Rep. Robert J. Wittman

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 7-year task force under the Commerce Secretary to address shark interactions with fishing gear (referred to as "shark depredation"). The task force, including representatives from regional fisheries councils, coastal states, and shark experts, will identify research priorities (like shark behavior causes and non-lethal deterrents), develop management strategies, and create educational materials for the fishing community. It directly affects coastal states, fisheries management councils, and commercial fishermen by improving coordination and funding for shark interaction research. The task force must submit biennial reports to Congress and will sunset after 7 years. The bill does not change fishing regulations but focuses on research and education to reduce harmful shark-human interactions.

Maddy summaryHRES 993 is a non-binding congressional resolution designating February as "Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month" to celebrate CTE programs nationwide. It supports CTE as a pathway preparing students for high-demand, skilled careers in fields like infrastructure and technology, recognizing that over 12 million students currently participate in CTE programs across high schools and colleges. The resolution encourages educators, counselors, and parents to promote CTE as a respected educational option, highlighting its role in reducing high school dropout rates and aligning student skills with workforce needs. It does not create new laws or allocate funding, but symbolically affirms bipartisan support for CTE, referencing the 1917 Smith-Hughes Act as foundational to current efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a law (18 U.S.C. § 1715) that previously prohibited mailing firearms without a license. It directly affects the U.S. Postal Service, firearm sellers, and individuals mailing firearms by preventing the Postal Service from creating rules that would block firearm mailings or require disclosure of sensitive records like sales receipts or firearm serial numbers. Key provisions include removing the existing ban on mailing firearms and prohibiting the Postal Service from imposing new restrictions on firearm mailings or demanding customer transaction data. The bill ensures that firearm mailings can proceed without these specific federal restrictions, while applying to ongoing legal cases under the repealed law.

Maddy summaryThe RIFLE Act of 2024 changes how the federal government handles violations by firearms licensees, affecting gun dealers and manufacturers who hold federal licenses. It creates a graduated penalty system where non-willful violations require the Attorney General to work with licensees to fix issues before taking action, while willful violations may lead to license suspension or revocation only after proper notice, hearing, and evidence of continued noncompliance. The bill establishes new procedures for administrative hearings, defines "willful" violations more clearly, and gives licensees 90 days to liquidate inventory after license expiration or revocation, with extensions possible for reasonable cause. These changes aim to create a more transparent process for addressing violations while maintaining public safety standards.

Maddy summaryHR 3925 establishes a federal grant program to fund youth fishing projects in coastal and Great Lakes areas. The bill authorizes $2 million annually (2024-2028) for grants to eligible entities like nonprofits, schools, state/local governments, or Tribal organizations to cover equipment, transportation, licenses, and educational components for youth. Priority is given to projects serving underserved communities, defined as groups facing systemic barriers due to race, disability, poverty, or inequality. Recipients must report annually on grant usage and participant numbers to Congress.

Maddy summaryHR 6980, the DOCTORS Act, reallocates unused J-1 visa waivers that states did not use for foreign medical graduates. Each state must report unused waivers by September 30 annually, and the State Department will redistribute them equally over three years for the next fiscal year. Ten percent of redistributed waivers must support doctors working in facilities serving medically underserved communities. This directly affects state agencies managing visa waivers and impacts foreign doctors seeking permanent U.S. residency after training.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes permanent property rights in an individual's voice and likeness, granting people (and their heirs for up to 10 years after death) exclusive control over commercial uses of their digital depictions or voice replicas created via AI. It requires written consent from individuals (or court-approved agreements for minors) for any commercial use of their voice or likeness, with strict penalties: $50,000 per violation for unauthorized cloning services and $5,000 per violation for unauthorized depictions. The law balances these rights against First Amendment protections by requiring courts to weigh factors like whether the use is transformative or relevant to the work's purpose. It directly affects anyone whose voice or image is used commercially without consent, including celebrities, public figures, and ordinary individuals.

Maddy summaryHR 6853, the SOS Act, requires the Congressional Budget Office to include a new graph in annual reports about Social Security trust funds. The graph must compare projected payments under a 1985 law (section 257(b)(1)) with actual outlays from current law. This procedural bill affects how Congress reports on Social Security funding, adding transparency about payment assumptions versus current spending. It does not change eligibility or benefit amounts for seniors or disability recipients.

Maddy summaryHR 6724, the *Energizing American Shipbuilding Act of 2023*, requires natural gas and crude oil exporters to use US-registered vessels with specific domestic manufacturing components for a growing percentage of their vessel-based exports. For natural gas, exporters must use qualifying vessels for 2% of exports in year 1, rising to 15% by year 22; for crude oil, the target starts at 3% and reaches 10% by year 14. A qualifying vessel must be either built in the US with all major parts and specified components (like valves, propulsion systems, and electrical equipment) made domestically, or retrofitted in a US shipyard using US-made parts for those components. The bill also mandates exporters provide training opportunities for US mariners and requires the Energy Information Administration to track and publish export data.

Maddy summaryHR 6733, the American Investment Accountability Act, requires U.S. businesses to report certain investments to Congress. It targets "covered United States businesses" (non-small U.S. entities or foreign entities with significant U.S. ownership) making direct or portfolio investments exceeding specific thresholds ($5 million single transactions for direct investments, $10 million for portfolio) in "countries of concern" (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela) or "covered entities" tied to those countries. The bill mandates quarterly reports from the Commerce Department (tracking direct investments by sector and location), Treasury (tracking portfolio investments), and the SEC (tracking corporate actions like spin-offs or mergers involving covered entities). These reports will detail investment values, locations, and transaction sizes, with data disaggregated by sector and U.S. state. The law focuses solely on transparency, requiring no new investment restrictions.