Rep. Debbie Lesko

Maddy summaryHR 7183, the PROTECTS Act of 2024, prohibits federal funding from being used to provide or refer for specific gender transition procedures to individuals under 18. The bill defines prohibited procedures broadly to include surgeries (like hysterectomy, mastectomy, or genital reconstruction), puberty-blocking medications, and hormone treatments administered at supraphysiologic doses. It includes limited exceptions for medically necessary care, such as treating precocious puberty or correcting genetic disorders of sex development. The law directly affects minors seeking gender-affirming medical care covered by federal programs, restricting federal financial support for these services.

Maddy summaryHR 6918 blocks a specific federal regulation that would have restricted funding for pregnancy centers. It prohibits the Health and Human Services Secretary from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing a proposed rule (described in a Federal Register notice) affecting pregnancy center funding. The bill directly affects pregnancy centers - defined as organizations supporting maternal and fetal life and providing services like counseling, pregnancy testing, and material support (e.g., diapers, baby clothes). This is a procedural measure preventing a regulatory change, not creating new programs or altering existing funding.

Maddy summaryHR 7044, the "Woman’s Right To Know Act," requires abortion providers to give patients a specific 24-hour in-person informed consent form before performing an abortion. The form must detail the unborn child’s gestational age, medical risks of the procedure, and developmental milestones (like heartbeat presence), and must be signed by the patient, provider, and a witness. Providers who fail to comply face civil penalties of $100,000-$250,000 per violation or lawsuits from patients seeking damages, including triple the abortion cost. Exceptions apply if compliance poses immediate life-threatening risks to the patient. The bill directly affects abortion providers and patients seeking abortion services, mandating specific disclosure requirements and enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHRES 974 is a non-binding House resolution supporting the designation of January 21-27, 2024, as "National School Choice Week." It encourages parents to learn about K-12 education options - including public schools, charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling - and promotes public awareness of educational choice. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally expresses the House's backing for this annual observance. It directly affects parents and students by highlighting available education pathways and urging communities to host events celebrating school choice. The resolution was introduced by multiple House members and referred to the Education Committee.

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 summaryThis bill designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 209 Main Street in Duncan, Arizona, as the "Sandra Day O'Connor Post Office." It updates all official U.S. government references - such as laws, maps, and documents - to use this new name for the location. The change applies only to the Duncan post office and does not alter any postal services or policies.

Maddy summaryHR 6934, the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act, protects parents' fundamental right to direct their child's upbringing, education, and health care without government interference. It prohibits government actions that substantially burden these parental rights - including withholding benefits, imposing penalties, or excluding families from programs - unless the government proves a "compelling interest" and uses the "least restrictive means." The bill explicitly applies to all federal laws and requires courts to consider parental rights as a fundamental right under the Constitution, with exceptions only for actions causing serious child injury or death. It also adds parental rights to existing legal frameworks for recovering attorney fees in court cases involving these protections.

Maddy summaryThe Default Prevention Act (HR 187) requires the Treasury to pay interest and principal on U.S. debt held by the public and Social Security trust funds (including Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds) if the national debt limit is reached. To do this, the Treasury would issue special obligations exempt from the debt ceiling, meaning they wouldn’t count toward the limit, and these funds couldn’t be used to pay Congress members’ salaries. The bill mandates weekly reports to the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees detailing payments made and obligations issued. This mechanism aims to prevent a government default on critical debt obligations without altering the statutory debt limit.

Maddy summaryHRES 941 is a non-binding House resolution condemning the final agreement from the December 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, which includes language urging a "transitioning away from fossil fuels." The resolution states that Congress believes the U.S. should not promote policies discouraging fossil fuels and urges the Biden administration not to implement policies aligned with the UN agreement. It references U.S. energy exports and economic benefits from fossil fuel production as context for its position. This resolution has no legal effect and serves only as a symbolic expression of congressional sentiment.

Maddy summaryHR 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023, allows schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer whole milk as an option during lunch. It amends the school lunch law to explicitly permit schools to serve flavored and unflavored whole milk alongside reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free milk choices for students. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to adjust meal regulations to account for saturated fat from whole milk, ensuring it doesn't count against meal fat limits. This change directly affects participating schools and the students who receive school lunches, expanding their milk beverage options.