Rep. Don Bacon

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Defense to update its contracting rules by July 2024. It mandates that when small businesses bid on defense contracts, their past performance evaluations must include relevant performance data from their affiliate companies. This change directly affects small business concerns seeking government contracts, as it expands the performance history considered during the award process. The key provision modifies how the DOD assesses small business bids to include affiliate performance, aiming to provide a more complete picture of a business's capabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for adjusting defense contracts due to inflation from December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2024. It also clarifies that specific funds designated for inflation adjustments may be used for this purpose. The change directly affects defense contractors and the Department of Defense, allowing them to continue modifying contract payments to account for rising costs through 2024. The bill makes no new policy changes but extends an existing temporary authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Strategic Defense Fellows Program within the Department of Defense, creating a structured fellowship for up to 60 participants annually. It requires geographic diversity by limiting any single region (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, West, or U.S. territories) to no more than 20% of participants. Fellows are appointed to excepted service positions (GS-10 to GS-12) for one year (extendable once), with career development support including mentorship, leadership training, and potential placement in senior leadership tracks. The program also allows for education loan repayment under specific conditions and mandates public disclosure of participant names.

Maddy summaryHR 6737, the Air Force Future Force Design Act of 2023, requires the Secretary of the Air Force to develop a long-term force design for the Air Force and Space Force by August 31, 2024, projecting through 2050. The plan must address key areas including capabilities, force structure, personnel composition, and organizational models to support national defense strategy. The Secretary must then submit a summary and provide a briefing to congressional defense committees within 60 days of completing the design. This is a procedural bill focused on planning requirements, not policy changes, directly affecting Air Force and Space Force leadership.

Maddy summaryHR 6735, the Fighter Force Preservation Act of 2023, requires the Air Force Secretary to develop a 12-year strategic plan for maintaining the tactical fighter force structure. The plan must detail specific actions for aircraft procurement, unit activation/deactivation, maintaining operational readiness during changes, and potential use of new capabilities like Collaborative Combat Aircraft and synthetic training systems. It mandates that the plan address the mix of aircraft needed to meet global operational requirements, with unit-level details for each active and reserve fighter unit. The Air Force must submit this comprehensive plan to Congress by April 1, 2024, in unclassified form with a potential classified annex. This bill directly affects Air Force leadership's planning processes for managing its fighter fleet.

Maddy summaryThe Defense of Property Rights Act (HR 6758) would allow property owners to seek compensation in either U.S. District Court or the U.S. Court of Federal Claims when government actions - such as regulations or physical takings - deprive them of property rights without "just compensation." It repeals a law that previously forced owners to choose between courts, clarifies that "just compensation" includes full market value and business losses (with interest), and shifts the burden of proof to the government to justify regulatory actions. The bill directly affects individuals and businesses owning real estate, water rights, mineral rights, or other property protected under the Fifth Amendment, particularly when government rules significantly restrict property use or value. It sets a 6-year statute of limitations for claims and requires courts to award attorney fees to successful plaintiffs.

Maddy summaryHR 6759 makes AmeriCorps education awards tax-free for recipients. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude these awards from taxable income under sections 117(c) and 108(f), meaning members who earn education awards through AmeriCorps will not pay federal income tax on them or on student loans forgiven through the program. This directly affects AmeriCorps members who receive education awards under the National and Community Service Act of 1990. The tax exclusion applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides back pay and benefits to senior military officers (O-7 rank or higher) whose promotions were delayed due to a Senate confirmation suspension starting in February 2023. It requires the Secretary of Defense to retroactively pay these officers from a specific date - determined as the later of 30 days after their nomination was placed on the Senate Executive Calendar or the date they would have been appointed without the delay - and to establish their seniority from that same date. The law directly affects officers confirmed between December 5-31, 2023, who were impacted by the confirmation pause. It does not change future confirmation procedures but corrects past financial and career consequences for affected service members.

Maddy summaryHR 6734 prohibits the use of federal funds to finalize, implement, or enforce the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' (ATF) proposed rule (2022R-17) defining "engaged in the business as a dealer in firearms." This bill directly affects the ATF by blocking funding for this specific regulatory rule, which was proposed in August 2023. The legislation does not create new requirements but prevents federal resources from being used to advance this particular ATF regulation.

Maddy summaryHR 6416, the "Russian War Crimes in Ukraine Tax Act," imposes a 100% tax on interest and dividends earned from frozen Russian and Belarusian sovereign assets held abroad. This tax revenue is directed into a new Ukraine Reconstruction Trust Fund, which must be used for Ukraine's reconstruction, humanitarian aid, economic development, and transparent governance. The bill requires U.S. financial institutions to withhold this tax from qualifying income and overrides international treaty obligations to ensure implementation. It also mandates annual reports on fund usage to Congress, specifying that all revenues from the tax must support Ukraine's recovery efforts as defined in the legislation.