Rep. Lauren Boebert

Maddy summaryThis bill removes legal immunity for vaccine manufacturers by allowing individuals injured by vaccines to sue them directly in court after filing a claim with the federal vaccine injury compensation program (VICP). It eliminates time limits for filing VICP claims (previously 24-36 months) and explicitly excludes COVID-19 vaccines from the program's coverage. The changes affect people seeking compensation for vaccine injuries and vaccine manufacturers, who will no longer automatically avoid lawsuits. The bill also repeals provisions that previously restricted legal action after VICP claims.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes existing programs to protect endangered and threatened fish species in the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins through 2031. It extends annual funding for capital projects ($50 million per year, adjusted for inflation) and annual base operations ($80 million total over 8 years, split as $52.9 million for the Upper Colorado and $27.1 million for the San Juan). The bill updates legal definitions to include "threatened" species and clarifies how funds from federal agencies (like power revenues) and non-federal partners (states, tribes, water users) can be used. It directly affects the Bureau of Reclamation, the Upper Colorado River Basin states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming), and entities participating in the recovery programs. The funding continues the existing 1987 and 1992 cooperative agreements without altering their environmental goals.

Maddy summaryHR 9756 requires state and local governments receiving federal funds for microtransit services (flexible, on-demand transit using smaller vehicles like vans) to contract with private companies through competitive bidding instead of operating services directly. The bill mandates transparent bidding processes prioritizing efficiency, cost-effectiveness, service quality, small/disadvantaged businesses, and local operators - though governments can request waivers for non-local providers. Governments must certify compliance to the Transportation Secretary, who will report annually to Congress on implementation. Noncompliance risks suspension of federal microtransit funding after a correction period.

Maddy summaryHR 9755 requires all owners and employees (including independent contractors) of massage wellness spas to pass fingerprint-based background checks before being allowed to work. These checks, conducted by law enforcement, aim to identify criminal histories related to human trafficking, sexual exploitation, or violence. Owners must ensure compliance, with penalties like fines or license revocation for non-compliance. The bill directly affects the massage wellness spa industry by mandating this screening to enhance public safety and prevent exploitation.

Maddy summaryHJRES 144 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a specific rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) on April 19, 2024. The resolution seeks to block the ATF's rule that redefined the term "engaged in the business" for firearm dealers, which would have affected how federal licensing requirements apply to certain sellers. If enacted, this resolution would nullify the rule, preventing it from taking effect under procedures in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. The bill directly impacts firearm dealers operating under the current regulatory framework and the ATF's enforcement authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends U.S. immigration law to add new grounds for inadmissibility and deportability related to sex offenses and domestic violence. It makes non-citizens inadmissible if convicted of, or admitting to, sex offenses (as defined in the Adam Walsh Act) or domestic violence crimes (as defined under the Violent Crime Control Act). It also expands deportability to include these offenses, specifying that domestic violence crimes are deportable regardless of whether the jurisdiction received federal grant funding. The changes apply to non-citizens with prior convictions or admissions for these specific offenses, modifying their immigration status under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HJRES 163) is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule finalized on May 9, 2024. The EPA rule established new emissions standards for greenhouse gases from fossil fuel power plants (both new and existing) and repealed a previous rule called the Affordable Clean Energy Rule. The resolution would block this EPA rule from taking effect by invoking the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code). If passed, it would prevent the EPA rule from being enforced, directly affecting fossil fuel power plant operators and the EPA’s regulatory authority over emissions.

Maddy summaryHJRES 133 is a congressional resolution seeking to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule titled "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3." This rule, published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2024, established new emissions requirements for large trucks and commercial vehicles. The resolution, if passed, would prevent the EPA rule from taking effect by formally disapproving it under standard congressional review procedures. The measure directly affects the EPA’s regulatory authority and vehicle manufacturers who would have been required to comply with the proposed standards.

Maddy summaryHR 9657, the Detain and Deport Gang Members Act of 2024, would make it easier to detain and deport immigrants who are members of or associated with gangs that meet a new definition of "criminal gang." The bill defines a criminal gang as a group of five or more people whose primary purpose is committing serious crimes including drug trafficking, violent offenses, human trafficking, or immigration crimes. Under this bill, such immigrants would be considered inadmissible (unable to enter the U.S.), subject to mandatory detention, and deportable. The bill also creates a process for the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate groups as criminal gangs, with review procedures, and amends asylum and other immigration benefits to exclude those associated with such gangs.

Maddy summaryHR 9617, the KAMALA Act, prohibits federal housing and community development grants from being used to assist individuals who are not U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the U.S. (specifically, those not admitted for permanent residence under immigration law). This directly affects state and local governments, municipalities, and tribal entities receiving federal housing funds under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, preventing them from using those funds for housing or community programs aiding undocumented immigrants. The bill amends two sections of the 1974 Act: it blocks grant funds from assisting undocumented people (Section 105) and bars grants to any recipient entity that provides such assistance (Section 103). These changes apply to all fiscal years starting in 2024 and later.