Rep. Andrew R. Garbarino

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 summaryThe SEC Regulatory Accountability Act requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to conduct detailed cost-benefit analyses before proposing or finalizing new regulations. It mandates that the SEC assess how regulations impact market participants, evaluate alternatives to minimize burden, and ensure rules are written in plain language with clear justifications. For major regulations, the bill also requires the SEC to establish post-implementation assessment plans to measure economic effects and report on outcomes within four years. This bill directly affects the SEC and other securities regulators like the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, altering their rulemaking processes to prioritize cost-effectiveness and transparency.

Maddy summaryHR 8240, the SEC Cybersecurity Act of 2024, mandates a one-year GAO audit of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) IT infrastructure and data handling practices. The audit will compare the SEC’s IT spending to other federal financial regulators, assess the quality of its IT contracting, evaluate cybersecurity systems, and review recent security incidents. The GAO must report findings and recommendations to the SEC and relevant congressional committees (Financial Services and Banking committees) to identify improvements. This procedural bill does not create new regulations but requires an independent review of the SEC’s current cybersecurity posture.

Maddy summaryThe Investing in All of America Act of 2023 amends the Small Business Investment Act to expand eligibility for a leverage exclusion, allowing Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) to count more investments toward their leverage limits when funding businesses in low-income or rural areas, or in critical technology sectors vital to national security. It requires the Small Business Administration to adjust exclusion limits annually using the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation and to submit annual reports to Congress on economic activity and jobs generated by these investments. This bill directly affects SBICs and the businesses they support in designated underserved communities and strategic technology industries.

Maddy summaryHR 8120, the "Motorist Tax Abuse Act," prohibits the federal government from implementing congestion pricing in New York City's Central Business District. It amends a 1991 transportation law to specifically block the Secretary of Transportation from establishing or maintaining a tolling program for downtown Manhattan under the existing value pricing pilot program. The bill directly affects New York City drivers who would have faced tolls in the central business district and the federal agency managing transportation programs. This is a procedural change that prevents a specific tolling initiative from moving forward, without altering broader tax policies.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding House resolution condemns the slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" as antisemitic, stating it promotes hatred against Jewish people and the State of Israel. It links the slogan to Hamas and other groups that reject Israel's existence, citing their charters and recent actions. The resolution calls for public condemnation of the slogan, noting it undermines peace efforts and aligns with positions of organizations like the Anti-Defamation League. It does not create new laws but expresses the House's stance on the phrase's harmful impact.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 288) urges the European Union to formally designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization under EU legal framework Common Position 931. It does not create new laws but requests the EU take this specific action, noting the EU has previously sanctioned IRGC individuals but not the organization as a whole. The resolution cites the IRGC's role in human rights abuses, support for proxy groups, and involvement in conflicts like Ukraine as context for the request. Introduced in April 2023 by 20+ House members, it is a non-binding expression of congressional preference.

Maddy summaryHR 5923, the Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act of 2023, requires the President to annually determine if Chinese financial institutions are purchasing Iranian petroleum or petroleum products. If such transactions are found, the President must report the findings to specific congressional committees within 180 days of enactment and annually for five years. This bill directly affects Chinese financial institutions engaging in significant transactions involving Iranian oil. The key mechanism adds these institutions to the scope of existing sanctions under the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, mandating regular reporting to Congress rather than imposing immediate penalties.

Maddy summaryHR 5921, the "No U.S. Financing for Iran Act of 2023," prohibits U.S. financial institutions from authorizing transactions related to Iran's imports or exports (excluding agricultural goods, food, medicine, and medical devices for civilians). It also requires the U.S. to oppose International Monetary Fund (IMF) financial aid to Iran and block Iran's access to IMF Special Drawing Rights. The bill amends the Export-Import Bank Act to ban U.S. financing for Iran's government or state-controlled entities. The law expires either 30 days after the President certifies Iran has stopped supporting international terrorism and is no longer a major money laundering concern, or 10 years from enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 8011, the Iranian Terror Prevention Act, requires the U.S. Secretary of State to designate 12 Iranian-affiliated military groups and any entity controlled by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as Foreign Terrorist Organizations within 90 days. It mandates the President to decide within 60 days whether to impose sanctions under existing law (Executive Order 13224) on these groups, which would block their U.S. assets and restrict transactions. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to submit regular reports to Congress on new entities meeting designation criteria and the President to explain any decisions not to impose sanctions. This law directly affects the listed Iranian military groups and any new entities linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.