Rep. George Latimer

Maddy summaryHR 5966 establishes the Ohio River Basin Restoration Program within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to advance large-scale restoration and protection of the Ohio River Basin. The program, funded with $350 million annually from 2026-2030, directs the EPA to create a dedicated Program Office and advisory council including representatives from the 14 Ohio River Basin states, tribal governments, and regional agencies. It requires projects to improve water quality, increase flood resilience, restore habitats, control invasive species, and remediate toxins - prioritizing natural infrastructure like restored wetlands over traditional structures. The program mandates annual public reporting on progress, funding use, and project outcomes, with the EPA developing a detailed action plan within two years of enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 5941, the Restoring Access for Detainees Act, requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide immigration detainees in DHS custody with specific communication access. It mandates 200 free monthly minutes for general outgoing calls, unlimited free minutes for contacting legal counsel, courts, consulates, or oversight offices, and special initial contact provisions during arrival or transfer. Detention facilities must allow uninterrupted legal communication time, cannot restrict minutes for legal calls, and must provide private spaces for confidential legal discussions. The bill also requires facilities to establish clear, publicly available communication policies that comply with these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 5973, requires federal immigration enforcement personnel to follow strict limits on force use, including proportional application, mandatory de-escalation efforts, and prohibitions on equipment like flash bangs or rubber bullets except for specific public safety threats. It mandates body-worn and vehicle cameras for all operations, with footage retained for one year (three years for force incidents or complaints), and grants affected individuals the right to inspect recordings. The law also requires annual training on force policies, First Amendment compliance, and racial bias avoidance, while demanding detailed quarterly reports to Congress on force usage, assaults on agents, and equipment approvals. These provisions directly affect all federal immigration agents conducting enforcement actions, aiming to increase transparency and accountability during operations.

Maddy summaryHRES 846 is a symbolic resolution designating October 2025 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It expresses the House's support for raising awareness about domestic violence and its impacts, and calls for continued congressional attention to ending domestic violence through existing programs. The resolution does not create new laws, allocate funding, or directly affect any specific groups - it is purely a statement of support. It references statistics on domestic violence prevalence but focuses on awareness rather than policy changes.

Maddy summaryThe American Energy Independence and Affordability Act extends multiple clean energy tax credits that were set to expire between 2025 and 2026. It specifically extends residential clean energy credits through 2034, clean electricity investment credits for wind and solar through 2032, and clean vehicle credits for electric vehicles through 2032. The bill also reinstates special rates for sustainable aviation fuel and modifies requirements for energy-efficient home improvements. These provisions directly affect homeowners installing solar panels, businesses investing in clean energy infrastructure, and manufacturers producing clean energy equipment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 5589) is a commemorative naming resolution. It directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to rename the Riverhead, New York VA clinic as the "Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn VA Clinic" in honor of a soldier who died saving his comrades during the Vietnam War. The bill has no policy impact beyond changing the facility's official name and references in government documents. It directly affects the VA clinic's designation and records.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Program to coordinate and fund habitat restoration and water quality improvements across the shared watershed region. It creates a competitive grant program providing federal matching funds (up to 90% for small/rural/disadvantaged communities) to state/local governments, nonprofits, and tribes for projects advancing habitat restoration, climate resilience, and public access. The program prioritizes communities facing environmental injustice and requires coordination with existing regional conservation plans like the Hudson River Estuary Program. Funding of $20 million annually (2026-2031) will support these activities, with 75% dedicated to the grant program and all projects supplementing existing conservation efforts.

Maddy summaryHRES 795 is a non-binding resolution condemning Hamas for the October 7, 2023, attacks that killed over 1,200 people, took 251 hostages (including Americans), and involved sexual violence. It demands Hamas immediately surrender and release all remaining hostages - specifically noting 48 people still held, including two U.S. citizens. The resolution also affirms Israel’s right to self-defense, calls for humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians, and condemns global antisemitism following the attacks. As a symbolic congressional statement, it does not create new laws or alter policies.

Maddy summaryHR 5715, the October 7 Gold Medal Act, authorizes Congress to award a gold medal to American hostages and victims of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack in Israel. The medal, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be presented to recognize their suffering and sacrifice, with the medal displayed at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. The bill also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs, but does not create new legal obligations or policy changes. This is a ceremonial recognition, not a substantive legislative measure.

Maddy summaryHR 5714, the October 7 Remembrance Education Act, directs the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to create a curriculum for secondary schools within 180 days of enactment. The curriculum will cover Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, the history of antisemitism, the spread of anti-Israel rhetoric on campuses and social media following the attacks, and how denial or distortion of antisemitism occurs. It specifically requires schools to address the attacks' brutality, historical context of antisemitism, and contemporary manifestations of hate speech. The Museum must submit a report on the curriculum to Congress within 180 days of completion or by 3 years after the bill’s enactment. This bill affects secondary schools using the curriculum and focuses on educational content about the attacks and related antisemitism.