Rep. Kelly Armstrong

Maddy summaryHR 7378, the Frederick Douglass Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes Congress to posthumously award a gold medal to honor Frederick Douglass's legacy as a pivotal abolitionist, writer, and advocate for civil rights. The medal, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be presented to the National Museum of African American History and Culture for display, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. This ceremonial bill does not create new laws or affect current policies - it solely commemorates Douglass's historical contributions to ending slavery and advancing equality.

Maddy summaryHR 7366 requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to publish monthly border encounter data on its public portal by the 7th of each month. This affects CBP directly, as it mandates the timely release of data on encounters at the border during the previous month. The bill also includes a penalty: if CBP misses this deadline, funding for the Office of the Secretary of Homeland Security is reduced by 25% for the following month. The law focuses on ensuring transparency in border data reporting through specific deadlines and financial consequences.

Maddy summaryHR 7176, the "Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024," streamlines approval processes for U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals. It grants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) exclusive authority to approve or deny LNG export facility projects, requiring FERC to deem such exports "consistent with the public interest" unless specific legal exceptions apply. The bill explicitly preserves the President’s authority to block LNG exports under sanctions laws targeting countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism. This directly affects LNG companies seeking export permits and FERC’s regulatory role, without altering existing environmental or safety regulations.

Maddy summaryHRES 966 is a symbolic resolution condemning alleged sexual violence committed by Hamas during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. It specifically references eyewitness accounts, forensic evidence, and Hamas fighters' admissions of ordering gang rape, sexual mutilation, and assault against Israeli civilians. The resolution calls for international condemnation of such acts as weapons of war, urges nations to criminalize sexual violence, and supports investigations into Hamas' actions. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect any individuals but formally expresses the House's position on the issue.

Maddy summaryHJRES 114 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rule that would have required tracking greenhouse gas emissions as part of assessing performance for the National Highway System. The rule, published in the Federal Register in December 2023, aimed to establish specific metrics for evaluating highway system performance, including emissions data. If approved, this resolution would nullify the rule, preventing the FHWA from implementing the emissions tracking requirement. This action directly affects how the FHWA measures highway system performance, specifically regarding environmental metrics.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts how credit reporting companies share homebuyers' credit reports during mortgage applications. It prevents companies from sending these reports to third parties (like marketers) just because a lender requested them for a mortgage. Only specific entities can receive the reports: the mortgage lender who originated the loan, the company servicing the loan, or the bank holding the homebuyer's account. This directly protects homebuyers' privacy by limiting unauthorized sharing of their financial data.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that former President Trump did not engage in insurrection or rebellion against, nor give aid or comfort to the enemies of, the United States.

Maddy summaryHR 7101, the FTC REDO Act, rescinds the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) January 2024 rule targeting auto retail scams and prohibits the FTC from finalizing future auto retail rules without meeting specific requirements. Before proposing new rules, the FTC must conduct a quantitative study on deceptive practices, consumer testing on new mandates, and an economic analysis of costs/benefits - each subject to 30 days of public comment and independent peer review. These studies must demonstrate evidence of unfair practices, show new rules enhance consumer protection without unduly burdening businesses, and compare the proposed rule to less burdensome alternatives. The bill directly affects the FTC's rulemaking process for auto retail, impacting how regulations on dealerships, disclosures, and consumer protections are developed.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a law (18 U.S.C. § 1715) that previously prohibited mailing firearms without a license. It directly affects the U.S. Postal Service, firearm sellers, and individuals mailing firearms by preventing the Postal Service from creating rules that would block firearm mailings or require disclosure of sensitive records like sales receipts or firearm serial numbers. Key provisions include removing the existing ban on mailing firearms and prohibiting the Postal Service from imposing new restrictions on firearm mailings or demanding customer transaction data. The bill ensures that firearm mailings can proceed without these specific federal restrictions, while applying to ongoing legal cases under the repealed law.

Maddy summaryHR 7185 reauthorizes the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program through 2030, with specific focus on fentanyl. It allocates $302 million annually for HIDTA operations and adds $14.2 million yearly for grants to enhance fentanyl seizure efforts through competitive grants. The bill requires annual reports detailing fentanyl seizures and trafficking data, and directs the Attorney General to assign at least 16 assistant U.S. attorneys to prioritize fentanyl trafficking cases. This directly affects federal drug task forces, law enforcement agencies, and prosecutors working on fentanyl-related investigations.