Rep. Mike Gallagher

Strategy To Oppose Purposeful CCP Aggression at the United Nations Act of 2023 or the STOP CCP at UN Act of 2023 This bill requires actions to address efforts by China to expand its influence on the United Nations. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of State to establish the Office of Multilateral Strategy, which must implement a strategy to counter China at the United Nations. The office must report on its work to Congress. The State Department must also increase the number of U.S.-sponsored junior professional officers at the United Nations to match or exceed the number of such officers sponsored by China. Furthermore, the State Department and the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations must report to Congress annually about China's actions to expand its influence on the United Nations, including through coercion, intimidation, and other illegitimate means.

Maddy summaryHR 4865, the IDB Transparency Act, requires the U.S. Treasury Secretary to submit a detailed report within 180 days of enactment on China's influence at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The report must include all projects funded by China or Chinese companies since 2009, assess risks like corruption or human rights issues, and analyze how China uses the IDB to advance its diplomatic and economic interests. It also mandates that the U.S. Executive Director at the IDB actively reduce China's influence by reviewing high-risk projects, voting against certain projects, and opposing China's increased shareholding. The U.S. must submit updated reports every two years for a decade, with summaries made public 60-90 days after submission.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new NIH funding to support early-career pediatric researchers, prioritizing underrepresented groups (including women and racial minorities) and institutions serving these populations. It establishes the NIH Pediatric Research Consortium to coordinate pediatric research across NIH institutes, set priorities (like childhood cancer and mental health), and require annual reports on funded projects and researcher demographics. The funding supplements, rather than replaces, existing pediatric research budgets. Directly affects early-career pediatric researchers, NIH institutes, and research institutions participating in the consortium.

Maddy summaryHR 4709, the U.S.-Israel Anti-Killer Drone Act of 2023, amends a reporting requirement in the National Defense Authorization Act to enhance U.S.-Israel cooperation on countering Iranian drone threats. The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report within 180 days detailing the status of joint efforts to develop and deploy counter-drone technologies, including assessments of current capabilities and proposed policy changes. It also increases funding for this cooperation from $40 million to $55 million annually. The bill directly affects U.S. and Israeli military operations by mandating formal coordination to address Iran’s growing arsenal of armed drones, which have been used against U.S. allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia. This is a procedural bill focused on improving existing coordination, not on new weapons or sanctions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review real estate transactions involving foreign adversaries (including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea) near sensitive sites like military installations, ports, or critical infrastructure. It defines "elevated risk real estate transactions" as purchases or leases by foreign adversaries near such sites, creating a presumption that these deals pose unresolvable national security risks unless CFIUS explicitly approves them with evidence. The bill also adds food security considerations to CFIUS reviews and mandates declarations for these high-risk transactions. These changes aim to prevent foreign adversaries from gaining access to strategic U.S. land or infrastructure through real estate deals.

Maddy summaryThe RISE from Trauma Act creates federal grants to support community-based coordination of trauma-informed services for children, youth, and families who have experienced or are at risk of trauma. It provides up to $6 million per grant to local entities that bring together diverse stakeholders (including schools, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community organizations) to develop local strategies for preventing trauma, promoting resilience, and improving outcomes in health, education, and child welfare. The bill reauthorizes and expands existing programs like the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, school-based trauma support services, and hospital-based interventions for trauma patients. It also includes specific funding increases for these programs and requires grant recipients to prioritize communities with high rates of trauma exposure, including those affected by violence, substance misuse, or systemic inequities.

Maddy summaryH.J.Res. 81 proposes a constitutional amendment to set a permanent maximum of nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court. The amendment would require that the Court never exceed nine members, and Congress would have authority to pass laws enforcing this limit. If ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years, this change would become part of the Constitution. The bill directly affects the structure of the Supreme Court and the process for appointing justices.

Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act of 2023 This bill amends the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Circuit Rider Program to include cybersecurity technical assistance for rural water systems serving fewer than 10,000 people. Under the program, USDA provides technical assistance to rural water systems that are experiencing day-to-day operational, financial, or managerial issues. Specifically, the program's cybersecurity technical assistance must (1) assess system efficacy in protecting against cyber threats; and (2) implement cybersecurity plans, procedures, and technologies to protect against cyber threats. The bill also reauthorizes the Circuit Rider Program through FY2028.

Maddy summaryThe Promising Pathway Act creates a new FDA review pathway for drugs treating serious or life-threatening conditions, allowing provisional approval within 90 days if they show substantial safety evidence and early efficacy comparable to existing treatments. It directly affects drug manufacturers (sponsors), patients with urgent medical needs, and insurers, requiring mandatory patient registries tracking outcomes and side effects with a 90% participation goal. The bill mandates that insurers cover these provisionally approved drugs as if fully approved (without denying coverage as "experimental") and requires sponsors to submit annual reports to Congress on registry data and approval progress. Provisional approval lasts up to 8 years (2 years initially, renewable up to three times) but requires market launch within 180 days and allows FDA withdrawal if safety concerns arise or efficacy falls below standard treatments.

Maddy summaryHR 4485, the Rings of Fire Act of 2023, requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy for deploying conventional ground-based missile systems in the Indo-Pacific region within 180 days of enactment. The strategy must assess capability gaps relative to China's intermediate-range missile arsenal (500-5,500 km range), identify specific military requirements and basing locations, and outline operational concepts for joint use with allies. It mandates including cost assessments, co-development plans with partners like AUKUS, and designating a theater commander for missile strategy. The bill directly affects the Department of Defense and aims to address a stated gap in U.S. conventional missile capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.