Rep. Ritchie Torres

Maddy summaryHR 6172, the AMMO Act, requires federal firearms licensees (dealers/manufacturers) to implement new rules for selling ammunition to non-licensed buyers. It prohibits transfers exceeding 100 rounds of .50 caliber or 1,000 rounds of other calibers within any 5-day period and mandates written certification from buyers confirming they haven’t exceeded these limits. Licensees must also conduct background checks through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) before selling ammunition to non-licensed individuals, similar to firearm sales. The bill includes recordkeeping, signage, and reporting requirements for violations, with penalties including fines up to $250,000 for licensees and $50,000 for buyers making false statements.

Maddy summaryHR 5976, the Youth Mental Health Research Act, establishes a new NIH research initiative led by the National Institute of Mental Health. The bill directs collaboration between three NIH institutes to coordinate research on youth mental health, focusing specifically on building community resilience for at-risk youth and improving how mental health services reach young people in schools, communities, and other settings where they live and work. It authorizes $100 million annually for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to fund this research. The bill does not create direct services but aims to generate evidence to inform future mental health support strategies for young people.

Maddy summaryHR 6201, the Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2023, creates the Iran Sanctions Enforcement Fund to cover costs related to seizing and forfeiting property from Iran or its designated proxies (like Hezbollah or the Revolutionary Guard Corps) that violate U.S. sanctions. The fund, initially $150 million, pays for investigative costs, property management, informant rewards, and equipment for federal, state, and local agencies involved in enforcement. It also establishes an Export Enforcement Coordination Center within Homeland Security to improve interagency cooperation on enforcing export controls targeting Iran. The bill requires annual reports on fund usage and mandates repayment of the initial $150 million by 2034, unless waived for national security reasons.

Maddy summaryHR 3266, the Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education Act, requires the U.S. Secretary of State to report annually on curriculum content in Palestinian Authority (PA) schools and UNRWA schools in the West Bank and Gaza. The bill mandates reports assessing whether textbooks contain content encouraging violence or intolerance toward other nations or ethnic groups, steps the PA is taking to align with UN tolerance standards, and how U.S. aid funds are used to address such content. It specifically directs the State Department to review materials like textbooks, maps, and math problems referencing conflicts, as documented in a 2018 GAO report. The reports must be submitted publicly and include details on U.S. diplomatic efforts to promote peace in Palestinian education. This is a procedural bill focused on monitoring curriculum content, not altering education policy directly.

Maddy summaryHRES 599 is a non-binding resolution urging the European Union to fully designate Hizballah (Hezbollah) as a terrorist organization, rather than just its military wing as the EU did in 2013. It recommends the EU implement sanctions, freeze assets, issue arrest warrants, and prohibit fundraising for Hizballah, aligning with actions taken by the U.S. and other nations. The resolution cites Hizballah’s history of attacks, its criminal activities in Europe (including drug trafficking and money laundering), and its ties to Iran as justification. It directly addresses EU decision-makers, calling for coordinated action to disrupt Hizballah’s operations across the continent. The resolution follows prior House efforts, including H.Res. 359 (2017) and H.Res. 558 (2022), which made similar requests.

National Museum of American LGBTQI+ History and Culture Act This bill establishes within the Smithsonian Institution the National Museum of American LGBTQI+ History and Culture. The museum (1) may carry out educational and liaison programs in support of its goals, and (2) shall establish specified grant and scholarship programs.

Maddy summaryHR 5983, the Clean Water Act of 2023, redefines "protected water resources" under federal law to explicitly include all interstate and intrastate waters (such as intermittent and ephemeral streams), wetlands, and their tributaries. This directly affects federal agencies like the EPA, states managing water quality, and developers or landowners needing permits for activities near these waters. The bill eliminates the Supreme Court’s narrow "navigable waters" definition from Sackett v. EPA (2023), restoring protections for tens of millions of acres of wetlands and millions of miles of small streams. Key mechanisms require the EPA to annually review and adjust exclusions from protections based on scientific evidence, ensuring water bodies critical to drinking water, flood control, and ecosystems remain safeguarded.

Maddy summaryThe Student Support Act (HR 6091) establishes a federal grant program to address the critical shortage of mental health professionals in schools, authorizing $100 million annually through 2028. The bill sets specific target ratios for school-based mental health providers: one counselor for every 250 students, one psychologist for every 500-700 students, and one social worker for every 250 students. Funds would be distributed to states based on the number of children in poverty and total student enrollment, with states required to provide matching funds. This legislation directly affects public and private K-12 schools across the United States, particularly those serving low-income students who currently lack adequate mental health support.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require employers with 5 or more employees to provide 56 hours of paid leave annually for employees experiencing pregnancy loss, failed fertility procedures (including IVF), failed adoption or surrogacy arrangements, or fertility-impacting diagnoses. Employees could also use this leave to care for a spouse or domestic partner facing these circumstances. Employers would need to provide clear notice of this policy and cannot discriminate against employees who use this leave. The bill applies to private sector employers, government employees, and others covered under the defined terms, with enforcement mechanisms to protect employees' rights.

Maddy summaryHR 6102 establishes a nonpartisan commission to study the feasibility of creating a National Museum of American LGBTQI+ History and Culture. The 8-member commission, appointed by congressional leaders, will assess costs, location options, governance, fundraising needs, and potential impacts on existing museums, with reports due within 18 months. Crucially, the bill prohibits federal funding for the commission’s work and requires a fundraising plan to support the museum’s future operation without relying on ongoing government appropriations. The commission’s findings will inform future legislative action but do not authorize the museum’s creation. This is a study-only measure, not a funding or construction bill.