Rep. Robert J. Wittman

Maddy summaryHJRES 46 is a congressional resolution rejecting a specific rule issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under federal environmental regulations. The resolution seeks to block the NMFS rule (published June 2022) that updated procedures for listing endangered/threatened species and designating critical habitats. If passed, this resolution would make the NMFS rule legally ineffective under federal law. The bill directly affects how the NMFS manages species protection programs but does not change the underlying environmental laws. This is a procedural disapproval resolution, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryHJRES 49 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a specific rule by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that would have listed the northern long-eared bat as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The rule, published in the Federal Register in November 2022 (87 Fed. Reg. 73488), would have imposed federal protections and restrictions on activities affecting the bat's habitat. This resolution, if passed, would nullify that rule, preventing the bat from receiving federal endangered species status and associated legal safeguards. It directly affects the regulatory status of the northern long-eared bat and activities regulated under the Endangered Species Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from changing its anesthesia care policies to allow nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to provide anesthesia independently without a physician anesthesiologist. It specifically blocks implementation of a 2016 proposed rule that would have expanded CRNAs' authority in VA facilities. The law maintains current requirements that physician anesthesiologists must oversee or provide anesthesia care for veterans during surgical procedures. Emergency orders for veteran safety during surgery remain permitted under the bill's exception clause.

Maddy summaryHR 3792 extends U.S. security funding for Israel through 2028 (Section 3) and expands energy cooperation to include advanced nuclear technologies and carbon capture (Section 5). It requires annual reports on regional security partnerships involving Israel (Section 6) and ensures countries in the Abraham Accords can access U.S. development programs (Section 8). The bill also mandates reports on diplomatic efforts against ICC investigations targeting the U.S. and Israel (Section 10) and encourages people-to-people programs to strengthen the Abraham Accords (Sections 7, 9). These provisions directly affect Israel’s diplomatic engagement, security partnerships, and economic cooperation in the Middle East.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit for expenses related to "qualified access technology for the blind" under the Internal Revenue Code. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $2,000 per year (adjusted for inflation) for costs paid for hardware, software, or IT that converts visual information into formats usable by blind individuals, covering the taxpayer, their spouse, or a dependent who is blind. The credit is limited to $2,000 over any three consecutive tax years per blind individual and expires after 2028. It directly affects blind individuals and their families who purchase qualifying assistive technology. The credit cannot be claimed for expenses already covered by other tax deductions or credits.

Maddy summaryHR 3639, the After Hours Child Care Act, creates a new Child Care and Development Innovation Fund to improve access to child care for parents working nontraditional hours (such as evenings, nights, or weekends). The bill directly affects working parents with young children and eligible child care providers who serve these families. It authorizes competitive grants (ranging from $25,000 to $500,000) to providers or partnerships with businesses/community organizations to expand after-hours care programs, establish workplace child care, or improve existing facilities. Grantees must cover 25% of costs, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services must report biennially on program impact to Congress.

Maddy summaryThe Sailor Standard of Care Act of 2023 requires the Navy to improve mental health support for service members designated for "limited duty" (temporarily restricted from full duties due to medical needs). It mandates quarterly mental health screenings for these members, additional medical staff in units with over 15 such personnel, and a framework for centralized care coordination during their limited duty period. The bill also directs the Navy to study multiple suicides within units, report on TRICARE mental health provider credentialing timelines and reimbursement rates, and establish a dashboard tracking quality-of-life program usage. These provisions directly affect active-duty Navy members in limited duty status and aim to address systemic gaps in mental health care access and response.

Maddy summaryHRES 425 is a non-binding House resolution designating July 19, 2023, as "Glioblastoma Awareness Day" to increase public recognition of glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. It directly supports patients, caregivers, and families affected by the disease, which has a low 5-year survival rate (6.9%) and no effective screening methods. The resolution encourages greater public awareness, honors those impacted by the disease, and urges continued research investments, including through the Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network. It does not create new laws or alter funding but serves as a symbolic statement to advance understanding and support for glioblastoma research.

Maddy summaryHR 3553, the 21st Century American Atomic Energy Age Act, prohibits the use and import of nuclear fuel from Russia for U.S. nuclear reactors, including small modular reactors (SMRs), and requires new regulations to enforce this within 183 days of enactment. It establishes a new Office within the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to evaluate the economic, environmental, and national security benefits of nuclear projects, including SMRs. The bill also extends the Price-Anderson Act (which limits nuclear liability) through 2045 and mandates reports on nuclear energy’s role in critical infrastructure resilience. These provisions directly affect U.S. nuclear facility operators, SMR developers, and the NRC’s regulatory processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that AM radio receivers be included as standard equipment in all new motor vehicles (such as cars and trucks) sold in the United States, with a rule to be issued by the Department of Transportation within one year. The rule must ensure AM radio is easily accessible on the dashboard and allows manufacturers to use digital AM radio technology instead of traditional AM. During the one-year period between the bill's enactment and the rule's effective date, manufacturers must clearly label vehicles without AM radio. The bill also directs a study to evaluate whether an alternative system could deliver emergency alerts as reliably as AM radio across the country, especially during crises.