Rep. Nicole Malliotakis

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1199) commemorates the 50th anniversary of Turkey's 1974 military invasion and ongoing occupation of northern Cyprus. It formally condemns Turkey's continued occupation, calls for the immediate withdrawal of its 35,000 troops, and demands the removal of over 200,000 Turkish settlers from the occupied territory. The resolution also urges Turkey to assist in repatriating displaced Cypriot refugees and to cooperate on resolving the fate of missing persons, including U.S. citizens. As a symbolic congressional statement, it does not create binding law but expresses the House's position on the Cyprus issue.

Maddy summaryHR 8231, the James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded to actor James Earl Jones in recognition of his distinguished career in theater and film, and his role in advancing inclusion and equal opportunities for people of all backgrounds in the entertainment industry. The Treasury will strike the medal with an image and inscription of Jones, and may produce and sell bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint's public enterprise fund. This bill serves as a ceremonial honor with no new legal requirements or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act in federal education programs. It clarifies that discrimination against Jewish individuals based on actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics may violate Title VI protections, requiring agencies to consider antisemitism intent during investigations. The law affects schools and universities receiving federal funds by guiding how they handle discrimination complaints related to antisemitism. It does not create new legal standards or expand the Department of Education's authority, as explicitly stated in the bill.

Maddy summaryHR 8212, the "End the Cyprus Embargo Act," would remove U.S. restrictions on defense exports to the Republic of Cyprus's government. It requires the Secretary of State to stop automatically denying exports of defense articles or services to Cyprus, unless credible human rights concerns exist or the President waives the change for national security. The bill includes a 5-year review period where the President must certify Cyprus complies with anti-money laundering reforms and denies Russian military vessels port access before any restrictions can be reinstated. This policy change aims to strengthen U.S.-Cyprus security cooperation, as referenced in the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates legal definitions in customs law to replace the outdated "four leagues" standard with current international law boundaries. It clarifies that U.S. customs enforcement applies to waters within the U.S. territorial sea (up to 12 nautical miles, as defined in Presidential Proclamation 5928) and contiguous zone (up to 24 nautical miles, as defined in Proclamation 7219). The change directly affects U.S. Customs and Border Protection's maritime enforcement operations but does not alter the actual geographic scope of enforcement areas. The bill amends the Tariff Act of 1930 and the Anti-Smuggling Act to align their language with existing international law standards.

Maddy summaryHRES 1187 is a House resolution recognizing the 49th anniversary of Black April and the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. It honors Vietnamese Americans for building communities in the U.S. over 49 years, acknowledges South Vietnamese military who fought alongside U.S. forces, and commemorates those who died fleeing Vietnam. The resolution encourages all Americans to remember this anniversary and support freedom, human rights, and democracy in Vietnam. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges historical events and community contributions.

Maddy summaryHRES 1170 prohibits U.S. House Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners from bringing or displaying any foreign nation's flag on the House floor during sessions, except for lapel pins or flags shown during speeches under House rules. The resolution applies to all flag sizes and is enforced by the House Sergeant-at-Arms. It directly affects House members' conduct during floor proceedings but allows limited exceptions for personal accessories and official speeches. This is a procedural rule change, not a substantive policy.

Maddy summaryHR 8141, the Azerbaijan Sanctions Review Act of 2024, requires the President to review whether 44 specific Azerbaijani officials meet criteria for U.S. sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act and related laws. The bill targets military commanders, judges, prosecutors, and security officials linked to alleged human rights violations, including torture of prisoners of war and suppression of political dissent. Within 180 days of enactment, the President must submit a detailed determination to Congress on whether sanctions should be imposed on these individuals. The review is based on findings of Azerbaijan’s alleged war crimes, arbitrary detentions, and failures to uphold international legal obligations. This bill focuses on procedural review, not immediate sanctions.

High Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2024 This bill classifies any automatic fire sprinkler system retrofit property as 15-year property for purposes of accelerated depreciation.

Maddy summaryHR 8121 amends the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act to block federal transportation programs from using congestion pricing (charging more during rush hours) or cordon pricing (fees for entering specific city zones) within value pricing programs. This directly affects federal transportation initiatives that might otherwise implement dynamic tolling systems to manage traffic flow. The bill adds a specific prohibition requiring the Secretary of Transportation to exclude these pricing methods from any program established under the law. It does not change existing state or local tolling policies but restricts how federal funds can be applied to such programs. The change is purely procedural, banning these specific pricing approaches within federally funded transportation projects.