Maddy summaryHR 9707, the Transnational Repression Reporting Act of 2024, requires the U.S. Attorney General to produce annual public reports on foreign governments' efforts to harass, intimidate, or threaten U.S. persons or individuals in the U.S. (including diaspora communities) to silence criticism. The reports must detail specific cases (like those involving India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China), assess foreign government involvement, document U.S. responses (diplomatic, legal, or sanctions), and identify trends. These reports, submitted to Congress and made public, aim to increase transparency about transnational repression - where foreign governments target critics abroad - and hold offending nations accountable. The bill directly affects U.S. government agencies responsible for compiling the reports and foreign governments whose actions are documented.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act to establish a fifth round of payments for eligible victims of state-sponsored terrorism, requiring all authorized payments to be distributed by December 31, 2024. It directs specific funds into the Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, including $898 million from the Binance case settlement and 50% of annual unobligated balances from DOJ and Treasury forfeiture funds starting December 1, 2024. The bill mandates annual payments beginning January 1, 2025, for eligible claimants and requires the Special Master to submit annual reports on fund activity to Congress, including detailed deposit and disbursement records. It directly affects victims of state-sponsored terrorism, the Special Master administering the fund, and federal agencies managing forfeiture funds.
Maddy summaryHR 6319 (the 911 SAVES Act of 2023) requires the Office of Management and Budget to reclassify public safety telecommunicators as "Protective Service Occupations" within 30 days of enactment. This change corrects their current misclassification in the federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, which is used for statistical data on jobs. The bill directly affects how these professionals - critical in emergency calls involving missing children, active threats, and officer safety - are officially categorized in government workforce data. It does not create new benefits or funding but aims to better recognize their lifesaving role through accurate federal job classification.
Maddy summaryThe Artsakh Revenue Recovery Act of 2024 would establish a U.S. fund to compensate Armenians displaced from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) after Azerbaijan's military assault in September 2023. It requires the U.S. government to seize Azerbaijani sovereign assets held in the United States if Azerbaijan fails to compensate displaced Armenians for lost revenue from businesses, property, and employment. The bill creates a claims process through which displaced Armenians can submit claims for compensation for revenue lost since September 2023, with the fund paying claims if Azerbaijan does not compensate within 90 days. The Artsakh Revenue Recovery Fund would operate for up to one year after a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is signed or until all claims are paid.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes two programs to improve water quality in the Tijuana River and New River watersheds that flow across the US-Mexico border. It requires the EPA to develop action plans for restoration, prioritize projects to manage wastewater and stormwater, and coordinate with US and Mexican entities. The bill authorizes $50 million annually from 2025-2035 for projects including natural infrastructure, water reuse, and stormwater management. These programs directly affect communities in southern California, particularly Imperial Beach and San Diego, as well as communities in Tijuana and Mexicali, Mexico, aiming to protect public health and ecosystems.
Maddy summaryHRES 1461 is a symbolic resolution designating September 2024 as "National Voting Rights Month" to raise awareness about voting access. It encourages all U.S. citizens to uphold voting rights, supports existing voting rights legislation like the Freedom to Vote Act, and recommends schools teach about voting history and current restrictions. The resolution specifically aims to highlight efforts to address historical and ongoing barriers affecting historically marginalized groups, including Black, Latino, and disabled voters. It does not create new laws but promotes educational initiatives and media campaigns about registration deadlines and election access.
Maddy summaryThe JUDGES Act of 2024 authorizes new federal district court judgeships across multiple states to address rising case backlogs in the federal judiciary. It specifies new permanent judgeships for districts including California (multiple districts), Florida, Texas, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, and New York, with implementation phased through 2035, and creates temporary judgeships for Oklahoma districts with specific vacancy rules. The bill authorizes funding for these positions and requires reports on judicial caseloads and detention space needs, while mandating public access to the Judicial Conference's judgeship recommendations. The bill directly affects federal district courts in the specified locations by increasing judicial staffing to handle growing case volumes.
Maddy summaryHR 9639, the AI Ads Act, amends the Federal Election Campaign Act to prohibit using AI-generated content (like deepfakes or synthetic media) in campaign materials as fraudulent misrepresentation of campaign authority or fraudulent fund solicitation. It directly affects political campaigns, candidates, committees, and anyone creating campaign ads by requiring that AI-generated content cannot falsely claim to represent a candidate, party, or committee. The bill updates existing rules to explicitly include "content generated in whole or in part with artificial intelligence" within the definitions of fraud under Sections 322(a)(1) and 322(b)(1). This ensures that misleading AI-generated ads - such as those falsely attributing a statement to a candidate - would be treated as illegal fraud under current campaign finance law.
Maddy summaryHRES 1448 is a non-binding House resolution stating that the House believes every person has the right to emergency health care, including abortion care, during medical emergencies. It specifically addresses concerns that abortion restrictions force medical providers to choose between treating patients in life-threatening situations or risking criminal charges. The resolution highlights that such restrictions disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, people of color, immigrants, low-income individuals, and LGBTQI+ patients. It does not change existing laws but expresses congressional support for ensuring access to emergency care without legal barriers. The resolution was introduced by multiple House members and referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Maddy summaryThe NO FAKES Act of 2024 establishes legal rights for individuals (living or deceased) to control how their voice and visual likeness are used in digital replicas (highly realistic computer-generated representations that are readily identifiable as the individual). It requires authorization from the individual or their designated right holder for any digital replica, with specific rules for licenses (including 10-year limits for living individuals, 5-year limits for minors, and post-mortem rights for 10 years with possible 5-year renewals). The bill creates civil liability for unauthorized production or distribution of digital replicas, with exceptions for news, documentaries, commentary, and other protected uses. Online services are provided safe harbors if they follow notice-and-takedown procedures for unauthorized digital replicas after receiving proper notifications. The law preempts some state laws but leaves others in place, and applies to conduct occurring after the bill's enactment date.