Rep. Matt Gaetz

Maddy summaryHRES 967 would amend House rules to allow Members who have recently given birth to vote by proxy for up to six weeks after childbirth. Specifically, a new rule permits a Member to designate another Member as their proxy during this period to cast votes on their behalf. The proxy cannot be used to count the Member's presence for quorum purposes in the House or its committees. This change directly affects female Members during their postpartum leave, with no other proxy voting allowed under the amendment.

Maddy summaryThe REMAIN in Mexico Act of 2024 would require the U.S. government to reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), a policy that forces certain asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their U.S. immigration cases are processed. It directly affects asylum seekers from Mexico and Central America who are seeking entry to the United States and would be subject to the MPP under this law. The bill mandates implementation of the MPP as described in a 2019 policy memo by former Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen. This would reverse the current administration's decision to end the program, requiring asylum seekers to remain in Mexico during their immigration proceedings.

Maddy summaryHR 6941, the Criminalize Fleeing from Immigration Enforcement Act of 2024, would make it a federal crime for individuals to flee or evade law enforcement officers enforcing specific immigration laws, including unauthorized entry (INA §275), re-entry after deportation (INA §276), or document fraud (INA §274). It directly affects people who flee officers identified as enforcing these immigration provisions or flee immigration checkpoints. The bill would impose penalties of up to five years in prison or fines for fleeing, with up to eight years for fleeing in a vehicle exceeding the speed limit. This amendment to Title 18, U.S. Code, creates a new criminal offense without changing existing immigration enforcement procedures.

Maddy summaryThe Count Only Citizens Act requires the U.S. Census Bureau to include a citizenship or lawful presence question on the 2030 and future decennial census forms. It mandates that the Secretary of Commerce adjust population counts for congressional apportionment to exclude non-citizens and individuals not lawfully present in the U.S. This change directly affects how congressional seats are allocated among states, potentially reducing representation for states with large non-citizen populations. The bill does not alter census counts used for other purposes, such as federal funding distribution.

Maddy summaryThe Default Prevention Act (HR 187) requires the Treasury to pay interest and principal on U.S. debt held by the public and Social Security trust funds (including Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds) if the national debt limit is reached. To do this, the Treasury would issue special obligations exempt from the debt ceiling, meaning they wouldn’t count toward the limit, and these funds couldn’t be used to pay Congress members’ salaries. The bill mandates weekly reports to the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees detailing payments made and obligations issued. This mechanism aims to prevent a government default on critical debt obligations without altering the statutory debt limit.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor Marshall "Major" Taylor, a pioneering Black cyclist who broke racial barriers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It recognizes his athletic achievements, including world records and international championship wins, as well as his advocacy for equality in sports. The medal, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be presented to Taylor's great-granddaughter, Karen Donovan, following the congressional authorization. As a commemorative act with no policy changes, it serves solely to honor Taylor's legacy as a trailblazer and role model.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts U.S. military assistance to Saudi Arabia and establishes victim compensation for the December 6, 2019, Pensacola attack. It prohibits Defense Department funding for Saudi-led military operations in Yemen and halts military officer exchange programs with Saudi Arabia, while also banning certain arms exports. The bill amends existing law to add $10 million in compensation for victims of the Pensacola attack (including family members of deceased victims) and allocates $1 billion from unobligated Ukraine security funds to cover these payments. These provisions directly affect Saudi Arabia by limiting military cooperation and U.S. victims of the Pensacola shooting by providing new financial support.

Maddy summaryHR 6403, the Parents’ Right to Know Act, requires schools receiving federal education funds to provide parents with access to their child’s medical and counseling records upon request. The bill defines these records as those held by the school related to medical care, academic support, or mental health counseling provided to the student. Schools must share these records unless a court-ordered protection order prohibits it. This directly affects parents of students in public and private schools participating in federal education programs. The law amends existing federal education privacy rules to expand parental access to specific student health-related information.

Maddy summaryHR 662, the Block Grant Assistance Act of 2023, amends the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023 to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to provide disaster loss assistance to eligible states and territories through block grants. This change permits states and territories to use the funds more flexibly for disaster recovery under the existing disaster relief framework, rather than requiring direct federal disbursement for specific losses. The bill directly affects states and territories experiencing disasters covered by the Disaster Relief Act. It modifies the current process by adding a specific provision enabling block grants as an option for distributing relief funds.

Maddy summaryHRES 771 is a non-binding resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. It condemns Hamas' actions, affirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls for the immediate release of hostages. The resolution also urges enforcement of existing laws restricting aid to terrorists and sanctions against Iran for supporting Hamas. It does not create new policies or allocate funds, as it is a symbolic statement of congressional support.