Rep. Ann Wagner

Maddy summaryHRES 488 is a non-binding resolution calling on the Biden administration to transfer Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine. It requests immediate provision of these long-range missiles - capable of striking targets up to 200 miles away - to help Ukraine counter Russian forces by targeting logistics hubs and command centers deeper in occupied territory. The resolution notes Ukraine already operates compatible launch systems and cites that allies like the UK and France have provided similar long-range weapons without triggering significant Russian escalation. It emphasizes that delaying this transfer could prolong the war and that the U.S. possesses sufficient existing stockpiles to fulfill the request while maintaining military readiness. The resolution does not mandate action but urges the administration to act.

Maddy summaryThe Fly Together Act requires airlines to seat children under 14 adjacent to an accompanying adult, if seats are available after ticket purchase but before boarding. It prohibits airlines from charging extra fees for this adjacent seating arrangement within the same class of service. The rule would take effect within 180 days of the bill’s enactment through a new Transportation Department policy. This directly affects families traveling with young children on commercial flights. The policy does not force airlines with existing flexible seating systems to change their current practices.

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 summaryHR 4036, the Accountability through Confirmation Act, changes the appointment process for the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). It requires the President to appoint the Director with Senate confirmation (instead of the Treasury Secretary), sets the Director's pay at Executive Schedule Level IV, and provides a transition period for the current Director until the new appointee is confirmed. This bill directly affects FinCEN leadership by shifting appointment authority to the President and Senate. The key change is the requirement for Senate confirmation of the FinCEN Director, altering the current process.

Maddy summaryHR 2793, the Encouraging Public Offerings Act of 2023, expands access to confidential review of draft registration statements for all companies seeking to go public, not just "emerging growth companies" as previously restricted. The bill allows any issuer to submit draft registration statements confidentially to the Securities Commission for staff review before public filing, with submissions required to be made publicly 15 days before a roadshow (marketing event) or 15 days before the registration's effective date. It removes the prior limitation on who could use this process and requires the Securities Commission to report to Congress before creating new rules for non-emerging-growth companies. The bill directly affects companies preparing initial public offerings (IPOs) or securities registrations by streamlining their pre-filing review process.

Maddy summaryThe National Senior Investor Initiative Act of 2023 establishes a new Senior Investor Taskforce within the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to address challenges faced by investors aged 65 and older, including financial exploitation and cognitive decline. The taskforce will identify regulatory gaps, coordinate with agencies like state regulators and law enforcement, and issue biennial reports to Congress with recommendations for improving protections. It also mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study examining the economic costs, frequency, and policy responses to financial exploitation of seniors. The SEC will use existing funds to implement these provisions without creating new positions or spending.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from changing its anesthesia care policies to allow nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to provide anesthesia independently without a physician anesthesiologist. It specifically blocks implementation of a 2016 proposed rule that would have expanded CRNAs' authority in VA facilities. The law maintains current requirements that physician anesthesiologists must oversee or provide anesthesia care for veterans during surgical procedures. Emergency orders for veteran safety during surgery remain permitted under the bill's exception clause.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 462) is a symbolic House of Representatives measure commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square events as described in the resolution and condemning China's government for "continued and intensifying crackdown on human rights" in mainland China and Hong Kong. It specifically calls on China to end censorship about the events, allow a UN investigation, uphold Hong Kong's autonomy under the Joint Declaration, and permit exiled activists to return safely. The resolution makes no binding policy changes but expresses support for human rights movements in China, Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang. As a non-binding resolution, it does not alter U.S. law or policy.

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 2792, the Small Entity Update Act, requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to periodically review and update its definition of "small entity" for regulatory purposes. The bill mandates that the SEC, working with advisory committees, conduct a study every five years to assess whether the current definition aligns with existing rules, reflects market changes, and ensures a meaningful number of entities qualify as "small." After each study, the SEC must submit a report to Congress with specific recommendations for updating the definition, followed by a proposed rule within 180 days and a final rule 180 days after that. This process directly affects SEC-regulated entities (like small businesses and organizations in capital markets) by potentially expanding their eligibility for certain regulatory exemptions.