Rep. Nicholas A. Langworthy

Standardizing Thresholds Of Penalties for Fentanyl Act or the STOP Fentanyl Act This bill reduces the drug quantity thresholds that trigger a mandatory minimum prison term for a defendant who manufactures, distributes, imports, exports, or possesses with intent to distribute fentanyl. The bill also creates enhanced criminal penalties for certain violations involving fentanyl that was imported along the U.S.-Mexico border. Specifically, the bill reduces from 400 to 5 grams the fentanyl quantity and from 100 to 0.05 grams the fentanyl analogue quantity that trigger a mandatory minimum prison term for high-level first-time or repeat offenders. It also reduces from 40 to 0.5 grams the fentanyl quantity and from 10 to 0.005 grams the fentanyl analogue quantity that trigger a mandatory minimum prison term for low-level first-time or repeat offenders. Additionally, the bill creates enhanced mandatory minimum prison terms for importing or exporting fentanyl that was imported along the U.S.-Mexico border.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the courts should find New York's Concealed Carry Improvement Act unconstitutional and that all states should pass legislation supporting Second Amendment rights.

Maddy summaryThe Protect Local Farms Act (HR 353) would override state laws that require overtime pay for agricultural workers after fewer than 60 hours in a workweek. It amends federal labor law to preempt any state regulation setting a lower maximum workweek threshold (e.g., 40 or 50 hours) for farm employees. This directly affects agricultural employers and workers in states with stricter overtime rules, such as California or New York, by replacing those state standards with the federal 60-hour threshold. The bill does not change federal overtime rules but ensures states cannot impose more stringent requirements on farm labor.

Maddy summaryThe GAS Act (HR 337) prohibits any federal agency from banning the sale or use of gas-burning stoves in the United States. This applies to all agencies defined under federal law, including the Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Product Safety Commission. The bill directly blocks agencies from enacting new regulations that would restrict gas stoves, preventing future regulatory actions. It does not affect existing stove sales or current agency authority but sets a clear restriction on future rulemaking.

Stop Enabling Repeat Violence and Endangering Our Communities Act or the SERVE Our Communities Act This bill authorizes the Bureau of Justice Assistance to make grants to states and local governments for mentoring, transitional services, and training to help offenders successfully reintegrate back into the community after incarceration. To be eligible for a grant, a state or local government must take steps to prevent repeat offenses by violent offenders and allow a state court or magistrate to consider the danger an individual poses to the community when determining bail or pretrial release conditions.

Qualified Immunity Act of 2023 This bill provides statutory authority for qualified immunity for law enforcement officers in civil cases involving constitutional violations. Current law provides a statutory civil cause of action against state and local government actors (e.g., law enforcement officers) for violations of constitutional rights, also known as Section 1983 lawsuits. The Supreme Court has also found an implied cause of action against federal law enforcement officers in certain situations (e.g., Fourth Amendment violations), also known as Bivens lawsuits. However, under the judicial doctrine of qualified immunity, government officials performing discretionary duties are generally shielded from civil liability, unless their actions violate clearly established rights of which a reasonable person would have known. The bill provides statutory authority for these principles with respect to law enforcement officers. Specifically, under the bill, law enforcement officers are entitled to qualified immunity if (1) at the time of the alleged violation, the constitutional right at issue was not clearly established or the state of the law was not sufficiently clear for every reasonable officer to know that the conduct was unconstitutional; or (2) a court has held that the specific conduct at issue is constitutional. The bill applies to federal, state, and local law enforcement officers. It also specifies that law enforcement agencies and local governments may not be held liable if their officers are entitled to qualified immunity.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCONRES 4) expresses congressional support for U.S. law enforcement agencies and condemns efforts to defund or dismantle them. It does not create new funding or policy changes but formally rejects "misguided and dangerous efforts to defund and dismantle" police departments, citing officer safety concerns and rising fatalities. The resolution specifically references the 2021 increase in law enforcement deaths (458 officers killed) and opposes rhetoric that "vilifies" officers, while emphasizing their role in community safety and crisis response. It is a symbolic statement with no binding legal or financial impact.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 5 is a symbolic Congressional resolution expressing support for law enforcement officers and condemning calls to defund or dismantle local police departments. It highlights officer safety concerns, references rising fatalities in 2021, and argues that reduced funding would harm community safety. The resolution does not alter funding, create new laws, or change policy - it solely states Congress's position through non-binding language. It was introduced in January 2023 by a bipartisan group of House members.

Maddy summaryHJRES 8 proposes a constitutional amendment to permanently set the Supreme Court's size at nine justices. The bill would require any future changes to the Court's composition to follow this specific number, locking in the current structure. It does not alter the existing Court size (which has been nine since 1869) but aims to prevent future adjustments through legislative action. The amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years to take effect. This is a procedural proposal focused on constitutional structure, not a direct policy affecting citizens or programs.

Maddy summaryHRES 8 is a formal resolution introduced by the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2023 to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. The resolution alleges three specific violations: (1) failing to maintain border security, citing record migrant encounters and fentanyl seizures under his leadership; (2) providing false testimony to Congress about border security; and (3) spreading false claims about Border Patrol agents whipping migrants during a 2021 incident. It claims these actions violated his constitutional duties and federal law. As an impeachment resolution, it does not enact policy but seeks to refer the case to the Senate for trial.