Maddy summaryHR 6642, the GRANT Act of 2023, requires universities and researchers receiving federal research and development grants to disclose foreign funding from "countries of concern" (like China, Russia, and Iran) within 30 days. Specifically, grant recipients must report such support to the funding agency, and researchers must report it to their institution within 30 days, with the institution forwarding it to the agency within 14 days. The bill mandates a public, searchable online database of all disclosures within 60 days of enactment and requires annual compliance reports to Congress. It also authorizes agencies to withhold payments, disallow costs, or debar non-compliant recipients for failing to report foreign support. The law directly affects institutions and researchers receiving federal R&D grants involving foreign funding from specified countries.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHR 6625, the Chinese Spy Balloon Assessment Act, requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress within 90 days of the bill's enactment. The report must detail the national security effects of surveillance conducted by China via a high-altitude balloon shot down in U.S. airspace in February 2023, including impacts on military installations and an analysis of recovered technology's country of origin. This bill directly affects the Department of Defense and Congress by mandating a specific, time-bound assessment of a single incident. It does not create new policies or funding but establishes a procedural requirement for transparency about the 2023 balloon event. The report must be unclassified, though it may include a classified annex.
Maddy summaryHR 6612, the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2023, clarifies who qualifies for U.S. citizenship at birth under the 14th Amendment. It amends immigration law to define that a child born in the U.S. is "subject to the jurisdiction" for citizenship if one parent is a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident living in the U.S., or an active-duty military member. The bill directly affects children born in the U.S. to parents in these specific categories, ensuring they meet the citizenship definition without altering the constitutional right itself. It explicitly states this definition applies only to births occurring after the law's enactment, leaving existing citizenship status unaffected for those born before. The bill aims to codify existing constitutional principles through specific, narrow criteria for parental status.
Maddy summaryHR 6504, the Protect American Gun Exporters Act, blocks the Department of Commerce from implementing a pause on new export licenses for specific firearm exports (items under Commerce Control List numbers 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, and 0A505). The bill directly affects U.S. gun exporters by preventing the Commerce Secretary from enforcing the October 2023 pause or similar restrictions on these exports. Key provisions prohibit the Secretary from taking any action to carry out the pause unless it follows standard regulatory processes, including a required impact analysis and compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act and Congressional Review Act. This bill does not create new export rules but stops the existing pause on certain firearm exports.
Maddy summaryHR 6131, the Commercial Space Act of 2023, establishes a new certification system for U.S. commercial space companies to operate spacecraft, replacing some existing licensing requirements. The bill requires companies to submit space debris mitigation plans and liability insurance as part of their certification application, with the Department of Commerce's Office of Space Commerce handling the process within 60 days. The law aims to reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining U.S. compliance with international space law obligations. This certification system directly affects commercial entities seeking to launch or operate spacecraft in outer space.
Maddy summaryHRES 793 is a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives calling on Hamas to immediately release all 199 hostages taken during Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The resolution condemns Hamas for the attack, the taking of hostages, and threats against hostages, while stating that holding hostages violates international humanitarian law under the Geneva Conventions. It demands the immediate release of all hostages and expresses sympathy for victims and their families. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create legal obligations but formally expresses the House's position.
Maddy summaryThe DOULA for VA Act of 2023 establishes a 5-year pilot program to provide doula support services to pregnant and postpartum women veterans enrolled in VA care. It authorizes up to 10 doula sessions per veteran (including pre-delivery, during labor, and postpartum sessions, with some via VA Video Connect) through the VA's Whole Health model, with payments capped at $3,500 per veteran. The pilot targets VA facilities with high or low female veteran enrollment, frontier states, and areas with higher maternal health risks, requiring doulas to receive training on military trauma and PTSD. The program mandates annual reports to Congress on outcomes and includes requirements for stakeholder consultation and tracking of veteran experiences.
Maddy summaryHR 6479 prohibits plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other individuals directly responsible for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that would avoid a public trial or a death penalty sentence. The bill requires the Attorney General to refuse any such plea agreement, ensuring these defendants cannot secure a resolution that skips a public trial or capital punishment. It directly affects only the 9/11 case defendants named in the legislation. The measure mandates that all legal proceedings for these individuals must proceed to trial or result in a death sentence.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 859) is a ceremonial House measure honoring U.S. veterans on Veterans Day 2023. It formally recognizes veterans' service and sacrifice, calling on the American public to observe Veterans Day to acknowledge their role in protecting U.S. freedoms. The resolution does not create new policies, allocate funds, or affect specific groups - it is purely symbolic. It was introduced by 33 bipartisan House members and passed by the House without committee action.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes how the VA calculates benefits for veterans with health conditions linked to military sexual trauma. It requires the VA to start paying retroactive benefits from the day after a veteran's military discharge, rather than from the claim filing date. This directly affects veterans diagnosed with covered mental or physical health conditions resulting from military sexual trauma. The key provision amends VA law to mandate retroactive payments beginning at discharge, ensuring veterans receive compensation for the full period they were discharged until the claim is approved. It does not alter eligibility but changes the effective date for payment calculations.