Rep. Brandon Williams

Maddy summaryThe Better CARE for Animals Act of 2023 amends the Animal Welfare Act to strengthen enforcement of animal welfare standards. It gives the Attorney General authority to bring civil cases for violations, including seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day per violation and injunctions to remove or relocate animals. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and Attorney General to coordinate through a new Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on repeat violators. These changes directly affect dealers, exhibitors, and enforcement agencies by expanding civil enforcement tools and clarifying jurisdiction over rule violations.

Maddy summaryHR 5465, the Congressional Access to Bureaucratic Offices Act (CABO Act), requires federal agency heads to allow Members of Congress and their staff access to agency headquarters buildings during regular business hours. It mandates that access be granted upon presentation of valid congressional identification (for Members) or a staff badge while accompanied by the employing Member (for staff), with exceptions for areas requiring secret-level security clearance. The bill also ensures this access applies during declared emergencies (like national emergencies under the National Emergencies Act or public health emergencies), without imposing additional costs by using existing agency funds. This directly affects how federal agencies manage physical access for congressional personnel.

Maddy summaryThe Humane Cosmetics Act of 2023 bans cosmetic animal testing in the United States, prohibiting companies from conducting or contracting such testing after its enactment (effective 1 year later). It also bans selling or transporting cosmetics developed using animal testing conducted after that date within U.S. interstate commerce. The law directly affects cosmetic manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers operating in the U.S. market, requiring them to use non-animal testing methods for safety evaluations. Exceptions exist for foreign regulatory requirements or when no alternative testing methods are available for specific ingredients.

Maddy summaryHR 5513 clarifies how to determine if a worker is an employee or independent contractor under federal labor law. It adds specific criteria: a worker is an independent contractor if the company doesn’t control *how* work is done (only the result) and the worker has entrepreneurial risks like business decision-making. The bill explicitly prohibits using factors like requiring safety standards, insurance, or meeting deadlines to classify someone as an employee. This affects workers and companies across industries who currently use independent contractor arrangements, particularly impacting minimum wage protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act and union representation rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

Maddy summaryHR 3152, the "Fight CRIME Act," aims to maintain international restrictions on Iran's missile-related activities by requiring diplomatic efforts to extend these restrictions before they expire in October 2023. The bill mandates annual reports detailing U.S. diplomatic strategies, potential impacts of expiration, and measures to deter missile technology transfers to Iran. It establishes sanctions against foreign individuals or entities that knowingly support Iran's missile or drone programs, including asset freezes and visa restrictions. These sanctions apply regardless of whether UN restrictions remain in effect after their expiration, directly affecting foreign entities involved in these activities.

No Fortune for Fraud Act This bill prohibits a Member of the House of Representatives from receiving compensation for a biography, a media appearance, or other creative work if the Member is convicted of specified felony offenses (e.g., bribing public officials or defrauding the government) or offenses related to violations of campaign finance laws. A Member who violates the prohibition shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $10 million for each violation.

Maddy summaryHR 5244, the Fusion Energy Act, creates a new regulatory framework specifically for fusion energy machines - defined as particle accelerators that fuse atomic nuclei for commercial or industrial use. It amends the Atomic Energy Act to include fusion machines under existing byproduct material rules and establishes a "technology-inclusive" licensing process for their development. The bill requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to report within one year on risk-based licensing frameworks for mass-produced fusion machines, potentially modeling them after FAA aircraft certification. This legislation directly affects fusion technology developers and the NRC, streamlining future regulatory pathways without providing new funding.

Maddy summaryHR 5161 amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to prohibit the use of federal education funds for hunting or archery programs in schools. The bill specifically revises Section 8526 to remove language allowing such funding and adds clarity to fund restrictions. This change directly affects public schools receiving federal education funding by preventing them from using those funds for hunting or archery activities. The policy change is procedural, modifying existing fund usage rules rather than creating new programs or benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program through 2028 by updating the expiration date in existing law from 2023 to 2028 across all program provisions. It extends the federal program that funds dam safety inspections, risk assessments, and emergency planning efforts. The program directly affects dam owners (including state agencies and private operators) and communities living near dams by maintaining current safety oversight standards. No new requirements or funding levels are added; it simply continues the existing program structure.

Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in recognition of the bicentennial of the Erie Canal. The designs of the coins must be emblematic of the Erie Canal and its impact on the development of the United States and New York. All sales of coins issued under this bill must include a surcharge to be paid to the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc., to support the historic preservation and community development of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in New York and for educational and commemorative programs.