Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter

Maddy summaryHR 6641, the Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act, establishes a federal task force to identify and address critical needs of working waterfronts, which are coastal areas used for commercial fishing, boating, aquaculture, and related activities. The bill creates a grant program to help coastal states, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations develop and implement plans to preserve and expand working waterfronts through property acquisition, facility improvements, and climate adaptation measures. It also establishes a loan fund to provide financial assistance for waterfront preservation, with special provisions for disadvantaged communities and requirements for covered entities to develop plans ensuring waterfronts remain available for their intended uses. The legislation authorizes $50 million annually from 2024-2028 for these programs, with reporting requirements to track implementation and effectiveness.

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 summaryHRES 910 is a commemorative resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives to honor the life and legacy of Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady of the United States (1977-1981). The resolution expresses the House's mourning for her passing and recognizes her advocacy for mental health care, founding of The Carter Center, and work establishing support for family caregivers through the Rosalynn Carter Institute. It does not create new laws or policies but formally commemorates her humanitarian contributions. This procedural resolution was introduced by Georgia representatives and passed unanimously on December 5, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Never Again Education program, which funds Holocaust education initiatives in schools. It extends the program's funding authorization period from ending after four fiscal years to continuing annually through fiscal year 2030. The bill modifies the existing law (Public Law 116-141) by updating the funding timeline without changing program requirements or eligibility. It directly affects the existing grant program supporting educational materials and teacher training on the Holocaust. The change ensures continued federal funding for these specific educational efforts until 2030.

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 summaryThis bill caps fees charged to companies seeking advanced nuclear reactor licenses by preventing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from including certain overhead costs in fee calculations. It directly affects "advanced nuclear reactor applicants" (those with submitted license applications) and "advanced nuclear reactor preapplicants" (those with project plans for future applications). The fees must not exceed the hourly rate for mission-direct safety program staff and cannot include indirect support costs like agency or mission-indirect program expenses. The changes take effect October 1, 2024, and expire September 30, 2029.

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 summaryThe SHIP Act imposes sanctions on foreign entities that knowingly handle Iranian petroleum, targeting those involved in port operations, transportation, refining, or ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil. Starting 90 days after enactment, the President must block assets, deny visas, and impose penalties on individuals or companies engaging in these activities, including family members or owners of sanctioned entities. It requires annual reports tracking Iran's oil exports, revenues, and key players like shipping companies and ports. The sanctions terminate if the President certifies Iran has stopped supporting terrorism and dismantled weapons programs.

Maddy summaryHRES 806 is a symbolic resolution designating October 2023 as "World Menopause Awareness Month" and expressing the House's support for improved global awareness and access to care during menopause. It highlights that menopause affects millions of women, with symptoms like hot flashes (experienced by 75% of U.S. women) and potential impacts on work productivity and health risks like heart disease. The resolution encourages the Health and Human Services, Defense, and Veterans Affairs secretaries to share menopause information, fund research, and update treatment tools to support women's health. It does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise awareness and guide existing agency efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit for video distributors (like cable or streaming companies) that carry content from independent programmers meeting specific criteria. Distributors earn a credit up to $0.30 per subscriber for new or expanded carriage agreements reaching at least 40% of subscribers, based on license fees paid to qualifying creators. The credit applies only to content from small, independent creators (not owned by large media companies, publicly traded firms, or networks). The FCC must submit biennial reports tracking how many independent programmers benefit from this policy, including average carriage duration.