Rep. Michael Cloud

Maddy summaryHR 417, the "End U.N. Censorship Act," prohibits federal funding for U.S. government departments or agencies to support the United Nations' iVerify tool or any effort labeling speech as misinformation. It blocks funds from being used to develop, implement, or contribute to the U.N. or other international organizations for initiatives that seek to categorize speech as "mal-, mis-, or disinformation." The bill mandates that any funds withheld under this provision be permanently rescinded and deposited into the U.S. Treasury, not repaid to the U.N. It directly affects federal agencies like the Department of State that manage international funding. The policy change is strictly a funding restriction, not a direct ban on U.N. activities.

Maddy summaryHR 404, the "Hearing Protection Act," reclassifies firearm silencers (devices that reduce gunfire noise) as firearms for federal tax and regulatory purposes. It imposes a 10% federal tax on silencers, requires the destruction of all existing federal silencer registration records within one year, and preempts state laws that tax or regulate silencers. The bill clarifies that silencers are treated as firearms under federal law, including for licensing and marking requirements, and defines "firearm silencer" to include specific components. Note: The bill’s title is misleading - it addresses firearm silencer regulation, not hearing protection for people.

Maddy summaryHR 377, the Regulation Reduction Act of 2025, requires federal agencies to repeal three existing rules before issuing new ones that impose costs or responsibilities on businesses, state/local governments, or individuals. For major new rules, agencies must also certify that the new rule’s cost does not exceed the cost of the repealed rules. Agencies must publish all repealed rules in the Federal Register and submit a 90-day review to Congress identifying costly, ineffective, duplicative, or outdated regulations. This bill directly affects how federal agencies develop new rules, aiming to reduce regulatory burden by mandating rule removal before new rule creation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funding under Title X (which supports family planning services) for clinics or organizations that perform or fund abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or when a physician certifies a life-threatening condition. It requires grantees to certify compliance annually and mandates detailed annual reports to Congress on exceptions, including abortion counts by circumstance. The law directly affects Title X-funded providers who currently offer abortion services, potentially forcing them to stop providing abortions or lose federal funding. Key mechanisms include the certification requirement, exception criteria, and the new reporting obligations for the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants the Secretary of Homeland Security authority to temporarily suspend entry of certain individuals at U.S. borders to achieve "operational control" (defined as effective border management). It specifically applies to people seeking entry without proper documentation who would be denied entry under current law (e.g., lacking visas or asylum eligibility). The Secretary must block entry if they cannot detain or process these individuals as required by existing immigration law. States may also sue the government if they believe border security rules are violated.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to implement the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) as outlined in a 2019 policy memo. It requires migrants seeking asylum at the U.S. border to remain in Mexico while their cases are processed, rather than being allowed to stay in the U.S. pending a hearing. The bill does not create new rules but mandates the reinstatement of a policy that was previously in effect from 2019 to 2021. This would directly affect asylum seekers arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. The policy change would apply to all migrants covered by the existing MPP framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames a U.S. Postal Service facility in Fritch, Texas, to the "Chief Zeb Smith Post Office." It designates the specific location at 107 North Hoyne Avenue as the official name for all federal references, including documents, maps, and records. The bill makes no policy changes - it solely updates the facility's name for administrative purposes.

Maddy summaryHR 274, the Sunset Chevron Act, requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to compile a list of federal court decisions that upheld agency rules using Chevron deference (a judicial practice deferring to agency interpretations of laws) and are still in effect. The bill mandates that the GAO publish this list within 180 days of enactment, organizing it by agency and assigning each rule a sunset date. The most recent rule from each agency expires 30 days after the list's publication, with earlier rules expiring 30 days after the prior rule’s sunset date. This creates an automatic expiration process for specific agency rules upheld under Chevron deference, directly affecting federal agencies whose rules are included in the GAO's list.

Legal Workforce Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create an electronic employment eligibility confirmation system modeled after and to replace the E-Verify system, which allows employers and recruiters to verify the immigration status of individuals. The bill also mandates the use of such a system, where currently only some employers, such as those with federal contracts, are required to use E-Verify. The bill specifies documents that can establish an individual's identity and employment authorization. During the period starting when a job offer is made until three business days after hiring, the individual must attest to his or her employment authorization, and the employer or recruiter must attest that it has examined the individual's required documents. Employers shall reverify certain types of employees who were not previously verified using E-Verify. The Social Security Administration shall notify employees if their Social Security number has been used multiple times in an unusual manner. DHS shall establish programs for blocking and suspending misused numbers. Employers that are required to use the verification system shall not be liable for any employment-related action based on a good-faith reliance on the system. The bill establishes a phased-in participation deadline for different sizes and categories of employers, including agricultural employers. The bill increases civil penalties related to hiring individuals without work authorization. It also preempts state laws relating to hiring and employment eligibility verification, but states may use their authority of business licensing to penalize employers for failing to comply with the bill's provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 221 (Abolish the ATF Act), would eliminate the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as a federal agency. It directly affects the ATF itself, removing its existence within the U.S. Department of Justice. The bill contains no policy provisions or new mechanisms - it solely directs the abolition of the agency through a single legislative action. As a procedural measure, it does not alter gun laws, enforcement responsibilities, or affect the public.