Rep. Wiley Nickel

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to create a threat assessment on how terrorists and foreign actors use cyber harassment - including doxing - to threaten individuals. The assessment must detail tactics, notable incidents, and risk indicators for law enforcement, while coordinating with privacy offices. It requires DHS to share the report with Congress within 180 days and publish it online, with state/local law enforcement receiving it via fusion centers. The bill does not create new laws or penalties but focuses on information gathering about existing threats. (Procedural bill; summary limited to key action and scope.)

Maddy summaryThe PATH to College Act (HR 3411) provides federal grants to public transit providers partnering with specific colleges to improve student transportation access. It targets community colleges, historically Black colleges (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges, and minority-serving institutions, prioritizing partnerships where over 25% of students receive Federal Pell Grants. The bill funds new transit routes, added stops, increased service frequency, or operating costs for routes connecting campuses to students’ neighborhoods or other cities. Funding starts at $2 million in 2025 and grows to $10 million annually from 2029 through 2031, with the federal government covering up to 80% of capital projects and 50% of operating costs. This directly supports students at eligible institutions by making public transit to campus more reliable and accessible.

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 summaryThe Fund the TSA Act sets a new aviation security fee of $7.60 per one-way air trip (capping round trips at $15.20) and requires annual inflation adjustments starting in 2026. It creates three dedicated funds from these fees: $250 million yearly (2024-2028) for airport security technology development (including $12.5 million for small businesses), $1.14 billion in 2024 for TSA worker salaries and benefits, and $130 million in 2024 for airport security programs like law enforcement reimbursements and exit lane security grants. These funds replace diverted revenues and directly support TSA operations, technology upgrades, and workforce needs. The bill affects air travelers (via the fee), TSA employees (through funding), and small businesses (through technology development opportunities).

Maddy summaryHR 3409, the Healthy Families Act, requires most employers to provide employees with paid sick leave. Employees earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 56 hours per year, which can be used for their own illness, caring for family members, or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking situations. Smaller employers with fewer than 15 employees can provide unpaid sick leave instead of paid leave. The bill includes protections against retaliation for using sick leave and requires employers to inform employees about their rights under this law.

Maddy summaryHR 3442, the America’s CHILDREN Act of 2023, creates a pathway to permanent residency for certain college graduates who entered the U.S. as children on specific work visas. It directly affects individuals who were lawfully present as dependents of nonimmigrant visa holders (like H-4 or L-2) for at least 8 years, graduated from a U.S. college, and have lived in the U.S. for 10+ years total. Key provisions include protecting applicants from "aging out" of eligibility by basing age calculations on when their parent’s visa petition was filed (not current age), and allowing them to retain their original visa application date ("priority date") if they later switch to a different visa category. The bill aims to provide stability for young adults who grew up in the U.S. but face immigration barriers due to visa status.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools (K-12) to integrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history into their American history and civics curricula. It amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to mandate that all required history content "shall include" AANHPI history, updating existing standards for teachers, textbooks, and national assessments. The law directs the Smithsonian Institution’s Asian Pacific American Center to provide educational resources for schools implementing this change. It directly affects school districts, educators, and curriculum developers by requiring concrete revisions to history instruction. The bill does not fund new programs but modifies existing federal education law to ensure AANHPI contributions and experiences are included in required teaching.

Maddy summaryHR 3435, the Charitable Act, creates a temporary tax deduction for charitable contributions for individual taxpayers who do not itemize deductions. It allows these taxpayers to deduct up to one-third of their standard deduction amount for charitable gifts in 2023 and 2024. The bill directly affects millions of filers who typically take the standard deduction instead of itemizing, making charitable giving more tax-advantageous for them during these two years. The provision expires after 2024 and does not change the standard deduction amount itself.

Maddy summaryThe Power of the Mint Act (HR 3402) requires Congress to explicitly approve any new digital currency issued by the Federal Reserve or directed by the Treasury Secretary. It amends federal law to prevent the Federal Reserve Board and Treasury from creating or directing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) without Congressional authorization. The bill directly affects the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department, ensuring they cannot unilaterally introduce a digital version of U.S. dollars. The law defines CBDC as a digital form of money in U.S. dollars that is a direct liability of the Federal Reserve.

Enhancing COPS Hiring Program Grants for Local Law Enforcement Act This bill allows funds under the Community Oriented Policing Services grant program to be used to provide bonuses for the recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers or career law enforcement officers.