Rep. Dan Newhouse

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax relief for individuals affected by specific disasters by excluding certain compensation payments from taxable income. It covers wildfire relief payments for losses incurred in federally declared wildfires after 2014 (including expenses like repairs, lost wages, and emotional distress), and payments related to the February 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment (covering property damage, closing costs, and inconvenience). Payments already covered by insurance or other sources are excluded from this tax benefit. The relief applies to payments received during 2020-2025 for wildfires and from February 2023 onward for the East Palestine incident, with extended deadlines for related tax claims.

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 summaryThe Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 establishes a limited pilot program allowing non-responsible parties (called "Good Samaritans") to remediate pollution at abandoned hardrock mine sites. The bill creates a permit process requiring applicants to demonstrate they're not liable for the pollution, can safely complete the remediation, and will protect the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency would issue up to 15 permits for these projects, providing liability protection for permitted activities while requiring public notice and environmental review. The pilot program would expire after 7 years, with the EPA required to report on its effectiveness to Congress.

Maddy summaryThe Colorado Energy Prosperity Act of 2024 prohibits the U.S. Secretary of the Interior from finalizing, implementing, administering, or enforcing a specific draft resource management plan and environmental impact statement for federal lands in the Colorado River Valley and Grand Junction areas. This bill directly affects federal land management decisions by blocking the implementation of a plan published in the Federal Register (August 4, 2023) that was intended to guide resource use. The key provision is a clear, direct prohibition on the Secretary taking any action to advance this draft document. The bill does not create new regulations or alter existing laws but stops a specific federal environmental review process.

Maddy summaryHR 6482 streamlines geothermal exploration on federal lands by defining specific "geothermal exploration projects" (e.g., small-scale drilling under 5 acres, completed in 120 days) and exempting them from major federal environmental reviews under NEPA. It requires leaseholders to notify the federal government 30 days before starting such projects. The bill also directs the Secretary to designate "geothermal leasing priority areas" on federal lands meeting economic and transmission criteria, with reviews every 5 years. These priority areas will use existing environmental impact statements for faster lease sales, avoiding redundant reviews. The law directly affects geothermal leaseholders and federal land managers like the Bureau of Land Management.

Maddy summaryHR 6085 prohibits the U.S. Department of the Interior from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the Rock Springs RMP Revision in Wyoming. This bill specifically targets the document published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on August 18, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 56654), blocking its use in managing federal lands in that area. The bill does not alter land management policies but prevents the BLM from moving forward with this particular planning process. It directly affects the BLM's administrative actions regarding the Rock Springs planning area in Wyoming.

Maddy summaryHR 7525, the Special District Grant Accessibility Act, requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidance within 180 days clarifying how federal agencies recognize "special districts" as eligible recipients of federal grants. Special districts - state-created local entities like water districts or fire protection authorities that perform specific government functions - would directly benefit by gaining clearer pathways to access federal funding. Agencies must implement this guidance within one year and report on compliance to Congress within two years. The bill focuses on standardizing agency procedures, not creating new programs or altering grant eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryThe BONUS Transparency Act requires federal agencies to publicly report details about performance awards given to career Senior Executive Service (SES) employees. Each year, agencies must submit to Congress a report listing every award's recipient (including name, title, and salary), amount, and funding source, starting in 2024. This directly affects career SES employees who receive performance-based bonuses, as their compensation details become publicly accessible. The law mandates these annual reports within 90 days after each fiscal year ends, increasing transparency around executive pay. It applies to all executive branch agencies and covers all performance awards, including bonuses under federal pay rules.

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 6862 blocks a proposed federal rule (88 Fed. Reg. 65350) that would have narrowed which mining projects qualify for streamlined permitting under the FAST Act. The bill prohibits the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing this rule, which aimed to restrict the scope of "mining sector" projects eligible for coverage. This directly affects mining companies and federal agencies involved in project approvals by preserving current permitting standards. The bill does not create new regulations but prevents a specific regulatory change to mining project eligibility.