Rep. Randy Feenstra

This concurrent resolution calls on the President to abandon the One China policy in favor of one that recognizes Taiwan as an independent country that is not a part of China. The resolution also urges the President to bolster diplomatic and economic relations between the United States and Taiwan through specified means.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands foreign investment review to cover U.S. agriculture by requiring transactions involving foreign control of agricultural businesses to undergo scrutiny by the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS). It classifies agricultural supply chains as both critical infrastructure and critical technologies, directly affecting foreign entities seeking to acquire or influence U.S. farms, food production, and supply chains. The bill mandates annual reports from the Secretary of Agriculture and the Government Accountability Office on foreign investments in agriculture, including risks to food security and intellectual property. These provisions aim to mitigate potential threats to U.S. food supply chains from foreign adversaries through enhanced oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires healthcare providers to give the same medical care to infants born alive during abortions as they would to any newborn, and to immediately admit such infants to a hospital. It mandates reporting of non-compliance to law enforcement and imposes penalties including up to 5 years in prison for violations. Women who undergo abortions can file civil lawsuits seeking money damages for injuries, three times the abortion cost, and punitive damages if care standards are not met. The bill also clarifies that abortion includes intentionally killing an unborn child or terminating pregnancy without specific exceptions (e.g., after viability to preserve life or removing a dead fetus).

Maddy summaryHR 23, the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, rescinds unobligated funds previously allocated to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Specifically, it cancels unused balances from certain IRS funding provisions (sections 10301(1)(A)(ii), (iii), (B), (2), (3), (4), and (5)) of the Inflation Reduction Act. This bill does not change tax laws or directly affect taxpayers; it only redirects unspent IRS budget authority. The provision applies solely to funds that were not obligated by the IRS as of the bill’s enactment date.

Maddy summaryHRES 52 is a non-binding House resolution proposing that the U.S. flag be lowered to half-staff on January 22 each year to memorialize individuals affected by abortion policies since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. It specifically references the anniversary of Roe v. Wade (January 22, 1973) and the 2022 overturning of that ruling. The resolution encourages the public to observe this gesture as a memorial and urges lawmakers to support legislation respecting "the sanctity of life." As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new law or directly affect any specific group.

Maddy summaryHR 451, the Protecting Families from Fertility Fraud Act of 2023, creates a federal crime for knowingly misrepresenting the source or nature of DNA used in fertility treatments like IVF or sperm insemination. It directly affects fertility clinics, patients, and individuals who commit such fraud by making it punishable by fines or up to 10 years in prison. The law applies when the fraud involves interstate commerce (e.g., payments, communications, or materials crossing state lines) or occurs within U.S. territories. It also extends the statute of limitations for prosecution to 10 years after DNA identifies the perpetrator. This bill targets specific deceptive practices in assisted reproductive technology, not broader fertility care.

Maddy summaryHR 461, the "Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act," prohibits abortions performed specifically because an unborn child has been diagnosed with Down syndrome. The bill amends Title 18 to make it a federal offense for medical providers to perform or facilitate such abortions, with criminal penalties of up to 5 years in prison or fines. It also establishes civil remedies allowing women, fathers, or maternal grandparents to sue providers for damages, including punitive damages, while protecting women from prosecution for seeking these abortions. The law requires medical professionals to report suspected violations and includes strict privacy protections for women in court proceedings. This bill directly affects abortion providers and medical professionals who perform or facilitate abortions based on Down syndrome diagnosis, without altering broader abortion laws.

Maddy summaryHR 175, the Heartbeat Protection Act of 2023, prohibits physicians from performing abortions without first checking for a detectable fetal heartbeat using standard medical practice and informing the patient of the results. It allows exceptions only for abortions necessary to save a mother’s life due to physical conditions (not psychological ones), or for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest against an adult or minor, which require specific documentation like counseling records or police reports. Physicians violating the law face up to five years in prison, while patients cannot be prosecuted. The bill defines "unborn child" as beginning at fertilization and mandates detailed medical documentation for all exceptions. It explicitly excludes psychological conditions from life-threatening exceptions and requires physicians to retain records per federal health privacy rules.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 3 is a non-binding congressional resolution expressing support for pro-life facilities, groups, and churches targeted by vandalism and threats following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision. It condemns specific incidents like graffiti, window-smashing, and arson at pregnancy centers and churches (e.g., in Frederick, MD, and Portland, OR), while recognizing the role of these organizations in supporting pregnant women. The resolution calls on the Biden Administration to use law enforcement to protect these facilities but does not create new laws or policies. As a symbolic measure, it has no legal effect on the incidents described.

Maddy summaryThis bill blocks federal funding for colleges that operate or partner with campus health clinics providing abortion drugs or abortions to students or staff. It requires institutions receiving federal funds to annually certify that no such services are offered at their on-campus clinics. The law specifically excludes hospital-based clinics from coverage and defines "abortion drugs" as medications intended to terminate pregnancy (excluding specific medical exceptions). It directly affects public and private colleges receiving federal aid, as most institutions of higher education qualify for such funding.