Rep. Scott Franklin

Maddy summaryHR 8138 requires the Agriculture Secretary to create a training program for Farm Service Agency (FSA) employees who assist farmers and ranchers after natural disasters. The program trains these employees to provide outreach, technical assistance, and information about available disaster relief, including on-demand modules about specific disaster types and farmer needs. It mandates annual training for covered employees, collects feedback via completion surveys for staff and exit surveys for farmers, and requires annual reports to Congress on training participation and survey results. This bill directly affects FSA staff deployed for disaster relief and aims to improve how they support affected agricultural producers.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes border states (adjacent to the U.S. northern or southern border) to place movable, temporary structures on federal land near the border for security purposes without needing a special use permit. States must notify the relevant federal agency (e.g., Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service) at least 45 days before placement, and structures can remain for up to one year, with possible 90-day extensions if U.S. Customs and Border Protection determines "operational control" hasn't been achieved. The bill directly affects border states and federal land management agencies by streamlining temporary border security measures on public lands.

This resolution supports the designation of National FFA Week. It also (1) recognizes the important role of the National FFA Organization (Future Farmers of America) in developing the next generation of globally conscious leaders who will change the world; and (2) celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Give the Gift of Blue program, which has donated more than 17,000 FFA blue jackets to FFA members in need.

Maddy summaryHR 9277, the REG Act, prohibits federal agencies from considering "environmental justice" when creating rules or enforcing laws, unless required by existing law. It directly affects agencies like the EPA by restricting how they evaluate policies' impacts on minority and low-income communities during rulemaking. The bill repeals three key executive orders: E.O. 12898 (addressing environmental justice in vulnerable communities), E.O. 14008 (climate action), and E.O. 14096 (environmental justice commitments). This changes how agencies develop regulations by removing mandatory consideration of environmental justice in their processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the VA Secretary to permanently note in an employee's official employment record if the employee resigns before a personnel investigation into misconduct concludes. It also mandates an additional note stating whether the allegations in that investigation would likely have been proven true. The requirement applies to VA employees in specific roles who leave their positions during such investigations, covering all types of probes including those by inspectors general or internal VA teams. These changes aim to provide transparency about unresolved misconduct concerns when employees depart the VA.

Maddy summaryThe Respect State Housing Laws Act amends the CARES Act by removing subsection (c) of Section 4024, which governed notice requirements for housing assistance programs. This change eliminates a specific federal notice provision that applied to tenants and landlords receiving CARES Act housing aid. The bill directly affects the administrative process for housing assistance under the CARES Act, streamlining or removing a requirement for notice delivery. It modifies an existing provision without creating new policy or altering broader housing protections.

Maddy summaryHRES 1371 is a House resolution condemning the Biden Administration and Vice President Kamala Harris for failing to secure the U.S. border. It cites statistics including over 9.7 million illegal immigration encounters since 2021 and the end of the Remain in Mexico program as evidence. As a symbolic resolution with no policy changes, it publicly expresses the House's disapproval of current border policies without altering any laws or enforcement actions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution establishes a House task force to investigate the July 13, 2024, attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The task force, composed of up to 11 members appointed by the Speaker (with minority leader input), will examine actions by federal, state, local, and private entities related to the incident and must issue a final report with recommendations by December 13, 2024. It has standing committee authority to hold hearings, issue subpoenas, and access relevant records, and will terminate 10 days after submitting its report. The task force directly affects the House of Representatives and the entities under investigation.

Maddy summaryHJRES 165 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a Department of Education rule issued in April 2024 that updated protections against sex discrimination in schools receiving federal funding. The resolution aims to disapprove this specific rule (published as 89 Fed. Reg. 33474), which would have required schools to address sex-based discrimination in educational programs. If passed, the rule would no longer be in effect, meaning schools would not need to comply with its requirements. This resolution directly affects all schools and educational programs receiving federal financial assistance, as it targets the implementation of the new nondiscrimination standard.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows non-VA doctors (contract physicians) to conduct disability exams for veterans, expanding access for rural veterans who face travel barriers to VA facilities. It requires these doctors to hold current state licenses, not be barred from practice, and perform exams under VA contracts. The VA would cover costs through existing benefit funding, and the bill terminates a 1996 pilot program on this approach. The law directly affects veterans seeking disability benefits and the VA’s examination process, making it more flexible for rural communities.