Rep. Virginia Foxx

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.

Maddy summaryThis resolution disapproves a Department of Energy rule that would have set new energy efficiency standards for consumer furnaces. The rule, published in the Federal Register (88 Fed. Reg. 87502), aimed to require furnace manufacturers to produce models meeting higher energy conservation levels. If enacted, this resolution would cancel the rule, preventing it from taking effect. As a result, current energy efficiency standards for furnaces would remain unchanged, and manufacturers would not face the new requirements.

Maddy summaryHJRES 107 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule published on January 22, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 4128). The resolution aims to disapprove the FCC's rule implementing digital discrimination protections under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which would have required internet providers to prevent discriminatory practices. If passed, this resolution would nullify the FCC rule, preventing it from taking effect under the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code). The bill directly affects the FCC's regulatory authority over digital discrimination enforcement in broadband services.

Maddy summaryHR 7135, the GHOST Act, requires the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to recover overpayments of special financial assistance made to multiemployer pension plans when payments were erroneously sent to deceased participants or beneficiaries. The bill mandates PBGC to audit plan census data against the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File within six months, with plans having 30 days to repay overpayments (plus interest) after a PBGC determination. Multiemployer pension plans receiving special financial assistance are directly affected, as they must repay these overpayments, with recovered funds transferred to the Treasury. The law focuses on correcting specific payment errors through mandatory audits and repayment processes, not broader pension reforms.

Maddy summaryThe AFIDA Improvements Act of 2024 updates the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act to require foreign individuals or entities owning at least 1% of U.S. agricultural land (directly or through multiple ownership tiers) to report their holdings. It creates new enforcement duties for the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center (FPAC-BC) to validate data, ensure compliance, and identify violators. The bill mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to share foreign ownership reports with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and update agency handbooks using recommendations from a 2024 Government Accountability Office report. These changes apply directly to foreign landowners and agricultural agencies like the Farm Service Agency, aiming to improve transparency around foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.

Maddy summaryHRES 974 is a non-binding House resolution supporting the designation of January 21-27, 2024, as "National School Choice Week." It encourages parents to learn about K-12 education options - including public schools, charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling - and promotes public awareness of educational choice. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally expresses the House's backing for this annual observance. It directly affects parents and students by highlighting available education pathways and urging communities to host events celebrating school choice. The resolution was introduced by multiple House members and referred to the Education Committee.

Maddy summaryThe Death Tax Repeal Act would eliminate the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax for estates of people who die on or after the bill's enactment date, and for generation-skipping transfers made after that date. It would also establish a new $10 million lifetime gift tax exemption (adjusted annually for inflation) and replace the existing gift tax rate schedule with a revised structure. These changes would primarily affect high-net-worth individuals and their heirs, as the estate tax and gift tax typically apply to large estates or gifts exceeding the new exemption threshold. The bill's provisions would take effect on the date of enactment, with transitional rules for the year the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryHR 6744, the "No VA Resources for Illegal Aliens Act," prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from providing health care or processing health care claims for individuals unlawfully present in the United States who are not already eligible for VA health care under existing law. This bill directly affects undocumented immigrants who do not qualify for VA benefits through standard veteran eligibility criteria. The key provision explicitly bars VA resources from being used for any care or claims processing for such individuals. The bill does not alter VA eligibility rules for veterans but prevents the use of VA funds for non-eligible non-citizens unlawfully present in the U.S.

Maddy summaryHR 6934, the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act, protects parents' fundamental right to direct their child's upbringing, education, and health care without government interference. It prohibits government actions that substantially burden these parental rights - including withholding benefits, imposing penalties, or excluding families from programs - unless the government proves a "compelling interest" and uses the "least restrictive means." The bill explicitly applies to all federal laws and requires courts to consider parental rights as a fundamental right under the Constitution, with exceptions only for actions causing serious child injury or death. It also adds parental rights to existing legal frameworks for recovering attorney fees in court cases involving these protections.

Maddy summaryThe Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act creates a new grant program providing financial aid to students enrolled in short-term, career-focused educational programs (150-600 clock hours, 8-15 weeks) that prepare students for high-demand jobs. To qualify, programs must meet specific standards including alignment with industry needs, minimum job placement rates of 70%, and median earnings that exceed local wage benchmarks. The bill requires institutions to collect and publicly report data on program outcomes including completion rates, job placement, and student earnings through the College Scorecard website. It also establishes new accreditation standards for agencies evaluating these workforce programs, with $40 million authorized for fiscal year 2025 and $30 million for each of the next four years.