Maddy summaryHR 7256, the U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act, requires the President to certify within 30 days whether South Africa's foreign policy actions undermine U.S. national security, based on findings about its support for Hamas, cooperation with Russia and China, and domestic governance issues. It mandates a 120-day comprehensive review of U.S.-South Africa relations by the executive branch, covering diplomatic, military, and economic ties. The review will assess South Africa's alignment with entities like Hamas (a U.S. designated Foreign Terrorist Organization) and its strategic partnerships with Russia and China, as detailed in the bill's findings. This procedural bill directs the administration to evaluate the relationship but does not impose new restrictions or change existing policy.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new eligibility rules for women's and girls' amateur sports by defining "female" and "male" based on biological sex at birth. It prohibits individuals designated as male under these definitions from participating in athletic competitions designated for females, women, or girls. The law amends existing U.S. Code provisions to add this requirement, directly affecting athletes and organizations managing female-designated teams. The key change is a clear ban on male-identified participants in female sports, replacing previous eligibility standards with biological sex criteria.
Maddy summaryHR 6727 establishes the United States Foundation for International Conservation, a nonprofit organization that will provide grants to support long-term management of protected and conserved areas in eligible countries. The Foundation requires a 2:1 cost match from other sources, demands host country and community consent through binding agreements, and prioritizes areas with high biodiversity or species of significant importance. It will be governed by a Board of Directors including government officials and private sector experts, operate for 10 years with $1 million authorized for 2024 and $100 million annually from 2025-2035, and must follow international conservation standards while prohibiting funding for countries supporting terrorism or violating human rights.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the U.S. State Department from acquiring, leasing, or authorizing construction on overseas diplomatic facilities (like embassies and consulates) where the People’s Republic of China or its entities have ownership control (defined as 25% or more). It applies to all new building acquisitions, leases, and construction contracts after the law’s enactment. The law defines "covered construction" to include all building work, repairs, and essential systems like electrical or plumbing. Violations require the Secretary of State to notify relevant congressional committees within seven days.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1086) is a symbolic gesture expressing the House's support for designating March 19, 2024, as "National Agriculture Day." It does not create new laws or policies, but instead formally recognizes agriculture as a vital industry in the U.S. economy. The resolution celebrates agriculture's broad economic impact without imposing any requirements or changes on farmers, consumers, or government programs. It is a commemorative statement, not a substantive legislative action.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. app stores, hosting services, and distributors from enabling foreign adversary-controlled applications (like TikTok, owned by ByteDance) to operate within U.S. borders. It requires companies to provide users with their data in a machine-readable format before a ban takes effect, and imposes civil penalties of up to $5,000 per affected user for violations. The law directly affects major app platforms, app stores, and internet hosting services, targeting applications owned by entities controlled by designated "foreign adversary" countries (e.g., China). It includes exemptions for companies that divest U.S. operations to non-adversary entities before the ban date.
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution expresses Congress's support for U.S. military actions to protect maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It urges the President to take necessary steps to restore deterrence against Houthi attacks, consult Congress before authorizing military responses, and provide timely reports on incidents involving U.S. forces. The resolution also supports designating the Iran-backed Houthi group as a terrorist organization and emphasizes protecting freedom of navigation through international cooperation. It directly affects U.S. military operations and diplomatic coordination in the region, aiming to safeguard global trade routes that handle nearly 15% of the world's maritime traffic.
Maddy summaryThe Laken Riley Act (HR 7511) would require federal authorities to detain non-citizens charged with or convicted of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting offenses. It also creates new legal standing for state attorneys general to sue federal immigration officials in federal court if they believe immigration enforcement decisions (like releasing aliens or granting parole) cause financial harm exceeding $100 to the state or its residents. The bill amends immigration laws to expand detention requirements for certain property crimes and allows states to seek court orders to enforce immigration policies. It does not create new criminal penalties but modifies existing immigration enforcement procedures. The bill’s findings and political language about the Laken Riley case are not part of its policy provisions.
Maddy summaryThe TEMP Act (HR 6186) requires the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to research and develop index-based insurance for crops affected by frost or cold weather events. It specifically directs research on protecting crops like tomatoes, peppers, citrus, and berries against production or revenue losses from such weather, evaluating risk management tools for low-frequency events. The Corporation must report findings and recommendations to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment. This research aims to create nationally available insurance options but does not immediately implement new coverage.
Maddy summaryHR 7361, the Flowers for Fallen Heroes Act of 2024, requires the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a low-cost program allowing the public to order flowers for military gravesites at Commission-managed cemeteries. The bill mandates the Commission to partner with third-party florists (without excess fees) and create a user-friendly website and phone system for ordering by one year after enactment. It also authorizes credit card and electronic payment processing for these orders, with customers responsible for any third-party processing fees, and requires annual reports to Congress detailing program implementation, including order data and florist engagement. This bill directly affects the public seeking to honor fallen service members and the Commission’s operations at 25 overseas military cemeteries.