Rep. Michael Lawler

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Artemis Accords Authorization Act, aims to strengthen United States leadership in international civil space exploration and cooperation. It authorizes the Department of State to establish a "Special Coordinator for the Artemis Accords" to lead diplomatic efforts in expanding participation and coordinating U.S. engagement with foreign governments and industry partners. The legislation also requires annual reports to Congress on the progress of the Artemis Accords and international space cooperation. Additionally, it mandates the development of a strategy to integrate U.S. low-earth orbit satellite technologies into foreign policy, including promoting their export and offering financial support to other countries. This bill directly affects the Department of State, NASA, other federal agencies involved in space and foreign policy, and the U.S. space industry.

Maddy summaryThe Supporting VA Families Act grants unpaid parental leave to Department of Veterans Affairs employees. This provision allows employees to take four weeks of unpaid leave within a 12-month period for the birth of a child or for adoption and foster care placements. The leave is designed to supplement existing leave policies rather than replace them, ensuring employees can balance family needs with their work responsibilities. The act defines eligible employees and children according to existing federal definitions found in Title 5 of the United States Code.

Maddy summaryThe ALERT Act (HR 7613) requires the Federal Aviation Administration to improve aviation safety through several key measures. It mandates the evaluation and potential implementation of enhanced collision avoidance systems (ACAS-Xa) for commercial aircraft and ACAS-Xr for rotorcraft, with specific deadlines for rulemaking and installation. The bill establishes committees to develop recommendations for safety technology requirements, requires safety risk assessments for air traffic controllers, and addresses operational procedures at high-traffic airports like Ronald Reagan Washington National. These provisions affect air carriers, air traffic controllers, rotorcraft operators, and Department of Defense aircraft operations. The act aims to enhance situational awareness and reduce midair collision risks through technology upgrades and improved safety protocols.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Congress to present a Congressional Gold Medal to Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandl in recognition of his heroic efforts to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust. The legislation directs the Speaker of the House and Senate President pro tempore to arrange the medal presentation, with the Weissmandl Committee authorized to accept it on his behalf. Rabbi Weissmandl is honored for his work organizing rescue efforts, documenting Holocaust atrocities, and establishing institutions for Jewish survivors after the war. The bill also allows the Treasury Secretary to create bronze duplicates of the medal for sale to cover production costs.

Maddy summaryThe HBCU Research Capacity Act establishes a Federal Clearinghouse within the Department of Education, in coordination with several other federal agencies, to provide Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with comprehensive information on federal grant opportunities. This Clearinghouse will identify grants supporting research and development and institutional capacity building at HBCUs, while also sharing best practices for securing federal funding. The Department of Education will notify HBCUs and Congress about the Clearinghouse and offer quarterly updates to participating institutions. Additionally, several federal agencies, including Defense, Energy, and the National Science Foundation, are mandated to review their grant programs to align with the Clearinghouse's recommendations and report any identified funding gaps to Congress annually.

Maddy summaryThe "Build More Power Act" expands and extends a federal loan guarantee program to support electric generating facilities, particularly those critical for energy reliability. It makes power plants that are required by government orders to continue generating electricity during emergencies eligible for these loan guarantees, even if they might otherwise cease operations, and mandates the Secretary of Energy to solicit applications from them. The bill extends the program's authority until 2032 and sets aside at least $20 billion in loan guarantee capacity specifically for projects at facilities operating under such emergency directives. This impacts owners and operators of power plants, especially those under emergency orders, and the Department of Energy, which must also report to Congress on the program's impact and recommendations for upgrading aging coal facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Protecting America's Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act, amends the existing tree assistance program within the Agricultural Act of 2014 to expand financial support for fruit and tree growers facing tree loss. The key changes allow growers to receive assistance regardless of their production history or whether their trees have stopped producing economically viable crops, while also giving the Secretary discretion to adjust acreage limits for assistance. The bill requires recipients to replant their trees within two years of approval or sooner if necessary for tree survival, and permits replanting with alternative tree varieties, densities, or locations, though funding amounts remain capped at what would have been received for replanting with the original specifications. Additionally, the program mandates that the Secretary must approve or deny applications within 120 days and notify applicants of the decision. These provisions directly affect orchardists and nursery tree growers who lose trees due to disease, pests, or other causes and seek federal assistance for replanting.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Grid Expansion and Reliability Act, shifts authority over siting interstate electric transmission facilities from the Department of Energy to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. It allows companies to self-certify and begin building transmission lines in designated national interest corridors without waiting for a full permit, provided they submit specific information about their identity, project details, and timeline. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must create regulations for this process within a year, conduct annual audits of certifications, and report to Congress on how well the system works. These changes aim to streamline the approval process for new power grid infrastructure while maintaining oversight through reporting and auditing requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Commonsense Review Act creates a temporary interagency group led by the Secretary of Energy to align how federal agencies handle categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act. This group includes representatives from the Departments of Energy, Interior, and Agriculture, as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Within 360 days of enactment, the group must either adopt existing categorical exclusions used by other members or jointly create new ones for interstate electric energy transmission and battery storage projects that do not significantly impact the environment. The group must also submit a report to Congress detailing its actions or reasons for inaction, along with recommendations for future collaboration, before dissolving.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Moral Injury Recognition and Restitution Act, changes how the Department of Veterans Affairs handles compensation claims for veterans affected by military sexual trauma. It allows veterans who receive approved claims for mental health conditions or physical injuries caused by such trauma to receive back pay starting from the day after their military discharge rather than from the date their claim was filed. The legislation defines military sexual trauma according to existing legal standards and includes both mental health conditions and physical disabilities resulting from or worsened by the trauma. This change applies retroactively to eligible veterans who have already been approved for compensation benefits.