Sen. Mike Lee

Maddy summaryS 4075, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, prohibits payment card networks (like Visa or Mastercard) and covered entities (such as banks or processors) from using or requiring special merchant category codes that distinguish firearms retailers from general stores. This directly affects firearms retailers (businesses selling guns or ammunition) and payment networks by preventing them from assigning codes that could flag gun purchases for tracking. The bill requires the Attorney General to investigate complaints about violations and enforce the ban, with potential court action if violations aren't fixed within 30 days. It also preempts state or local laws on this issue and mandates annual reports on enforcement efforts.

Maddy summaryThe VALID Act (S 4051) prohibits U.S. airlines and foreign carriers operating in the U.S. from accepting three specific Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents or the CBP One mobile app as valid identification for boarding domestic flights. It bans the use of DHS Form I-385 (Notice to Report), DHS Form I-862 (Notice to Appear), and the CBP One Mobile Application for airline passenger identification. This directly affects travelers relying on these documents for air travel and requires airlines to stop facilitating their use. The law applies to all domestic commercial airline passengers seeking to board flights within the United States. The bill amends existing aviation and identification laws to eliminate these specific documents as acceptable forms of ID for air travel.

Maddy summaryThe NDO Fairness Act modifies federal law to regulate when law enforcement can delay notifying individuals whose electronic communications data (like emails or messages) is accessed via warrants or subpoenas. It allows courts to issue orders preventing service providers (e.g., email companies) from informing customers, but only if the court finds specific risks like evidence destruction or witness intimidation, with strict limits on order duration (up to 90 days, or 1 year for child exploitation cases). After such an order expires, customers must be notified within 5 business days and can request copies of the accessed data (with limited redactions for ongoing investigations). The bill also requires annual reports tracking how often these orders are used, their justification, and resulting arrests or convictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 64) seeks to block a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule published in the Federal Register (89 Fed. Reg. 4128, January 22, 2024) that implements provisions from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act related to preventing digital discrimination. It requests Congress disapprove the rule under Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code, which would prevent the rule from taking effect. The resolution directly affects the FCC's ability to enforce digital discrimination prevention measures under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. If passed, the rule would have no legal force or effect, halting the FCC's regulatory action on this specific issue.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 65) seeks to disapprove an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would have revised national air quality standards for tiny air particles (particulate matter), which are pollutants linked to health issues like asthma and heart disease. The EPA rule, published on March 6, 2024, proposed updating these standards to tighten pollution limits. By invoking the Congressional Review Act, the resolution would block the rule from taking effect, maintaining the current standards without changes. This directly affects the EPA’s ability to implement the proposed revisions to air quality regulations, impacting public health protections and industry compliance requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the Davis-Bacon Act's requirement that federal construction contractors pay prevailing wages to workers on federally funded projects. It directly affects federal construction contractors by eliminating the legal obligation to pay local prevailing wage rates for such work. The key mechanism is the complete removal of the wage requirement from federal law (specifically, 40 U.S.C. Chapter 31, Subchapter IV), effective 30 days after enactment. This repeal does not apply to contracts already in existence or bids issued 30 days before enactment, protecting ongoing projects.

Maddy summaryThe Geothermal Energy Optimization Act (S 3954) streamlines small-scale geothermal exploration on federal lands by creating a new "geothermal observation test project" category. It allows leaseholders to conduct limited, temporary exploration drilling (under 10 acres disturbance, under 120 days, with temporary infrastructure) without full environmental reviews, using a categorical exclusion process. The bill also establishes a Geothermal Ombudsman and Strike Team within the Bureau of Land Management to improve permitting efficiency, resolve disputes, and develop best practices for geothermal leasing. These changes directly affect geothermal leaseholders and federal agencies managing land use, aiming to accelerate development while maintaining environmental safeguards.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE Act (S 3961) reforms surveillance practices under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to better protect U.S. persons from warrantless surveillance. It requires the FBI to implement new training, approvals, and written justifications for queries of U.S. person data, prohibits warrantless access to communications of U.S. persons except in specific circumstances, and mandates enhanced reporting to Congress. The bill establishes accountability procedures for FBI employees who violate query protocols, reforms FISA Court procedures to include amicus curiae with privacy expertise, and limits how intelligence agencies can acquire and use personal data. These provisions directly affect the FBI, other intelligence agencies, and U.S. persons whose communications may be collected under FISA authorities.

Maddy summaryS 3963, the Native Species Protection Act, defines "intrastate species" as plants or wildlife entirely within one state's borders and not part of a national commodity market. It removes federal regulatory authority for these species under the Endangered Species Act and other federal laws based on interstate commerce powers. This directly affects state governments and landowners within states containing such species, shifting management responsibility to state authorities. The bill changes federal policy by explicitly exempting these locally confined species from federal environmental regulations.

Maddy summaryS 3933, the Laken Riley Act, amends immigration law to require mandatory detention for non-citizens charged with certain crimes like theft or burglary, rather than allowing release. It directly affects individuals facing these charges and gives state attorneys general the legal standing to sue federal agencies (like DHS or the State Department) if they claim immigration policies caused the state or residents financial harm exceeding $100. Key provisions include requiring Homeland Security to take custody of such individuals and establishing new court procedures for states to seek injunctions against federal immigration enforcement actions. The bill does not change border policies but focuses on detention requirements and state legal challenges to federal immigration enforcement.