Rep. Tracey Mann

Maddy summaryThe Pony Up Act requires the United States Postal Service (USPS) to reimburse individuals who were charged late fees or penalties due to delayed delivery of their bills or payment notices. If USPS delivers a bill notice less than 6 days before the payment due date (or payment after the due date), it must pay the exact amount of fees incurred. Individuals can apply for reimbursement via USPS website, mail, or in-person, with appeals available to a Judicial Officer within 30 days. The bill also mandates annual USPS reports on mail delivery delays by mail class and an audit to assess if certain mail types receive priority treatment.

Maddy summaryHR 1752, the E-BRIDGE Act, creates a federal grant program to fund high-speed broadband infrastructure projects in rural and underserved areas. It allows grants for planning, building, or improving broadband networks through eligible groups like local governments, public-private partnerships, or community consortia. Key provisions require grant applications to include data on existing broadband coverage and ensure public ownership of infrastructure built with federal funds for the project's lifetime. The bill aims to directly expand internet access for rural communities by streamlining funding and prioritizing areas with limited service.

Maddy summaryThe Secure Payments Act of 2024 requires the Federal Reserve to study the impacts of the proposed "Reg II" rule (which would cap debit card interchange fees) on consumers, merchants, and small banks. Specifically, it mandates a study of how fee changes affect access to low-cost bank accounts, merchant costs, fraud mitigation, and the affordability of banking products in underserved communities. The Fed must also conduct a quantitative analysis of the rule's effects on small banks' capital and earnings. The Federal Reserve cannot finalize the Reg II rule until after it completes this study, issues a report to Congress, and considers the findings - including whether fee caps benefit low- and moderate-income customers. This bill delays the final rule to ensure the impacts are fully assessed before implementation.

Maddy summaryThe Farm to Fly Act of 2023 amends USDA programs to include sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a qualifying product for financial assistance, directly affecting farmers, biorefineries, and agricultural producers. It defines SAF as liquid fuel meeting strict environmental standards - requiring at least a 50% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to jet fuel and excluding sources like palm oil or petroleum. The bill mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to lead a cross-agency initiative focused on advancing SAF development, leveraging agricultural resources, and fostering public-private partnerships to expand the domestic SAF market. This aims to support rural economic growth, strengthen U.S. energy security, and align with national clean energy goals in aviation.

Maddy summaryHR 7494, the Protect America’s Lands Act, prohibits national securities exchanges from processing transactions involving stocks issued by companies primarily managing land for conservation. It defines "natural asset companies" as those holding rights to ecological performance of specific land areas, with their core purpose being to conserve, restore, or sustainably manage natural assets without causing material harm. The bill directly affects securities exchanges and these specific companies by banning exchange-based trading of their securities. This is a regulatory change to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, focusing on financial market rules rather than direct land management policies.

Maddy summaryHR 7455, the Sunset Act of 2024, requires federal agencies to automatically expire significant rules after 10 years unless Congress passes a new law extending them. Agencies must submit reports 180 days before expiration, and Congress can extend rules via joint resolution within 3 legislative days of receiving the report. The bill also mandates annual reviews of 10% of active agency rules for 9 years, with rules not extended by Congress after the 10-year period expiring. It applies to all major agency rules (e.g., environmental or safety regulations) and includes limited presidential exemptions for emergencies, but does not affect existing rules already in effect.

Maddy summaryHR 7450, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, prohibits payment card networks and covered entities (like payment processors) from requiring or assigning merchant category codes that specifically identify firearms retailers as different from general stores or sporting goods retailers. This directly affects firearms retailers and payment networks by preventing them from using business classification codes that could flag firearm sales. The bill establishes an enforcement process where the Attorney General investigates complaints, issues remediation notices, and can seek court injunctions for non-compliance, while preempting state or local laws on this issue. It does not create private lawsuits for individuals.

Maddy summaryHR 7129, the "Put America on Commission Act of 2024," creates an Office of Whistleblower Awards within the Small Business Administration (SBA) to incentivize reporting of fraud in pandemic relief loans. It directly affects whistleblowers who provide original information about financial misconduct by SBA loan recipients and the recipients themselves who face penalties. The bill establishes a Whistleblower Award Fund, paying 10% (U.S. entities) or 15% (foreign entities) of recovered funds from convictions or settlements related to "COVID loan actions" (defined as fraud cases under CARES Act provisions). It includes anti-retaliation protections for whistleblowers and requires annual reports to Congress on award distributions. The program sunset provisions end its authority once all related cases are resolved.

Maddy summaryHR 7104 requires the National SBDC Advisory Board to submit an annual report to the Small Business Administration's Associate Administrator and relevant congressional committees (House and Senate small business committees). The report must include the Board's recommendations for improving the Small Business Development Center program and other program-related information it deems appropriate. This procedural bill does not authorize new funding and directly affects how the Advisory Board communicates its activities and suggestions to federal officials and lawmakers.

Maddy summaryHJRES 114 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rule that would have required tracking greenhouse gas emissions as part of assessing performance for the National Highway System. The rule, published in the Federal Register in December 2023, aimed to establish specific metrics for evaluating highway system performance, including emissions data. If approved, this resolution would nullify the rule, preventing the FHWA from implementing the emissions tracking requirement. This action directly affects how the FHWA measures highway system performance, specifically regarding environmental metrics.