Rep. John R. Moolenaar

Maddy summaryHJRES 98 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule that defined how businesses are considered "joint employers" for labor law purposes. The bill targets the NLRB's October 2023 rule (88 Fed. Reg. 73946), which would have changed how companies like franchisors or staffing agencies are held responsible for workers' rights. If passed, this resolution would cancel the rule, directly affecting businesses managing multiple employer relationships and labor organizations enforcing workplace standards. The measure uses a standard process under federal law to disapprove an agency rule, not creating new policy but reversing an existing regulation.

Maddy summaryHR 8231, the James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded to actor James Earl Jones in recognition of his distinguished career in theater and film, and his role in advancing inclusion and equal opportunities for people of all backgrounds in the entertainment industry. The Treasury will strike the medal with an image and inscription of Jones, and may produce and sell bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint's public enterprise fund. This bill serves as a ceremonial honor with no new legal requirements or policy changes.

Maddy summaryHR 6285, the Alaska’s Right to Produce Act of 2023, requires the federal government to reissue canceled oil and gas leases on six specific tracts (16, 17, 24, 26, 27, and 30) in Alaska’s Coastal Plain. It mandates the Secretary of the Interior to accept the highest valid bids from January 2021 within 30 days and issue leases by December 2024, while blocking new environmental reviews for the program. The bill also nullifies federal actions that paused leasing, including a 2023 BLM rule and a 2021 Secretarial Order, and restricts judicial review of related approvals. This directly affects oil companies that bid on the canceled leases and the Bureau of Land Management, requiring them to proceed under the 2020 Record of Decision.

Maddy summaryHJRES 134 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a Department of Labor rule titled "Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary Agricultural Employment." The bill targets the specific rule published in the Federal Register (89 Fed. Reg. 33898, April 29, 2024) that aimed to strengthen worker protections for temporary agricultural employees. If passed, this resolution would block the rule from taking effect, preventing the Department of Labor's new regulations from being implemented. The measure directly affects the rule's implementation, not the workers or employers it was designed to protect.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks congressional disapproval of a Department of Labor rule designed to improve protections for temporary agricultural workers. It invokes a specific federal process under Title 5 to block the rule from taking effect, preventing the proposed changes from being implemented. The rule, published April 29, 2024, would have affected temporary farmworkers’ rights and working conditions. If passed, the resolution would nullify the rule, meaning the Department of Labor’s proposed protections would not be enforced.

Maddy summaryHR 764, the "Trust the Science Act," requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a specific 2020 rule removing gray wolves from the endangered species list within 60 days of the bill's enactment. This directly affects gray wolf populations by changing their federal conservation status. The bill's key provision mandates that this reissuance cannot be challenged in court, eliminating judicial review of the decision. The bill focuses solely on procedural implementation of a prior rule, not broader scientific policy.

Maddy summaryHR 615, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023, prevents federal agencies from banning lead ammunition or tackle on public lands and waters managed for hunting or fishing, except in specific cases. The bill allows exceptions only if a state wildlife department confirms lead use is harming local wildlife, and the federal action aligns with state law or state agency approval. It directly affects hunters and anglers using federal lands and waters, ensuring they can continue using lead products unless a state verifies a local wildlife issue requiring a ban. The law requires federal agencies to justify any exception with state data and policy compliance in official notices.

Maddy summaryHR 8147 repeals the Corporate Transparency Act, which required certain businesses (typically those with more than 20 employees) to report beneficial ownership details to the Treasury Department. This bill eliminates the requirement for companies to disclose who ultimately owns or controls them, directly affecting business owners and financial institutions that previously submitted this information. The bill also makes minor technical changes to Title 31 of the U.S. Code to remove references to the repealed provisions. The repeal would end the existing financial transparency reporting obligation for covered entities.

Maddy summaryHR 8100 would authorize a special semipostal stamp sold at a 25% surcharge above regular first-class postage. The extra revenue from stamp sales would directly fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through the Environmental Protection Agency, supporting habitat restoration, invasive species control, and algal bloom mitigation. The stamp would be available for at least five years, with proceeds guaranteed to not offset existing federal funding for the initiative. This policy change creates a dedicated public funding stream for Great Lakes conservation, benefiting the 40+ million people relying on the lakes' water and the region's ecosystem.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution condemns Iran's April 13, 2024 attack on Israel, which involved over 350 drones and missiles launched directly from Iran. It affirms support for Israel's right to self-defense, commends international efforts (including U.S., U.K., French, and Jordanian intercepts) that minimized damage, and calls for enforcing U.S. sanctions against Iran to disrupt its missile programs and support for proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses congressional support without creating new laws or funding.