Rep. Susie Lee

Maddy summaryThis bill enhances the existing American Battlefield Protection Program by expanding eligibility for grants to include Tribes, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions, alongside States and local governments. It clarifies that eligible sites must be identified in the 1993 Civil War battlefield report or 2007 Revolutionary War/War of 1812 report, excluding sites already within National Park boundaries. The bill also requires the Secretary to submit updated battlefield condition reports to Congress every 10 years, starting two years after enactment, tracking preservation efforts and battlefield changes. These changes streamline program administration and ensure ongoing assessment of historic battlefield sites.

Maddy summaryHRES 837 is a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on November 1, 2023, reaffirming U.S. commitment to the Philippines. It specifically calls for invoking the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty if Philippine assets (including Coast Guard vessels) are attacked in the South China Sea, urges joint U.S.-Philippines patrols in the region, and objects to China's disputed territorial claims. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but expresses congressional support for existing defense agreements and diplomatic positions. It directly addresses U.S. foreign policy toward the Philippines and the South China Sea disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new interest-bearing fund within the Treasury to manage non-Federal contributions for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program. It requires the Treasury to deposit existing and future state contributions (from participating states) into this fund, which can then earn interest through U.S. government securities. The fund's principal and interest are available for program expenses as specified in the existing funding agreement, without needing new annual appropriations. This directly affects the participating states (referred to as "State Parties" in the agreement) and the federal Treasury, streamlining how conservation program funds are held and invested.

Maddy summaryThe Public Land Search and Rescue Act (HR 9165) creates a federal grant program to fund remote search and rescue operations on public lands managed by the Department of the Interior or Agriculture. It provides up to 75% federal funding for eligible recipients - such as states, local governments, or their designees - to purchase equipment, maintain gear, or reimburse costs for locating and rescuing people lost or injured in remote areas. The program prioritizes applications from regions with high visitor-to-resident ratios, focusing on areas where search and rescue demand is greatest. This legislation directly supports state and local search teams conducting critical safety operations on federal lands.

Maddy summaryHR 7807 creates a federal task force to address U.S. reliance on foreign sources for critical minerals essential to national security, technology, and defense. The task force, established within 90 days, will coordinate across federal agencies, state/local governments, and tribal nations to assess supply chain vulnerabilities - particularly dependence on countries like China - and recommend strategies to boost domestic mining, processing, and international partnerships. It requires regular reports to Congress, including a final report within two years, and mandates consultation with industry stakeholders and environmental experts. The bill directly affects federal departments (like Defense and Energy), state/local governments, tribal nations, and the mining industry, aiming to secure supply chains without immediate regulatory changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the monthly housing stipend for veteran parents using the Post-9/11 GI Bill to pursue education entirely through distance learning. It directly affects veteran parents with dependent children who take classes online full-time (more than half-time) instead of attending campus. The key provision amends the GI Bill to provide these parents the same housing stipend amount they would receive if physically attending most classes on campus in their local area. The change applies to the first academic year starting after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryHRES 1537 is a non-binding House resolution condemning Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, including 7 Americans still held captive. It calls on Hamas to immediately surrender, cease attacks, and release all hostages unconditionally, while reaffirming Israel's right to self-defense. The resolution also urges international organizations to condemn Hamas' actions and address the global surge in antisemitism following the attacks. As a symbolic statement, it does not create new laws or alter policy but expresses congressional position. The bill specifically references the ongoing captivity of seven U.S. citizens: Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judith Weinstein Haggai, Omer Neutra, and Keith Siegel.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a process for state education agencies to access specific demographic data about military members and applicants who graduated high school in their state. It requires the Defense and Homeland Security Secretaries to establish a confidential data-sharing system within 18 months, enabling states to integrate information like education level, military branch, rank, AFQT test scores, and graduation details into their education databases. The data includes details for both active service members (e.g., separation dates, military specialty) and applicants denied military service. All data sharing must comply with strict privacy laws to protect individual information, with no new data collection mandated beyond existing military records.

Maddy summaryHRES 1504 designates October 2024 as Filipino American History Month to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Filipino Americans to the United States. The resolution urges the American public to observe the month through educational programs and activities highlighting the community's early settlements, military service (including World War II veterans' contributions), and roles in healthcare, labor movements, and other fields. As a non-binding congressional resolution, it formally recognizes Filipino American heritage without creating new legal obligations or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to speed up geothermal energy projects in areas already studied or developed for energy use. It removes the requirement for full environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for geothermal exploration and development in these specific locations, directly affecting geothermal energy developers and companies seeking to expand operations. The key change adds "geothermal" to existing exemptions for "gas" in the law, so projects in previously studied areas no longer need the same level of environmental analysis as new developments. This applies only to areas where prior studies or development have already occurred, not to entirely new sites.