Rep. Brian Babin

Maddy summaryHR 5553 prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from providing or paying for surgical treatments related to gender transition. This directly affects transgender veterans who rely on VA healthcare for gender-affirming surgical procedures. The bill blocks VA funding specifically for these surgical treatments, without altering coverage for other healthcare services. It applies to all veterans seeking such care through the VA system.

National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture from restricting certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activities pertaining to border enforcement and addresses related issues. Specifically, neither department may impose restrictions on CBP actions taking place on federal land under their respective jurisdictions and located within 100 miles of an international border if the CBP actions involve search and rescue operations and the prevention of all unlawful entries into the United States. CBP shall have immediate access to such federal lands to conduct various activities, including the installation and maintenance of roads, barriers, and surveillance equipment. Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may waive the application of certain legal requirements on such federal lands if DHS determines that the waiver is necessary to ensure the expeditious construction of border barriers and roads. DHS may waive only specified laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Historic Preservation Act, and certain provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.

No Taxation Without Congressional Consent Act This bill prohibits assessing a fine, fee, or tax against any person who violates a COVID-19 vaccine mandate issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or other executive agency.

This resolution condemns any actions taken by any terrorist organization or government in Afghanistan to oppress women and girls. It also demands that the Taliban preserve and advance the rights and freedoms of all women and girls.

This resolution (1) censures Representative Maxine Waters for making certain allegations of misconduct against Border Patrol officials at the Southern border, and (2) calls for her immediate apology and resignation from the House of Representatives.

Health Freedom for All Act This bill prohibits the Department of Labor from issuing an emergency temporary occupational safety or health standard requiring employers to ensure that their employees receive a COVID-19 vaccine or undergo COVID-19 testing.

Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of State to take certain actions promoting the normalization of relations between Israel, Arab states, and other relevant countries and regions. Specifically, the State Department must develop a strategy on expanding and strengthening the Abraham Accords (the term used to refer collectively to agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and between Israel and Bahrain marking the public normalization of relations between the two Arab countries and Israel). The strategy must include a description of how the U.S. government will encourage further normalization of relations with Israel. In addition, the State Department must report on options for U.S. international efforts to promote the strengthening of ties between Israel, Arab states, and other relevant countries and regions. The State Department must also report on the status of the normalization of relations with Israel, including information on (1) laws that punish individuals for people-to-people relations with Israelis (i.e., anti-normalization laws), and (2) evidence of steps taken by Arab governments toward permitting or encouraging normalized relations between their citizens or residents and Israeli citizens.

Armed Services Always Paid Act or the ASAP Act This bill provides funding to continue the pay and allowances of members of the Armed Forces, including reserve personnel, during a lapse in appropriations.

Back To Work Act This bill requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Government Accountability Office, and the Small Business Administration to prepare a joint report on the impact of pandemic unemployment programs.

Chinese Military and Surveillance Company Sanctions Act of 2021 This bill requires the President to impose property-blocking sanctions on Communist Chinese military companies upon certain findings. Specifically, if the President determines that imposing sanctions on a foreign person would address certain threats related to the financing of Chinese Communist military companies, the President must impose sanctions on that person provided that the person is identified (1) as a Communist Chinese military company in a specified report to Congress or in a November 17, 2020, executive order, or (2) by the Department of the Treasury as having engaged in transactions in the publicly traded securities (or derivatives) of a Communist Chinese military company.