Rep. Don Bacon

Maddy summaryThe Uyghur Policy Act of 2023 establishes a U.S. Special Coordinator for Uyghur Issues within the State Department to coordinate policy and advocate for the protection of Uyghur cultural, religious, and linguistic identity in Xinjiang. It authorizes $250,000 annually for Uyghur human rights advocates to speak at public diplomacy events in Muslim-majority countries and mandates Uyghur language training for U.S. diplomats. The bill also directs the U.S. government to support United Nations monitoring of Xinjiang human rights issues and oppose efforts to block discussions of Xinjiang at the UN. These provisions focus on diplomatic advocacy and information-sharing, not direct sanctions or enforcement actions against China.

Maddy summaryHR 7450, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, prohibits payment card networks and covered entities (like payment processors) from requiring or assigning merchant category codes that specifically identify firearms retailers as different from general stores or sporting goods retailers. This directly affects firearms retailers and payment networks by preventing them from using business classification codes that could flag firearm sales. The bill establishes an enforcement process where the Attorney General investigates complaints, issues remediation notices, and can seek court injunctions for non-compliance, while preempting state or local laws on this issue. It does not create private lawsuits for individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies federal highway funding rules to allow the use of Highway Trust Fund money for constructing specific noise barriers near highways. It permits Type II noise barriers (designed to reduce highway noise) if they separate highways from older residential areas (at least 10 years old) or meet other defined criteria, while generally restricting such funding otherwise. The bill also enables "multipurpose" noise barriers that can host renewable energy or broadband infrastructure, and requires project sponsors to consider aesthetics when building these barriers. It directly affects highway construction projects near residential neighborhoods and state transportation agencies managing federal highway funds.

This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) titled Importation of Fresh Beef From Paraguay and published on November 14, 2023. The final rule allows for the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Paraguay into the United States under certain conditions. The United States prohibits or restricts the importation of certain animals and animal products to prevent the introduction of various animal diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). In response to a request from Paraguay to allow the importation of fresh beef from Paraguay into the United States, APHIS conducted a risk analysis. APHIS concluded that fresh beef could be safely imported from Paraguay, provided that certain conditions are met. These conditions include that (1) FMD has not been diagnosed in the exporting region within the previous 12 months; (2) the meat originated from premises where FMD has not been present during the lifetime of any bovines slaughtered for U.S. meat export; and (3) APHIS may periodically conduct on-site evaluations and subsequent inspections of the slaughter facilities, records, and operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, working with the Education Secretary and other agencies, to create a federal strategy for securing K-12 schools against terrorism threats within 180 days of enactment. The strategy must detail existing federal programs and funding for school security, identify specific vulnerabilities in school safety, outline actions to address those gaps, and recommend any needed new authorities. It applies directly to federal agencies coordinating school security efforts but does not mandate specific security measures for schools themselves. The strategy must be updated every seven years, with the requirement ending seven years after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 7384, the Creating Hope Reauthorization Act of 2024, extends the deadline for issuing priority review vouchers to pharmaceutical companies developing treatments for rare pediatric diseases. The bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to push the program’s expiration from 2024 to 2028 and adjusts another related deadline to 2030. This directly affects drug manufacturers seeking faster FDA review for new treatments targeting rare childhood illnesses. The extension ensures continued incentives for developing these critical therapies without altering the core voucher mechanism.

Maddy summaryHR 7307, the Health Care Workforce Innovation Act of 2024, establishes a new federal grant program to expand training for allied health professionals - such as medical assistants, community health workers, pharmacy technicians, and dental hygienists - in underserved communities and rural areas. Eligible applicants include Federally-qualified health centers and rural health clinics, which can use grants (up to $2.5 million per award for at least 3 years) to develop community-driven training partnerships with schools, vocational programs, and healthcare facilities. Funds support specific activities like apprenticeships, culturally competent training, and building career pathways for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, while prohibiting construction costs or replacing existing workforce funding. The program authorizes $100 million annually from 2025-2029 to address healthcare workforce shortages in areas lacking access to care.

Maddy summaryHR 7382 amends existing law to allow law enforcement agencies using Byrne JAG funds (a federal grant program) to specifically fund programs aimed at reducing demand for commercial sex trafficking. This change directly affects state and local law enforcement agencies that receive Byrne JAG grants, enabling them to allocate these funds toward demand reduction initiatives like public awareness campaigns or victim services. The key mechanism is adding "programs to reduce the demand for trafficked persons" as an explicitly authorized use of Byrne JAG funds under the 1968 Crime Control Act. This policy change expands the scope of existing federal funding to target the demand side of sex trafficking, without creating new programs or altering other funding categories.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel (covered employees) to sue their public safety employers if they face termination or other punishment for expressing personal opinions about work-related issues. It specifically protects speech on topics like public safety service delivery, pay/benefits, working conditions (including equipment), workplace policies, and even political/religious views. However, the protection does not cover on-duty speech, speech advocating violence or discrimination, disclosure of confidential information, or threats to withhold essential services. The law creates a new legal remedy but explicitly states it does not override existing federal or state civil rights laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 7372, creates two main components: border control measures and defense appropriations. The border provisions authorize the temporary expulsion of certain inadmissible aliens arriving at the US-Mexico border for one year, with specific rules for where they can be sent and protections against expulsion to countries where they'd face persecution or torture. The defense section appropriates over $34 billion for military personnel, operations, and equipment to support Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, including specific funding for defense systems like Iron Dome. It includes reporting requirements for how these funds are used and sets a one-year expiration for all provisions.