Rep. Jodey C. Arrington

Maddy summaryHR 8282, the "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act," imposes U.S. sanctions on foreign individuals or entities supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating or prosecuting "protected persons." Protected persons include U.S. military personnel, officials, and allied personnel (from non-ICC member countries) who are not under ICC jurisdiction. The bill requires the President to block assets and deny visas to targeted foreign persons and their immediate family members within 60 days of the ICC attempting such actions. It mandates congressional notification of sanctions and allows termination if the ICC ceases all such efforts against protected persons. The law focuses on restricting U.S. economic and travel access to ICC supporters targeting specific U.S. and allied personnel.

Maddy summaryHRES 1420 is a disapproval resolution that stops a rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security regarding the "Keeping Families Together process." The resolution directs Congress to reject the rule, meaning it will have no legal effect and cannot be enforced. This resolution specifically targets a procedural rule related to immigration procedures, not new policy. It does not change immigration law or directly affect individuals but prevents the rule from being implemented. As a disapproval resolution, it is procedural and focuses solely on blocking the rule's enforcement.

Maddy summaryHR 9428 amends Section 1382 of Title 18, U.S. Code, to increase the maximum prison sentence for breaching a military base from six months to one year. This bill directly affects individuals convicted of illegally entering or remaining on military property without authorization. The key provision is a straightforward penalty increase for this specific criminal offense. The bill makes no other changes to the law and focuses solely on raising the maximum term of imprisonment for this violation.

Maddy summaryHR 9430 amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program to prohibit states from using federal LWCF funds to purchase land, water, or related interests directly from private landowners. This restriction applies specifically to states receiving financial assistance under the LWCF program. The bill adds a new provision (Section 200305(l)) explicitly banning such acquisitions and updates related sections to reflect this limitation. It directly affects state conservation programs funded through the LWCF by restricting how those funds can be spent on land purchases.

Maddy summaryHR 9429 prohibits the U.S. Department of the Interior from finalizing, implementing, administering, or enforcing the specific Land Protection Plan for Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, as detailed in the February 2023 Fish and Wildlife Service document. The bill directly affects the management of the refuge by blocking the execution of that particular plan. It does not create new policy but prevents federal action on the existing 2023 plan, halting its implementation. This is a procedural measure targeting a specific administrative document, not a broad legislative change.

Maddy summaryHR 7130, the FAIR Labels Act of 2024, requires clear labeling for plant-based and lab-grown products marketed as meat or poultry. It mandates that products not containing actual meat or poultry - such as plant-based "burgers" or "chicken" alternatives - must prominently display "imitation" or "cell-cultured" on labels, alongside disclaimers stating they do not contain meat or poultry. This applies to all such products sold in interstate commerce, with no exceptions allowed. The bill also specifically requires "cell-cultured" or "lab-grown" labeling for meat grown from animal cells outside a live animal, while clarifying that existing meat inspection rules still apply to conventional meat products.

Maddy summaryThe Smitty Check Act of 2024 requires the Secretary of the Army to provide annual briefings to Congress starting January 31, 2025. These briefings must detail how Army commanders are implementing the February 2024 guidance on checking soldiers' welfare after injuries, including whether failures to follow this guidance carry penalties. The bill also mandates reporting on methods used to ensure proper medical protocols are followed for personnel. This directly affects Army commanders and the Secretary of the Army, focusing on accountability mechanisms rather than changing existing policies.

Maddy summaryHR 9395 requires the Secretary of Defense to provide Congress with a briefing on any attempted breach of a Department of Defense military installation occurring since January 1, 2021. Each briefing must include the immigration status and citizenship status of every person involved in the attempted breach. The bill directly affects the Department of Defense (which must provide the briefings) and Congress (which receives them). This is a procedural requirement focused on transparency about security incidents, not a policy change to military operations or immigration law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new review process for proposed listings of species under the Endangered Species Act. It requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to pause proposed listings when an "established consortium" (state or multi-state conservation group) objects, then refer the case to an independent third-party evaluator team. These teams - composed of experts in science, economic impacts on landowners/businesses, and conservation partnerships - must review the case within 180 days and issue a binding decision to proceed, terminate, or remand the listing. The bill also mandates greater transparency in Species Status Assessments by requiring public disclosure of peer reviewers' credentials and the rationale for including/excluding scientific data. It formalizes existing voluntary conservation agreements between the Service and private landowners (like Candidate Conservation Agreements) to remain legally binding.

Maddy summaryHR 9186, the Private Smither Act of 2024, requires the Department of Defense to include the organizational affiliation of certain private health care providers in military medical records. It directly affects non-Department of Defense health care providers who treat military patients but are not military personnel, Defense employees, or federal government staff. The bill mandates that medical records specify which private organization (e.g., a hospital or clinic) provided care, ensuring clarity about the provider's affiliation. This change applies to records maintained under the Department of Defense system. The provision aims to improve transparency for military patients and providers without altering health care delivery.