Rep. Scott Fitzgerald

Maddy summaryHRES 771 is a non-binding resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. It condemns Hamas' actions, affirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls for the immediate release of hostages. The resolution also urges enforcement of existing laws restricting aid to terrorists and sanctions against Iran for supporting Hamas. It does not create new policies or allocate funds, as it is a symbolic statement of congressional support.

Maddy summaryHRES 768 is a symbolic House Resolution expressing congressional support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks. It condemns Hamas' actions, reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls for the immediate release of hostages. The resolution references the U.S. commitment to Israel's security through existing military aid programs, including the 2016 U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding, and emphasizes enforcement of laws like the Taylor Force Act to prevent U.S. aid from reaching terrorist groups. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new policy but serves as a statement of congressional support for Israel.

Maddy summaryHRES 739 is a House resolution disapproving of a September 11, 2023, sanctions waiver that would release $6 billion in Iranian assets held in South Korea. The resolution states this waiver weakens U.S. policy by allowing Iran access to funds that could support its nuclear program and terrorism, and criticizes the delayed notification to Congress. It specifically condemns the administration's nonenforcement of mandatory sanctions and the release of assets without proper congressional review. The resolution demands the administration submit any Iran nuclear agreement to Congress before further sanctions relief. This is a procedural disapproval, not a law altering sanctions.

Maddy summaryHR 5561, the Protecting the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Act of 2023, prevents federal agencies from using emergency declarations to implement gun control measures. It specifically prohibits the President from declaring a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford Act for gun control purposes, and stops the Health and Human Services Secretary from declaring a public health emergency under the Public Health Service Act for the same reason. The bill also amends the Stafford Act to explicitly prohibit any emergency-related restrictions on possessing, manufacturing, selling, or transferring firearms, ammunition, ammunition feeding devices, or firearm accessories. This directly affects how federal agencies can respond during emergencies without violating the Second Amendment. The law aims to limit executive actions during emergencies that could restrict gun rights.

Maddy summaryHR 5632, the Thwarting Regional Adversary Investments Now Act (TRAIN Act), requires USAID to provide training to government officials in nonadversarial countries in South and Central Asia. The training helps these countries assess risks - like debt sustainability and security concerns - from investments by "foreign adversaries" (defined as governments engaging in harmful conduct toward U.S. security). Key provisions include annual reports to Congress on the training provided and analysis of agreements between these countries and foreign adversaries. The bill aims to strengthen partner nations' capacity to evaluate foreign investments without directly restricting those investments.

Maddy summaryHR 5565, the BRIDGE Act, requires the U.S. government to develop a coordinated strategy to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Specifically, it mandates that the State Department and Commerce Department submit a comprehensive report within 180 days detailing China's BRI efforts, U.S. counter-strategies, and gaps in current policy, followed by a detailed implementation plan within one year. The report must include specific metrics, evaluation methods, and alignment with broader national security goals, particularly for the Indo-Pacific region. This legislation directly affects U.S. federal agencies (State, Commerce, USAID) and requires them to coordinate with Congress on a unified response to China's economic and geopolitical influence.

Maddy summaryThe Life.Gov Act (HR 5406) requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create a federal website called life.gov within one year of enactment. The website will provide pregnant and postpartum women with locally tailored resources - such as health services, financial assistance, and mental health support - via zip code searches, multilingual access, and user feedback tools. States must submit resource recommendations meeting strict criteria (e.g., no abortion providers, 3+ years of service), and the website cannot list "prohibited entities" (defined as abortion providers or supporters). The Secretary must report to Congress within 180 days on website usage, user feedback, and gaps in resources, using existing HHS funding.

Maddy summaryHR 5475, the Prohibiting Adversarial Patents Act of 2023, requires patent applicants to disclose if they or their invention received funding from state-affiliated research funds or talent programs of specific foreign adversaries (including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela under Maduro) within five years of filing. It also prohibits U.S. patents for individuals or entities identified on certain national security lists (like the OFAC CMIC List or Chinese military company designations) and makes existing patents from such entities unenforceable. The bill directly affects patent applicants with ties to these nations and patent holders later added to designated lists. Small businesses subject to existing disclosure rules under the Small Business Act are exempt from the new disclosure requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for dairy business innovation programs under the 2018 Farm Bill. It amends Section 12513(i) by raising the annual grant allocation from $20 million to $36 million. The change directly affects dairy farmers and businesses seeking grants to support innovation projects like processing, marketing, or sustainability efforts. The key mechanism is a higher annual funding cap, allowing more grants to be awarded without changing program eligibility or structure.

Maddy summaryThe Child Online Safety Modernization Act of 2023 updates federal law to replace "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material" across numerous statutes and legal definitions. It modernizes the CyberTipline reporting system to better identify and locate minors involved in cases of child sexual abuse material. The bill makes technical amendments to ensure consistent terminology in legal proceedings related to online child exploitation. These changes aim to improve law enforcement effectiveness in addressing online child sexual exploitation while maintaining legal clarity.