Rep. Brandon Williams

Maddy summaryHR 4709, the U.S.-Israel Anti-Killer Drone Act of 2023, amends a reporting requirement in the National Defense Authorization Act to enhance U.S.-Israel cooperation on countering Iranian drone threats. The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report within 180 days detailing the status of joint efforts to develop and deploy counter-drone technologies, including assessments of current capabilities and proposed policy changes. It also increases funding for this cooperation from $40 million to $55 million annually. The bill directly affects U.S. and Israeli military operations by mandating formal coordination to address Iran’s growing arsenal of armed drones, which have been used against U.S. allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia. This is a procedural bill focused on improving existing coordination, not on new weapons or sanctions.

Maddy summaryHR 4721, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, makes a permanent the 20% tax deduction for eligible small business owners under Section 199A of the tax code. This provision directly affects pass-through business owners (like S-corps, partnerships, and sole proprietorships) who qualify for the deduction. The bill achieves this by removing the temporary expiration language (subsection (i)) from the existing tax code provision. The key change is ending the need for annual congressional extensions of this deduction, providing long-term tax certainty for small businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 1282 (Major Richard Star Act), expands benefits for certain military retirees by allowing them to receive both veterans' disability compensation and military retirement pay simultaneously. It specifically affects combat-related disabled retirees under Chapter 61 of the military retirement system who have fewer than 20 years of service. The key change removes the automatic reduction of military retirement pay when these retirees also receive disability compensation, as amended in Section 1413a(b)(3) of Title 10. Technical updates to the law’s structure and effective date (starting after enactment) complete the provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits entities controlled by Iran, North Korea, China, or Russia from purchasing or leasing agricultural land in the United States, including both public land managed by federal agencies and private land. It also bars such entities from participating in most U.S. Department of Agriculture programs (with exceptions for food safety, health, and labor safety initiatives). The bill expands reporting requirements to include leases and security interests in foreign land ownership, mandates public online disclosure of foreign ownership data with specific details, and imposes penalties like liens on land for violations. Additionally, it requires annual reports to Congress on risks of foreign ownership, enforcement effectiveness, and foreign investment motives.

Maddy summaryThe Building Chips in America Act of 2023 streamlines environmental reviews for semiconductor manufacturing projects receiving federal financial assistance under the CHIPS Act. It exempts certain facility construction, expansion, or modernization projects from standard National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews if they meet specific criteria, such as being on existing sites with limited additional development. The bill allows states to assume some environmental review responsibilities with federal oversight, requires reliance on prior environmental studies, and establishes specific categorical exclusions for semiconductor projects. These changes aim to accelerate semiconductor manufacturing facility construction by reducing regulatory delays for projects eligible for federal assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice to detect, identify, monitor, and mitigate drone threats to specific high-risk facilities including government buildings, airports, critical infrastructure, and locations hosting special events. It establishes a 5-year pilot program allowing state and local law enforcement agencies to use drone detection technology under federal oversight, with strict privacy protections requiring 180-day data retention limits and mandatory training for personnel. The bill requires coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration to minimize impacts on air traffic and mandates regular congressional reporting on how these authorities are being used. It sets an expiration date of 7 years after enactment for these new authorities.

Maddy summaryHR 4344, the ATRRS Act, requires the Army Secretary to allow reserve component soldiers to access the Army Training Requirements and Resources System (ATRRS) on personal internet devices within one year of the law's enactment. This directly affects Army reserve members by enabling them to view real-time training course information using their own devices. The bill mandates this access unless the Secretary restricts it for security reasons to protect U.S. information systems. The ATRRS is defined as the Army’s online system for managing training courses, and this bill changes how reserve soldiers access that system.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Acer Access and Development Program under the Agricultural Act of 2014 to require the USDA Secretary to solicit input from maple industry stakeholders six months before each grant application cycle. It directly affects maple producers and industry groups by mandating their input on research and education priorities before funding decisions are made. The key provision establishes a formal consultation process for the program, ensuring stakeholder priorities inform grant allocations. The amendment also updates the program’s timeline, changing the reference from 2023 to 2028 for future grant cycles.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE Act of 2023 extends a 2018 law that prohibits slaughtering animals for human consumption to include horses, donkeys, and other equine animals, such as ponies. It amends Section 12515 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 by updating the language to replace "dog or cat" with "dog, cat, or equine" in both the section title and the main prohibition. This change directly affects the livestock industry and slaughter facilities by banning the processing of equines for food. The bill modifies existing law without adding new enforcement mechanisms, closing a gap in animal protection.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 461) expresses the U.S. House of Representatives' disapproval of using public elementary or secondary school facilities to shelter individuals not admitted to the United States. It specifically references incidents in New York City where school gymnasiums were used for this purpose, arguing such use diverts educational resources, compromises student safety, and disrupts school routines. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect anyone but serves as a formal statement of opposition to the practice. The bill focuses on condemning the use of school facilities for sheltering non-admitted individuals, without proposing policy changes.