Rep. Nancy Mace

Maddy summaryHR 1695, the *Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act*, requires all federal agencies to conduct a comprehensive assessment of their software licenses, contracts, and usage within one year of enactment. This assessment must detail current software inventories, costs (including hidden fees), interoperability, and license restrictions, and be submitted to agency leadership, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Congress. Agencies must then develop a 120-day plan to consolidate software licenses, prioritize enterprise agreements, reduce costs, and improve software management - ensuring purchases avoid vendor favoritism and support interoperability. The OMB will create a government-wide strategy within two years to standardize these efforts, with annual budget reports tracking agency progress on software cost and management metrics.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funding to any entity (including state/local governments and private organizations) that allows access to single-sex facilities (like restrooms, locker rooms, or changing rooms) based on gender identity rather than biological sex. It defines "biological sex" by reproductive anatomy and requires facilities to be restricted to individuals whose sex matches this biological determination. Exceptions only apply for emergency medical personnel or active law enforcement situations. The law directly affects any organization receiving federal funds that operates such facilities.

Maddy summaryHR 10000, the SANE Act of 2024, requires every Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital and urgent care facility to employ at least one Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) or a qualified provider to conduct sexual assault forensic exams. It mandates that VA health care providers verbally refer sexual assault patients to mental health services, either within VA facilities or via a Veterans Care Agreement if VA wait times exceed 30 days. The bill ensures no reduction in other patient care responsibilities for VA staff and references existing definitions from the DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2004. This legislation directly affects veterans receiving care at VA facilities who require sexual assault forensic examinations.

Maddy summaryHR 915 requires businesses that contract with motor carriers (like shippers, brokers, or freight forwarders) to verify three safety and compliance details before shipping goods: 1) the carrier's valid registration, 2) minimum required insurance coverage, and 3) that the carrier is not disqualified for safety reasons by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) or a state. This verification must occur 45 days before shipment. The bill creates a temporary standard that expires when new FMCSA regulations are issued within 18 months of enactment. It does not change carrier safety rules but sets a new requirement for businesses selecting carriers.

Maddy summaryThe Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act (HR 807) directs the U.S. Treasury to mint three types of commemorative coins honoring working dogs' service: $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar coins with specific weight and composition requirements. Each coin will carry a surcharge ($35 for $5 coins, $10 for $1 coins, $5 for half-dollars) that will be paid directly to America's VetDogs to support their programs providing service dogs for veterans, the disabled, and others. The coins will be issued in 2027 with designs reflecting working dogs' roles in military, detection, therapy, and assistance work. The legislation specifies that all surcharge revenue must fund America's VetDogs' operations without creating new government programs. This is a commemorative measure focused on honoring working dogs' contributions through coin sales, with all surcharge funds going to a specific nonprofit organization.

Maddy summaryHRES 837 is a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on November 1, 2023, reaffirming U.S. commitment to the Philippines. It specifically calls for invoking the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty if Philippine assets (including Coast Guard vessels) are attacked in the South China Sea, urges joint U.S.-Philippines patrols in the region, and objects to China's disputed territorial claims. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but expresses congressional support for existing defense agreements and diplomatic positions. It directly addresses U.S. foreign policy toward the Philippines and the South China Sea disputes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 554) affirms U.S. policy support for religious and ethnic minority survivors of ISIS genocide in Iraq, including Yezidis, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and others. It calls for U.S. policy to prioritize the safe return of displaced communities to ancestral areas like Sinjar and the Nineveh Plain, restoration of destroyed religious sites and homes, and economic revitalization of these regions. The resolution urges the Iraqi government and international donors to allocate specific funding for these efforts and ensure minority representation in decision-making, referencing Iraq's Constitution on minority rights. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally states U.S. policy direction on this issue.

Maddy summaryHR 10186, the Protecting Women’s Private Spaces Act, prohibits access to single-sex facilities (like restrooms, locker rooms, or changing rooms) on federal property unless the user's biological sex matches the facility's intended use. It defines "biological sex" based on reproductive anatomy and function, requiring facilities to correspond with an individual's assigned sex at birth. The bill directly affects users of federal buildings, including those who identify as transgender, by restricting access to facilities aligned with their gender identity rather than their biological sex. Exceptions apply only for emergency medical personnel responding to medical emergencies or law enforcement during active investigations.

Maddy summaryThe Modernizing Data Practices to Improve Government Act updates federal data management by defining key terms like artificial intelligence and clarifying data governance as the policies and procedures agencies use to manage data throughout its lifecycle. It establishes a Chief Data Officer Council to identify ways to improve data collection, quality, and security, including evaluating new technologies and supporting agencies in responsibly adopting AI. The Council must submit regular reports to Congress with recommendations for agencies on developing data assets, governance policies, and AI use, and the Director will issue guidance based on these reports. The bill requires a public inventory of Chief Data Officers and their responsibilities, and expires on December 14, 2031.

Maddy summaryHR 5658, the Vote by Mail Tracking Act, requires that all mail-in ballots for federal elections be sent in envelopes containing a Postal Service barcode for tracking. This applies to every ballot mailed for federal office elections after the bill becomes law. The envelope must also meet Postal Service design standards for ballot envelopes, be machineable, and display the Official Election Mail Logo. The bill directly affects voters using mail-in ballots for federal races and mandates this tracking system to be implemented by the Postal Service.