Rep. Bob Good

Maddy summaryHR 997, the English Language Unity Act of 2023, would establish English as the official language of the United States government. It requires all federal government functions, including laws, regulations, and public communications, to be conducted in English, with exceptions for national security, disability education, census activities, and public health. The bill also sets uniform English language standards for naturalization, requiring applicants to read and understand the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and U.S. laws, with naturalization ceremonies conducted solely in English. This legislation directly affects federal agencies, government communications, and individuals seeking U.S. citizenship.

Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from requiring a financial institution to report the transfers into and out of a financial account. This prohibition does not apply to laws or regulations in effect on January 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a single Congressional Gold Medal to honor all U.S. Army Dustoff crews who served during the Vietnam War (1962-1973). It recognizes their critical role in evacuating nearly 900,000 wounded personnel, including U.S., South Vietnamese, and allied forces, under extreme combat conditions. The medal, designed with input from the Secretary of Defense, will be presented to the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum for permanent display. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to cover costs, but the primary action is the commemorative recognition of these crews' service.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans all federal funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology for any purpose. It also requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study whether U.S. funds were provided to the institute or related Chinese entities (including affiliated researchers, China, the Chinese Communist Party, or their agencies) over the 15 years prior to enactment. The GAO must complete this study and report to Congress within two years of the bill becoming law. This directly affects U.S. funding decisions for the institute and its connections to Chinese research networks.

Maddy summaryHR 976, the TCJA Permanency Act, makes permanent many tax provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that were scheduled to expire after 2025. The bill affects individual taxpayers by keeping lower tax rates, higher standard deductions, increased child tax credits, and other key changes permanently. Key provisions include permanent modifications to income tax brackets, repeal of personal exemptions, limits on state and local tax deductions, and increased estate and gift tax exemptions. These changes would prevent the tax code from reverting to pre-TCJA rates and rules for millions of taxpayers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires states receiving Medicaid funds for family planning services to submit standardized abortion data to the CDC annually. Specifically, states must report 10 mandatory data points (including maternal age, gestational age, race, ethnicity, procedure type, and survival status) by December 31 of the prior year, starting two years after enactment. Failure to submit accurate data or submitting false information could result in loss of Medicaid funding for family planning services in the following fiscal year. The law aims to create uniform national abortion data collection, addressing current gaps where some states report no data at all. The CDC will maintain a standardized surveillance system and publish annual reports by the third year following the data year.

Maddy summaryHR 903 creates a 3-year pilot program offering grants to up to 250 eligible veterans to start or acquire small businesses, franchises, or startups. Eligible veterans must have completed 36+ months of active duty (or 24+ months for disability) and qualify for VA education benefits under Chapter 30 or 33. Grantees must complete approved entrepreneurship training, submit a business plan for approval, and receive funds in installments after meeting business milestones. The program provides grants up to the value of the veteran’s education benefits plus monthly housing-equivalent support during the business development period.

No Asylum for Criminals Act of 2023 This bill bars an individual who has been convicted of a crime from receiving asylum, with limited exceptions. Specifically, the Department of Homeland Security may designate political offenses committed outside of the United States that shall not be considered a crime for this purpose. Currently, an individual shall be barred from receiving asylum for only certain types of criminal convictions, such as if the individual is convicted for (1) an aggravated felony, or (2) a particularly serious crime and as a result deemed a danger to the United States.

Maddy summaryHR 935, the Safety and Opportunity for Girls Act of 2023, amends Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to define "sex" as determined by reproductive biology and genetics at birth, and clarifies that "sex-segregated" means limited to or separated by that sex. The bill explicitly prohibits the Secretary of Education from requiring schools to eliminate sex-segregated bathrooms, locker rooms, or athletic/academic programs as a condition for receiving federal funding under Title IX. It directly affects educational institutions receiving federal funds by preventing federal enforcement actions that might compel them to abandon existing sex-segregated facilities or programs. The bill focuses on altering the legal interpretation of Title IX regarding sex-based accommodations, not creating new programs or services.

Dual Loyalty Disclosure Act This bill requires a candidate for federal office (other than a nominee for Vice President) who is a citizen of any country other than the United States to disclose such citizenship in the candidate's statement of candidacy. A statement of candidacy collects basic information about the candidate and is where the candidate designates their principal campaign committee.