Rep. Doug LaMalfa

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that AM radio receivers be included as standard equipment in all new motor vehicles (such as cars and trucks) sold in the United States, with a rule to be issued by the Department of Transportation within one year. The rule must ensure AM radio is easily accessible on the dashboard and allows manufacturers to use digital AM radio technology instead of traditional AM. During the one-year period between the bill's enactment and the rule's effective date, manufacturers must clearly label vehicles without AM radio. The bill also directs a study to evaluate whether an alternative system could deliver emergency alerts as reliably as AM radio across the country, especially during crises.

Maddy summaryHR 3537 authorizes the minting of commemorative coins to mark the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Foreign Service, established by the 1924 Rogers Act. The bill specifies three coin types ($5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar clad) with limited mintage (50,000 gold, 400,000 silver, 750,000 half-dollars) to be issued in 2025, featuring designs honoring diplomatic history. A surcharge on each coin sale ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollars) will fund the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST) to support its oral history program and diplomatic preservation efforts. The coins will be legal tender, sold at cost-plus-surcharge, with all revenue directed to ADST per the bill's provisions.

Maddy summaryHR 3462 requires public schools receiving federal funds to obtain explicit parental consent before accommodating a student's gender identity (e.g., changing names/pronouns or facilitating social transition) or before referring students to medical providers for gender-related care. It prohibits schools from hiding a student's gender identity or transition plans from parents, withholding information about gender-related accommodations, or pressuring parents to support gender-affirming actions. Schools must publicly post written policies ensuring compliance and provide copies to families. The bill allows parents or the Attorney General to file civil lawsuits against schools violating these rules, seeking injunctions, attorney fees, or compensation for harm caused by unauthorized gender transition support.

Maddy summaryHR 3492, the Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act, prohibits federal agencies from funding or supporting state databases that track lawfully owned firearms or their owners. This directly affects states maintaining such databases, requiring them to cover costs themselves if they choose to keep these systems operational. The bill allows federal funding for databases tracking lost or stolen firearms, as specified in the exception. The key policy change is blocking federal financial support for databases compiling information on legal gun ownership, without banning the databases outright.

Maddy summaryThe Responsible Borrowing Act of 2023 allows colleges to set lower annual or lifetime borrowing limits for students in specific programs if debt levels appear excessive relative to graduate earnings. Institutions may use data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (average regional starting salaries) or the College Scorecard (median earnings for program graduates) to determine these limits, or adjust based on enrollment status, credential type, or program year. Students whose loans are capped can request an increase, but institutions retain discretion. This applies only to new students starting after June 2024 and prohibits limits based on protected characteristics like race or gender.

Maddy summaryThe Housing PLUS Act of 2023 modifies federal homeless assistance funding under the McKinney-Vento Act to ensure grantees providing supportive services (like job training or addiction treatment) or requiring conditions for housing (such as sobriety) cannot be restricted from receiving funds. It mandates that at least 30% of Continuum of Care funds each year must support entities offering these wraparound services. The bill directly affects homeless assistance grantees, project sponsors, and faith-based organizations receiving federal housing funds. It also requires the Secretary to report annually to Congress confirming compliance with these funding rules.

National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish a National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Program. The bill further directs DOJ to award a grant under the program to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for the expenses associated with community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness programs operated by the of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and National Law Enforcement Museum.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the National Weather Service (NWS) to replace its outdated internal messaging system (NWSChat) with a commercial cloud-based solution to improve communication among staff. It mandates the NWS Director to implement this upgrade by 2027, using up to $3 million annually from existing NWS funding for fiscal years 2024-2027. The new system must support future growth and handle increased user demand. This directly affects NWS personnel who rely on internal communications for weather forecasting and public safety operations. The bill focuses solely on updating the technology infrastructure, not on new weather policies or public services.

Maddy summaryHRES 363 is a resolution expressing support for recognizing National Police Week, an annual observance established by law to honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The resolution acknowledges 556 officers killed in the line of duty during 2022 and calls for ensuring law enforcement officers have necessary equipment, training, and resources to protect both themselves and the public. It encourages the American public to observe National Police Week by honoring law enforcement personnel and recognizing their essential mission in serving communities across the United States. This resolution does not create new law but formally expresses congressional support for an existing observance.

Maddy summaryHR 3328 (Protecting Children From Experimentation Act of 2023) prohibits healthcare professionals from performing or referring for gender transition procedures on minors under 18. The bill defines "gender transition procedures" to include puberty-blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries (like genital or non-genital procedures) aimed at altering physical characteristics to match a gender different from a minor’s biological sex. It excludes care for minors with medically verified disorders of sex development or conditions requiring urgent medical treatment. Violations could result in fines, up to 5 years in prison, or both for providers, while minors receiving such care cannot be prosecuted.