Rep. Jefferson Van Drew

Maddy summaryHR 489 codifies a 2019 Department of Homeland Security notice into law, giving it "full force and effect" as a permanent policy. The bill directly affects non-citizens who are subject to expedited removal procedures under the existing DHS guidance. It does not change the removal process itself but legally enshrines the 2019 notice as binding policy, making it a permanent part of immigration enforcement. This is a procedural bill that standardizes an existing administrative rule.

Maddy summaryHR 472, the Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2023, requires the Attorney General to develop a report within 150 days of enactment on programs to provide specialized mental health services for public safety officers (including police, firefighters, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers) and telecommunicators. The report must propose evidence-based trauma care, peer support, and family services to address job-related PTSD and acute stress disorder, while ensuring confidentiality for those seeking help. It will also outline efficient implementation plans using in-person and telehealth options across state, tribal, territorial, and local levels, plus draft legislative language and funding estimates. The bill directly targets public safety workers facing significantly higher PTSD rates (30% vs. 20% general population) and elevated suicide risks, including an estimated 125-300 annual police suicides.

Maddy summaryHR 441, the Leak and Lose Act of 2023, makes it a federal crime to conceal, remove, destroy, or alter unpublished Supreme Court opinions or draft opinions before they are officially published. The bill targets anyone who willfully engages in these actions while handling such materials within Supreme Court buildings. Violators face a $5,000 fine and lose the right to practice law in any federal court for life. This law directly affects individuals with access to Supreme Court documents, such as clerks or staff, by imposing severe professional penalties for mishandling sensitive court materials.

Leaker Accountability Act of 2023 This bill establishes a new federal crime for the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information by officers or employees of the Supreme Court. Specifically, the bill prohibits an officer or employee of the Supreme Court from knowingly publishing, divulging, disclosing, or making known in any manner or to any extent not authorized by law any confidential information coming to that officer or employee in the course of the employment or official duties of that officer or employee. A violation is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both.

Maddy summaryHR 217 requires online retailers operating websites or mobile apps to clearly disclose the country of manufacture or final assembly for products sold through those platforms. It directly affects businesses selling retail products online, such as e-commerce platforms and digital marketplaces, but excludes individuals selling via others' platforms (e.g., personal listings on eBay). The bill mandates this disclosure in a "clear and conspicuous" manner, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission as an unfair or deceptive practice under existing law. This creates a new transparency requirement specifically for digital retail sales, aligning online product labeling with similar rules for physical stores.

Maddy summaryHR 297 requires the military Secretary to reinstate service members who were involuntarily separated solely for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine. It applies specifically to those separated only due to vaccine refusal, not other reasons. If a covered member chooses reinstatement, they must be returned to their previous rank and branch of service. The bill mandates this action without requiring the member to receive the vaccine.

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.

Maddy summaryHRES 8 is a formal resolution introduced by the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2023 to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. The resolution alleges three specific violations: (1) failing to maintain border security, citing record migrant encounters and fentanyl seizures under his leadership; (2) providing false testimony to Congress about border security; and (3) spreading false claims about Border Patrol agents whipping migrants during a 2021 incident. It claims these actions violated his constitutional duties and federal law. As an impeachment resolution, it does not enact policy but seeks to refer the case to the Senate for trial.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires elementary schools to obtain written parental consent before teaching lessons about gender identity, sexual orientation, or transgender studies. Teachers must request consent 30 days in advance, and if fewer than 50% of parents consent for a specific class, the lesson cannot be taught. Schools must provide alternative learning time for students without consent, and non-compliance could lead to loss of federal education funds. It directly affects elementary schools, teachers, parents, and students in K-5 classrooms.

Maddy summaryThe Expedited Removal Codification Act of 2023 codifies a 2019 Department of Homeland Security notice about expedited removal of non-citizens into permanent federal law. This notice allows for the faster removal of certain non-citizens who entered the U.S. without inspection and have been present for less than two years without qualifying for asylum. The bill makes this process legally binding, ensuring it cannot be altered by future administrative actions without new legislation. Non-citizens meeting the criteria outlined in the notice will be directly affected by this permanent removal procedure.