Maddy summaryHR 8985, the Preventing Forced Abortions Act of 2024, prohibits federal courts from enforcing any surrogacy contract clause requiring a surrogate mother to have an abortion at the request of intended parents or their agents. The bill mandates courts to enforce payment to the surrogate for her services, regardless of any contract term tied to abortion, including clauses penalizing refusal (like reduced pay or liquidated damages). It directly affects surrogacy agreements between intended parents and surrogate mothers, ensuring surrogates cannot be forced to undergo abortions against their will while protecting their contractual compensation. The law defines "abortion" as intentionally terminating a pregnancy except in specific medical circumstances, such as after fetal viability or removing a non-viable fetus.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHR 8889, 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 legal doctrine where courts defer to agency interpretations of laws) and are still in effect. The GAO must organize this list by agency and assign each rule a sunset date - 30 days after the list's publication for the most recent rule, with older rules getting sunsets 30 days apart. This bill directly affects federal agencies whose rules are included in the GAO's list, as it triggers automatic expiration of those rules after specific dates. The key mechanism is the mandatory GAO review and the automatic sunset schedule, not new regulations or policy changes. The bill does not alter Chevron deference itself but creates a timeline for existing rules upheld under it to expire.
Maddy summaryHJRES 171 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a proposed rule by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the Unaccompanied Children Program. The rule, published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2024, aimed to update regulations governing the placement, care, and services for unaccompanied alien children (children entering the U.S. without a parent or guardian). This resolution would block the rule from taking effect, preserving existing regulations under the current program framework. It uses a standard congressional disapproval process under Title 5 of the U.S. Code to halt the rule without altering the program’s underlying policy.
Maddy summaryHJRES 170 is a resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a federal rule that would have required new housing projects financed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to meet specific energy efficiency standards. The rule, published in April 2024, aimed to set these standards for new construction in federally subsidized housing. If passed, this resolution would block the rule under the Congressional Review Act, making it legally void. It directly affects developers and builders of HUD- and USDA-financed housing by removing the requirement to comply with these energy standards.
Maddy summaryThe Conscience Protection Act of 2024 would strengthen protections for health care providers, facilities, and organizations that refuse to participate in or provide coverage for abortions, assisted suicide, or other procedures conflicting with their religious or moral beliefs. It creates a private right of action allowing individuals or entities to sue when their conscience rights are violated, and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to enforce existing conscience protections through the Office for Civil Rights. The bill prohibits discrimination against health care entities that decline to provide or facilitate these services, while ensuring these protections don't interfere with emergency care requirements under existing law. It also establishes clearer enforcement mechanisms, including the ability to terminate federal funding for non-compliance with conscience protections.
Maddy summaryHR 8804, the Family Reunification Act of 2024, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to mandate rapid DNA testing for unauthorized immigrants presenting as family units (at ports of entry or after apprehension). If DNA confirms an immediate family relationship (parent/child or legal guardian), the family may be detained together pending lab confirmation; if not, the family must be separated immediately, with any child classified as an "unaccompanied alien child" under existing law. The bill directly affects unauthorized immigrants claiming family relationships during border encounters. It establishes a mandatory DNA testing process to determine family unit status, replacing current practices with a standardized procedure for separation or detention as a unit.
Maddy summaryHR 8803, the Illegal Labor Accountability Act of 2024, increases civil penalties for employers who violate U.S. immigration laws related to hiring, recruiting, or referring unauthorized workers. The bill triples existing fines: for example, penalties for first-time violations jump from $250 to $750 per worker, and repeat violations increase from $5,000 to $15,000 per violation. These changes directly affect employers who hire or refer undocumented workers, raising the financial consequences for such violations. The bill amends Section 274A(e)(4)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to implement these higher penalties.
Maddy summaryHRES 1305 is a procedural resolution that formally rescinds subpoenas issued by the January 6th Select Committee to four individuals (Stephen Bannon, Mark Meadows, Daniel Scavino Jr., and Peter Navarro) and withdraws the committee’s recommendations finding them in contempt of Congress. The bill specifically cancels subpoenas from September 2021, October 2021, and February 2022, along with related contempt resolutions adopted in 2021-2022. It does not alter legal proceedings but withdraws the committee’s authority to enforce these actions. The resolution is supported by House members who argue the committee was partisan and illegitimate, though the bill itself only addresses the committee’s procedural actions.
Maddy summaryThis bill rescinds unspent funds from specific federal programs. It targets leftover money from pandemic relief (like the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan) and certain infrastructure initiatives (including education stabilization funds and transportation programs like the Congestion Mitigation Program). The rescission is limited to amounts already allocated for Israel, Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific security supplements under recent appropriations. Unspent funds must be returned to the Treasury, with no new spending created.
Maddy summaryHRES 1303 is a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 14, 2024, that condemns the Biden administration's suspension of pending approvals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to countries without free trade agreements with the U.S. The resolution argues this action is politically motivated, citing studies showing economic benefits of LNG exports and noting that previous administrations conducted similar environmental reviews without halting permits. It calls for lifting the suspension to restore confidence in the energy sector, prioritize U.S. workers and communities, and align with the administration's stated goals of economic growth. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change policy but formally expresses congressional disapproval of the administration's approach.