Rep. Sam Graves

Maddy summaryHJRES 136 is a resolution seeking to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would have set new emissions standards for light and medium-duty vehicles sold in 2027 and later model years. The EPA rule, published in April 2024, aimed to require vehicle manufacturers to meet stricter pollution limits for these vehicles. If passed, this resolution would cancel the rule, preventing the EPA from enforcing the new standards. It uses a congressional process that allows Congress to reject agency rules with a simple majority vote.

Maddy summaryThe Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act establishes a framework for federal agencies to detect, identify, and mitigate unauthorized drones that threaten aviation safety. It creates a process for approving counter-UAS systems that meet safety requirements, requires coordination between the FAA, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Justice, and mandates annual reporting on all counter-UAS activities. The bill directly affects covered entities like airports and large public gatherings, requiring them to work with law enforcement to deploy approved counter-UAS systems. It includes privacy protections for communications intercepted during counter-UAS operations and expires on October 1, 2028.

Maddy summaryHJRES 144 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a specific rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) on April 19, 2024. The resolution seeks to block the ATF's rule that redefined the term "engaged in the business" for firearm dealers, which would have affected how federal licensing requirements apply to certain sellers. If enacted, this resolution would nullify the rule, preventing it from taking effect under procedures in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. The bill directly impacts firearm dealers operating under the current regulatory framework and the ATF's enforcement authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Postal Service to publicly disclose emergency post office closures within 24 hours (via physical signs and website notices) and notify relevant local officials, congressional representatives, and state officials within 5 days. It mandates that notifications include the closure reason, temporary mail delivery solutions, and expected end date. If a closure lasts 30 days, the Postal Service must open a 30-day public comment period; for 60-day closures, the Postal Regulatory Commission reviews the closure and relocation planning begins. The Postal Service must also submit annual reports to Congress starting in 2025 detailing all emergency closures, their duration, and reasons. This directly affects post offices, local governments, and congressional representatives in affected communities.

Maddy summaryHR 9699, the Pay Our Troops Act, ensures military personnel and key support staff continue receiving pay during government funding gaps in fiscal year 2025. It appropriates funds to cover pay and allowances for active-duty troops, Department of Defense civilians, and qualifying contractors supporting military operations, if regular appropriations aren't enacted. The funding remains in effect until the earliest of: a new appropriations law, a funding resolution without such funding, or January 1, 2026. This bill does not change pay rates or create new policies - it guarantees existing pay continuity during budget transitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HJRES 163) is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule finalized on May 9, 2024. The EPA rule established new emissions standards for greenhouse gases from fossil fuel power plants (both new and existing) and repealed a previous rule called the Affordable Clean Energy Rule. The resolution would block this EPA rule from taking effect by invoking the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code). If passed, it would prevent the EPA rule from being enforced, directly affecting fossil fuel power plant operators and the EPA’s regulatory authority over emissions.

Maddy summaryHR 9604, the Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act, requires states and trail sponsors to obtain landowner consent and provide fair market value compensation before temporarily converting abandoned rail corridors into trails. It mandates written notice to affected property owners and local governments, signed approval from landowners within 30 days, and ongoing financial responsibility for trail maintenance. The bill also requires a 90-day public comment period and a detailed cost-benefit analysis assessing safety, health, economic impacts, and the likelihood of future rail service before approval. An advisory committee of landowners, rail carriers, and trail sponsors will later recommend maintenance standards, but the core changes focus on protecting landowner rights during corridor conversions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal law to give states more control over where electric transmission lines are built. It requires that any proposed transmission project must minimize harm to farmers and landowners, provide adequate compensation for any damage, and show that consumer benefits outweigh agricultural impacts. The bill also prohibits the federal energy agency from reviewing or approving a project if a state has already denied a similar application or is actively considering one. This directly affects farmers, landowners, and state regulators by shifting siting authority to states and adding new requirements for project developers. The bill does not address the Green New Deal itself, but focuses solely on transmission line siting rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Council on Environmental Quality to annually publish detailed reports starting in 2024, tracking how the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) impacts federal projects. The reports will include data on lawsuits challenging NEPA compliance (listing agencies and case outcomes), the length of environmental impact statements (page counts over 5 years), and timelines for completing environmental reviews (over 10 years). These reports must be publicly available with underlying data, directly affecting federal agencies that manage NEPA reviews and providing transparency for Congress and the public. The bill focuses on collecting factual data about NEPA's implementation, not changing the law itself.

Maddy summaryHJRES 167 cancels a U.S. Department of Agriculture rule that would have allowed electronic eartags as official identification for cattle and bison. The resolution directs that the rule published in the Federal Register on May 9, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 39540), has no force or effect. This directly affects ranchers and farmers who would have been required to use electronic identification systems for livestock. The bill halts the implementation of this specific regulatory change without creating new requirements.