Rep. Michael Waltz

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1551) supports designating October 23, 2024, as a national day of remembrance for the 241 U.S. military personnel killed in the 1983 terrorist bombing of a Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. It honors Gold Star families, recognizes the fallen service members' sacrifice, and encourages public observance through ceremonies. The resolution is procedural - it does not create new laws or obligations but serves as a symbolic tribute to those who died. It directly affects military families and the public, who are invited to participate in commemorative activities.

Maddy summaryHRES 1537 is a non-binding House resolution condemning Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, including 7 Americans still held captive. It calls on Hamas to immediately surrender, cease attacks, and release all hostages unconditionally, while reaffirming Israel's right to self-defense. The resolution also urges international organizations to condemn Hamas' actions and address the global surge in antisemitism following the attacks. As a symbolic statement, it does not create new laws or alter policy but expresses congressional position. The bill specifically references the ongoing captivity of seven U.S. citizens: Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judith Weinstein Haggai, Omer Neutra, and Keith Siegel.

Maddy summaryHR 3433, the "Give Kids a Chance Act of 2024," requires pharmaceutical companies developing certain cancer drugs to conduct pediatric studies if the drugs target molecular pathways relevant to childhood cancers. It directly affects drug manufacturers submitting new applications for cancer treatments, particularly those combining previously approved adult cancer drugs or containing a single new active ingredient. The bill amends FDA regulations to mandate these pediatric investigations only when specific conditions are met, such as when a drug's molecular target is relevant to pediatric cancer growth. The FDA must issue implementing guidance within 12 months, and reports to Congress will track implementation and effectiveness starting 2 years after enactment.

Maddy summaryHRES 1485 designates the third Friday of September each year as "National POW/MIA Recognition Day" to honor prisoners of war and missing-in-action military personnel. The resolution expresses the House's support for this designation and encourages Americans to observe the day through community commemorations, displaying the POW/MIA flag, and performing acts of service for families of those affected. It does not create new laws or alter existing policies but builds on the existing National POW/MIA Flag Act (Public Law 116-67) that requires the POW/MIA flag to be flown on federal properties. The resolution focuses on symbolic recognition and public engagement rather than substantive policy changes.

Maddy summaryHR 9745, the Lifesaving Gear for Police Act of 2024, removes barriers for state and local law enforcement agencies to access existing federal equipment. It prohibits federal agencies from enforcing any regulations (since May 15, 2015) that limit the transfer of Department of Defense or other federal equipment to police departments, unless Congress passes those rules into law. The bill also requires agencies to return or replace equipment recalled since 2015 under those regulations, provided the agency requests it, meets existing eligibility rules, and the equipment is available. This directly affects police departments that previously had equipment seized or denied under the blocked regulations. The law focuses on restoring access to current equipment-sharing programs, not creating new funding or gear.

Maddy summaryHR 9692, the STOP MADURO Act, authorizes a $100 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro Moros. The reward would be funded exclusively by assets already frozen from Maduro and his regime under existing U.S. sanctions, including those from the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. The bill specifically targets Maduro based on U.S. criminal charges related to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracy. It modifies the State Department's rewards program without creating new sanctions or funding sources.

Maddy summaryHR 5613, the Sanctions Lists Harmonization Act, requires U.S. agencies managing federal sanctions lists to coordinate with each other. Specifically, agencies must notify other agencies within 30 days when adding an individual or entity to one sanctions list, and then review within 60 days whether that person or entity should also be added to other designated lists. If an agency decides not to add someone to another list, it must explain the decision to Congress within 7 days and conduct a yearly review for potential future inclusion. The bill applies to eight specific sanctions lists, including Treasury's OFAC lists, the Commerce Department's Entity List, and Defense Department lists, aiming to streamline federal sanction coordination.

Maddy summaryThe PSA Act (HR 9569) modernizes AmeriCorps programs by creating a 1,500-hour service option (shorter than the current 1,700-hour program), expanding age eligibility for the National Civilian Community Corps from 24 to 26, and establishing a stipend option in lieu of educational awards for some participants. The bill increases administrative cost allowances from 5% to 10% of funds, creates an Office of Alumni Engagement to support former members, and expands how educational awards can be used for career training programs. It also establishes a new non-competitive hiring process for AmeriCorps alumni to transition into federal careers through a certification system. These changes directly affect AmeriCorps participants, alumni, and the Corporation for National and Community Service that administers the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program to expand eligibility for career services to include Gold Star spouses (spouses of service members who died while on active duty) and surviving spouses (spouses of veterans who died from service-connected causes). It updates existing program language to replace references to "veterans" with "veterans or eligible persons" and adds a new definition clarifying that "eligible person" includes these spouses. The change directly affects spouses who lost their partners in military service, allowing them to access the same career counseling and job placement services previously available only to veterans. The bill modifies existing program provisions without creating new services or funding.

Maddy summaryHR 8282, the "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act," imposes U.S. sanctions on foreign individuals or entities supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating or prosecuting "protected persons." Protected persons include U.S. military personnel, officials, and allied personnel (from non-ICC member countries) who are not under ICC jurisdiction. The bill requires the President to block assets and deny visas to targeted foreign persons and their immediate family members within 60 days of the ICC attempting such actions. It mandates congressional notification of sanctions and allows termination if the ICC ceases all such efforts against protected persons. The law focuses on restricting U.S. economic and travel access to ICC supporters targeting specific U.S. and allied personnel.