Rep. J. French Hill

Maddy summaryHR 5485, the Financial Privacy Act of 2023, requires the Treasury Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress detailing how many financial reports FinCEN collects, how many are retained, and how law enforcement and intelligence agencies access that data. It mandates an annual review of protocols governing agency access to FinCEN's data, focusing on tailoring collection to legitimate national security needs, preventing unauthorized disclosure, and protecting Americans' privacy rights. The bill applies directly to FinCEN, the Treasury Department, and federal agencies accessing financial data collected under the Bank Secrecy Act. The reporting and review requirements will sunset after seven years from the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 5512 requires U.S. financial institutions to ensure all entities they own or control comply with U.S. sanctions against Russia and Belarus. It directly affects banks, credit card systems, insurance companies, and other financial firms operating in the U.S. or with U.S. branches. The bill mandates that these institutions enforce sanctions covering transactions, deposits, loans, foreign exchange, and securities dealing involving Russia or Belarus. Violations could result in penalties under existing sanctions laws.

Maddy summaryHR 6669, the Supporting Americans Wrongfully or Unlawfully Detained Abroad Act, provides concrete support for U.S. citizens detained abroad and their families. The bill authorizes the State Department to cover travel costs for immediate family members (defined as spouses, parents, children, etc.) to meet with officials in Washington, DC - up to two trips per year with lodging limits - and offers post-release mental/physical health services and legal resource referrals for both detained individuals and their families. It requires annual reports to Congress on spending and limits these support programs to expire on December 31, 2027. This legislation directly affects Americans wrongfully detained overseas and their families by improving access to government assistance during detention and after return.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Bank Service Company Act to improve coordination between federal and state banking regulators. It requires federal examiners to notify and coordinate with state banking agencies when examining bank service companies where a state bank is a shareholder or member, aiming to avoid duplicate work and streamline oversight. The law specifies that state agencies can only access information they already have authority to obtain under state law, and it updates definitions to consistently include "State banking agency" throughout the law. This directly affects federal banking agencies (like the OCC), state banking regulators, and the bank service companies they oversee. The changes focus on procedural coordination without altering the core examination requirements for these service providers.

Maddy summaryHR 6504, the Protect American Gun Exporters Act, blocks the Department of Commerce from implementing a pause on new export licenses for specific firearm exports (items under Commerce Control List numbers 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, and 0A505). The bill directly affects U.S. gun exporters by preventing the Commerce Secretary from enforcing the October 2023 pause or similar restrictions on these exports. Key provisions prohibit the Secretary from taking any action to carry out the pause unless it follows standard regulatory processes, including a required impact analysis and compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act and Congressional Review Act. This bill does not create new export rules but stops the existing pause on certain firearm exports.

Maddy summaryH.J.Res. 66 disapproves a specific rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regarding small business lending under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B). The resolution, if passed, would prevent this CFPB rule from taking effect by declaring it "have no force or effect." The rule in question (88 Fed. Reg. 35150) aimed to clarify how lenders must evaluate small business loan applications under existing equal credit laws. This disapproval directly affects the CFPB's regulatory authority and would block the rule's implementation for small business lenders and financial institutions.

Maddy summaryHRES 793 is a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives calling on Hamas to immediately release all 199 hostages taken during Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The resolution condemns Hamas for the attack, the taking of hostages, and threats against hostages, while stating that holding hostages violates international humanitarian law under the Geneva Conventions. It demands the immediate release of all hostages and expresses sympathy for victims and their families. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create legal obligations but formally expresses the House's position.

Price Stability Act of 2023 This bill removes maximum employment as a goal of the monetary policy set by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Open Market Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill would authorize the U.S. government to confiscate Russian sovereign assets held in U.S. jurisdiction and use those funds to support Ukraine's reconstruction and humanitarian needs following Russia's invasion. It prohibits releasing these blocked assets until Russia fully compensates Ukraine or agrees to an international compensation mechanism. The bill establishes a "Ukraine Support Fund" to hold confiscated assets and requires regular congressional reporting on how these funds are allocated for Ukraine's recovery. It also includes provisions for international coordination with allies on sanctions and asset management related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 839) condemns antisemitism at U.S. colleges and universities and urges campus leaders to publicly oppose hate speech targeting Jewish students, faculty, and staff. It encourages university presidents, administrators, and faculty to speak out against speech that promotes violence or discrimination based on religion, national origin, or ancestry. The resolution specifically calls on institutions to support Jewish student organizations and ensure Jewish members can study and work without fear. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but expresses congressional support for addressing antisemitism on campuses.