Rep. Vern Buchanan

Maddy summaryHR 3334, the STOP CCP Act, imposes U.S. sanctions on members of China's Communist Party Central Committee and their adult family members. It requires blocking their U.S. assets and denying visas or entry to the U.S., effective within 30 days of enactment. The bill allows the President to temporarily waive sanctions if China verifiably ends specific actions: ending Uyghur forced labor/sterilization, ceasing military threats against Taiwan, restoring Hong Kong autonomy, and stopping intellectual property theft. These sanctions would expire after two years unless renewed by the President with congressional notification.

Maddy summaryHRES 1566 is a symbolic House resolution honoring all U.S. veterans on Veterans Day 2024. It recognizes the service and sacrifice of the estimated 15.8 million veterans living in the U.S. as of 2023, including those who served in conflicts from World War II to post-9/11. The resolution calls on the American public to observe Veterans Day to acknowledge veterans' role in preserving national freedom. As a non-binding resolution, it has no direct policy impact but formally expresses congressional recognition of veterans' contributions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1558) is a symbolic House of Representatives measure supporting October as "National Domestic Violence Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally expresses the House's support for raising awareness about domestic violence and its impacts, and urges continued backing for existing programs that address domestic violence. The resolution cites statistics on domestic violence prevalence (e.g., 24 people per minute affected by intimate partner violence) to underscore the importance of the observance. It directly affects public awareness efforts but does not change policies or directly impact individuals.

Maddy summaryHR 10066, the "JAIL for Alien Voters Act of 2024," amends federal law to criminalize non-citizens voting in elections for federal offices like President, Congress, or the Electoral College. It repeals the existing law against alien voting and adds a new provision making it unlawful for aliens to vote in such elections unless the election also serves a separate purpose where aliens are permitted to vote under state/local law, and voting for that purpose is conducted separately. Violators face fines up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to five years. The bill directly affects non-citizen residents who participate in federal elections, creating new criminal penalties for those actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $10 billion in supplemental funding to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Helene under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act. It simultaneously rescinds $10 billion from unobligated Internal Revenue Service (IRS) funds previously authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The bill prohibits the use of these funds to provide any benefits - including food, shelter, healthcare, or transportation - to undocumented immigrants in the U.S. without lawful status. These provisions directly affect disaster victims in hurricane-impacted areas, IRS budget allocations, and access to federal aid for undocumented individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the monthly housing stipend for veteran parents using the Post-9/11 GI Bill to pursue education entirely through distance learning. It directly affects veteran parents with dependent children who take classes online full-time (more than half-time) instead of attending campus. The key provision amends the GI Bill to provide these parents the same housing stipend amount they would receive if physically attending most classes on campus in their local area. The change applies to the first academic year starting after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryHR 9950, the "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act," authorizes three gold medals to be awarded to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team for their historic victory over the Soviet Union during the Winter Olympics. The medals, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be presented by Congress to honor the team's achievement, which revitalized American morale during the Cold War. One medal will be displayed at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, one at the USA Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minnesota, and one at the U.S. Olympic Museum in Colorado Springs. The bill also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs. This is a ceremonial honor, not a policy change, directly recognizing the team members and their legacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill terminates all federal funding for FEMA's Shelter and Services Program effective upon enactment. It prohibits new appropriations for this program or any similar successor program. Any remaining funds from the program as of the enactment date will be transferred to support disaster relief efforts under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act. The change directly affects FEMA's budget operations but redirects existing resources to broader disaster assistance.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding resolution (HRES 1533) expresses the U.S. House of Representatives' continued support for Israel one year after the October 7, 2023, attacks. It condemns Hamas' attacks against Israel and calls on Hamas to immediately cease violence, release all living hostages, and return the bodies of deceased hostages. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally reaffirms congressional sentiment toward U.S.-Israel relations and the response to the Hamas attacks. It was introduced by 13 House members on October 4, 2024, and referred to the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance - including loans, contracts, and other support - from going to small businesses that are either headquartered in China or have more than 25% of their voting stock owned by Chinese-affiliated entities. It directly affects small business concerns meeting either of these criteria, blocking their access to SBA programs. The bill amends the Small Business Act to add this restriction and requires the SBA to update its regulations (including specific sections of the Code of Federal Regulations) to implement the change. The policy change is a direct eligibility requirement for SBA programs, with no additional funding or program modifications.