Rep. Patrick T. McHenry

Maddy summaryThe Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 provides a temporary increase to the U.S. debt ceiling through January 1, 2025, with a mechanism to restore the debt limit on January 2, 2025. It establishes discretionary spending limits for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, setting specific amounts for security and non-security categories ($886.3 billion and $703.7 billion for 2024, respectively). The bill includes provisions to rescind billions of dollars in unobligated funds from various federal accounts and creates a new Administrative Pay-As-You-Go requirement for agencies to offset increases in direct spending. These provisions directly affect federal budget management, spending decisions, and the government's approach to debt management.

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 summaryHRES 417 is a non-binding resolution commending North Carolina Central University's (NCCU) football team for winning the 2022 Celebration Bowl, the HBCU national championship. It specifically recognizes their 41-34 overtime victory over Jackson State University on December 17, 2022, marking NCCU's fourth Black College Football National Title. The resolution formally congratulates the team, university community, and requests that an official copy be sent to NCCU's chancellor, provost, and head coach. This is purely ceremonial with no policy changes or funding implications.

Maddy summaryHRES 363 is a resolution expressing support for recognizing National Police Week, an annual observance established by law to honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The resolution acknowledges 556 officers killed in the line of duty during 2022 and calls for ensuring law enforcement officers have necessary equipment, training, and resources to protect both themselves and the public. It encourages the American public to observe National Police Week by honoring law enforcement personnel and recognizing their essential mission in serving communities across the United States. This resolution does not create new law but formally expresses congressional support for an existing observance.

This bill modifies provisions of the Taxpayer First Act relating to taxpayer identity verification (i.e., the electronic Income Verification Express Service) and disclosures of taxpayer information. The bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to implement a program that insures that certain disclosures of taxpayer returns or return information are accomplished only after a financial institution or other relevant entity (other than the taxpayer) has formed a reasonable belief that the identity of the taxpayer has been authenticated. The bill requires the IRS to ensure that the taxpayer information disclosure program complies with specified security standards and guidelines, including those relating to security and confidentiality of taxpayer information. The bill prohibits the IRS from requiring a taxpayer seeking a disclosure of information to access any information technology system or service used by the IRS for any purpose relating to a disclosure, including identity verification or the provision of electronic consent. The IRS must provide for the disclosure of certain business tax return information, including information from schedule K-1 of forms 1065 and 1120.

Maddy summaryThe PAST Act of 2023 amends the Horse Protection Act to ban specific devices used to cause pain (soring) in horses at shows, particularly affecting Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses. It defines prohibited "action devices" (like boots or chains causing friction) and requires licensed, conflict-free inspectors at events to enforce rules. The bill increases penalties for violations to up to $5,000 fines or 3 years in jail, and mandates longer disqualifications for repeat offenses (180 days → 1 year → 3 years). Horse show organizers, exhibitors, and participants must comply with these new inspection and penalty requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 3238, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023, updates the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program to increase the availability of affordable housing across the United States. The bill makes several key changes including increasing state funding formulas, modifying tenant eligibility rules to better serve vulnerable populations (such as domestic violence victims and students), and expanding credit eligibility for projects in rural and Native American communities. Specific provisions raise the credit for properties serving extremely low-income households, clarify rules around tenant income increases, and require housing providers to protect victims of domestic violence. The bill also updates terminology from "low-income" to "affordable" throughout the tax code and enhances program transparency through data sharing requirements. These changes aim to make the LIHTC program more effective at creating and preserving affordable housing units for low-income households nationwide.

Maddy summary# Summary of the Energy Development and Permitting Bill This document is a comprehensive energy policy bill focused on streamlining permitting processes, accelerating energy development, and reducing regulatory burdens for oil, gas, and geothermal projects on public lands. ## Key Provisions: 1. **Leasing and Permitting Reforms:** - Requires annual oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska regions - Sets 30-day deadlines for processing permit to drill applications - Mandates annual reports on permit processing status - Establishes 50-year terms for pipeline rights-of-way (replacing previous 30-year terms) 2. **Environmental Review Streamlining:** - Introduces "categorical exclusions" for certain activities that don't require environmental review - Sets page limits for environmental documents (150 pages for EIS, 75 for EA) - Establishes deadlines for completing environmental reviews (1-2 years) - Limits judicial review of environmental decisions - Requires "statement of purpose and need" in environmental impact statements 3. **Special Provisions:** - Allows drilling on non-Federal surface estate without Federal permit (if State permit is provided) - Prohibits Chinese Communist Party ownership interest in Federal leases - Sets royalty rates at not more than 12.5% for onshore Federal oil and gas leases - Exempts certain activities from "major Federal action" definition 4. **Transparency Requirements:** - Requires public posting of pending applications and processing status - Mandates annual reports on permit processing timelines - Requires publication of data on lease sales and permit approvals 5. **Judicial Limitations:** - Bars claims for judicial review of environmental decisions unless filed within 120 days - Limits challenges to environmental reviews to specific issues - Prohibits injunctions against lease sales unless imminent environmental harm is proven This bill represents a significant effort to accelerate energy development on public lands while reducing regulatory complexity and environmental review requirements, with particular emphasis on oil, gas, and geothermal projects.

Maddy summaryHR 2773 amends the definition of "accredited investor" under the Securities Act of 1933 to include individuals receiving individualized investment advice or recommendations from certain SEC-registered professionals. Specifically, it adds a new category for people who get personalized investment guidance from advisers meeting the criteria in Section 203.501(a)(10) of federal regulations. This change directly affects individual investors seeking to qualify for certain investment opportunities that previously required higher income or net worth thresholds. The bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to update its regulations to reflect this expanded definition.

Maddy summaryHJRES 27 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a federal rule that redefined which waterways fall under the Clean Water Act's protections. It targets a rule submitted by the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on January 18, 2023, which aimed to revise the "Waters of the United States" definition. The resolution would formally disapprove this rule under a specific federal procedure (Chapter 8 of Title 5), preventing it from taking effect. This would directly affect how federal agencies regulate pollution and development near water bodies, including wetlands and smaller streams.