Rep. Bob Good

No Regulation Through Litigation Act of 202 3 This bill specifies that a federal agency may not enter into a consent decree that exceeds the authority of the court that enters the order related to the decree. It also limits the inclusion of attorney fees or litigation costs in consent decrees or settlement agreements that result in a regulation or guidance document.

Maddy summaryHR 4468, the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2023, blocks the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from finalizing or enforcing a specific proposed rule setting emissions standards for 2027+ light-duty vehicles. It amends the Clean Air Act to prevent future EPA regulations from mandating specific vehicle technologies or limiting the availability of new vehicles based on engine type (e.g., gasoline vs. electric). The bill directly affects EPA rulemaking authority and automakers' compliance with emissions standards, ensuring new vehicle options remain diverse without technology mandates. This is a procedural change to federal emissions regulations, not a direct consumer or industry mandate.

Maddy summaryHR 6612, the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2023, clarifies who qualifies for U.S. citizenship at birth under the 14th Amendment. It amends immigration law to define that a child born in the U.S. is "subject to the jurisdiction" for citizenship if one parent is a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident living in the U.S., or an active-duty military member. The bill directly affects children born in the U.S. to parents in these specific categories, ensuring they meet the citizenship definition without altering the constitutional right itself. It explicitly states this definition applies only to births occurring after the law's enactment, leaving existing citizenship status unaffected for those born before. The bill aims to codify existing constitutional principles through specific, narrow criteria for parental status.

Maddy summaryHR 6580, the LAND Act, restricts foreign purchases of U.S. agricultural land by requiring foreign buyers to follow the land ownership rules of their home country (or the most restrictive country they hold citizenship in). It mandates sellers to report such sales to the Secretary of Agriculture, who must then notify relevant congressional members. The bill establishes a Task Force (including the Agriculture Secretary and Justice Department) to monitor compliance and report quarterly to Congress on sale details, locations, costs, and proximity to military installations. This directly affects foreign individuals, companies, and governments purchasing agricultural land in the U.S., shifting restrictions from U.S. standards to the buyer's home country rules.

Maddy summaryHR 6558, titled the "END the DEEP STATE Act," requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to withdraw a specific proposed rule titled "Upholding Civil Service Protections and Merit System Principles" (published in the Federal Register on September 18, 2023). The bill directly affects OPM by mandating the withdrawal of this proposed rule and prohibiting the agency from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing it or any substantially similar rule. The key mechanism is a mandatory withdrawal of the 2023 proposed rule, which aimed to strengthen civil service protections and merit-based hiring standards. This is a procedural bill focused on halting a specific regulatory action, not on creating new policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to obtain fingerprints from noncitizen children under 14 years old if officers suspect they are trafficking victims upon entering the U.S. It also creates a new federal crime for adults (18+) who knowingly use a minor for entry without being a relative or guardian, punishable by fines or up to 10 years in prison. The bill mandates sharing fingerprints collected under this provision with the Department of Health and Human Services for unaccompanied minors and requires CBP to report monthly data on trafficking-related apprehensions and annual data on fingerprinting to Congress. These provisions directly affect CBP officers, unaccompanied children, and individuals suspected of exploiting minors for entry.

Maddy summaryHR 6504, the Protect American Gun Exporters Act, blocks the Department of Commerce from implementing a pause on new export licenses for specific firearm exports (items under Commerce Control List numbers 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, and 0A505). The bill directly affects U.S. gun exporters by preventing the Commerce Secretary from enforcing the October 2023 pause or similar restrictions on these exports. Key provisions prohibit the Secretary from taking any action to carry out the pause unless it follows standard regulatory processes, including a required impact analysis and compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act and Congressional Review Act. This bill does not create new export rules but stops the existing pause on certain firearm exports.

Maddy summaryHR 6459, the "No Abortion Coverage for Medicaid Act," permanently prohibits Medicaid and CHIP funds from covering abortions, except in specific medical circumstances. It directly affects Medicaid recipients and state Medicaid programs by blocking federal funding for abortion services, including travel or lodging to obtain one, and prevents states from using Medicaid demonstration waivers to expand abortion coverage. The bill codifies the existing Hyde Amendment restrictions, ensuring taxpayer dollars cannot pay for abortions except when a pregnancy results from rape or incest, poses a life-endangering physical condition, or involves miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. This policy change would restrict abortion coverage under Medicaid nationwide, with exceptions limited to the three medical scenarios outlined in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of federal funds to cover abortions or related expenses (like travel or lodging) for unaccompanied immigrant minors. It directly affects unaccompanied alien children, as defined by immigration law, by blocking federal rules or guidance that would facilitate access to abortion services for them. The key provision bans the Health and Human Services Secretary from issuing, implementing, or enforcing any rule that enables such access using taxpayer money. This is a policy change limiting federal funding for abortion-related costs for this specific group, not a general abortion ban.

Maddy summaryHR 6300, the Veterans Education is Timeless Act of 2023, removes expiration dates for all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits. It directly affects veterans and their dependents who use programs like the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Survivors' Benefits, and others, allowing them to access education benefits at any time without a deadline. The bill amends multiple sections of Title 38 to state that benefits "shall be afforded... at any time and are not subject to any delimiting date." It also requires the VA to refund veterans for contributions if they apply for a refund, and applies retroactively to all eligible individuals.