Maddy summaryThe Federal Agency Sunset Commission Act of 2023 would establish a 13-member commission to review all federal agencies every 12 years (or less) to determine if they should be abolished, reorganized, or continued. The commission would evaluate agencies based on specific criteria including efficiency, cost-effectiveness, duplication with other agencies, and whether the agency has achieved its original purpose. Agencies would be scheduled for review and potentially abolished unless Congress reauthorizes them, with a supermajority vote allowing up to a 2-year extension. This bill directly affects all federal agencies and would require Congress to periodically assess the necessity of government programs. The commission would also monitor new legislation to prevent unnecessary creation of new agencies or programs.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHR 1200, the National Right-to-Work Act, prohibits requiring workers to join a union or pay dues as a condition of employment in both private-sector workplaces (covered by the National Labor Relations Act) and railroad industries (covered by the Railway Labor Act). The bill amends key sections of these laws to eliminate provisions that allowed union security agreements, meaning workers in unionized settings would no longer be forced to pay dues to retain their jobs. This directly affects employees in unionized workplaces across the U.S., particularly those in industries with existing union contracts that included mandatory dues. The law changes the legal framework to ensure union membership and dues payment remain voluntary for all workers.
Maddy summaryThe Stop the Cartels Act (HR 597) aims to disrupt drug trafficking organizations and related criminal activities by requiring enhanced intelligence gathering on cartels in Mexico and Central American countries, mandating improved U.S.-Mexico law enforcement cooperation, and cutting federal funding from jurisdictions that restrict immigration enforcement. The bill creates a "Special Transnational Criminal Organization" designation for major cartels like the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel, requires monthly reports on migrant encounters at the border, and establishes refugee processing centers in Mexico and Central America. It also increases staffing for immigration courts by 500 judges, prohibits asylum applications from nationals of countries with refugee processing centers, and reauthorizes substance abuse prevention funding at higher levels while repealing several existing drug programs. These provisions directly affect U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies, Mexican and Central American governments, local jurisdictions receiving federal funds, and migrants seeking asylum or refugee status.
Maddy summaryHRES 124 is a non-binding House resolution expressing congressional support for expanding domestic nuclear energy and advanced nuclear technology. It states the House believes the U.S. should promote nuclear energy as a reliable, low-carbon power source to enhance energy leadership and independence, citing its high reliability (92% operation rate), carbon reduction benefits (482 million metric tons avoided in 2021), and economic contributions (475,000 jobs supported). The resolution urges actions like streamlining regulations for advanced reactors, securing domestic uranium supply chains, and addressing misinformation about nuclear safety - though it does not create new laws or funding. It serves solely as a statement of policy preference, not a legislative mandate.
Maddy summaryThe EQUAL Act (HR 1062) eliminates the unequal sentencing disparity between crack cocaine (cocaine base) and powder cocaine offenses under federal law. It repeals specific provisions in the Controlled Substances Act and Import/Export Act that previously imposed harsher penalties for cocaine base, directly affecting individuals convicted of federal cocaine offenses involving cocaine base. The bill applies to all future cases and allows courts to reduce sentences for people already convicted of such offenses before the law's enactment. This change removes a key legal distinction that historically led to significantly longer sentences for crack cocaine offenses compared to powder cocaine.
Maddy summaryHR 1012, the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of 2023, creates a uniform federal liability shield for individuals and entities involved in using or managing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) during cardiac emergencies. It protects AED users (including non-professionals), property owners/managers where AEDs are located, and AED owners/acquirers from civil lawsuits - unless harm resulted from gross negligence, willful misconduct, or a licensed professional acting within their scope of practice. The law overrides inconsistent state "Good Samaritan" laws, ensuring consistent protection regardless of AED signage, registration, or user training. This aims to encourage wider AED deployment in public spaces by reducing liability concerns for businesses and property owners.
Maddy summaryHR 726, the Veterans for Mustangs Act, amends the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to require the Secretary of the Interior to prioritize recruiting military veterans for training in on-range fertility control methods for wild horse and burro populations. The bill mandates that veterans complete a certification program (like the PZP applicator course) and receive appropriate compensation, with the Bureau of Land Management allowed to contract these veterans for management activities without classifying them as federal employees. This directly affects military veterans seeking employment opportunities and the Bureau of Land Management’s approach to managing wild horse populations. The key change is embedding veteran recruitment into the standard process for implementing fertility controls, replacing previous management language with specific veteran-focused provisions.
Maddy summaryHR 356, the Unleashing American Energy Act, requires the federal government to hold annual offshore oil and gas lease sales in specific Gulf of Mexico regions and Alaska starting in 2023. It mandates that all unleased areas (not restricted by law) be included in these sales, following existing federal leasing rules. The bill also amends federal law to prevent the President from delaying or blocking these leasing processes without explicit congressional approval, creating a rebuttable presumption that such actions are unreasonable. This directly affects federal energy leasing programs and companies seeking offshore drilling rights.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural declaration with no policy changes. It formally declares the AR-15 style rifle chambered in .223 Remington or 5.56x45mm NATO as the "National Gun of the United States" under Section 2. The bill does not impose new regulations, restrictions, or funding, and directly affects no individuals or entities beyond this symbolic designation. It is purely a ceremonial resolution with no practical legislative impact.
Maddy summaryThis bill would require the U.S. to withhold funding for the UNRWA (United Nations refugee agency for Palestinians) unless the State Department certifies UNRWA staff, materials, and facilities comply with specific conditions. Key conditions include confirming no ties to terrorism or anti-Israel rhetoric (like denying Israel's right to exist or promoting BDS), no misuse of UNRWA resources for terrorist activities, and adherence to international financial audits. It also caps U.S. contributions to UNRWA at levels comparable to Arab League countries and mandates annual reports to Congress on phasing out UNRWA support. These changes directly affect U.S. foreign aid decisions for Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank.