Maddy summaryThis bill, the REPLACE Act (HR 9846), requires the President to waive fees for replacing critical documents like passports or licenses after a major disaster. It directly affects individuals and households in areas where the President has declared a major disaster under the Stafford Act and provided assistance for individuals and households, if their critical documents were destroyed. The bill mandates that the President, working with state governors, must provide these fee waivers and requires the State Department and USCIS to publicly post waiver availability and submit annual reports on the number of waivers granted and associated costs. The law amends existing disaster relief provisions to streamline this fee waiver process for disaster victims.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary to process geothermal drilling permit applications within 30 days after completing required environmental reviews, even if civil lawsuits are pending. It directly affects geothermal leaseholders and applicants who face delays from ongoing legal challenges. The key provision mandates this timeline unless a federal court has vacated the lease itself. The bill does not grant courts new authority to vacate leases, only establishes a processing deadline for applications. It is a procedural change focused on expediting permits under existing geothermal leases.
Maddy summaryHR 1719, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2023, establishes a presumption that certain cancers diagnosed in public safety officers (like police and firefighters) are work-related if linked to their duties. It defines 22 specific cancers (including lung, mesothelioma, and WTC-related cancers) as "exposure-related," allowing officers or their families to receive benefits without proving direct work connection, provided they were diagnosed within 15 years of leaving active service. The bill also creates a process for adding new cancers to the list based on scientific evidence, requiring the Bureau to review petitions and make decisions within 180 days. This applies to deaths or disabilities occurring on or after January 1, 2023, directly affecting officers who developed covered cancers during service.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Commerce to train employees who advise businesses on interstate commerce or foreign investment about human rights abuses in Xinjiang, specifically forced labor against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities. It also mandates that Commerce provide U.S. businesses with guidance on identifying risks related to such abuses, including risk factors for entities linked to the People’s Republic of China and potential reputational or legal consequences. The guidance will be incorporated into existing counseling services and explicitly stated to be advisory only, not a binding requirement. The bill focuses on raising awareness through training and voluntary business guidance, targeting Commerce staff and businesses engaged in relevant transactions.
Maddy summaryHJRES 136 is a resolution seeking to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would have set new emissions standards for light and medium-duty vehicles sold in 2027 and later model years. The EPA rule, published in April 2024, aimed to require vehicle manufacturers to meet stricter pollution limits for these vehicles. If passed, this resolution would cancel the rule, preventing the EPA from enforcing the new standards. It uses a congressional process that allows Congress to reject agency rules with a simple majority vote.
Maddy summaryHRES 1489 is a symbolic House resolution designating the week of September 23-27, 2024, as "National Clean Energy Week." It expresses congressional support for recognizing clean energy's role in economic growth (citing 8.35 million jobs in the sector) and encourages voluntary actions like public awareness, investment in clean energy technologies, and supporting local clean energy jobs. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or obligations - it only formally endorses the week-long observance to highlight clean energy’s economic and environmental benefits. It directly affects no specific group but aims to raise national awareness of the clean energy sector.
Maddy summaryHJRES 144 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a specific rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) on April 19, 2024. The resolution seeks to block the ATF's rule that redefined the term "engaged in the business" for firearm dealers, which would have affected how federal licensing requirements apply to certain sellers. If enacted, this resolution would nullify the rule, preventing it from taking effect under procedures in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. The bill directly impacts firearm dealers operating under the current regulatory framework and the ATF's enforcement authority.
Maddy summaryHR 9675, the Homeward Bound Act, delays and revises federal rules governing dog imports for specific groups. It postpones the application of a 2024 HHS rule for 18 months, directly affecting military personnel stationed abroad, U.S. diplomats/consular staff, their families, and individuals with service animals seeking to import dogs from rabies-low-risk countries. The bill requires the HHS Secretary to revise regulations within 10 days to allow all-age dog imports at any U.S. port of entry from these countries and waive microchipping requirements for dogs born before the law's enactment. These changes aim to simplify import processes for covered individuals while maintaining rabies risk standards.
Maddy summaryHR 9684, the Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Support Act, creates a federal grant program to fund evidence-based mental health support programs in secondary schools, where trained student peers provide support to fellow students. Eligible entities - including school districts, tribal organizations, and the Bureau of Indian Education - can apply for grants (max $250,000 per award) to implement or expand these programs. Key requirements include mandatory training for student peer support specialists on topics like recognizing mental health warning signs, empathic listening, and connecting students to professional services, alongside oversight by certified supervisors and school mental health providers. The bill authorizes $20 million annually (2025-2029) for this initiative, prioritizing schools in high-suicide-risk areas or without existing programs, and mandates an evaluation to measure student participation and mental health outcomes.
Maddy summaryThis bill (HJRES 163) is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule finalized on May 9, 2024. The EPA rule established new emissions standards for greenhouse gases from fossil fuel power plants (both new and existing) and repealed a previous rule called the Affordable Clean Energy Rule. The resolution would block this EPA rule from taking effect by invoking the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code). If passed, it would prevent the EPA rule from being enforced, directly affecting fossil fuel power plant operators and the EPA’s regulatory authority over emissions.