Rep. Daniel Meuser

Maddy summaryThe Mining Schools Act of 2024 establishes a federal grant program to strengthen domestic mining education by funding eligible schools. It defines eligible "mining schools" as accredited mining/engineering programs at higher education institutions or specific geology/engineering departments at 4-year public universities in states with significant mining-related economic activity. The Department of Energy will award up to 10 competitive annual grants for recruiting students and enhancing programs focused on critical minerals, environmental reclamation, sustainable extraction, and domestic mineral production. An advisory board of industry and academic experts will help select grantees and ensure funds are used as intended. The program is authorized to receive $10 million yearly from 2024 through 2031.

Maddy summaryHR 7438 directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including 100,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins will be sold to the public at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively), with all surcharge revenue paid to FWC2026 US, Inc. for U.S. soccer programs. These funds must support soccer initiatives, particularly in underserved communities and youth development, as specified in the bill. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued during 2026, with no net cost to the U.S. government.

Maddy summaryThe Regulatory Review Improvement Act of 2024 requires federal agencies to review existing regulations more frequently and transparently. It mandates agencies to solicit public comments on whether rules should stay in effect, shorten review periods to one year (capped at five years total), and include new data on compliance costs and paperwork hours. These changes directly affect all federal agencies that issue regulations, such as the EPA or FDA, by altering how they assess and update existing rules. The bill adds specific reporting requirements, including summaries of public comments and economic analyses, to make the review process more accountable.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies to provide specific details when certifying that a new regulation won't significantly impact small businesses. Agencies must now include the number of affected small businesses (with industry codes), an estimate of compliance costs (as a percentage of revenue or similar measure), and a determination of whether the costs constitute a significant economic impact. It directly affects small businesses subject to federal regulations and the agencies creating those rules. The key change is adding mandatory transparency requirements to agency certifications under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows livestock producers and their employees to take black vultures (Coragyps atratus) that are harming or threatening livestock, bypassing the usual protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It directly affects ranchers and farm workers in areas where black vultures cause livestock deaths or injuries. The key provision requires annual reporting to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about any vultures taken, using a simplified form similar to existing reporting for permitted bird take. This creates a specific, limited exception to federal bird protections for livestock protection, with no new restrictions on vulture populations.

Maddy summaryHR 10300, the Chevron Re-Review Act, establishes a new process for Congress to review and disapprove federal agency rules that relied on Chevron deference (the legal doctrine where courts defer to agency interpretations of ambiguous laws). The bill requires agencies to provide Congress with specific information about such rules - including cost-benefit analyses and litigation history - within 30 days of a disapproval resolution's introduction. If Congress passes a joint resolution disapproving a rule, the rule is treated as if it never took effect. This procedural bill directly affects agencies and Congress, applying only to rules explicitly based on Chevron deference or upheld by courts using that doctrine.

Maddy summaryHR 7480, the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act, changes how housing programs calculate income eligibility for veterans. It requires states and local governments to exclude service-connected disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) when determining if a veteran qualifies as "low or moderate income" for HUD housing programs (like Section 8 or public housing). This directly helps disabled veterans whose VA disability pay would otherwise disqualify them from housing assistance they need. The bill also mandates a report within one year examining how VA disability pay is treated across HUD programs and recommending improvements to better serve veterans. The change simplifies access to housing support by ensuring VA benefits aren't counted as income for these programs.

Maddy summaryHR 6751 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Roberto Clemente, a Hall of Fame baseball player and humanitarian, including 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins must feature Clemente's image and inscriptions like "Roberto Clemente" and "2027," with all sales including a surcharge ($5-$35 per coin) paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation. The foundation, which supports youth sports, education, and disaster relief programs, will use these funds for its mission, while the U.S. Treasury must recover all production costs. The coins will be sold exclusively in 2027, with no net cost to the government.

Maddy summaryHR 1695, the *Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act*, requires all federal agencies to conduct a comprehensive assessment of their software licenses, contracts, and usage within one year of enactment. This assessment must detail current software inventories, costs (including hidden fees), interoperability, and license restrictions, and be submitted to agency leadership, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Congress. Agencies must then develop a 120-day plan to consolidate software licenses, prioritize enterprise agreements, reduce costs, and improve software management - ensuring purchases avoid vendor favoritism and support interoperability. The OMB will create a government-wide strategy within two years to standardize these efforts, with annual budget reports tracking agency progress on software cost and management metrics.

Maddy summaryHJRES 120 is a joint resolution that would disapprove a rule issued by the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) regarding how the council identifies nonbank financial companies that could pose risks to the broader financial system. The rule, published in November 2023, provided guidance for designating such companies, which could affect their regulatory oversight. This resolution uses a congressional disapproval process under federal law to declare the rule ineffective, meaning it would have no legal force. If passed, it would prevent the FSOC from implementing this specific guidance in its regulatory work.