Sen. Ted Budd

Maddy summaryThe Hearing Protection Act (S 401) reclassifies firearm silencers as firearms under federal tax law, requiring them to be taxed at 10% like other firearms starting 90 days after enactment. It mandates the destruction of all existing federal silencer registration records within one year and preempts state laws that tax, regulate, or require registration of silencers. The bill directly affects silencer owners, manufacturers, and dealers by changing federal tax treatment, eliminating federal registration requirements, and overriding conflicting state regulations. Key provisions include updated definitions for silencers, new marking requirements for manufacturers, and removal of federal registration barriers.

Maddy summaryThe Build the Wall Now Act (S 422) requires the immediate resumption of border barrier construction along the U.S.-Mexico border that was underway or planned before January 20, 2021, prohibiting cancellation of existing contracts and directing use of previously appropriated funds for this purpose. The bill mandates honoring agreements with states, local governments, and tribes related to border barrier construction and amends existing law to change definitions of border barriers and construction requirements. It grants the Secretary of Homeland Security broad waiver authority to bypass numerous environmental, historical, and other legal requirements that would otherwise apply to border barrier construction. This legislation directly affects border communities, environmental regulations, and the Department of Homeland Security's operations along the southern border.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 7) seeks congressional disapproval of a 2023 rule defining "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS), which would have changed how federal agencies regulate wetlands and waterways. It targets a rule jointly issued by the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and other agencies (88 Fed. Reg. 3004, Jan. 18, 2023), directly affecting landowners, developers, and environmental regulators by altering jurisdiction over water resources. If passed, the resolution would nullify the rule under a specific disapproval process in Title 5 of U.S. Code, preventing it from taking effect. The resolution does not create new regulations but aims to block an existing federal rule. This is a procedural step, not a new law.

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment (SJRES 13) would require the federal government to balance its annual budget, meaning spending could not exceed revenue unless Congress passes a specific exception with a two-thirds vote. It also sets a limit of 18% of GDP for total government spending, with similar supermajority requirements to exceed this cap. The bill would mandate the President to submit a balanced budget proposal to Congress each year and require a two-thirds vote for tax increases or debt limit hikes. As a proposed amendment, it would only take effect if ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 12) seeks congressional disapproval of the District of Columbia Council’s approval of the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24-789). It directly affects D.C. residents and local government, as the resolution targets the District’s newly enacted criminal code. The mechanism is a formal congressional disapproval under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, requiring passage by both chambers to block the D.C. law from taking effect. The resolution does not alter the D.C. code itself but aims to halt its implementation through federal action.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands U.S. immigration restrictions by adding new grounds for denying entry to non-citizens. It makes individuals inadmissible if a consular officer or DHS believes they engaged in, or plan to engage in, activities like espionage, sabotage, violating U.S. export laws for sensitive goods/technology, unlawful activities, or efforts to overthrow the U.S. government by force. It also bars entry for spouses or children of individuals deemed inadmissible under these new rules if the qualifying activity occurred within the last five years. The law directly affects people seeking visas or entry into the United States based on these specific security-related activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits attorneys' fees for claims related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, affecting veterans, civilians, and their attorneys filing under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. It caps fees at 12% of administrative claim payments or 17% of court settlements/judgments, prohibits additional fees/costs, and requires attorneys to certify fee amounts. The bill also mandates annual reporting to Congress on all fees paid, including attorney names and amounts. These changes apply to all pending and future claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new criminal penalties for actions that assist transnational criminal organizations in evading border enforcement. It specifically targets two activities: (1) knowingly sharing law enforcement location details (like patrols or equipment) to help with immigration, customs, or border-related crimes, and (2) destroying or damaging border infrastructure like fences, sensors, or cameras. Violations carry fines and up to 10 years in prison, with harsher penalties (up to 20 years) if firearms are involved. The bill directly affects individuals who aid criminal groups in circumventing U.S. border controls, particularly those involved in immigration-related smuggling operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the President from blocking or delaying new oil, gas, coal, or mineral leases on federal lands (including national forests, public lands, and the outer continental shelf) without explicit congressional approval. It specifically prevents the President from imposing moratoria on new energy leases or withdrawing federal lands from energy development without an act of Congress. The law applies directly to federal land management decisions, requiring Congress to authorize any action that would restrict energy leasing or development on these lands. This is a procedural change affecting how federal energy leasing and land use decisions are made.

Maddy summaryThe Federal Skills Act of 2023 requires the Office of Personnel Management to review and update job classifications and qualification standards for most federal government positions. It limits agencies from requiring specific educational degrees unless legally required for similar jobs in state or local government, and mandates that hiring assessments evaluate actual job skills - not just education - using methods that don’t rely solely on academic credentials. Agencies must publish position descriptions based on required skills and ensure assessments don’t substitute education for demonstrated competencies. The bill aims to make federal hiring more skills-focused while maintaining existing student loan benefits.