Rep. H. Morgan Griffith

Maddy summaryThe Royalty Transparency Act requires federal employees and members of specific public health advisory committees to disclose royalties received from inventions developed during government employment. Agencies must publish these disclosures online, including employee names and royalty amounts, making this information publicly accessible. The bill also mandates annual reports to Congress about potential conflicts of interest related to royalty payments in federal contracts. This legislation increases transparency around financial interests that could influence government work, particularly in public health areas.

Maddy summaryHR 1881, the Methane Reduction and Economic Growth Act, creates a new tax credit for businesses that capture methane emissions from mining operations. It directly affects mining facilities (including underground, abandoned, or surface mines) that install methane capture equipment and capture at least 2,500 metric tons of methane annually. The bill provides a tax credit by modifying existing carbon capture tax rules to apply specifically to methane, requiring captured methane to be used for energy (e.g., in pipelines meeting safety standards or for industrial heat) with minimal atmospheric release. The credit applies to methane captured after December 2024, aiming to incentivize reducing methane emissions from mining sources.

Maddy summaryThe Risky Research Review Act establishes the Life Sciences Research Security Board, an independent agency within the Executive Branch, to review proposed Federal funding for high-risk life sciences research before it's awarded. The board will determine whether research involving high-consequence pathogens or dual-use research of concern poses unacceptable risks to public health, safety, or national security, with its decisions being binding on Federal agencies. The board must assess factors including potential threats, benefits, and whether lower-risk alternatives exist, and will set minimum biosafety and biosecurity requirements for approved research. The board will consist of 9 members appointed by the President with specific expertise in life sciences, national security, and biosafety, subject to strict conflict of interest rules. This legislation requires Federal agencies to obtain board approval before funding such research, with a 180-day implementation period.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows notaries to perform remote and electronic notarizations for documents affecting interstate commerce, such as property deeds or legal agreements. It requires notaries to verify identities through multiple methods (e.g., two identity checks or a credible witness) and create audio-visual recordings of remote sessions, which must be retained for at least 5 years. The law applies to individuals needing notarization across state lines or for electronic records but does not require notaries to offer these services. It standardizes recognition of valid remote notarizations in federal courts and across state lines, ensuring consistency for users and notaries.

Maddy summaryHR 1651 would nullify a specific Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule finalized on May 9, 2024. This rule established emissions standards for greenhouse gases from new, modified, and reconstructed fossil fuel power plants, set guidelines for existing plants, and repealed the previous "Affordable Clean Energy Rule." The bill would make this EPA rule unenforceable, directly affecting fossil fuel power plants by removing these federal emissions requirements. It does not create new regulations but cancels an existing EPA rule.

Maddy summaryThis bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion (known as the "Black Panthers"), the first predominantly Black armored unit in World War II's European Theater. It recognizes their combat service from 1944-1946, including key roles in the Battle of the Bulge and breaking the Siegfried Line, despite facing racial prejudice during and after the war. The medal will be displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. The bill commemorates the battalion's 130,000 enemy casualties inflicted, 50% casualty rate, and their 1978 Presidential Unit Citation. It does not create new laws or affect current policies.

Maddy summaryHR 1487, the Agricultural and Forestry Hauling Efficiency Act, allows Virginia to issue special permits for agricultural and forestry vehicles weighing up to 90,000 pounds on interstate highways. This directly affects farmers and timber haulers in Virginia transporting unprocessed goods like raw crops (for food, feed, or fiber) or unfinished forest products (such as logs, wood chips, or biomass). The bill amends federal law to create this exception to standard weight limits, enabling larger loads for specific agricultural and forestry operations. It does not change weight rules for other states or other types of cargo.

Maddy summaryHR 1581 establishes Fort Monroe National Historical Park in Virginia to preserve and interpret the site's significant history, including its role in the Civil War (like the 1861 Contraband Decision), its use as a coastal defense site, and its connection to the first entry of Africans into English North America. The bill replaces the existing Fort Monroe National Monument by incorporating its lands into the new park, updating all references from "National Monument" to "Historical Park" in federal documents. It defines the park's boundary using a specific map and allows the National Park Service to acquire land within that boundary through donations or purchases. The park will be managed under standard National Park System laws while ensuring Virginia's authority over non-federal land and allowing historic buildings to be reused, provided they meet preservation standards.

Maddy summaryHR 1497 reorganizes three National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutes by splitting the current "National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases" into three separate entities: the National Institute of Allergic Diseases, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases. It creates new director positions for each institute with 5-year terms and updates all federal references to the old institute name. The bill affects NIH internal structure and leadership appointments but does not change research programs, funding, or public services. The transition requires NIH leadership to shift responsibilities from the old institute to the new ones until directors are appointed.

Maddy summaryHR 1421, the "Make American Flags in America Act of 2025," requires all flags of the United States displayed on federal property or procured by federal agencies to be 100% manufactured in the United States. This directly affects federal agencies (including executive departments, military branches, and legislative/judicial offices) by banning the use of foreign-made flags for official displays or purchases. The bill sets a 90-day deadline for procurement changes and a two-year timeline for display requirements, while excluding private entities from these rules. It also mandates a Federal Trade Commission study on enforcing country-of-origin labeling for flags, with a report due within one year of enactment.