Maddy summaryHR 10010, the Protect American Fisheries Act of 2024, amends the Magnuson-Stevens Act to address economic harm to U.S. fisheries. It adds "economic cause" to the definition of fishery disasters, specifically when foreign activities distort markets, disrupt sustainable harvesting, or threaten the economic viability of U.S. fisheries. The bill defines "foreign person" broadly to include foreign governments, companies, and U.S. entities controlled by foreign interests, and requires documentation of foreign activities like illegal fishing, predatory pricing, or harmful subsidies when declaring a disaster. This change directly affects U.S. fishing communities and industries by expanding the criteria for federal disaster assistance to include economic impacts from foreign actors.
Sponsored bills
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 summaryThis bill terminates all federal funding for FEMA's Shelter and Services Program effective upon enactment. It prohibits new appropriations for this program or any similar successor program. Any remaining funds from the program as of the enactment date will be transferred to support disaster relief efforts under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act. The change directly affects FEMA's budget operations but redirects existing resources to broader disaster assistance.
Maddy summaryThe Coastal Restoration Act of 2024 establishes a federal Interagency Working Group to coordinate research, protection, and restoration of coastal blue carbon ecosystems, including mangroves, marshes, seagrass, and tidal wetlands that sequester carbon. The bill requires creating a national map and inventory of these ecosystems, assessing their carbon sequestration potential, vulnerability to climate impacts, and co-benefits like flood protection. It authorizes $15 million annually for fiscal years 2025-2029 to support pilot programs for ecosystem restoration, develop a Coastal Carbon Data Clearinghouse, and provide technical assistance to state, tribal, and local governments. The law mandates regular reports to Congress on progress, strategic planning for future investments, and assessments of how these ecosystems contribute to climate mitigation. These efforts will inform coastal management decisions, climate policy, and potential carbon credit markets while supporting ecosystem resilience.
Maddy summaryHRES 1509 is a symbolic resolution designating the week beginning November 11, 2024, as "National Pregnancy Center Week." It recognizes community-supported pregnancy centers across the U.S. for providing services like pregnancy testing, counseling, ultrasounds, parenting education, and material support to individuals facing pregnancy decisions. The resolution highlights that these centers, which serve approximately 2 million people annually through volunteer and staff efforts, operate as local, nonprofit organizations. It does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges their role in offering support to women and men.
Maddy summaryThis bill removes legal immunity for vaccine manufacturers by allowing individuals injured by vaccines to sue them directly in court after filing a claim with the federal vaccine injury compensation program (VICP). It eliminates time limits for filing VICP claims (previously 24-36 months) and explicitly excludes COVID-19 vaccines from the program's coverage. The changes affect people seeking compensation for vaccine injuries and vaccine manufacturers, who will no longer automatically avoid lawsuits. The bill also repeals provisions that previously restricted legal action after VICP claims.
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 summaryHJRES 136 is a resolution seeking to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would have set new emissions standards for light and medium-duty vehicles sold in 2027 and later model years. The EPA rule, published in April 2024, aimed to require vehicle manufacturers to meet stricter pollution limits for these vehicles. If passed, this resolution would cancel the rule, preventing the EPA from enforcing the new standards. It uses a congressional process that allows Congress to reject agency rules with a simple majority vote.
Maddy summaryThis bill blocks U.S. funding for Afghanistan through the State Department until the Secretary of State certifies that all detained U.S. citizens held by Afghanistan's government or groups within Afghanistan have been released. It requires the President to provide detailed justification to Congress if a waiver is needed to release a detained citizen, and mandates quarterly reports to Congress on the status of detained Americans and efforts to secure their release. The bill also specifies that determinations about detained citizens must follow procedures outlined in the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery Act. It directly affects U.S. foreign aid funding for Afghanistan and the Afghan government/groups holding Americans.
Maddy summaryThis bill restricts federal funding for jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. It defines a "sanctuary jurisdiction" as any state or local government that prohibits sharing immigration status information or complying with federal detainer requests (except for crime victims/witnesses). Starting after enactment, such jurisdictions lose eligibility for federal funds intended to provide food, shelter, healthcare, legal services, or transportation to undocumented immigrants. The law directly affects cities and states with specific immigration policies, not the immigrants themselves.