This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to develop and implement a method to allow for payment of certain excise taxes with bitcoin. It also authorizes Treasury to enter into contracts to obtain services with payment by bitcoin.
Maddy summaryHRES 1305 is a procedural resolution that formally rescinds subpoenas issued by the January 6th Select Committee to four individuals (Stephen Bannon, Mark Meadows, Daniel Scavino Jr., and Peter Navarro) and withdraws the committee’s recommendations finding them in contempt of Congress. The bill specifically cancels subpoenas from September 2021, October 2021, and February 2022, along with related contempt resolutions adopted in 2021-2022. It does not alter legal proceedings but withdraws the committee’s authority to enforce these actions. The resolution is supported by House members who argue the committee was partisan and illegitimate, though the bill itself only addresses the committee’s procedural actions.
Maddy summaryHR 8785, the Tax Free Tips Act of 2024, reclassifies tips as gifts rather than taxable income for workers in service industries like restaurants and hospitality. It removes tips from income tax calculations, Social Security taxes, unemployment taxes, and wage withholding requirements. The bill repeals existing rules requiring employers to report tips (Section 6053) and eliminates related tax credits (Section 45B). Tips will no longer be counted as income for tax purposes, effective for tips received after the bill's enactment date. This directly affects tipped employees by eliminating tax obligations on their gratuities.
Maddy summaryThis bill rescinds unspent funds from specific federal programs. It targets leftover money from pandemic relief (like the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan) and certain infrastructure initiatives (including education stabilization funds and transportation programs like the Congestion Mitigation Program). The rescission is limited to amounts already allocated for Israel, Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific security supplements under recent appropriations. Unspent funds must be returned to the Treasury, with no new spending created.
Maddy summaryHR 8629, titled the GAZA Act, prohibits the entry of individuals holding passports issued by the Palestinian Authority into the United States. The bill bans admission, parole, and visa issuance for these individuals for a two-year period starting upon enactment. It directly affects Palestinians with Palestinian Authority passports seeking to enter the U.S. for any purpose during this timeframe. The key mechanism is a temporary, blanket restriction on entry based solely on passport issuance authority. This policy change alters U.S. immigration procedures for a specific group without specifying exceptions or enforcement details.
Maddy summaryHJRES 146 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule published on May 8, 2024, that would have clarified eligibility for health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and certain other noncitizens. The rule aimed to allow these individuals to access premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, and basic health programs through health insurance marketplaces. If enacted, this resolution would block the CMS rule from taking effect, maintaining current restrictions that prevent DACA recipients from qualifying for these subsidies.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to strengthen protections for wild horses and burros. It shortens the time period for transferring ownership of these animals from one year to six months and adds criminal penalties for specific actions. The law makes it a felony to acquire wild horses or burros (or their carcasses) with the intent to sell them for commercial products like meat or hides, or to knowingly transfer them for that purpose. Violators face fines up to $2,000, over one year in prison, or both, and the Interior and Agriculture Secretaries are authorized to investigate and refer cases to prosecutors.
Maddy summaryHR 8421 would abolish the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and all Federal Reserve Banks, ending the U.S. central banking system as currently structured. The bill requires a one-year wind-down period during which the Fed Chairman manages employee compensation, asset liquidation, and debt settlement, with all assets transferred to the Treasury and liabilities assumed by the Secretary of the Treasury. It repeals the Federal Reserve Act and mandates a joint Treasury-OMB report to Congress within 18 months detailing implementation progress. This bill directly affects the Federal Reserve System's operations and structure, not the general public or financial markets.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 859 North State Road 21 in Melrose, Florida, as the "Pamela Jane Rock Post Office Building" for commemorative purposes. It updates all official U.S. government references to the location to use this new name. The bill is procedural and does not create new policies or affect any other entities. It was enacted on May 7, 2024, after passing both chambers of Congress.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates legal definitions in customs law to replace the outdated "four leagues" standard with current international law boundaries. It clarifies that U.S. customs enforcement applies to waters within the U.S. territorial sea (up to 12 nautical miles, as defined in Presidential Proclamation 5928) and contiguous zone (up to 24 nautical miles, as defined in Proclamation 7219). The change directly affects U.S. Customs and Border Protection's maritime enforcement operations but does not alter the actual geographic scope of enforcement areas. The bill amends the Tariff Act of 1930 and the Anti-Smuggling Act to align their language with existing international law standards.
