Rep. Elijah Crane

Maddy summaryHR 7083, the RAZOR Act, prohibits federal agencies from removing or altering barriers (like fences or fences) built by states along the U.S. border to prevent unlawful crossings. It directly affects federal departments and agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security, by restricting their ability to modify state-constructed border infrastructure. The key provision is a clear ban on any federal action that would change or remove these state-built barriers. This bill makes a specific policy change regarding federal-state border infrastructure authority without altering broader immigration law.

Maddy summaryThe Energy Parity Act requires that any reduction in capacity fees for wind and solar energy projects must be matched by an equivalent reduction in royalty rates for oil and natural gas leases. It lowers the minimum royalty rate for onshore oil and gas leases from 16.67% to 12.5% and adjusts minimum bid and rental rates (e.g., reducing the minimum bid from $10 to $2 per acre for two years). The bill also directs the Bureau of Land Management to reissue a proposed rule on renewable energy leasing within 120 days of enactment. These changes directly affect federal leaseholders for oil, gas, and renewable energy projects.

Ultrasound Informed Consent Act This bill requires abortion providers to conduct an ultrasound before performing an abortion. Specifically, before a woman gives informed consent to any part of an abortion, the abortion provider must perform an obstetric ultrasound on the pregnant woman; provide a simultaneous explanation of what the ultrasound is depicting; display the ultrasound images so the woman may view them; and provide a complete medical description of the images, including the dimensions of the embryo or fetus, cardiac activity if present and visible, and the presence of external members and internal organs if present and viewable. Providers are subject to civil actions and penalties for violations. The bill's ultrasound requirements do not apply in cases where a physical disorder, illness, or injury caused by the pregnancy endangers a woman's life. A woman is also not required to view the ultrasound images; nor may she or the provider be penalized if she declines to do so.

Maddy summaryThe Death Tax Repeal Act would eliminate the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax for estates of people who die on or after the bill's enactment date, and for generation-skipping transfers made after that date. It would also establish a new $10 million lifetime gift tax exemption (adjusted annually for inflation) and replace the existing gift tax rate schedule with a revised structure. These changes would primarily affect high-net-worth individuals and their heirs, as the estate tax and gift tax typically apply to large estates or gifts exceeding the new exemption threshold. The bill's provisions would take effect on the date of enactment, with transitional rules for the year the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryHR 7047, the "Defund Davos Act," prohibits the use of federal funds from the Department of State, USAID, or any other federal agency to provide financial support to the World Economic Forum. The bill directly affects U.S. government agencies that manage international funding programs by banning their use of taxpayer money for the Forum's activities. Its key provision is a clear funding ban, ensuring no federal resources can be allocated to the World Economic Forum under any circumstances. This is a procedural measure focused solely on restricting federal expenditures, with no other policy changes or impacts described.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides stopgap funding to maintain pay and operations for specific government personnel if Congress fails to pass full-year budget bills by October 2024. It directly affects military members (including reserves), Defense and Coast Guard civilian staff, border agents (CBP), immigration officers (ICE), Transportation Security Administration staff, air traffic controllers, and Veterans Affairs employees processing benefits. Key provisions ensure continued salaries for these workers during funding gaps, covering mission-critical functions like border security, military support, and VA benefit delivery. The funding expires automatically on October 1, 2024, or earlier if regular appropriations are enacted.

Maddy summaryThe REMAIN in Mexico Act of 2024 would require the U.S. government to reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), a policy that forces certain asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their U.S. immigration cases are processed. It directly affects asylum seekers from Mexico and Central America who are seeking entry to the United States and would be subject to the MPP under this law. The bill mandates implementation of the MPP as described in a 2019 policy memo by former Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen. This would reverse the current administration's decision to end the program, requiring asylum seekers to remain in Mexico during their immigration proceedings.

Maddy summaryHR 6941, the Criminalize Fleeing from Immigration Enforcement Act of 2024, would make it a federal crime for individuals to flee or evade law enforcement officers enforcing specific immigration laws, including unauthorized entry (INA §275), re-entry after deportation (INA §276), or document fraud (INA §274). It directly affects people who flee officers identified as enforcing these immigration provisions or flee immigration checkpoints. The bill would impose penalties of up to five years in prison or fines for fleeing, with up to eight years for fleeing in a vehicle exceeding the speed limit. This amendment to Title 18, U.S. Code, creates a new criminal offense without changing existing immigration enforcement procedures.

Maddy summaryThe Count Only Citizens Act requires the U.S. Census Bureau to include a citizenship or lawful presence question on the 2030 and future decennial census forms. It mandates that the Secretary of Commerce adjust population counts for congressional apportionment to exclude non-citizens and individuals not lawfully present in the U.S. This change directly affects how congressional seats are allocated among states, potentially reducing representation for states with large non-citizen populations. The bill does not alter census counts used for other purposes, such as federal funding distribution.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend federal law to require the rejection of a state's electoral votes for president if a candidate nominated by a major political party did not appear on that state's ballot. It defines "major political party" using the IRS's criteria for "major party" status under the Internal Revenue Code. The change directly affects states' ability to certify presidential election results, as electoral votes from any state failing to include a major party candidate would be disqualified from counting. The bill does not alter voting procedures or ballot access but modifies the federal process for certifying electoral votes.