Rep. Jodey C. Arrington

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts human trafficking survivors from paying federal income tax on restitution or civil damages awarded under federal trafficking laws. Specifically, it removes taxable status for payments received under Sections 1593 (criminal restitution) and 1595 (civil damages) of Title 18, U.S. Code. The provision directly affects survivors who receive court-ordered compensation for trafficking crimes, ensuring they retain the full amount of their award. This change prevents survivors from facing unexpected tax burdens on funds meant to aid their recovery. The tax exemption applies to payments made after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryHR 6214, the False Claims Amendments Act of 2023, amends the False Claims Act to strengthen fraud enforcement against government contractors. It changes how "materiality" is determined in fraud cases, preventing government decisions to accept payments despite fraud from automatically blocking claims. The bill also expands whistleblower protections to cover former employees reporting fraud. Finally, it requires a GAO report within 18 months assessing the False Claims Act's effectiveness since 1986, including recovery amounts and enforcement challenges.

Maddy summaryHRES 771 is a non-binding resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. It condemns Hamas' actions, affirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls for the immediate release of hostages. The resolution also urges enforcement of existing laws restricting aid to terrorists and sanctions against Iran for supporting Hamas. It does not create new policies or allocate funds, as it is a symbolic statement of congressional support.

Maddy summaryHRES 768 is a symbolic House Resolution expressing congressional support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks. It condemns Hamas' actions, reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls for the immediate release of hostages. The resolution references the U.S. commitment to Israel's security through existing military aid programs, including the 2016 U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding, and emphasizes enforcement of laws like the Taylor Force Act to prevent U.S. aid from reaching terrorist groups. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new policy but serves as a statement of congressional support for Israel.

Maddy summaryHR 5830, the American Genetic Privacy Act of 2023, prohibits commercial DNA testing services (like ancestry or genealogy companies) from sharing any individual's genetic data or aggregated genetic information with the People's Republic of China or entities controlled by China. The law treats violations as unfair or deceptive practices under the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act, empowering the FTC to enforce penalties and investigate breaches. It specifically defines "genetic information" as data from DNA tests, including results from services that provide ancestry or genealogical insights. This bill directly affects DNA testing companies operating in the U.S. and aims to prevent sensitive genetic data from being transferred to Chinese entities.

Maddy summaryHJRES 11 proposes a constitutional amendment that would limit Members of Congress to serving a maximum of three terms in the House of Representatives and two terms in the Senate. If passed and ratified, it would prevent any member who has already served the maximum terms from running for re-election, including time spent filling vacancies (for more than one year in the House or three years in the Senate). This amendment directly affects current and future members of Congress by changing eligibility rules for re-election. The proposal is currently a joint resolution in the House, requiring ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures to become part of the Constitution.

Maddy summaryThis bill would criminalize the prescription, dispensing, distribution, or sale of chemical abortion drugs (mifepristone and misoprostol) for abortion purposes under federal law, with penalties up to 25 years in prison. It directly affects healthcare providers, pharmacists, and patients who use these drugs for abortion. Key exceptions include contraceptive use before pregnancy confirmation, treatment of miscarriage, and life-threatening pregnancy conditions certified by a physician. The bill defines "abortion" as intentionally ending a pregnancy with intent other than live birth or treating specific medical conditions, and explicitly prohibits prosecuting women who receive chemical abortions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates automatic continuing appropriations to prevent government shutdowns. If Congress fails to pass annual spending bills by October 1st, federal programs automatically continue at the previous fiscal year's funding level for up to 14 days, with extensions possible every 14 days until a full spending bill is enacted. During these automatic funding periods, congressional staff and federal employees face strict limits on official travel (except for returning to Washington, D.C., or responding to national security events), and campaign funds cannot cover travel for federal office duties. The bill directly affects all federal agencies, programs, and congressional staff during funding gaps, aiming to maintain government operations without congressional action.

Maddy summaryHR 5070, the USDA CROP Act of 2023, requires the USDA's Office of Pest Management Policy to coordinate more closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when reviewing pesticide rules. It mandates that USDA provide the EPA with specific data on pesticide use and the economic impact of alternatives before the EPA makes decisions that could restrict pesticide sales or use. The bill also requires the EPA to give USDA 90 days to comment on proposed changes to pesticide labels or registrations, and to delay implementation if no economically viable alternative exists for farmers. This directly affects agricultural producers by ensuring their economic concerns are considered in pesticide regulatory decisions.

Maddy summaryHR 5561, the Protecting the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Act of 2023, prevents federal agencies from using emergency declarations to implement gun control measures. It specifically prohibits the President from declaring a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford Act for gun control purposes, and stops the Health and Human Services Secretary from declaring a public health emergency under the Public Health Service Act for the same reason. The bill also amends the Stafford Act to explicitly prohibit any emergency-related restrictions on possessing, manufacturing, selling, or transferring firearms, ammunition, ammunition feeding devices, or firearm accessories. This directly affects how federal agencies can respond during emergencies without violating the Second Amendment. The law aims to limit executive actions during emergencies that could restrict gun rights.