Rep. Ben Cline

Maddy summaryHR 417, the "End U.N. Censorship Act," prohibits federal funding for U.S. government departments or agencies to support the United Nations' iVerify tool or any effort labeling speech as misinformation. It blocks funds from being used to develop, implement, or contribute to the U.N. or other international organizations for initiatives that seek to categorize speech as "mal-, mis-, or disinformation." The bill mandates that any funds withheld under this provision be permanently rescinded and deposited into the U.S. Treasury, not repaid to the U.N. It directly affects federal agencies like the Department of State that manage international funding. The policy change is strictly a funding restriction, not a direct ban on U.N. activities.

Maddy summaryHR 418 requires federal agencies to have rules created under standard rulemaking procedures signed by a Senate-confirmed appointee or initiated by a senior agency official. This affects all agencies developing regulations, mandating that such rules follow specific leadership approval steps unless the agency head certifies public safety or security concerns require an exception. Agencies seeking to bypass this requirement must submit written justification to OIRA (Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs) and publish it in the Federal Register. OIRA will monitor compliance with these procedural requirements, which change the process for rulemaking without altering the substance of regulations.

Maddy summaryHR 404, the "Hearing Protection Act," reclassifies firearm silencers (devices that reduce gunfire noise) as firearms for federal tax and regulatory purposes. It imposes a 10% federal tax on silencers, requires the destruction of all existing federal silencer registration records within one year, and preempts state laws that tax or regulate silencers. The bill clarifies that silencers are treated as firearms under federal law, including for licensing and marking requirements, and defines "firearm silencer" to include specific components. Note: The bill’s title is misleading - it addresses firearm silencer regulation, not hearing protection for people.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the overhead costs universities can charge on federal research grants to match the average rate charged for private research grants. It requires the Office of Management and Budget to calculate this average rate annually and caps federal indirect costs at that level. The Comptroller General must also study current federal and private indirect cost rates - including how funds are used for administrative staff - and submit a report to Congress within one year. The bill directly affects colleges and universities receiving federal research funding from agencies like the NIH and NSF.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands U.S. entry restrictions for immigrants suspected of security-related activities. It denies entry to anyone who engages in, or is suspected of engaging in, activities violating U.S. espionage/sabotage laws (even if done abroad), evading export controls, or seeking to oppose the U.S. government by force. It also bars spouses or children of such individuals if the security-related activity occurred within the last five years. The law applies to all potential immigrants, including those seeking visas or entry, without changing existing waiver processes.

Maddy summaryHR 28, the *Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025*, amends Title IX to prohibit federally funded schools from allowing male-identified individuals (based on biological sex at birth) to compete on women’s or girls’ sports teams. It explicitly states that such participation would violate federal civil rights law, with exceptions only for training/practice that doesn’t displace female athletes from roster spots, competitions, scholarships, or other benefits. The bill mandates a Comptroller General study to define "other benefits" lost by girls when males compete in single-sex sports, including impacts on psychological well-being, scholarship access, and safe participation environments. This bill directly affects all athletic programs receiving federal funding, requiring compliance with its biological-sex-based eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHR 377, the Regulation Reduction Act of 2025, requires federal agencies to repeal three existing rules before issuing new ones that impose costs or responsibilities on businesses, state/local governments, or individuals. For major new rules, agencies must also certify that the new rule’s cost does not exceed the cost of the repealed rules. Agencies must publish all repealed rules in the Federal Register and submit a 90-day review to Congress identifying costly, ineffective, duplicative, or outdated regulations. This bill directly affects how federal agencies develop new rules, aiming to reduce regulatory burden by mandating rule removal before new rule creation.

Maddy summaryHR 384, the One Agency Act, transfers primary antitrust enforcement authority from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division. The bill requires the transfer of all FTC antitrust cases, employees, assets, and funding to the DOJ within a transition period of up to 18 months. During this period, the FTC is prohibited from opening new antitrust investigations or taking enforcement actions, while the DOJ assumes responsibility for ongoing cases. This consolidation aims to improve efficiency and reduce duplication in antitrust enforcement under a single agency.

Maddy summaryHR 400 prohibits U.S. taxpayer funding for the United Nations Human Rights Council. It requires the Secretary of State to withhold from annual U.S. UN budget contributions any amount allocated to the Human Rights Council, and bans voluntary U.S. contributions to the Council. Funds withheld under this law are canceled immediately and do not count as unpaid dues to the UN. The bill specifically targets the Human Rights Council, leaving other UN activities unaffected.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funding under Title X (which supports family planning services) for clinics or organizations that perform or fund abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or when a physician certifies a life-threatening condition. It requires grantees to certify compliance annually and mandates detailed annual reports to Congress on exceptions, including abortion counts by circumstance. The law directly affects Title X-funded providers who currently offer abortion services, potentially forcing them to stop providing abortions or lose federal funding. Key mechanisms include the certification requirement, exception criteria, and the new reporting obligations for the Secretary of Health and Human Services.