Rep. Wesley Hunt

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes federal grants to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation for establishing a library in Medora, North Dakota, requiring the Foundation to match federal funds two-to-one from non-Federal sources (e.g., state funds or private donations). It directs federal agencies to transfer relevant artifacts and collections to the library without cost for public display. The library will operate independently under the Foundation, with no ongoing federal management or operational involvement.

Maddy summaryHR 8011, the Iranian Terror Prevention Act, requires the U.S. Secretary of State to designate 12 Iranian-affiliated military groups and any entity controlled by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as Foreign Terrorist Organizations within 90 days. It mandates the President to decide within 60 days whether to impose sanctions under existing law (Executive Order 13224) on these groups, which would block their U.S. assets and restrict transactions. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to submit regular reports to Congress on new entities meeting designation criteria and the President to explain any decisions not to impose sanctions. This law directly affects the listed Iranian military groups and any new entities linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Maddy summaryHR 7873, the Firearm Due Process Protection Act, directly affects individuals denied firearm purchases through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The bill requires courts to hold hearings on challenges to NICS denials within 30 days and shifts the burden to the government to prove eligibility by "clear and convincing evidence." It also mandates annual FBI reports to Congress detailing the number of challenges processed, reversals of denials, and processing times. These provisions aim to expedite due process for people seeking to correct inaccurate NICS records affecting their firearm rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study online sales of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The study will examine sellers' business models, financial transactions (particularly those affecting people under 18), government efforts to combat these sales, platform detection tools, and how online providers handle referrals to law enforcement. The GAO must submit a report to Congress within one year detailing findings on these areas to inform future policy decisions. The bill itself does not change laws or directly affect any group, as it solely mandates this research.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to adopt regulations enabling the collection of critical minerals - such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese - from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean. The CCZ contains an estimated 21 billion tons of polymetallic nodules, potentially exceeding global land-based reserves for these minerals. The resolution argues that accessing these resources would help the U.S. develop domestic supply chains for clean energy and defense technologies, reducing reliance on China’s current dominance in critical mineral markets. It specifically calls on the ISA to finalize these regulations by 2025 to support U.S. economic and strategic interests.

Maddy summaryThe AUSTIN Act of 2024 requires cabinet-level officials, such as department heads, to notify the President and congressional leaders within 24 hours if they cannot perform their duties due to illness or absence, and to publish this notice on their agency’s website. The notice must include the reason for the inability and a timeline for when they will be unable to work and when they expect to return. The President may temporarily waive the public posting requirement for national security reasons but must explain the waiver to Congress, and congressional leaders can override such a waiver if they disagree. Failure to comply could result in the official losing federal funding for their salary and facing termination.

Maddy summaryThe BRIDGE Production Act of 2023 requires the U.S. Department of the Interior to hold at least four offshore oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico between 2024 and 2025, with each sale offering a minimum of 80 million acres. It mandates these sales follow specific timelines (March/August 2024 and 2025) and use the same terms as a 2021 lease sale, applying an existing environmental review to streamline approvals. The bill also limits legal challenges by stating courts cannot block issued leases or delay drilling permits for projects on those leases, though they may require the Department to correct compliance issues. This directly affects oil and gas companies bidding on Gulf of Mexico leases and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which administers the sales.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Secretary of State to actively use U.S. diplomatic resources, including the voice and influence of U.S. diplomats and officials at the International Boundary and Water Commission, to advance efforts ensuring Mexico complies with the 1944 water treaty. It requires U.S. officials to work toward establishing reliable water delivery agreements under the treaty for the Colorado, Tijuana, and Rio Grande rivers. The key mechanism is mandating diplomatic engagement to address Mexico's compliance with treaty obligations, aiming to secure predictable water flows for U.S. users. The bill affects U.S. diplomatic operations and water management coordination with Mexico, focusing on treaty implementation rather than new water infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHR 7450, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, prohibits payment card networks and covered entities (like payment processors) from requiring or assigning merchant category codes that specifically identify firearms retailers as different from general stores or sporting goods retailers. This directly affects firearms retailers and payment networks by preventing them from using business classification codes that could flag firearm sales. The bill establishes an enforcement process where the Attorney General investigates complaints, issues remediation notices, and can seek court injunctions for non-compliance, while preempting state or local laws on this issue. It does not create private lawsuits for individuals.

Maddy summaryHR 7129, the "Put America on Commission Act of 2024," creates an Office of Whistleblower Awards within the Small Business Administration (SBA) to incentivize reporting of fraud in pandemic relief loans. It directly affects whistleblowers who provide original information about financial misconduct by SBA loan recipients and the recipients themselves who face penalties. The bill establishes a Whistleblower Award Fund, paying 10% (U.S. entities) or 15% (foreign entities) of recovered funds from convictions or settlements related to "COVID loan actions" (defined as fraud cases under CARES Act provisions). It includes anti-retaliation protections for whistleblowers and requires annual reports to Congress on award distributions. The program sunset provisions end its authority once all related cases are resolved.