Rep. Scott Fitzgerald

Maddy summaryHR 7109, the Equal Representation Act, requires the U.S. Census Bureau to add a citizenship status checkbox to the 2030 and future decennial censuses, asking respondents to identify if they are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful residents, or unlawful residents. It then mandates excluding noncitizens (both lawful and unlawful residents) from the population count used to determine each state's number of congressional seats and electoral votes starting with the 2030 census. This bill directly affects how states are apportioned representation in Congress and presidential electoral votes, based solely on the citizen population. The key change is shifting the apportionment base from total population to citizen population alone, using the new census data.

Maddy summaryHJRES 98 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule that defined how businesses are considered "joint employers" for labor law purposes. The bill targets the NLRB's October 2023 rule (88 Fed. Reg. 73946), which would have changed how companies like franchisors or staffing agencies are held responsible for workers' rights. If passed, this resolution would cancel the rule, directly affecting businesses managing multiple employer relationships and labor organizations enforcing workplace standards. The measure uses a standard process under federal law to disapprove an agency rule, not creating new policy but reversing an existing regulation.

Maddy summaryHR 8231, the James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded to actor James Earl Jones in recognition of his distinguished career in theater and film, and his role in advancing inclusion and equal opportunities for people of all backgrounds in the entertainment industry. The Treasury will strike the medal with an image and inscription of Jones, and may produce and sell bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint's public enterprise fund. This bill serves as a ceremonial honor with no new legal requirements or policy changes.

Maddy summaryHR 764, the "Trust the Science Act," requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a specific 2020 rule removing gray wolves from the endangered species list within 60 days of the bill's enactment. This directly affects gray wolf populations by changing their federal conservation status. The bill's key provision mandates that this reissuance cannot be challenged in court, eliminating judicial review of the decision. The bill focuses solely on procedural implementation of a prior rule, not broader scientific policy.

Maddy summaryHR 615, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023, prevents federal agencies from banning lead ammunition or tackle on public lands and waters managed for hunting or fishing, except in specific cases. The bill allows exceptions only if a state wildlife department confirms lead use is harming local wildlife, and the federal action aligns with state law or state agency approval. It directly affects hunters and anglers using federal lands and waters, ensuring they can continue using lead products unless a state verifies a local wildlife issue requiring a ban. The law requires federal agencies to justify any exception with state data and policy compliance in official notices.

Maddy summaryHR 1803, the CURD Act, defines "natural cheese" in federal law to clarify labeling standards for consumers. It specifies that natural cheese must be made by curdling milk (or milk derivatives) through traditional methods without certain processed additives, while explicitly excluding pasteurized process cheeses, cheese spreads, and similar products. The bill requires that products labeled as "natural cheese" meet this new definition, updating FDA labeling rules under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This directly affects cheese manufacturers (who must comply with the definition) and consumers (who gain clearer product distinctions on labels). The change replaces vague industry terms with a consistent, science-based standard to improve transparency.

Maddy summaryHR 7737, the "One Agency Act," consolidates U.S. antitrust enforcement under the Department of Justice (DOJ) by transferring all Federal Trade Commission (FTC) antitrust cases, staff, funding, and records to the DOJ's Antitrust Division. The bill requires the FTC to halt new antitrust investigations or actions during a transition period (up to 2 years) and transfers ongoing FTC antitrust matters to the DOJ, with limited FTC staff allowed to continue specific unresolved cases under DOJ oversight. It eliminates the FTC's role in antitrust enforcement, including premerger filings and consent decrees, while directing the DOJ to use transferred resources exclusively for antitrust enforcement. The law aims to end overlapping jurisdiction between the FTC and DOJ, reducing administrative overlap and streamlining enforcement under a single agency.

Maddy summaryThe Interstate Commerce Simplification Act of 2024 clarifies the definition of "solicitation of orders" in the Uniform Commercial Code to include any business activity that helps facilitate order requests - such as advertising or sales calls - even if the activity serves other independent business purposes. This change directly affects businesses selling goods across state lines, particularly regarding state sales tax and regulatory compliance. The bill achieves this by adding a new definition paragraph to an existing legal section, explicitly stating that activities aiding order solicitation count as "solicitation" regardless of other functions. This aims to reduce ambiguity for businesses operating in multiple states without altering existing tax or regulatory requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 5923, the Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act of 2023, requires the President to annually determine if Chinese financial institutions are purchasing Iranian petroleum or petroleum products. If such transactions are found, the President must report the findings to specific congressional committees within 180 days of enactment and annually for five years. This bill directly affects Chinese financial institutions engaging in significant transactions involving Iranian oil. The key mechanism adds these institutions to the scope of existing sanctions under the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, mandating regular reporting to Congress rather than imposing immediate penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans airlines from transporting non-citizens using three specific documents: the CBP One mobile app, DHS Form I-385 (Notice to Report), and DHS Form I-862 (Notice to Appear). It also prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from accepting these documents as valid ID for domestic air travel. The law directly affects airlines that might facilitate travel for individuals relying on these documents and travelers using them for flight boarding. Key provisions explicitly list the banned documents in federal law, removing them as acceptable identification for air travel under U.S. Code.