maddy summaryHR 1435, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, amends the Clean Air Act to restrict states from implementing vehicle emissions rules that limit the sale or use of new gasoline-powered cars. It directly affects states with stricter emissions standards (like California) by adding a new definition that blocks state rules "directly or indirectly" limiting internal combustion engine vehicles as defined in federal regulations as of January 1, 2023. The bill requires the EPA to revoke existing state emissions waivers granted between January 2022 and the bill’s enactment if they don’t comply with this new definition. This creates a concrete federal standard preventing states from advancing policies that could reduce demand for conventional vehicles.
Maddy summaryHR 5455, the Collision Avoidance Systems Act of 2023, allows automakers to install pulsating light systems as rear-end collision avoidance technology on new vehicles. The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue new regulations within 180 days updating Federal Safety Standard 108 to include performance-based rules for these systems. Specifically, it defines a "pulsating light system" as a high-mounted brake light that flashes rapidly (up to 4 times for no more than 1.2 seconds) before switching to steady light, with a 5-second lockout period after braking stops. This directly affects vehicle manufacturers who must comply with the updated safety standards for brake lights.
Maddy summaryHR 5491 requires large athletic associations (with at least 900 member colleges, like the NCAA) to follow strict due process when investigating member schools for rule violations. It mandates written notices within 60 days detailing allegations, sets a 1-year deadline for public hearings, and bans confidential sources from evidence. The law also creates binding arbitration for disputes and requires annual reports to the Attorney General. This directly affects the NCAA and its member colleges by changing investigation and enforcement procedures.
Maddy summaryHR 5419, the Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act, amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to exclude direct sellers (like door-to-door sales representatives) and qualified real estate agents from the federal definition of "employee." This change means these workers would no longer be automatically covered by federal minimum wage and overtime protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill directly affects individuals working in these specific roles by altering their legal classification under labor law. The key provision is a new definition inserted into existing law, aligning labor classification with existing tax code definitions for these professions.