Rep. Doug LaMalfa

Make Russia Pay Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to liquidate all Russian assets seized by the United States and deposit the resulting funds into a Ukrainian Humanitarian Aid Fund established by the bill. Treasury may use the funds to provide assistance to Ukraine, including by providing funding to Ukraine's government for humanitarian and security assistance.

Maddy summaryHR 935, the Safety and Opportunity for Girls Act of 2023, amends Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to define "sex" as determined by reproductive biology and genetics at birth, and clarifies that "sex-segregated" means limited to or separated by that sex. The bill explicitly prohibits the Secretary of Education from requiring schools to eliminate sex-segregated bathrooms, locker rooms, or athletic/academic programs as a condition for receiving federal funding under Title IX. It directly affects educational institutions receiving federal funds by preventing federal enforcement actions that might compel them to abandon existing sex-segregated facilities or programs. The bill focuses on altering the legal interpretation of Title IX regarding sex-based accommodations, not creating new programs or services.

Maddy summaryHR 914, the Simplifying Grants Act of 2023, requires federal agencies to simplify grant application processes for small local governments (defined as those in areas with fewer than 50,000 people, per Census standards). Within 180 days of enactment, agencies must review and simplify complex grant requirements for existing programs and ensure new programs are designed with simplicity from the start. Agencies must also publish public checklists for each grant step and report annually to Congress on implementation progress, including how much technical assistance was provided and how many grants were awarded to small communities versus larger ones. This bill directly affects counties, towns, and other small local governments that receive federal grants but face bureaucratic hurdles.

Maddy summaryThe Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2023 amends the National Labor Relations Act to explicitly include Indian tribes and tribal enterprises operating on Indian lands as covered "employers" under federal labor law. This means tribal governments and tribal-owned businesses on tribal lands would now be subject to the same labor protections and rules as other employers under the NLRA, such as those governing union organizing and collective bargaining. The bill achieves this by adding specific definitions for "Indian tribe," "Indian," and "Indian lands" to the NLRA, clarifying which entities fall under the law's jurisdiction. This change directly affects tribal governments and tribal enterprises operating on designated tribal lands.

Maddy summaryHRES 110 is a non-binding resolution supporting the designation of "Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month" to recognize CTE's role in preparing students for high-demand careers. It encourages educators, school counselors, and parents to promote CTE as a respected pathway for students seeking credentials in fields like healthcare, technology, and skilled trades. The resolution highlights CTE's benefits, including reducing high school dropout rates and aligning education with workforce needs, without creating new funding or policy changes. It directly affects schools, educators, and students by affirming CTE's value in workforce development.

Maddy summaryHRES 109 is a non-binding resolution introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on February 8, 2023, expressing the House's sense that Social Security should be preserved and protected for current beneficiaries (over 66 million Americans) and future generations. It does not create new laws or alter existing Social Security policies but serves as a symbolic statement of support for the program. The resolution emphasizes Social Security's role in providing retirement, disability, and survivor benefits while referencing concerns about inflation's impact on beneficiaries. As a procedural resolution, it has no legal effect on Social Security funding or benefits.

This resolution condemns Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin Corridor to Nagorno-Karabakh (also known as Artsakh). The resolution calls on the U.S. government to work with international partners to deploy observers to explore opportunities for security and peaceful development. The resolution also calls on the President to (1) suspend military and security assistance from the United States to Azerbaijan, and (2) fully enforce a U.S. law prohibiting certain bilateral assistance to Azerbaijan until Azerbaijan takes demonstrable steps to cease all offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Maddy summaryHR 876, the Border Crisis Prevention Act of 2023, aims to reform asylum processing and immigration detention procedures. It requires uniform recording of credible fear interviews and asylum applications, mandates independent interpreters, and adds strict warnings about filing frivolous applications, which could lead to permanent ineligibility for asylum benefits. The bill also extends detention periods for certain immigrants who fail to cooperate with removal efforts or who pose perceived risks, allowing the Secretary of Homeland Security to keep them detained beyond standard timelines without bond hearings. These changes directly affect asylum seekers, immigration judges, and detention facilities by altering how cases are processed and how long individuals may be held.

Reimbursing Border Communities Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to make grants to certain border communities for expenses related to security measures along the southern border. Specifically, the local government of a community is eligible for a grant if it is located within 200 miles of the border and is not a sanctuary jurisdiction as defined by the bill. Additionally, no grant may be used to reimburse nonprofit organizations, fund legal representation, or provide educational, housing, food, or health care resources to a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law).

Maddy summaryHCONRES 9 is a symbolic resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that formally denounces socialism as incompatible with American values, citing historical examples of socialist regimes causing widespread suffering and authoritarian rule. It states Congress opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States. This resolution has no legal effect, does not change any laws, and serves solely as a non-binding statement of congressional opinion. It directly affects no individuals or policies, as it is purely a declarative position.