Mitigating Investor Risk Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to (1) report on the risks posed to U.S. investors by investments in Chinese companies in the event of hostilities in Taiwan or the Taiwan Strait, and (2) make any recommendations for mitigating this risk.
Maddy summaryThis bill would require Supreme Court justices to retire after 18 years of service (except for those appointed before the law's enactment), and mandate that the President nominate one justice during the first and third years after each presidential election. It would create a "Senior Justice" category for retired justices who can temporarily fill vacancies until new appointments are confirmed. The Senate would be required to act on nominations within 120 days, or the nominee would be seated automatically. The law directly affects future justices and the appointment process, while exempting current justices from the retirement requirement.
Maddy summaryHR 4422 (Global Respect Act) requires the President to publicly identify foreign officials responsible for violence, torture, or arbitrary detention against LGBTQI individuals and block their entry to the U.S., including revoking visas for them and their immediate families. It mandates annual reporting to Congress on the list of sanctioned individuals, the reasons for additions/removals, and efforts to coordinate with other countries on similar sanctions. The bill also updates U.S. human rights reporting requirements to explicitly include data on violence and discrimination against LGBTQI people worldwide. These measures aim to increase accountability for human rights violations against LGBTQI individuals without advocating for specific policy outcomes.
Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2023 This bill prohibits discrimination, in the context of various housing practices, against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Maddy summaryHR 4340, the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2023, prohibits paid providers from offering conversion therapy - defined as any commercial service attempting to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity - and bans advertising that claims such therapy is effective or harmless. It directly affects therapists, counselors, or organizations offering paid conversion therapy services, including those advertising such services. Key provisions make it unlawful to provide, advertise, or facilitate paid conversion therapy, with enforcement led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under consumer protection laws and allowing states to pursue civil actions. The bill explicitly excludes supportive care for gender transition or identity exploration from its definition of prohibited therapy.
Maddy summaryHR 4329 establishes a new Title X Clinic Fund to expand federal support for family planning clinics. It allocates $512 million annually (2024-2033) for clinic grants/contracts and $50 million for clinic infrastructure (construction/renovation) under the Public Health Service Act. The bill requires all pregnancy counseling at funded clinics to be nondirective, providing patients with neutral, factual information about all options - including prenatal care, adoption, and pregnancy termination - without bias. This directly affects Title X clinics serving low-income patients and ensures funding cannot restrict providers based on unrelated factors.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice to detect, identify, monitor, and mitigate drone threats to specific high-risk facilities including government buildings, airports, critical infrastructure, and locations hosting special events. It establishes a 5-year pilot program allowing state and local law enforcement agencies to use drone detection technology under federal oversight, with strict privacy protections requiring 180-day data retention limits and mandatory training for personnel. The bill requires coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration to minimize impacts on air traffic and mandates regular congressional reporting on how these authorities are being used. It sets an expiration date of 7 years after enactment for these new authorities.
Maddy summaryHR 4390, the Housing Navigators Act of 2023, provides $50 million annually (2024-2029) to fund community-based organizations, local governments, or nonprofits to serve as housing navigators. These navigators will directly assist low-income individuals and communities by offering in-person and online education, distributing eligibility information, and helping people enroll in local, state, and federal housing assistance programs. Key provisions require navigators to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate support, avoid conflicts of interest, and ensure information is fair and accurate. The bill establishes federal standards for navigator qualifications and program information to improve access to housing resources.
Maddy summaryHR 4325, the Historically Underserved Veterans Inclusion Act of 2023, expands the Department of Veterans Affairs' Center for Minority Veterans to include "historically underserved" veterans and modifies its advisory committee. The bill broadens the definition of "covered veterans" to include veterans facing barriers based on sexual orientation, gender identity, English language proficiency, citizenship, religion, or other factors identified through a biennial review. Key provisions require the VA Secretary to conduct biennial reviews of benefit disparities and submit reports to Congress, while the expanded advisory committee must advise on improving benefits, health care, homelessness services, and outreach for these veterans. The bill directly affects veterans who experience systemic barriers in accessing VA services, aiming to make VA programs more inclusive through concrete policy adjustments.
Maddy summaryHR 4335, the VA Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2023, requires mortgage lenders to include specific information about VA home loan programs in standard mortgage disclosures. The bill amends the National Housing Act to mandate that lenders provide details on VA loans (guaranteed under Title 38) alongside other loan options, including assumptions about prevailing interest rates. This change directly affects lenders processing VA-guaranteed mortgages, ensuring borrowers receive clearer comparisons between VA loans and other financing. The law does not require lenders to verify borrower eligibility for VA loans, only to include the specified disclosure language.
