Rep. Robert E. Latta

Maddy summaryHR 1058 streamlines approval for new cross-border energy infrastructure projects in the U.S., directly affecting energy companies seeking to build oil/gas pipelines or electricity transmission lines across U.S. borders with Canada or Mexico. It replaces Presidential permits with a new "certificate of crossing" process managed by FERC (for pipelines) or the Department of Energy (for electricity), requiring decisions within 120 days unless the project lacks public interest. The bill also mandates that natural gas import/export applications be approved within 30 days and repeals a requirement for Federal Power Act approval for electricity projects. Existing facilities and projects with pending permits as of the bill's enactment are exempt from these new rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 1085, the REFINER Act) requires the U.S. Secretary of Energy to direct the National Petroleum Council to produce a report within 90 days of enactment. The report must examine U.S. petrochemical refineries' role in energy security, analyze their capacity and expansion opportunities, assess risks to these facilities, and evaluate federal or state policies that may have reduced refinery capacity. It also mandates recommendations for increasing refinery capacity and requires the report to be made publicly available. The bill does not change existing laws or regulations but directs a formal review of refinery operations and policy impacts affecting the sector.

Maddy summaryThe DAIRY PRIDE Act would require food products using dairy-related terms (like "milk," "yogurt," or "cheese") to meet the FDA's definition of dairy - derived from animal milk - to prevent misleading labeling of plant-based alternatives. It directly affects producers of plant-based products currently marketed with dairy terms, such as almond or oat milk, which often lack comparable nutrition. The bill mandates the FDA issue enforcement guidance within 180 days and report to Congress on actions taken after two years. This policy change aims to align product names with the FDA's existing definition of dairy products under federal law.

Maddy summaryHR 1143 prohibits the President from declaring any federal emergency (under the National Emergencies Act, Public Health Service Act, or Stafford Act) for two specific purposes: promoting abortion access or taking action against states that restrict abortion. The bill amends three federal laws to add these explicit restrictions, directly affecting the President's emergency declaration authority. It defines "abortion" as intentionally terminating a pregnancy except for medical reasons like increasing live birth chances or removing a dead fetus. This is a procedural change that limits how emergencies can be used regarding abortion policy, not a direct regulation of abortion services.

This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, compensation received by individuals and businesses for losses resulting from the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment on February 3, 2023. This includes lost business income paid by a federal, state, or local government agency, Norfolk Southern Railway, or any subsidiary, insurer, or agent of the railway, or any related person.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a federal crime to defraud veterans of their benefits, including benefits for dependents or survivors. It targets individuals who create schemes to steal or improperly obtain veterans' benefits, with penalties of up to five years in prison or fines. The law directly affects veterans, their families, and anyone seeking to exploit the benefits system. Key provisions define "veterans' benefits" broadly under federal law and establish criminal penalties for fraud attempts.

Maddy summaryThe Nuclear Fuel Security Act establishes programs to increase domestic production of nuclear fuel, specifically low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU), which are critical for advanced nuclear reactors. It requires the Department of Energy to acquire 100 metric tons of LEU annually by 2026 and 20 metric tons of HALEU annually by 2027 through contracts with U.S. nuclear companies. The bill sets specific deadlines for making HALEU available (3 metric tons by 2024, 8 more by 2025, 10 more by 2026) to support advanced reactor developers. It prioritizes using domestically produced uranium but allows partnerships with U.S. allies for HALEU when domestic production isn't available at scale.

Women's Public Health and Safety Act This bill allows a state to exclude from participation in the state's Medicaid program a provider that performs an abortion, unless (1) the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or (2) the woman suffers from a physical issue that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed. Under current law, a state plan for medical assistance must provide that any individual eligible for medical assistance may obtain required services from any provider qualified to perform them.

761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion in recognition of their role in the success of Allied forces in Europe during World War II and for the example they set as the first Black soldiers to go to war as part of an American armored unit. Following the award of the gold medal, the gold medal shall be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture where it shall be available for display and research.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a single Congressional Gold Medal to honor all U.S. Army Dustoff crews who served during the Vietnam War (1962-1973). It recognizes their critical role in evacuating nearly 900,000 wounded personnel, including U.S., South Vietnamese, and allied forces, under extreme combat conditions. The medal, designed with input from the Secretary of Defense, will be presented to the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum for permanent display. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to cover costs, but the primary action is the commemorative recognition of these crews' service.