Rep. Virginia Foxx

Maddy summaryThe Chance to Compete Act of 2023 reforms federal hiring practices for positions in the competitive service by establishing new standards for assessments used in the hiring process. It prohibits the use of automated self-assessments and certain résumé reviews after two years, requiring instead passing score assessments that directly demonstrate job-related skills. The bill mandates agencies to publicly post any waivers to these standards, limits waivers to 10% of positions, and requires OPM to create an online tool tracking hiring data including demographic information. This affects all federal agencies hiring through the competitive service and the applicants for those positions.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 3 is a non-binding congressional resolution expressing support for pro-life facilities, groups, and churches targeted by vandalism and threats following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision. It condemns specific incidents like graffiti, window-smashing, and arson at pregnancy centers and churches (e.g., in Frederick, MD, and Portland, OR), while recognizing the role of these organizations in supporting pregnant women. The resolution calls on the Biden Administration to use law enforcement to protect these facilities but does not create new laws or policies. As a symbolic measure, it has no legal effect on the incidents described.

Maddy summaryHRES 51 is a non-binding House resolution expressing support for designating the week of January 22-28, 2023, as "National School Choice Week." It encourages parents to learn about K-12 education options (including public, charter, private, and homeschooling) and urges public awareness events during that week. The resolution does not create new policies, funding, or legal requirements - it solely serves as a symbolic expression of support for parental choice in education. It directly affects no individuals or entities, as it is a procedural resolution with no legislative force.

Life at Conception Act This bill declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual comes into being. Nothing in this bill shall be construed to authorize the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child.

Maddy summaryHR 330, the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, prohibits federal funding under the Title X family planning program for clinics that perform or fund abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or when a physician certifies a life-threatening condition. It requires clinics receiving Title X funds to certify they do not provide or fund abortions (with the specified exceptions), and hospitals are exempt if they don't fund non-hospital abortion providers. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress listing all funded clinics, the number of abortions performed under exceptions (including rape/incest cases), and the certification dates for each clinic. This directly affects Title X-funded clinics nationwide that provide abortion services or fund such services, altering their eligibility for federal funding. The law aims to restrict federal support for abortion access within the Title X program while maintaining limited exceptions.

Maddy summaryHJRES 17 is a congressional resolution disapproving the District of Columbia Council's approval of the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24-640), which the Council enacted on October 18, 2022. If passed by Congress and signed into law, this resolution would block the local voting rights amendment from taking effect. The bill directly affects the District of Columbia government by preventing implementation of the amendment, which aimed to address voting rights for residents. This resolution follows the District of Columbia Home Rule Act's requirement for congressional disapproval of certain local laws.

Maddy summaryHR 287, the CRT Transparency Act, requires states and local school districts to publicly post all curriculum materials for every elementary and secondary school grade level on accessible websites. Specifically, it amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to mandate that states ensure local agencies post curricula online, and that local agencies themselves must make their grade-level curricula publicly available. This directly affects all public K-12 schools and their governing bodies by creating a new transparency requirement for teaching materials. The bill focuses solely on making curriculum content publicly accessible online, without specifying content types or subject areas. It does not alter curriculum content itself but requires existing materials to be posted online for public review.

Qualified Immunity Act of 2023 This bill provides statutory authority for qualified immunity for law enforcement officers in civil cases involving constitutional violations. Current law provides a statutory civil cause of action against state and local government actors (e.g., law enforcement officers) for violations of constitutional rights, also known as Section 1983 lawsuits. The Supreme Court has also found an implied cause of action against federal law enforcement officers in certain situations (e.g., Fourth Amendment violations), also known as Bivens lawsuits. However, under the judicial doctrine of qualified immunity, government officials performing discretionary duties are generally shielded from civil liability, unless their actions violate clearly established rights of which a reasonable person would have known. The bill provides statutory authority for these principles with respect to law enforcement officers. Specifically, under the bill, law enforcement officers are entitled to qualified immunity if (1) at the time of the alleged violation, the constitutional right at issue was not clearly established or the state of the law was not sufficiently clear for every reasonable officer to know that the conduct was unconstitutional; or (2) a court has held that the specific conduct at issue is constitutional. The bill applies to federal, state, and local law enforcement officers. It also specifies that law enforcement agencies and local governments may not be held liable if their officers are entitled to qualified immunity.

Maddy summaryHJRES 8 proposes a constitutional amendment to permanently set the Supreme Court's size at nine justices. The bill would require any future changes to the Court's composition to follow this specific number, locking in the current structure. It does not alter the existing Court size (which has been nine since 1869) but aims to prevent future adjustments through legislative action. The amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years to take effect. This is a procedural proposal focused on constitutional structure, not a direct policy affecting citizens or programs.

FairTax Act of 2023 This bill imposes a national sales tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services in lieu of the current income taxes, payroll taxes, and estate and gift taxes. The rate of the sales tax will be 23% in 2025, with adjustments to the rate in subsequent years. There are exemptions from the tax for used and intangible property; for property or services purchased for business, export, or investment purposes; and for state government functions. Under the bill, family members who are lawful U.S. residents receive a monthly sales tax rebate (Family Consumption Allowance) based upon criteria related to family size and poverty guidelines. The states have the responsibility for administering, collecting, and remitting the sales tax to the Treasury. Tax revenues are to be allocated among (1) the general revenue, (2) the old-age and survivors insurance trust fund, (3) the disability insurance trust fund, (4) the hospital insurance trust fund, and (5) the federal supplementary medical insurance trust fund. No funding is authorized for the operations of the Internal Revenue Service after FY2027. Finally, the bill terminates the national sales tax if the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution (authorizing an income tax) is not repealed within seven years after the enactment of this bill.