Rep. Scott Franklin

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal agencies from using government funds to purchase or operate drones (unmanned aircraft systems) made by "covered foreign entities," primarily targeting entities linked to foreign governments, especially those tied to China as defined in the bill. It directly affects federal agencies and contractors receiving federal funding for drone acquisitions or operations. Key provisions include specific exemptions for national security research, counterterrorism, or cybersecurity needs, and a waiver process requiring approval from Homeland Security or Defense. The law aims to reduce reliance on potentially risky foreign drone technology by restricting federal funding for such systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the POW/MIA Memorial and Museum under construction in Jacksonville, Florida, as the "National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum." It requires the museum to submit a detailed report to Congress within 90 days, including its five-year budget, organizational structure, bylaws, and accreditation status. The designation may be withdrawn if the museum is not operational within five years of enactment or if the required report is submitted late. The bill formalizes an existing project honoring over 224,000 service members captured or unaccounted for since World War II, without creating new policies or affecting public programs.

Short Line Railroad Relief Act This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to provide emergency grants or enter into contracts and other agreements for capital projects for short line railroads. A project must protect, repair, reconstruct, or replace short line railroad equipment and facilities in danger of suffering catastrophic damage, or that have suffered catastrophic damage, as a result of an emergency. An emergency includes a natural disaster affecting a wide area or a catastrophic failure from any external cause that results in the declaration of an emergency or a major disaster.

Maddy summaryHR 3792 extends U.S. security funding for Israel through 2028 (Section 3) and expands energy cooperation to include advanced nuclear technologies and carbon capture (Section 5). It requires annual reports on regional security partnerships involving Israel (Section 6) and ensures countries in the Abraham Accords can access U.S. development programs (Section 8). The bill also mandates reports on diplomatic efforts against ICC investigations targeting the U.S. and Israel (Section 10) and encourages people-to-people programs to strengthen the Abraham Accords (Sections 7, 9). These provisions directly affect Israel’s diplomatic engagement, security partnerships, and economic cooperation in the Middle East.

Maddy summaryHR 3036, the Increased TSP Access Act of 2023, amends conservation program rules to expand access to third-party providers (TSPs) who offer technical assistance to farmers on conservation practices. It creates new pathways for non-Federal entities like agricultural cooperatives or professional associations to certify TSPs, streamlines certification processes (requiring Secretary review within 10 business days), and sets payment rates for TSPs equivalent to government-provided technical assistance. The bill mandates public reporting on certification numbers, payment details, and a target utilization rate for TSPs to improve conservation program delivery. It directly affects farmers participating in USDA conservation programs by increasing options for technical support and requiring transparency in how TSPs are certified and compensated.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds citrus groves planted within the past decade to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), creating a special enrollment category for citrus land. It prioritizes enrollment for citrus groves at risk of development, affected by huanglongbing (a citrus disease), or supporting wildlife habitat. The bill requires 1-5 year contracts for enrolled citrus land and limits annual enrollment to 100,000 acres from 2024-2028. It directly affects citrus farmers in states like Florida and California who own eligible groves meeting the new criteria.

Maddy summaryHR 3176, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, creates a 3-year pilot program allowing eligible veterans (enrolled in VA care) to choose any provider within the VA healthcare system or approved non-VA facilities, removing prior location restrictions for VA care. Veterans can select primary and specialty care providers freely, with VA coordinating care through a designated primary provider. After the pilot, these expanded choices become permanent policy, requiring the VA to offer full provider selection without geographic or administrative barriers. The bill implements these changes using existing VA funding without new appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit for expenses related to "qualified access technology for the blind" under the Internal Revenue Code. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $2,000 per year (adjusted for inflation) for costs paid for hardware, software, or IT that converts visual information into formats usable by blind individuals, covering the taxpayer, their spouse, or a dependent who is blind. The credit is limited to $2,000 over any three consecutive tax years per blind individual and expires after 2028. It directly affects blind individuals and their families who purchase qualifying assistive technology. The credit cannot be claimed for expenses already covered by other tax deductions or credits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that AM radio receivers be included as standard equipment in all new motor vehicles (such as cars and trucks) sold in the United States, with a rule to be issued by the Department of Transportation within one year. The rule must ensure AM radio is easily accessible on the dashboard and allows manufacturers to use digital AM radio technology instead of traditional AM. During the one-year period between the bill's enactment and the rule's effective date, manufacturers must clearly label vehicles without AM radio. The bill also directs a study to evaluate whether an alternative system could deliver emergency alerts as reliably as AM radio across the country, especially during crises.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 3458 (Reinstate Our Troops Act), provides relief to military service members who were involuntarily separated solely for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations. It requires military leaders to reinstate eligible service members to their previous rank within 30 days of their request (made within one year of the law's passage), return any bonuses they repaid due to separation, and change their discharge status to "honorable" if they don't seek reinstatement. It also mandates expunging records of the vaccination refusal from their service files. The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to report on implementation to Congress within 60 days.