Rep. Ben Cline

American Workforce Empowerment Act This bill allows tax-preferred college savings plans (529 plans) to fund certain postsecondary certificate programs and apprenticeship programs.

Maddy summaryHR 297 requires the military Secretary to reinstate service members who were involuntarily separated solely for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine. It applies specifically to those separated only due to vaccine refusal, not other reasons. If a covered member chooses reinstatement, they must be returned to their previous rank and branch of service. The bill mandates this action without requiring the member to receive the vaccine.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires colleges and universities receiving federal funding to ban TikTok (and related ByteDance apps) on all school-owned electronic devices - including computers, tablets, and smartphones - within 90 days of enactment. It prohibits federal funding for institutions that fail to implement such a ban, with an exception for research related to national security, law enforcement, or cybersecurity. The policy directly affects all public and private higher education institutions that accept federal funds, including grants and student aid programs. It does not restrict TikTok use on personal devices or apply to non-federal funding sources.

Maddy summaryHR 263, the STOVE Act, prohibits federal agencies from creating or implementing rules that ban or restrict gas-powered stoves, cooktops, ranges, or ovens in the United States. It blocks agencies like the EPA or DOE from proposing or finalizing regulations that would limit the sale or use of these appliances. The bill directly affects federal rulemaking processes related to home energy appliances, preventing new restrictions from being enacted. This is a policy change that stops federal action on appliance bans, not a change to existing appliance use.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCONRES 4) expresses congressional support for U.S. law enforcement agencies and condemns efforts to defund or dismantle them. It does not create new funding or policy changes but formally rejects "misguided and dangerous efforts to defund and dismantle" police departments, citing officer safety concerns and rising fatalities. The resolution specifically references the 2021 increase in law enforcement deaths (458 officers killed) and opposes rhetoric that "vilifies" officers, while emphasizing their role in community safety and crisis response. It is a symbolic statement with no binding legal or financial impact.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 5 is a symbolic Congressional resolution expressing support for law enforcement officers and condemning calls to defund or dismantle local police departments. It highlights officer safety concerns, references rising fatalities in 2021, and argues that reduced funding would harm community safety. The resolution does not alter funding, create new laws, or change policy - it solely states Congress's position through non-binding language. It was introduced in January 2023 by a bipartisan group of House members.

Home Defense and Competitive Shooting Act of 2023 This bill removes short-barreled rifles (barrels of less than 16 inches in length) from the definition of firearms for purposes of the National Firearms Act. It also eliminates the prohibition on the transportation of such rifles in interstate commerce and treats persons who acquire or possess a short-barreled rifle as meeting the registration or licensing requirements for such rifle where such requirements are determined by reference to the National Firearms Act. The bill preempts state or local laws that impose a tax or recordkeeping requirements on short-barreled rifles. The Department of Justice must destroy records relating to the registration of  certain rifles within one year after the enactment of this bill.

This bill revises criminal provisions related to the interstate transportation of firearms and ammunition. An individual may transport a firearm between two places (e.g., states) where it is legal to possess, carry, or transport the firearm. During transport, the firearm must be unloaded and secured or securely stored. Additionally, an individual may transport ammunition, or a detachable magazine or feeding device, between two places where it is legal to possess, carry, or transport the ammunition, magazine, or feeding device. During transport, the ammunition, magazine, or feeding device must not be loaded into a firearm and must be securely stored. The term transport includes staying in temporary lodging overnight; stopping for food, fuel, vehicle maintenance, an emergency, or medical treatment; and any other activities that are incidental to the transportation. It does not include transportation related to certain crimes. The bill prohibits the arrest or detention of an individual for a state or local firearm or ammunition violation unless there is probable cause to believe the individual failed to comply with the provisions of this bill.

Maddy summaryHR 24, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2023, requires a comprehensive audit of the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors and Federal Reserve banks within 12 months of the bill's enactment. The Congressional auditor (Comptroller General) must then submit a detailed report to Congress within 90 days, including findings, conclusions, and recommendations for improving transparency. This bill directly affects the Federal Reserve System by mandating greater oversight of its operations and financial activities. The key provision repeals a prior limitation that prevented audits of certain Fed programs, aiming to clarify which activities are subject to audit under existing law.

Maddy summaryHR 100, the No SmartPay for Anti-2A Companies Act, prohibits the federal government from awarding new contracts under the SmartPay Program for payment systems that use payment processors with a merchant category code designated for gun retailers. This means government agencies cannot contract with payment processors that categorize gun stores as a business type for processing transactions. The bill only applies to new contracts; existing agreements remain unaffected. It directly impacts payment processing companies that use such codes and federal agencies utilizing the SmartPay Program for future procurement.