Rep. George Santos

American Meat Industry Protection Act of 2023 This bill prohibits federal funds from being used to support, directly or indirectly, the production, advancement, or enhancement of lab-grown meat (i.e., meat sourced from the cells of animals and artificially produced in a laboratory).

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HRES 622), not a substantive bill. It expresses the U.S. House of Representatives' gratitude and congratulations to the U.S. Coast Guard for its maritime border security efforts in fiscal year 2022. The resolution cites specific achievements like interdicting over 330,000 pounds of narcotics, 12,500 illegal immigrants, and 6,300 vessel boardings. It has no policy impact or legal effect - it solely serves to honor the Coast Guard's service.

Maddy summaryThe ACES Act of 2023 requires ByteDance (TikTok's Chinese parent company) to divest all U.S. assets related to TikTok - including user data collected in the United States - within 90 days of enactment, with possible 30-day extensions. It mandates weekly compliance reports to CFIUS, a final data destruction certification, and prohibits U.S. app stores or internet services from supporting TikTok operations after a 45-day grace period. The bill directly affects ByteDance and TikTok, forcing separation of U.S. operations from Chinese ownership to address national security concerns. CFIUS oversees verification, including facility inspections and audits, to ensure full compliance with the divestment requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 4826 requires the FTC and CDC to study how social media platforms collect data and affect teens under 18, including mental health impacts and usage patterns. The study must examine data collection practices, algorithm use, daily screen time, and potential harms, with a report to Congress due within one year of enactment. The bill defines "social media platform" as any service with at least 30 million monthly U.S. users, targeting major platforms for this research. This is a procedural study mandate, not a regulatory change, directly affecting large platforms but focusing on teen users.

Maddy summaryHJRES 83 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a specific immigration rule. It targets a rule issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) on May 16, 2023, which addressed "Circumvention of Lawful Pathways" in immigration processes. If approved, the resolution would nullify this rule, preventing it from taking effect under federal law. This action directly affects how USCIS and immigration courts apply this particular policy to immigration cases. The resolution uses a standard procedural mechanism (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code) to disapprove the rule without altering broader immigration law.

This resolution condemns Iran for the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. It also urges the Biden Administration and U.S. allies to publicly condemn the massacre and to pressure Iran to provide information to the families of the victims.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies legal pathways for victims of terrorism to collect judgments against foreign states that sponsor attacks. It removes barriers by updating references in federal law to ensure victims can pursue claims under Section 2333(d)(1) without being blocked by prior legal interpretations. The bill also expands the definition of "national of the United States" to include U.S.-organized entities for these cases, making it easier for more victims to qualify. These changes apply to all pending or future lawsuits filed after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins marking the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary in 2025. It authorizes three coin types: $5 gold coins (max 50,000), $1 silver coins (max 400,000), and half-dollar coins (max 750,000), with surcharges of $35, $10, and $5 respectively. The surcharge proceeds will fund the Marine Corps Heritage Center's educational programs, with no net cost to taxpayers as the Treasury must recover all minting costs through the surcharges. The coins can only be issued during 2025, and the Treasury must ensure all costs are covered before distributing funds to the Heritage Foundation.

Americans First OPT Reform Act of 2023 This bill imposes limits on the Optional Practical Training Program. (The program provides an eligible F-1 student visa holder temporary employment authorization before or after completion of the student's studies, or both.) Under this bill, a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) may only participate in the program for four months with no extensions available. (Current rules generally allow an eligible individual to participate for up to one year with full-time employment; current rules also allow individuals with certain degrees to obtain a 24-month extension.) The bill also bars certain individuals from participating in the program, specifically an individual (1) with a degree or working in a sensitive field, or (2) who is employed by or otherwise affiliated with an entity owned or controlled by the Communist Party of China.

Secure our Borders from the CCP Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deny an application for immigration benefits from certain individuals with connections to the Chinese government in certain instances, including if the applicant has made anti-capitalist public statements. Specifically, this bill applies to any non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) who is applying for immigration status based on the individual's relationship with (1) an employer or institution of higher education that receives funding from the Chinese government or the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or (2) an immediate family relation that is associated with the Chinese government or the CCP. For an application from such an individual, DHS must review for certain factors, including whether the individual has (1) been employed by the CCP or the Chinese government, (2) received any grants from the CCP or the Chinese government, (3) made any anti-capitalist or anti-American public statements, or (4) received any payments or reimbursements from the CCP or the Chinese government. If DHS determines that any such factors apply to the individual, DHS must deny the individual's application for an immigration benefit. If an individual lies on an application that is subject to review for these factors, that individual shall be subject to deportation and a fine of $5,000.