Rep. Bryan Steil

Maddy summaryThe Death Tax Repeal Act would eliminate the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax for estates of people who die on or after the bill's enactment date, and for generation-skipping transfers made after that date. It would also establish a new $10 million lifetime gift tax exemption (adjusted annually for inflation) and replace the existing gift tax rate schedule with a revised structure. These changes would primarily affect high-net-worth individuals and their heirs, as the estate tax and gift tax typically apply to large estates or gifts exceeding the new exemption threshold. The bill's provisions would take effect on the date of enactment, with transitional rules for the year the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryHR 7037, the SPEAR Act, amends the Endangered Species Act to prevent the federal government from listing lake sturgeon populations in Wisconsin as threatened or endangered. It specifically excludes Wisconsin's lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) from federal protection under the Endangered Species Act by modifying Section 4(a) of the law. The bill directly affects Wisconsin's lake sturgeon populations and preserves the state's existing management program, including the annual sturgeon spearing season, which is managed through mandatory data collection and harvest caps. This change ensures Wisconsin's successful, locally managed sturgeon fishery and cultural traditions remain unaffected by federal endangered species determinations.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 82 is a symbolic resolution recognizing and supporting the New Heights Bid Committee's effort to secure the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup for a joint U.S.-Mexico bid. It directs Congress to encourage the President and federal agencies to assist the committee in meeting hosting requirements and to consider future legislation if the bid is successful. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally expresses congressional backing for the bid committee's work. It directly affects the New Heights Bid Committee by affirming congressional support for their efforts to host the tournament.

Business of Insurance Regulatory Reform Act of 2024 This bill limits the authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over entities that are regulated by a state insurance regulator. Specifically, the bureau is prohibited from pursuing enforcement against any person regulated by a state insurance regulator and offers a consumer financial product or service, to the extent that the person is engaged in the business of insurance. If a person engaged in the business of insurance is regulated by a state insurance regulator but is otherwise subject to the bureau's enforcement authority, the bureau must construe its authority narrowly.

Maddy summaryHR 4767, the "Protecting Americans' Retirement Savings from Politics Act," would reform corporate governance by limiting shareholder proposals related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. The bill allows companies to exclude certain ESG-related shareholder proposals from proxy materials if they've been previously voted on with low support, and requires institutional investors to conduct economic analyses before voting on such proposals. It also creates new registration requirements for proxy advisory firms, mandating they register with the SEC, disclose conflicts of interest, and provide transparency about their voting methodologies. The bill prohibits automatic "robovoting" based solely on proxy advisory firm recommendations without independent review. These provisions aim to focus corporate governance decisions on economic factors rather than political or social considerations affecting retirement savings.

Maddy summaryHR 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023, allows schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer whole milk as an option during lunch. It amends the school lunch law to explicitly permit schools to serve flavored and unflavored whole milk alongside reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free milk choices for students. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to adjust meal regulations to account for saturated fat from whole milk, ensuring it doesn't count against meal fat limits. This change directly affects participating schools and the students who receive school lunches, expanding their milk beverage options.

Maddy summaryThe 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2023 establishes a federal advisory committee to study how location information is transmitted for 988 calls. The committee, composed of representatives from telecom providers, mental health organizations, crisis centers, and government agencies, will examine privacy concerns, technical standards, and funding needs for improving location data accuracy during 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline calls. It must submit a report within one year to Congress and the FCC with recommendations for potential policy changes. This bill does not enact new requirements but directs a study to address challenges in connecting callers to local crisis services. The committee will terminate 30 days after submitting its report.

Maddy summaryThe Care Across Generations Act (HR 6835) creates a competitive grant program to fund child care centers within long-term care facilities (like nursing homes and assisted living centers). It directly affects facilities that operate or partner with licensed child care centers to coordinate activities between children and seniors. Key provisions include 36-month grants for co-locating child care, mandatory evaluations of program effectiveness, and required reports to Congress on outcomes and best practices. The bill aims to test whether integrated facilities improve experiences for both children and seniors, with findings to inform future policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) authority to enforce rules against "unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices" (UDAAP) affecting consumers. It defines "abusive" acts as those intentionally interfering with consumer understanding or taking unreasonable advantage of consumer vulnerabilities, requiring the CFPB to provide a clear definition within 180 days. Financial institutions must now receive written notice and 180 days to correct potential violations before penalties are imposed, and the CFPB must conduct cost-benefit analyses for new rules. The bill also prohibits the CFPB from treating discrimination as part of UDAAP enforcement and limits penalties for past conduct to the most recent compliance rating period.

Maddy summaryHR 1807, the Improving Disclosure for Investors Act of 2023, requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to establish rules allowing financial firms (like investment companies, brokers, and advisers) to deliver required investor documents electronically instead of by paper. The bill mandates a 180-day transition period for firms to shift to electronic delivery, with paper reminders for two years for those who haven’t opted in, and ensures investors can always opt out for paper copies. Key provisions include requiring clear initial notices, secure delivery methods, readable electronic formats, and measures to fix failed electronic deliveries. This directly affects investors receiving documents like prospectuses, annual reports, and privacy notices from covered financial firms.