Sen. Ted Budd

Maddy summaryThis bill expands U.S. immigration restrictions by adding new grounds for denying entry to non-citizens. It makes individuals inadmissible if a consular officer or DHS believes they engaged in, or plan to engage in, activities like espionage, sabotage, violating U.S. export laws for sensitive goods/technology, unlawful activities, or efforts to overthrow the U.S. government by force. It also bars entry for spouses or children of individuals deemed inadmissible under these new rules if the qualifying activity occurred within the last five years. The law directly affects people seeking visas or entry into the United States based on these specific security-related activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits attorneys' fees for claims related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, affecting veterans, civilians, and their attorneys filing under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. It caps fees at 12% of administrative claim payments or 17% of court settlements/judgments, prohibits additional fees/costs, and requires attorneys to certify fee amounts. The bill also mandates annual reporting to Congress on all fees paid, including attorney names and amounts. These changes apply to all pending and future claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new criminal penalties for actions that assist transnational criminal organizations in evading border enforcement. It specifically targets two activities: (1) knowingly sharing law enforcement location details (like patrols or equipment) to help with immigration, customs, or border-related crimes, and (2) destroying or damaging border infrastructure like fences, sensors, or cameras. Violations carry fines and up to 10 years in prison, with harsher penalties (up to 20 years) if firearms are involved. The bill directly affects individuals who aid criminal groups in circumventing U.S. border controls, particularly those involved in immigration-related smuggling operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the President from blocking or delaying new oil, gas, coal, or mineral leases on federal lands (including national forests, public lands, and the outer continental shelf) without explicit congressional approval. It specifically prevents the President from imposing moratoria on new energy leases or withdrawing federal lands from energy development without an act of Congress. The law applies directly to federal land management decisions, requiring Congress to authorize any action that would restrict energy leasing or development on these lands. This is a procedural change affecting how federal energy leasing and land use decisions are made.

Maddy summaryThe Federal Skills Act of 2023 requires the Office of Personnel Management to review and update job classifications and qualification standards for most federal government positions. It limits agencies from requiring specific educational degrees unless legally required for similar jobs in state or local government, and mandates that hiring assessments evaluate actual job skills - not just education - using methods that don’t rely solely on academic credentials. Agencies must publish position descriptions based on required skills and ensure assessments don’t substitute education for demonstrated competencies. The bill aims to make federal hiring more skills-focused while maintaining existing student loan benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal murder law to treat distributing fentanyl that causes death as felony murder. It specifically targets individuals who distribute fentanyl (2+ grams of a mixture containing fentanyl, or 0.5+ grams of its analogues) knowing it contains the substance and causing death. The law adds a new provision stating that distributing fentanyl resulting in death constitutes first-degree murder, punishable by death or life imprisonment. This directly affects fentanyl distributors whose actions lead to fatalities, with the penalty applying when the distributor knew or should have known the substance contained fentanyl or its analogues.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new federal crime for individuals who transmit money, property, or other value across state lines with the intent to finance illegal border crossings under existing immigration laws. It imposes penalties including fines equal to the value sent, up to one year in prison, or both for those convicted. The law also adds new grounds for denying entry (inadmissibility) or deporting immigrants who are convicted of this offense, affecting both the financiers and immigrants involved in such activities. The bill directly targets those facilitating unlawful border entry through financial means, with clear penalties and immigration consequences.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review process to cover foreign purchases or leases of real estate near military sites. It specifically requires CFIUS review for transactions involving property within 100 miles of military installations or 50 miles of military training routes, special use airspace, controlled firing areas, or military operations areas - particularly when the foreign buyer is linked to Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea. The bill also links energy project approvals to CFIUS reviews, requiring the Defense Secretary to delay project reviews until CFIUS concludes its assessment of related real estate transactions. This directly affects foreign entities seeking to acquire property near military infrastructure and federal agencies managing energy project permits.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks congressional disapproval of a Department of Labor rule published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2022 (87 Fed. Reg. 73822), which addressed "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights." If enacted, it would block the rule from taking effect, directly affecting retirement plan fiduciaries (such as those managing 401(k) plans) who must follow these standards. The resolution uses a specific disapproval process under Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code, to nullify the rule without altering its content. This is a procedural action targeting the rule's implementation, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 256) terminates existing U.S. sanctions waivers that permitted specific nuclear activities in Iran under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA). It ends exemptions for activities like modernizing Iran's Arak reactor, modifying centrifuges at Fordow, operating the Bushehr nuclear plant, and transferring uranium or heavy water. The bill takes effect upon enactment, prohibiting the President from issuing new waivers for these activities. It directly affects Iran's nuclear program by reinstating sanctions on these specific cooperation areas. The legislation targets the JCPOA-related waivers, not broader sanctions.