Rep. Becca Balint

Maddy summaryHR 6172, the AMMO Act, requires federal firearms licensees (dealers/manufacturers) to implement new rules for selling ammunition to non-licensed buyers. It prohibits transfers exceeding 100 rounds of .50 caliber or 1,000 rounds of other calibers within any 5-day period and mandates written certification from buyers confirming they haven’t exceeded these limits. Licensees must also conduct background checks through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) before selling ammunition to non-licensed individuals, similar to firearm sales. The bill includes recordkeeping, signage, and reporting requirements for violations, with penalties including fines up to $250,000 for licensees and $50,000 for buyers making false statements.

Maddy summaryHR 5976, the Youth Mental Health Research Act, establishes a new NIH research initiative led by the National Institute of Mental Health. The bill directs collaboration between three NIH institutes to coordinate research on youth mental health, focusing specifically on building community resilience for at-risk youth and improving how mental health services reach young people in schools, communities, and other settings where they live and work. It authorizes $100 million annually for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to fund this research. The bill does not create direct services but aims to generate evidence to inform future mental health support strategies for young people.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 839) condemns antisemitism at U.S. colleges and universities and urges campus leaders to publicly oppose hate speech targeting Jewish students, faculty, and staff. It encourages university presidents, administrators, and faculty to speak out against speech that promotes violence or discrimination based on religion, national origin, or ancestry. The resolution specifically calls on institutions to support Jewish student organizations and ensure Jewish members can study and work without fear. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but expresses congressional support for addressing antisemitism on campuses.

Maddy summaryThe Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act prohibits federal funding for school police officers and establishes a $5 billion grant program to help schools replace law enforcement with mental health professionals like counselors, social workers, and psychologists. The bill directly affects schools serving marginalized students, particularly Black, Native American, Latino, and LGBTQI+ students, who disproportionately face school discipline and police involvement. Key provisions require schools to terminate police contracts within 30 days of receiving funds and use the money for trauma-informed services, restorative justice programs, and anti-bias training. The bill also prohibits using funds for surveillance technology, punitive discipline policies, or arming school staff, while requiring schools to report on disciplinary practices and demographic data. This legislation aims to address racial disparities in school discipline and shift school safety toward supportive, evidence-based approaches rather than criminalization.

National Museum of American LGBTQI+ History and Culture Act This bill establishes within the Smithsonian Institution the National Museum of American LGBTQI+ History and Culture. The museum (1) may carry out educational and liaison programs in support of its goals, and (2) shall establish specified grant and scholarship programs.

Maddy summaryHR 5983, the Clean Water Act of 2023, redefines "protected water resources" under federal law to explicitly include all interstate and intrastate waters (such as intermittent and ephemeral streams), wetlands, and their tributaries. This directly affects federal agencies like the EPA, states managing water quality, and developers or landowners needing permits for activities near these waters. The bill eliminates the Supreme Court’s narrow "navigable waters" definition from Sackett v. EPA (2023), restoring protections for tens of millions of acres of wetlands and millions of miles of small streams. Key mechanisms require the EPA to annually review and adjust exclusions from protections based on scientific evidence, ensuring water bodies critical to drinking water, flood control, and ecosystems remain safeguarded.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally censures Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene for repeatedly making inflammatory and hateful statements, including antisemitic comparisons, Islamophobic rhetoric, LGBTQ+ slurs, and conspiracy theories about 9/11 and the January 6 Capitol attack. It requires her to appear in the House chamber for the public reading of the censure resolution, which outlines specific instances of her conduct as documented in the resolution's "whereas" clauses. The measure is a procedural action by the House of Representatives expressing disapproval, not a policy change affecting any constituents or laws. It directly affects only Rep. Greene, mandating her personal appearance to receive the formal rebuke.

Maddy summaryHR 6079, the CHILD Labor Act, strengthens protections against child labor by defining "oppressive child labor" more clearly and expanding prohibitions on children under 18 working in dangerous occupations like mining, manufacturing, and meat processing. The bill requires Federal contractors and recipients of Federal financial assistance to prevent child labor throughout their supply chains, with new reporting requirements and significant penalties for violations including fines up to $750,000 per violation causing death or serious injury. It creates a new "child labor tag" system to identify goods produced with child labor and establishes a system for victims to seek compensatory and punitive damages. The bill also mandates regular reports to Congress on work-related injuries and deaths, with data collection to be conducted in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services.

Maddy summaryHR 6102 establishes a nonpartisan commission to study the feasibility of creating a National Museum of American LGBTQI+ History and Culture. The 8-member commission, appointed by congressional leaders, will assess costs, location options, governance, fundraising needs, and potential impacts on existing museums, with reports due within 18 months. Crucially, the bill prohibits federal funding for the commission’s work and requires a fundraising plan to support the museum’s future operation without relying on ongoing government appropriations. The commission’s findings will inform future legislative action but do not authorize the museum’s creation. This is a study-only measure, not a funding or construction bill.

Maddy summaryThe Rape Kit Backlog Progress Act of 2023 requires states and local governments receiving federal crime-fighting grants to conduct comprehensive inventories of all sexual assault kits (both tested and untested) and report key details to the Attorney General. It mandates that jurisdictions document victim consent for testing, upload DNA results to the national CODIS database, establish electronic tracking systems for victims, and implement victim notification protocols. States must submit these reports annually to maintain eligibility for federal grants, with the Attorney General publishing a public annual report on backlog status and compliance. This law directly affects state/local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors handling sexual assault cases, aiming to improve transparency and accountability in processing evidence.