Rep. Bryan Steil

Maddy summaryThe SEC Regulatory Accountability Act requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to conduct detailed cost-benefit analyses before proposing or finalizing new regulations. It mandates that the SEC assess how regulations impact market participants, evaluate alternatives to minimize burden, and ensure rules are written in plain language with clear justifications. For major regulations, the bill also requires the SEC to establish post-implementation assessment plans to measure economic effects and report on outcomes within four years. This bill directly affects the SEC and other securities regulators like the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, altering their rulemaking processes to prioritize cost-effectiveness and transparency.

Maddy summaryHR 764, the "Trust the Science Act," requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a specific 2020 rule removing gray wolves from the endangered species list within 60 days of the bill's enactment. This directly affects gray wolf populations by changing their federal conservation status. The bill's key provision mandates that this reissuance cannot be challenged in court, eliminating judicial review of the decision. The bill focuses solely on procedural implementation of a prior rule, not broader scientific policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to require the U.S. government to evaluate whether foreign countries actively investigate, prevent, and prosecute financial crimes that help human traffickers operate. It directly affects how foreign governments are assessed in the annual U.S. anti-trafficking report, potentially influencing their ranking (e.g., Tier 1, Tier 2). The key provision adds a new criterion to this report, specifically examining countries' enforcement of financial crime measures tied to trafficking. This change aims to strengthen international accountability for financial aspects of human trafficking without altering existing U.S. laws or programs.

Maddy summaryHR 1803, the CURD Act, defines "natural cheese" in federal law to clarify labeling standards for consumers. It specifies that natural cheese must be made by curdling milk (or milk derivatives) through traditional methods without certain processed additives, while explicitly excluding pasteurized process cheeses, cheese spreads, and similar products. The bill requires that products labeled as "natural cheese" meet this new definition, updating FDA labeling rules under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This directly affects cheese manufacturers (who must comply with the definition) and consumers (who gain clearer product distinctions on labels). The change replaces vague industry terms with a consistent, science-based standard to improve transparency.

Maddy summaryHR 8061, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024, ensures stable funding for the Crime Victims Fund by directing certain False Claims Act collections into it from 2024 through 2029. Specifically, it adds a provision requiring that amounts collected under the False Claims Act (excluding whistleblower rewards and government reimbursement for damages) be deposited into the fund during this period. This directly affects crime victims who rely on the fund for services like counseling and emergency aid, as it prevents potential shortfalls in funding. The bill makes a concrete policy change by redirecting specific federal civil penalties into the fund, rather than altering the fund's existing purposes or eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHR 5947 terminates specific U.S. waivers and licenses related to Iran, ending a 2023 waiver that allowed funds transfer from South Korea to Qatar. It prohibits the Treasury Department from reissuing similar waivers or licenses for the same purpose and blocks the President from granting Iran access to certain designated financial accounts established under prior laws. The bill directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation by restricting how Treasury handles Iran-related financial transactions. It enacts concrete policy changes by ending existing authorizations and preventing future approvals for Iran to access specific accounts.

Maddy summaryThe Interstate Commerce Simplification Act of 2024 clarifies the definition of "solicitation of orders" in the Uniform Commercial Code to include any business activity that helps facilitate order requests - such as advertising or sales calls - even if the activity serves other independent business purposes. This change directly affects businesses selling goods across state lines, particularly regarding state sales tax and regulatory compliance. The bill achieves this by adding a new definition paragraph to an existing legal section, explicitly stating that activities aiding order solicitation count as "solicitation" regardless of other functions. This aims to reduce ambiguity for businesses operating in multiple states without altering existing tax or regulatory requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 7921, the Countering Antisemitism Act, establishes a National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism within the Executive Office of the President and creates an Interagency Task Force to coordinate federal efforts against antisemitism across multiple agencies. The bill requires federal agencies to report on implementing the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, mandates annual threat assessments of antisemitic violent extremism from the FBI, DHS, and National Counterterrorism Center, and addresses antisemitic discrimination in higher education through a designated Office for Civil Rights Designee. It also includes provisions for a study on Holocaust education by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, a study on online antisemitism with recommendations for Congress, and amendments to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to require public reporting on grant applications and awards.

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 summaryHR 7808, the EARLY Minds Act, amends the Public Health Service Act to require states receiving federal mental health funds to include evidence-based prevention and early intervention strategies for children and adolescents in their state plans. It allows states to use up to 5% of their annual mental health allotment to support these programs, which aim to prevent, delay, or reduce the severity of mental health issues before they become serious. States must report biennially to Congress by 2025 on the programs they implement, including demographics served, outcomes like reduced care access delays, and how programs lessen the onset of serious mental illness. The bill directly affects states administering federal mental health funds and targets youth populations aged 0-18.