Rep. Clay Higgins

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 summaryHJRES 144 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a specific rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) on April 19, 2024. The resolution seeks to block the ATF's rule that redefined the term "engaged in the business" for firearm dealers, which would have affected how federal licensing requirements apply to certain sellers. If enacted, this resolution would nullify the rule, preventing it from taking effect under procedures in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. The bill directly impacts firearm dealers operating under the current regulatory framework and the ATF's enforcement authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the federal government to explain to offshore oil and gas bidders why a lease sale bid may not achieve fair market value, including details about valuation methods used. It also prevents courts from delaying onshore lease issuance beyond 60 days unless a legal violation is proven, and limits court actions challenging offshore lease sales by prohibiting rulings that invalidate leases or delay related project approvals (like drilling permits). Instead, courts must send noncompliance issues back to the agency for correction while allowing ongoing project processing. The bill directly affects oil and gas companies bidding on federal leases, federal agencies managing lease sales, and courts handling related legal challenges.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HJRES 163) is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule finalized on May 9, 2024. The EPA rule established new emissions standards for greenhouse gases from fossil fuel power plants (both new and existing) and repealed a previous rule called the Affordable Clean Energy Rule. The resolution would block this EPA rule from taking effect by invoking the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code). If passed, it would prevent the EPA rule from being enforced, directly affecting fossil fuel power plant operators and the EPA’s regulatory authority over emissions.

Maddy summaryH.J. Res. 117 is a joint resolution that would disapprove an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule concerning the reconsideration of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter. The EPA rule, published on March 6, 2024, was part of the agency’s process to review these standards, which set limits for harmful air pollutants. This resolution invokes a congressional disapproval procedure under federal law to block the rule from taking effect. If enacted, the rule would have no force or effect, preserving the existing air quality standards for particulate matter.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to create an automated system within 60 days to track unaccompanied alien children who miss immigration court hearings. It mandates sharing this information internally (within ICE offices) and externally with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement, and the Department of Justice. The bill includes annual compliance checks where ICE must certify adherence to the system, with noncompliance penalties including blocked bonus pay for political appointees from 2025-2035. It directly affects ICE operations, child welfare agencies, and the immigration court process for unaccompanied minors. The bill focuses solely on administrative information sharing, not on altering immigration law or trafficking prevention.

Maddy summaryThe EMAP Act establishes the Early Migration Alert Program (EMAP) within the Department of Homeland Security. It requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to provide state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments with 24-hour pre-release notifications about aliens being released into the U.S., including details on numbers, criminal histories, initial destinations, and final settlement locations. Notifications must be sent via a verified electronic email system to authorized government personnel. The program is funded at $400,000 annually for fiscal years 2024-2025 and applies to aliens apprehended or released on or after the bill's enactment date. The bill does not alter detention requirements or immigration law, focusing solely on information sharing with local authorities.

Maddy summaryThe Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2025, provides funding for federal agencies through March 28, 2025, while including the SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) as its key policy component. The SAVE Act requires voters to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering for federal elections, defining acceptable forms including passports, military IDs, birth certificates, and naturalization documents. It mandates states to verify citizenship using government databases like the SAVE system and remove non-citizens from voter rolls, with processes for those without standard proof of citizenship. This directly affects all voters registering for federal elections in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.