Rep. Erin Houchin

Maddy summaryHJRES 142 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a Department of Labor rule issued on April 25, 2024. It seeks to block the "Retirement Security Rule: Definition of an Investment Advice Fiduciary" (89 Fed. Reg. 32122), which defined standards for financial advisors handling retirement accounts. If passed, this resolution would make the Labor Department's rule ineffective, directly affecting retirement plan advisors and financial institutions subject to the regulation. The bill uses a specific procedural mechanism under Title 5, U.S. Code, to nullify the rule without creating new law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal program within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to restore the Ohio River Basin, directly affecting 14 states (Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, New York, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi) and Tribal Governments. It creates an Ohio River National Program Office to coordinate restoration efforts, requiring projects to prioritize nature-based solutions like restoring natural floodplains and reducing polluted runoff, while improving water quality, fish habitats, and community resilience. The program mandates measurable goals, annual public reporting on progress, and collaboration with states, tribes, and federal agencies. It also requires regular updates to the restoration action plan and prohibits using funds for projects already covered by existing state water infrastructure programs.

Maddy summaryThe FAFSA Deadline Act changes the deadline for processing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from January 1 to October 1 prior to a student's planned college enrollment year. This requires students and families to submit their FAFSA applications earlier each year, potentially allowing for faster financial aid decisions. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of Education certify by September 1 whether the October 1 deadline will be met, and if not, testify by September 30 about the reasons and financial impact on students and families. These changes apply directly to all students and families seeking federal financial aid for higher education.

Maddy summaryHR 7438 directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including 100,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins will be sold to the public at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively), with all surcharge revenue paid to FWC2026 US, Inc. for U.S. soccer programs. These funds must support soccer initiatives, particularly in underserved communities and youth development, as specified in the bill. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued during 2026, with no net cost to the U.S. government.

Maddy summaryThe Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2024 enables victims of human trafficking to seek to vacate certain convictions or expunge arrests related to offenses they committed as a direct result of being trafficked. It establishes a court process where victims can file motions showing their criminal activity was trafficking-related, with courts required to find by preponderance of evidence that the offense was directly tied to trafficking. If granted, the court must expunge all related records, return any fines paid, and treat the individual as if the offense never occurred. The bill also adds a "human trafficking defense" that creates a presumption of duress for trafficking victims in prosecutions. It requires reports on implementation and training for U.S. attorneys on trafficking indicators.

Maddy summaryThe Grant Transparency Act of 2023 requires federal agencies to clearly disclose how they evaluate competitive grant applications in their funding notices. Specifically, agencies must describe their rating systems, explain any weighted scoring methods (including how much each criterion is weighted), and detail other merit-based evaluation approaches. The law also mandates standardized reporting of basic application data, including the number of applications received and the city/state locations of all submitting organizations. This applies only to future notices of funding opportunity issued after the law takes effect (120 days post-enactment), does not create new funding, and does not override existing legal requirements for specific grant programs.

Maddy summaryHR 7480, the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act, changes how housing programs calculate income eligibility for veterans. It requires states and local governments to exclude service-connected disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) when determining if a veteran qualifies as "low or moderate income" for HUD housing programs (like Section 8 or public housing). This directly helps disabled veterans whose VA disability pay would otherwise disqualify them from housing assistance they need. The bill also mandates a report within one year examining how VA disability pay is treated across HUD programs and recommending improvements to better serve veterans. The change simplifies access to housing support by ensuring VA benefits aren't counted as income for these programs.

Maddy summaryHR 6751 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Roberto Clemente, a Hall of Fame baseball player and humanitarian, including 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins must feature Clemente's image and inscriptions like "Roberto Clemente" and "2027," with all sales including a surcharge ($5-$35 per coin) paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation. The foundation, which supports youth sports, education, and disaster relief programs, will use these funds for its mission, while the U.S. Treasury must recover all production costs. The coins will be sold exclusively in 2027, with no net cost to the government.

Maddy summaryHJRES 120 is a joint resolution that would disapprove a rule issued by the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) regarding how the council identifies nonbank financial companies that could pose risks to the broader financial system. The rule, published in November 2023, provided guidance for designating such companies, which could affect their regulatory oversight. This resolution uses a congressional disapproval process under federal law to declare the rule ineffective, meaning it would have no legal force. If passed, it would prevent the FSOC from implementing this specific guidance in its regulatory work.

Maddy summaryHR 758 aims to improve financial access in communities affected by bank branch closures, primarily targeting rural and underserved urban areas. It establishes a 3-year phase-in period for new financial institutions to meet federal capital requirements and reduces the leverage ratio for qualifying rural community banks (under $10 billion in assets) to 8% during this period. The bill also allows banks to request temporary deviations from approved business plans and expands agricultural loan authority for savings associations. Additionally, it mandates a federal study on barriers to new bank formation in underserved areas, with a report due to Congress within one year. The law directly affects community banks, their regulators, and residents in counties identified as "deeply affected" by branch closures.