Rep. Joe Neguse

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail as a continuous route within 10 years of enactment, using existing land acquisition authorities under the National Trails System Act. It establishes a joint Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management "Trail Completion Team" to coordinate with federal, state, Tribal, local governments, and landowners to identify trail gaps, explore land agreements, and develop a comprehensive 3-year plan. The plan must detail trail gaps, opportunities for land easements, and specific development costs. The bill explicitly states it does not create new land acquisition authority or prioritize trail land purchases over other federal land needs.

Maddy summaryHR 2881, the COAST Anti-Drilling Act of 2025, prohibits the federal government from issuing new oil and gas leases in four specific coastal planning areas: the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida. This directly affects the Department of the Interior (specifically the Secretary) and oil and gas companies seeking to explore or develop resources in these regions. The bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to ban all new leasing authorizations in these areas, as defined by the 2024-2029 leasing program notice. It does not affect existing leases or operations but prevents future development in these designated coastal zones.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to change how the Bureau of Land Management manages horse and burro populations. It requires using fertility control vaccines as the first priority method for population management, replacing previous steps. Crucially, it directs the Secretary to prioritize recruiting and training military veterans for these fertility control tasks, including through the PZP applicator certification program, with veterans receiving appropriate compensation. This directly affects wild horse and burro populations through new management methods and military veterans through new training and contracting opportunities under the program.

Maddy summaryHR 2849, the West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2025, prohibits federal oil and gas exploration, development, and production on the outer Continental Shelf off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. It directly affects oil and gas companies seeking leases in four specific planning areas: Washington/Oregon, Northern California, Central California, and Southern California. The bill amends existing law to block the Secretary from issuing any leases or authorizations for these activities in those designated zones. This creates a permanent ban on offshore drilling in these regions, replacing previous federal leasing plans.

Maddy summaryHR 2812, the Youth Lead Act, amends an existing agricultural act to allocate $5 million annually for youth organizations from fiscal years 2026 through 2030. This funding is specifically designated for youth organizations under the amended section of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998. The bill does not create new eligibility rules or define "youth organizations," but directs existing federal funds toward this purpose. It directly affects qualifying youth organizations that receive these annual grants. The provision is a straightforward funding mechanism with no other substantive policy changes.

Maddy summaryHRES 319 is a non-binding resolution recognizing Clela Rorex, a Boulder County, Colorado, clerk who issued the first same-sex marriage license in the U.S. to Dave McCord and Dave Zamora in April 1975. It honors her decision to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples despite threats and public opposition, noting she issued six licenses total before the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015. The resolution specifically acknowledges her civil rights leadership and courage, and expresses support for Boulder County’s designation of July 23 as "Clela Rorex Day." As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryHR 2767, the BRAIN Act, aims to advance brain tumor research and improve patient care by requiring the NIH to create a public database of tumor samples collected with federal funding. It authorizes $50 million annually for a Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network to accelerate treatment development and $10 million for cellular immunotherapy research (including CAR-T therapies) targeting brain tumors. The bill also mandates a national awareness campaign to increase understanding of cancer clinical trials and biomarker testing, plus $5 million yearly for pilot programs studying survivor care coordination and follow-up services. Additionally, it directs the FDA to issue guidance ensuring brain tumor patients can access clinical trials. These provisions directly affect patients, researchers, and healthcare providers focused on brain tumors and rare cancers.

Maddy summaryThe National Biotechnology Initiative Act of 2025 establishes a coordinated federal strategy for biotechnology across 14 participating departments and agencies, including Agriculture, Defense, and Health and Human Services. It creates a National Biotechnology Coordination Office and an Interagency Committee to oversee activities related to research, regulatory streamlining, workforce development, and international partnerships. The bill authorizes $22 million in fiscal year 2026, increasing to $35 million by 2027, and requires annual reports and a national strategy every five years. Key provisions include developing a centralized website for biotechnology information, standardizing regulatory pathways for biotechnology products, and improving workforce development programs. This legislation aims to reduce duplication, improve coordination across government departments, and enhance U.S. competitiveness in biotechnology.

Maddy summaryThe American Family Act (HR 2763) establishes a new refundable child tax credit that provides monthly payments to eligible families with children. It would pay $300 per month for each child under age 6 and $360 per month (120% of $300) for each child age 6 or older, with income limits of $150,000 for joint filers and $112,500 for other filers. The bill creates a "period of presumptive eligibility" to determine eligibility for monthly payments, allowing families to receive advance payments based on information from previous tax returns. This would directly affect millions of families with children who meet the income requirements, providing more consistent financial support throughout the year rather than an annual tax credit.

Maddy summaryHR 2799, the Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2025, prohibits the sale, possession, and modification of devices that increase the firing rate of semi-automatic firearms to mimic machine guns (commonly called "bump stocks"). It specifically bans manual, power-driven, or electronic devices designed to speed up firing, as well as modified firearms that achieve this effect. Owners of pre-existing modified firearms must register them within 120 days of the law's enactment, with exemptions for government entities and firearms already lawfully modified and registered before the bill passes. The bill does not restrict standard semi-automatic firearms or require registration of unmodified guns.