Rep. Jefferson Van Drew

Maddy summaryHR 5419, the Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act, amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to exclude direct sellers (like door-to-door sales representatives) and qualified real estate agents from the federal definition of "employee." This change means these workers would no longer be automatically covered by federal minimum wage and overtime protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill directly affects individuals working in these specific roles by altering their legal classification under labor law. The key provision is a new definition inserted into existing law, aligning labor classification with existing tax code definitions for these professions.

Safeguarding Endangered Children, Unaccompanied and at Risk of Exploitation Act of 2023 or SECURE Act of 2023 This bill requires regular reports to Congress detailing the status of unaccompanied non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) children. The bill also rescinds certain funding for the agencies responsible for the report for each day that a report is late. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation must jointly report to Congress every 60 days on such children that have been in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) since January 1, 2021, and have been released to a parent, family member, or sponsor within the United States. This report must provide each child’s age, sex, location, and detail the child’s health and well-being. Additionally, the report must provide specified information about adults living in the child’s home, such as whether adults in the home have been subject to a fingerprint-based check of national crime information databases. The report must also specify the number of children that ORR has tried to contact without success on at least three separate attempts. The report must be provided for up to three years or until all of the specified children have been accounted for.  The bill also rescinds certain funding from HHS, DHS, and the FBI for each day that a report is late. Up to $10 million may be rescinded from each agency for each fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis resolution supports designating September 22 as "National Military and Veterans Suicide Awareness Day" to raise public awareness about suicide prevention among active-duty service members and veterans. It does not create new policies or funding but aims to highlight mental health challenges like PTSD and depression that contribute to higher suicide rates in these communities. The resolution emphasizes reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (September). It directly affects military personnel, veterans, and the public by promoting national attention to this issue through a designated awareness day.

Maddy summaryHR 4940, the Fishing Industry Credit Enhancement Act of 2023, expands access to farm credit programs for businesses that support the fishing industry. It amends the Farm Credit Act to include "persons furnishing services directly related to the operating needs" of aquatic product producers or harvesters as eligible for credit from Farm Credit Banks and Production Credit Associations. This change directly affects fishing-related service providers (like equipment suppliers or processors) who previously had limited access to these credit programs. The key mechanism is broadening the existing eligibility criteria to explicitly cover these service businesses, enabling them to secure financing for operational needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new $0.20 per credit system (adjustable for inflation) for conventional biofuel waivers under the Clean Air Act, directly affecting refiners and fuel producers with renewable fuel obligations. Credits must be used immediately for that year's compliance and cannot be resold or applied toward other biofuel requirements. Revenue from credit sales is split equally: one-third funds advanced biofuel investments, one-third supports agricultural diversification programs, and one-third flows into the Habitat and Wildlife Restoration Fund. This fund targets conservation in areas impacted by corn/soy expansion since 2007, managed with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Bureau of Prisons to develop and implement a strategy for scanning all incoming mail at federal prisons to stop fentanyl and other synthetic drugs from entering facilities. It directs the Bureau to evaluate existing scanning technology within 180 days and submit a detailed plan to Congress within 90 days, including how to provide digital copies of mail to inmates within 24 hours and physical copies within 30 days (if safe). The strategy must achieve 100% mail scanning capacity at all federal prisons, prioritize high-security facilities, and include a budget proposal for fiscal years 2024-2026. This directly affects federal prisons, inmates, and Bureau employees by changing mail processing procedures to enhance safety and reduce staffing burdens from manual mail checks.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 59 is a non-binding congressional resolution urging all countries to ban the dog and cat meat trade and enforce existing anti-trade laws. It directly affects foreign governments, not U.S. citizens, as it calls on them to adopt legal prohibitions and strengthen enforcement. The resolution cites animal cruelty concerns (including reports of stolen pets and inhumane slaughter) and public health risks (such as rabies and trichinellosis transmission linked to the trade). It does not change U.S. law, as domestic prohibition already exists under the 2018 Agriculture Act. The resolution affirms U.S. support for global animal welfare but has no legal force.

Maddy summaryThe Child Online Safety Modernization Act of 2023 updates federal law to replace "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material" across numerous statutes and legal definitions. It modernizes the CyberTipline reporting system to better identify and locate minors involved in cases of child sexual abuse material. The bill makes technical amendments to ensure consistent terminology in legal proceedings related to online child exploitation. These changes aim to improve law enforcement effectiveness in addressing online child sexual exploitation while maintaining legal clarity.

Maddy summaryHR 5020 prohibits the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from funding or conducting animal testing research in China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or other countries designated as "of concern" after consultation with the State and Defense Departments. It blocks federal grants, contracts, or support for such research conducted by foreign entities or facilities owned by these countries. HHS must submit detailed reports to Congress within 60 days when adding new countries to the list, explaining its reasoning.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal involvement in commercial greyhound racing, live lure training, and open field coursing by banning interstate activities related to these practices. It makes it unlawful to conduct betting on greyhound races (including remote gambling), use live animals as bait, or transport animals for these purposes. The law specifically targets the declining greyhound racing industry (now operating at only two tracks in West Virginia), banning federal facilitation of betting, live bait use, and interstate transport of animals for racing or training. It does not affect horse racing or state laws already prohibiting these activities in most states.