Rep. Michael Lawler

Maddy summaryThe Shutdown Fairness Act ensures that certain federal employees performing essential work during government funding gaps receive their regular pay. It applies directly to "excepted employees" (such as border security personnel, air traffic controllers, and military members on active duty) who must work when appropriations lapse. The bill appropriates funds from the Treasury to cover their standard pay, benefits, and allowances during these periods, without requiring new annual appropriations. These payments are later charged to the agency’s regular budget when funding is restored, ensuring no additional costs to Congress. The law takes effect retroactively from September 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryThe REACT Act requires nuclear power plant operators to provide detailed financial reports to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) about decommissioning trust funds. Specifically, licensees must report earned interest, projected annual returns, and itemized expenditures from these funds used for future plant cleanup. This directly affects nuclear power plant operators managing decommissioning trust funds, which are set aside for safely shutting down reactors. The bill aims to increase transparency around how these funds are managed and spent, without changing funding levels or creating new financial obligations.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic resolution (HRES 821) calls for recognizing October 2025 as "National Dyslexia Awareness Month" to highlight dyslexia's impact. It urges Congress, schools, and educational agencies to acknowledge dyslexia's educational challenges - defined as a learning disability affecting reading due to phonological processing issues - and support early screening and intervention. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise awareness about dyslexia, which affects 1 in 5 people and requires evidence-based support for academic success. It follows existing federal recognition of dyslexia in the First Step Act (2018) and emphasizes the need for accommodations to address the achievement gap.

Maddy summaryThe EGG SAVE Act of 2025 creates a federal tax credit for U.S. commercial egg hatcheries that install equipment to identify the sex of chicken embryos before hatching. The credit covers 50% of qualified equipment costs in 2026, 40% in 2027, and 30% in 2028, provided the equipment achieves at least 95% accuracy. It applies only to equipment purchased, installed, or used in U.S. hatcheries for commercial egg production. The credit expires for property placed in service after December 31, 2028.

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 summaryThis bill authorizes $25 million annually (2026-2030) to fund federal grants for training community mental wellness workers. Eligible entities - including community health clinics, mental health centers, and hospitals - will use these grants to provide culturally competent training for workers who screen for mental health/substance use issues and deliver basic counseling for conditions like depression and anxiety. Priority is given to organizations serving areas with high poverty, unemployment, substance use rates, or medically underserved communities. The grants cover training costs, digital platforms for supervision, and certification, with technical assistance provided to help integrate these workers into existing healthcare systems.

Maddy summaryHRES 796 is a non-binding resolution designating October 9-16, 2025, as "National Dyspraxia/Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) Awareness Week" in the U.S. It directly affects the estimated 20 million Americans (5-6% of the population) living with dyspraxia/DCD, a motor skills disorder often underdiagnosed and underserved in low-income and minority communities. The resolution expresses congressional support for raising public awareness, improving access to diagnosis and treatment services, and encouraging state/local efforts to address challenges like social isolation and academic/workplace barriers linked to DCD. It does not create new funding or policy changes but aims to highlight the need for better education and resources.

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 summaryHRES 793 is a non-binding resolution supporting the designation of October 2025 as "National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month." It highlights that specific learning disabilities affect 32% of students receiving special education services, with over 96% of affected 4th and 8th graders lacking reading proficiency and 92% lacking math proficiency in 2023-2024. The resolution calls on schools to continue providing free appropriate public education for these students, emphasizing evidence-based instructional methods. This is a symbolic measure with no new funding or mandates, aimed at raising awareness about learning disabilities and educational gaps.