Sen. James E. Risch

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 summaryThis bill requires federal financial regulators (like the Federal Reserve or SEC) to analyze how new rules would affect food, electricity, and fuel prices before implementing them. Specifically, it mandates that regulators provide detailed, multi-year price impact estimates - broken down by Consumer Price Index categories - when proposing rules affecting agricultural or energy supply chain businesses. Regulators cannot adopt such rules if the analysis shows price increases, unless the annual Consumer Price Index growth is below 4.5%. The law directly affects businesses in food/energy supply chains and the federal agencies that write financial regulations.

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 summarySRES 45 is a non-binding Senate resolution introduced on February 9, 2023, by a group of senators expressing the Senate's view that the current migration levels at the U.S. southern border constitute a crisis. This resolution does not create new laws or policies, nor does it directly affect any individuals or groups - it serves solely as a symbolic statement of the Senate's position. It contains no concrete policy mechanisms or implementation plans, as resolutions of "sense" are typically used for expressing opinions rather than enacting change. The resolution was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee but has no legal effect.

Maddy summaryThe ECON Act strengthens U.S. economic diplomacy by establishing new duties for Foreign Service economic officers, requiring chiefs of mission to coordinate economic efforts across U.S. agencies, and creating "deal teams" at embassies to help American businesses secure overseas opportunities. Key provisions include establishing a "Deal Team of the Year" award, creating economic defense response teams to assist countries facing coercive economic practices, and implementing a pilot program to identify trade barriers in developing partner countries. The bill also expands protections against intellectual property theft and predatory pricing by foreign state-owned entities, while mandating revised performance metrics focused on outcomes rather than processes. This legislation directly affects U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide, American businesses seeking international opportunities, and foreign governments engaging in practices the U.S. considers unfair.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes asylum procedures for people entering the U.S. from Mexico or Canada after traveling through other countries. It requires such individuals to first get an interview at a U.S. embassy in Mexico or Canada to prove they face credible fear of persecution or torture before being allowed to apply for asylum in the U.S. The bill also blocks asylum eligibility for those who transited through other nations without seeking protection there, unless they meet specific exceptions like being trafficked or traveling through countries without refugee treaties. Additionally, it creates criminal warrants for immigration violations and removes limits on detaining asylum seekers under the Flores agreement. These changes primarily affect asylum seekers crossing the southern border after traveling through other countries.

Maddy summaryS 375, the Simplifying Grants Act of 2023, requires federal agencies to simplify grant application processes for small local governments. It directly affects "covered local governments" (defined as counties, cities, or towns with populations below the threshold for an urbanized area as determined by the Census). The bill mandates agencies to review and simplify grant requirements within 180 days of enactment, and to publish step-by-step checklists for each grant program. Agencies must also report annually on simplified processes, technical assistance provided, and funding awarded to covered versus other local governments.