Rep. Clay Higgins

Maddy summaryHR 8693, the "No American Land for Communist China Act," prohibits U.S. citizens or entities from purchasing real estate adjacent to specific federal lands if owned by the Chinese government or businesses with 25%+ Chinese government ownership. It directly affects Chinese government entities and Chinese-owned businesses operating in the U.S., restricting their ability to buy land near protected federal areas. The bill requires the President to take necessary actions to block such purchases, covering lands managed by Interior, Defense, Agriculture (Forest Service), or designated Indian country. This is a policy restriction, not a funding measure, targeting land transactions near sensitive federal properties.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1285) is a symbolic statement by a group of House members condemning the Biden administration's approach to mifepristone (the abortion pill), specifically the 2023 FDA decision allowing mail-order and pharmacy dispensing of the drug without in-person provider visits. It argues this policy eliminates safety safeguards like in-person ultrasounds to detect ectopic pregnancies, gestational age checks, and provider screening for coercion, potentially increasing health risks for patients. The resolution does not change any laws or policies but expresses disapproval of the FDA’s regulatory changes regarding mifepristone distribution. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal effect on abortion access or drug regulations.

Maddy summaryHR 8653 authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Major Thomas D. Howie, a U.S. Army officer who died during the Battle of Normandy in WWII. The bill specifies the medal will be presented to his nephew, Tom Howie, or his next of kin, and then permanently displayed at The Citadel Museum. It also permits the U.S. Mint to produce and sell bronze duplicates to cover costs. This is a commemorative measure honoring Major Howie's military service and sacrifice, with no substantive policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Commerce Secretary to produce a report within one year of enactment, identifying all Department of Commerce offices and bureaus involved in critical supply chain resilience and manufacturing innovation. The report must assess existing programs, identify gaps or duplication in responsibilities, and recommend improvements for coordination within Commerce and with other federal agencies. It mandates that the National Academy of Public Administration conduct the report and requires the Secretary to submit the findings and recommendations to Congress within 180 days of the report's completion. The bill does not create new programs or funding but focuses on improving internal government efficiency for supply chain and manufacturing policy.

Maddy summaryHJRES 166 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a Department of Labor rule that would have changed overtime exemption standards for certain salaried workers. The rule, published in April 2024, aimed to redefine how executive, administrative, professional, outside sales, and computer employees are classified for overtime pay under federal law. If enacted, this resolution would block the rule from taking effect, preserving the existing classification system for these workers.

Maddy summaryHR 8608, the SAFE Act, prohibits the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from allowing representatives of certain foreign governments to enter secure airport areas. It directly affects travelers from countries the Secretary of State has determined (within the past three years) to have repeatedly supported international terrorism, as defined by specific U.S. laws. The bill mandates TSA to block access to secure airport zones - including the sterile area, SIDA, and air cargo areas - for these individuals. This creates a new requirement for TSA to enforce access restrictions based on State Department designations, without altering existing terrorism designation criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund (ASCT Fund) within the Department of Homeland Security. It directs $250 million annually from aviation security fees (for fiscal years 2025-2029) to fund TSA's procurement, deployment, and maintenance of new security checkpoint technology at airports. The TSA Administrator must provide regular reports to Congress on how these funds are used for technology deployment. The bill also repeals a previous section of aviation security law that previously governed these fees. The fund directly affects TSA operations and airport security technology upgrades.

Maddy summaryHR 5403, the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act, prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing or facilitating central bank digital currency (CBDC) directly or indirectly to individuals through financial institutions. It specifically bans Federal Reserve banks from offering digital products to individuals, maintaining individual accounts, or using CBDC for monetary policy implementation. The bill also clarifies that its restrictions do not apply to existing physical cash or private, permissionless digital payment systems. This bill directly affects the Federal Reserve's ability to develop or deploy a government-run digital dollar. The law aims to prevent the Federal Reserve from creating a digital currency that could enable transaction tracking or government oversight of personal financial activity.

Maddy summaryHJRES 161 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting an EPA rule that set emissions standards for chemical manufacturing. It directly affects synthetic organic chemical manufacturers and polymers/resins producers by seeking to nullify the EPA's May 2024 rule (89 Fed. Reg. 42932), which established new source performance standards and hazardous air pollutant limits for these industries. The resolution uses Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code, to formally block the EPA rule from taking effect. If passed, the rule would lose all legal force, preventing the EPA from enforcing those specific emissions requirements.

Maddy summaryHJRES 160 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on May 6, 2024, regarding nondiscrimination in health programs and activities. If passed, the resolution would nullify the HHS rule, preventing it from taking effect and rendering it legally unenforceable. The bill directly affects the implementation of the HHS rule, which was published in the Federal Register (89 Fed. Reg. 37522), but does not alter the rule's content or create new policy.