Rep. Byron Donalds

Maddy summaryHR 4615, the National Emergency Expenditure Reporting Transparency Act, requires federal agencies to provide detailed public reports on spending during national emergencies declared by the President. It mandates disclosure of specific data - including budget authority, obligations, unobligated balances, and spending by program activity and funding source - beginning six months after the bill's enactment. This applies to all national emergencies under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1621), directly affecting federal agencies managing emergency funds and increasing transparency for the public. The bill updates existing federal spending data standards to include unique identifiers for emergency-related funds, requiring agencies to report this information through the government’s public spending database.

Maddy summaryThe Mount Rushmore Protection Act prohibits federal funding for any changes to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, including altering, destroying, or removing its carved faces or features. It specifically bans the use of federal funds to modify the memorial's existing names, faces, or other physical elements. The bill also formally designates the site as "Mount Rushmore" in all federal records, maps, and documents. This legislation directly affects federal agencies and government documents that reference the memorial, ensuring its current appearance remains protected from funded modifications.

Maddy summaryHR 3358, the Mission not Emissions Act, prohibits federal contractors from being required to report greenhouse gas emissions or climate-related financial risks. The bill blocks compliance with the proposed Federal Acquisition Regulation rule that would have mandated contractors to disclose Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions, create emissions inventories, or set emissions reduction targets for validation. It directly affects businesses holding federal contracts by removing these specific reporting obligations. The law focuses solely on eliminating disclosure requirements, not on changing emissions standards or reduction efforts.

Maddy summaryHR 4543, the "American Confidence in Elections: District of Columbia Timely Reporting of Election Results Act," requires the District of Columbia to process mail ballots immediately upon receipt and report election results publicly by 10:00 a.m. the day after an election. It mandates that DC election officials publish the total number of voted ballots (including mail and absentee ballots) on election day via a public website, showing breakdowns by ballot type. The bill also requires bipartisan administration of election activities, ensuring election workers are accompanied by someone registered with a different political party when handling ballots or equipment. These provisions apply specifically to all District of Columbia elections, including federal races and ballot initiatives.

Biometric Verification for Entry and Reconfirming Identity with Forensics Act of 2023 or the B-VERIFY Act of 2023 This bill addresses various immigration-related issues, including by imposing penalties on parents of unaccompanied alien children who arrive in the United States. Under this bill, any applicant for an immigration benefit, including a U.S. national applying for a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) beneficiary, must provide biometric information, including DNA. Furthermore, before the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may release an unaccompanied alien child to a sponsor, the potential sponsor must undergo a background check that includes certain searches, including a Federal Bureau of Investigation National Criminal History Check. (HHS currently conducts background checks of potential sponsors, but is not required to conduct all the checks required by this bill.) HHS must report a potential sponsor to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if the potential sponsor (1) fails to prove a claimed familial relationship with the child, or (2) provides a false identity document. HHS may not use government funds to provide legal counsel to detained unaccompanied alien children. The bill also imposes penalties on the non-U.S. national parents of an unaccompanied alien child who arrives in the United States, including by deeming the parent inadmissible into the United States if the parent does not have lawful permanent resident status. Federal employees must promptly notify ICE if they receive an identification document indicating that an individual is unlawfully present. ICE must promptly place the individual in removal proceedings.

Maddy summaryHR 4485, the Rings of Fire Act of 2023, requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy for deploying conventional ground-based missile systems in the Indo-Pacific region within 180 days of enactment. The strategy must assess capability gaps relative to China's intermediate-range missile arsenal (500-5,500 km range), identify specific military requirements and basing locations, and outline operational concepts for joint use with allies. It mandates including cost assessments, co-development plans with partners like AUKUS, and designating a theater commander for missile strategy. The bill directly affects the Department of Defense and aims to address a stated gap in U.S. conventional missile capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.

Maddy summaryHRES 571 is a symbolic resolution expressing the House's support for designating July as "American Pride Month." It does not create new laws or policies, but rather calls for celebrating U.S. history, achievements, and figures like Founding Fathers, Civil War soldiers, World War II veterans, and civil rights leaders. The resolution outlines reasons for this observance, including honoring patriotism and teaching American history, but has no legal effect or direct impact on any group. As a non-binding resolution, it serves only as a statement of support, not a concrete policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts eligibility for federal electric vehicle tax credits by barring manufacturers majority-owned by foreign adversaries (as defined in federal regulations) or their related entities from claiming these credits. It amends the Internal Revenue Code to require EV manufacturers to certify they meet this ownership standard to qualify for Section 30D tax credits. The provision applies to vehicles placed in service after the bill's enactment date. This directly affects EV manufacturers with significant ties to designated foreign governments, altering which companies can access these tax incentives.

Maddy summaryHR 4323 delays any changes to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) current rule limiting ship speeds to protect North Atlantic right whales. The bill requires NOAA to wait until two conditions are met: (1) new whale protection protocols from the 2022 Coast Guard Act are fully developed and deployed, and (2) the Secretary submits a report to four congressional committees detailing how those protocols will shape future rule updates. This directly affects NOAA's regulatory authority and vessel operators who must follow the existing speed rules. The law does not change the current rule but pauses any amendments until these specific steps are completed.

Ukraine Reconstruction Accountability and Transparency Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors at each international financial institution to use their voice, vote, and influence to prevent such institutions from entering into contracts for reconstruction in Ukraine with companies in countries supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The international financial institutions include the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Finance Corporation. Specifically, the bill requires such instructions to prevent the institutions from contracting with firms, including subcontractors, that are located or have operations in designated countries or in countries whose government has provided material or diplomatic support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The bill also authorizes Treasury to waive such instructions for countries specified by the bill if the government of that country (1) publicly opposes the Russian invasion of Ukraine, or (2) provides material support to Ukraine to evict Russian forces from its territory.