Rep. John H. Rutherford

Maddy summaryHR 2843, the Crime Doesn’t Fly Act of 2023, prohibits Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers from accepting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest warrants (Forms I-200 or I-205) as valid identification at airport security checkpoints. This directly affects individuals detained by ICE who might attempt to use these warrants as ID when traveling. The bill allows exceptions only for immigrants being removed from the U.S. under formal immigration proceedings, as defined by law. The key change is preventing ICE detention documents from being used to bypass standard ID requirements at airports.

Maddy summaryHR 2826, the Save Local Business Act, clarifies when multiple businesses can be held jointly responsible for labor laws. It amends the National Labor Relations Act and Fair Labor Standards Act to state that a business is only a joint employer if it directly controls key employment terms like hiring, pay, schedules, or discipline for another business's workers. This directly affects franchisors, contractors, and similar business models that might previously have been deemed joint employers under broader interpretations. The bill aims to limit joint employer liability to cases where one business has clear, day-to-day control over essential worker conditions.

Maddy summaryHR 2802, the Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act, requires colleges and universities to include suicide prevention contact information on student identification cards. Specifically, institutions must list the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, and their campus mental health center on new ID cards. Schools that don't issue ID cards must post this information on their websites instead. The requirement takes effect one year after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 2743 prohibits large financial institutions (over $100 billion in assets) from denying banking services to lawful businesses based on subjective political reasons, industry type, or reputational concerns. It requires these institutions to use objective, risk-based assessments for service decisions and provide written justifications for denials. The law applies to banks, credit unions, and payment networks, with civil penalties for violations including fines up to $10,000 per incident. It specifically ensures businesses operating legally under federal law receive fair access to financial services without discrimination. The bill mandates that denials be based on documented risk factors, not political bias or category-based exclusion.

Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act This bill revises the requirements for the verification of prescriptions related to the purchase of contact lenses. Specifically, online sellers of prescription contact lenses must provide consumers with a method to transmit a digital copy of their prescriptions to such sellers. Online sellers also must encrypt protected health information they send by email. Additionally, the bill prohibits any seller of prescription contact lenses from using telephone calls with an artificial or prerecorded voice (i.e., robocalls) to verify a consumer's prescription.

American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2023 This bill eliminates the five-year amortization requirement for research and experimental expenditures, thus allowing continued expensing of such expenditures in the taxable years in which they are incurred.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal grant program to help states fund child care for the minor children of police officers during their irregular work schedules. It provides competitive grants to states, with 20% reserved for jurisdictions employing fewer than 200 officers, to support law enforcement agencies in creating or expanding child care services. States must match federal funds (10-33% over three years) and use grant money for startup costs, provider training, sick child care, extended hours, or facility construction. The program runs through 2028, requiring annual audits and two federal studies to assess its effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHR 2711, the SAYFE Act, requires annual sexual abuse prevention training for all students enrolled in Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs. The training, delivered by an external entity (not JROTC instructors), must be age-appropriate, evidence-based, and cover topics like grooming, cyberbullying, appropriate adult-student interactions, and digital abuse. It also mandates providing students with local resource contacts for reporting abuse or accessing support. The Secretary of Defense must establish metrics to evaluate the training's effectiveness. This bill directly affects JROTC students in all participating schools.

Maddy summaryHJRES 27 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a federal rule that redefined which waterways fall under the Clean Water Act's protections. It targets a rule submitted by the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on January 18, 2023, which aimed to revise the "Waters of the United States" definition. The resolution would formally disapprove this rule under a specific federal procedure (Chapter 8 of Title 5), preventing it from taking effect. This would directly affect how federal agencies regulate pollution and development near water bodies, including wetlands and smaller streams.

Maddy summaryThe PLUS for Veterans Act of 2023 clarifies and updates rules for veterans' benefit claims under the Department of Veterans Affairs. It sets a $12,500 annual fee cap (adjusted for inflation) for agents or attorneys representing veterans, prohibits charging fees for medical exams, and prohibits unauthorized fees with penalties including fines or up to one year in prison. The bill directly affects veterans seeking benefits, their legal representatives, and the VA by standardizing fee agreements, requiring VA reports on agent/attorney suspensions, and ensuring veterans can access free services from VA-recognized organizations. Key provisions include banning fees for medical reports and requiring clear fee disclosures to veterans.