Rep. Andrew Ogles

Maddy summaryHR 3256, the Preventing Executive Climate Overreach Act, would eliminate the legal effect of Executive Order 14096. This order, issued by the President to advance environmental justice in federal programs, would no longer be enforceable. The bill's key provision directly states that the executive order "shall have no force or effect." As a result, the administration would be unable to implement environmental justice policies based on that order.

Maddy summaryHR 3238, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023, updates the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program to increase the availability of affordable housing across the United States. The bill makes several key changes including increasing state funding formulas, modifying tenant eligibility rules to better serve vulnerable populations (such as domestic violence victims and students), and expanding credit eligibility for projects in rural and Native American communities. Specific provisions raise the credit for properties serving extremely low-income households, clarify rules around tenant income increases, and require housing providers to protect victims of domestic violence. The bill also updates terminology from "low-income" to "affordable" throughout the tax code and enhances program transparency through data sharing requirements. These changes aim to make the LIHTC program more effective at creating and preserving affordable housing units for low-income households nationwide.

Defund the OTF Act of 2023 This bill prohibits federal funding for the Open Technology Fund (OTF). (The OTF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing global internet freedom that has received federal funding annually through the U.S. Agency for Global Media.)

Maddy summaryHR 3115, the Public Service Reform Act, changes employment rules for most federal career employees (non-political appointees) by establishing at-will employment, meaning they can be fired for any reason - including no reason - without needing cause. It abolishes the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), replaces its role with agency-level procedures for removals (including a 14-day response window for employees), and limits appeals to the agency head or federal courts for specific claims like whistleblower retaliation. The bill also redirects certain appeals to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for discrimination cases and modifies whistleblower protections to allow direct court appeals for retaliation claims. These changes directly affect over 1 million career federal workers across executive agencies.

Maddy summaryHR 3039, the DRIVE Act, prohibits the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from requiring speed limiting devices on trucks weighing over 26,000 pounds operating in interstate commerce. This directly affects commercial trucking companies and drivers transporting goods across state lines. The bill's key provision explicitly bans the FMCSA from issuing any rule mandating such devices, which are typically set to limit vehicle speed. The law applies specifically to interstate trucking operations and does not affect state-level regulations.

Scope 3 Act This bill prohibits any securities law requirement that an issuer of securities must disclose the greenhouse gas emissions of its value chain (i.e., scope 3 emissions).

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits financial institutions (like banks and credit card processors) from using special transaction codes that separately identify firearm or ammunition sellers. It directly affects gun retailers and the financial services they use, ensuring these businesses are treated the same as other merchants for payment processing. The key provision amends the Truth in Lending Act to ban covered entities from categorizing firearm transactions differently, requiring uniform handling of all business types. This changes how payment systems classify transactions but does not alter gun ownership laws.

Maddy summaryHR 2991, the TEACH Act of 2023, modifies federal education law to tie funding to school firearm policies and create grants for defensive training. It prohibits the Department of Education from funding schools that restrict firearm possession beyond existing federal limits (Section 2(b)), and directs the Secretary to award competitive grants using ESEA funds for "defensive training programs" focused on firearm use for school safety (Section 3(a)). These programs include training on carrying, using, and storing firearms on school property to protect students from intruders (Section 3(e)(1)). The bill directly affects schools receiving federal education funds by requiring them to allow firearm possession for training or face funding restrictions, and prioritizes grant applications from entities supporting Second Amendment rights.

Maddy summaryHR 2895, the Time Is Up Act of 2023, sets strict deadlines for the President to act on foreign investment reviews under the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). It requires the President to announce any suspension or prohibition of a covered foreign investment deal within 15 days of the bill's enactment if more than 105 days (or 60 days for certain investigations) have passed since review began without a decision. For any announcement made before or after the bill's enactment, the President must complete the suspension or prohibition within 30 days of the announcement. This bill directly affects foreign entities seeking to invest in U.S. businesses and the federal process reviewing those deals for national security risks.

Maddy summaryThe Employee Rights Act (HR 2700) amends key labor laws to strengthen employee rights in collective bargaining and privacy. It requires employers to use secret ballot elections for selecting bargaining representatives and to provide labor organizations with voter lists containing employee names and one form of contact information (chosen by the employee) within two business days of an election. The bill prohibits employers from using employee personal information for non-organizing purposes and mandates written authorization for using union dues on non-bargaining activities, with authorizations expiring after one year. Additionally, it clarifies joint employment standards to prevent misclassification and adds tribal sovereignty protections to labor law definitions.