Rep. Rudy Yakym III

Maddy summaryHR 3099 establishes a new Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords within the State Department, directly affecting U.S. diplomatic efforts and coordination. The envoy, appointed by the President with Senate confirmation, will coordinate U.S. government activities to expand diplomatic, economic, and security ties between Israel and Muslim-majority countries, including encouraging nations without formal relations with Israel to establish them. Key duties include strengthening existing Accords partnerships, fostering regional cooperation on issues like trade and water security, and providing diplomatic support for Israel’s regional engagement. The envoy must submit annual reports to Congress detailing specific diplomatic efforts and progress with partner countries.

Maddy summaryHJRES 42 is a congressional resolution disapproving the District of Columbia Council's approval of the *Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022* (D.C. Act 24-781), which the Council enacted on January 19, 2023. This resolution, introduced by 18 House members on March 9, 2023, formally expresses Congress's objection to the DC law but does not alter the law itself or its implementation in the District. The resolution targets the DC Council’s action under the Home Rule Act, requiring Congress to formally disapprove such local legislation before it takes effect. It affects DC’s local policing policies but does not directly change federal law or impact residents beyond this procedural disapproval.

Maddy summaryHR 4035, the Protecting Small Business Information Act of 2023, requires the Treasury Secretary to coordinate the effective dates of all rules under the Corporate Transparency Act. It mandates that all final rules related to beneficial ownership reporting must take effect on the same date, delaying implementation until the Secretary certifies to Congress that all rules are issued and will align on a single effective date. This directly affects small businesses required to report beneficial ownership information under the Corporate Transparency Act. The bill’s key mechanism is creating a unified implementation timeline, preventing staggered rule deadlines that could complicate compliance for small entities. It does not change reporting requirements but ensures a synchronized rollout of the regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal program to collect data on illegal passing of stopped school buses. It requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to award grants to up to 12 diverse entities - including school districts, tribal agencies, public/private bus fleets, and communities with varying weather/socioeconomic backgrounds - to monitor and document specific incident details like location, weather, driver characteristics, and enforcement actions. After collecting this data, grantees must submit reports, leading to a national public safety campaign (using the collected data) and model legislation requiring illegal passing to be classified as a moving violation. The bill directly affects school transportation safety systems, law enforcement, and drivers who pass stopped school buses, focusing on data-driven prevention rather than new penalties.

Maddy summaryHR 3866, the Truth in Buffalo Labeling Act of 2023, requires food products containing actual water buffalo (genus *Bubalus*) to clearly label them as "water buffalo" instead of using the term "buffalo" alone. This directly affects food manufacturers selling products made from water buffalo meat and helps consumers distinguish these products from those made from North American bison (commonly called "buffalo" meat). The bill amends federal labeling law to prevent consumer confusion by prohibiting the use of "buffalo" for water buffalo products while allowing "buffalo" to remain the common name for products containing plains bison (*Bison bison bison*) or wood bison (*Bison bison athabascae*). The key provision mandates specific labeling for water buffalo products to ensure transparency in food labeling.

This resolution supports the designation of National Trailer Safety Week and expresses strong support for efforts to increase awareness of the importance of being committed to trailer safety.

Maddy summaryHR 3768, the Midwives for MOMS Act of 2023, provides federal grants to support midwifery education and increase access to midwifery services. It allocates $15 million annually (2024-2028) for accredited midwifery schools to directly support students, expand programs, and train clinical instructors, with 50% of funds dedicated to student support. The bill also authorizes $20 million annually for nurse-midwifery programs in nursing schools, prioritizing students who will work in underserved health professional shortage areas and increasing racial/ethnic minority representation. These provisions directly affect midwifery students, educational institutions, and communities with limited access to maternity care, aiming to expand the midwifery workforce through targeted funding.

Maddy summaryHR 3792 extends U.S. security funding for Israel through 2028 (Section 3) and expands energy cooperation to include advanced nuclear technologies and carbon capture (Section 5). It requires annual reports on regional security partnerships involving Israel (Section 6) and ensures countries in the Abraham Accords can access U.S. development programs (Section 8). The bill also mandates reports on diplomatic efforts against ICC investigations targeting the U.S. and Israel (Section 10) and encourages people-to-people programs to strengthen the Abraham Accords (Sections 7, 9). These provisions directly affect Israel’s diplomatic engagement, security partnerships, and economic cooperation in the Middle East.

Maddy summaryHR 3036, the Increased TSP Access Act of 2023, amends conservation program rules to expand access to third-party providers (TSPs) who offer technical assistance to farmers on conservation practices. It creates new pathways for non-Federal entities like agricultural cooperatives or professional associations to certify TSPs, streamlines certification processes (requiring Secretary review within 10 business days), and sets payment rates for TSPs equivalent to government-provided technical assistance. The bill mandates public reporting on certification numbers, payment details, and a target utilization rate for TSPs to improve conservation program delivery. It directly affects farmers participating in USDA conservation programs by increasing options for technical support and requiring transparency in how TSPs are certified and compensated.

Maddy summaryHR 3684, the Douglas Mike Day Psychedelic Therapy to Save Lives Act of 2023, authorizes the Department of Defense to fund research on using psychedelic substances for treating specific conditions in active-duty military personnel. The bill creates a grant program to support phase II clinical trials (using substances like MDMA, psilocybin, or ibogaine) or training for treating PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, with participants including active-duty service members. It removes barriers for military personnel to join these trials, regardless of federal scheduling of the substances or military justice rules. The bill appropriates $15 million annually from 2024 to 2028 for this research and requires regular reports to Congress on grant recipients and trial findings.