Rep. Andy Biggs

Maddy summaryHR 9277, the REG Act, prohibits federal agencies from considering "environmental justice" when creating rules or enforcing laws, unless required by existing law. It directly affects agencies like the EPA by restricting how they evaluate policies' impacts on minority and low-income communities during rulemaking. The bill repeals three key executive orders: E.O. 12898 (addressing environmental justice in vulnerable communities), E.O. 14008 (climate action), and E.O. 14096 (environmental justice commitments). This changes how agencies develop regulations by removing mandatory consideration of environmental justice in their processes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution aims to block a rule issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that sets new fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars, light trucks (starting in 2027), and heavy-duty pickup trucks/vans (starting in 2030). If passed, it would prevent this specific rule from taking effect by disapproving it under a congressional review process. The rule directly affects vehicle manufacturers by requiring them to meet these updated fuel economy targets for future model years. This is a procedural resolution, not a new law, focused solely on halting the implementation of the existing NHTSA rule.

Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act of 2024 This bill prohibits states or localities from imposing a levy or collecting an excise tax on the sale of a firearm, ammunition, or any part or component thereof, by a manufacture or retailer.

Maddy summaryHJRES 127 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule requiring public companies to standardize climate-related financial disclosures. It seeks to block the SEC’s March 2024 rule (89 Fed. Reg. 21668), which would mandate consistent reporting on climate risks for investors. If passed, this resolution would prevent the SEC rule from taking effect, directly affecting publicly traded companies required to comply with the proposed disclosure standards. The bill uses a specific congressional process under Title 5, U.S. Code, to nullify the rule without creating new regulations.

Maddy summaryHJRES 124 is a resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a rule issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that required large financial institutions to adopt climate-related risk management practices. The rule, published in October 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 74183), would have mandated major banks to assess and manage climate change risks in their operations. This resolution, if passed, would block the rule from taking effect by invoking the congressional disapproval process under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. It directly affects large banks and financial institutions that would have been required to comply with the climate risk management standards. The bill does not create new rules but aims to prevent the implementation of the OCC's existing proposal.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program, which provides federal funding to state and local law enforcement agencies to reduce backlogs in processing DNA evidence from crime scenes. It extends the program's funding period from fiscal years 2024 through 2029 (previously ending in 2024). The bill also updates audit requirements to ensure grant funds are used properly through 2029. This directly affects law enforcement agencies that receive these grants to accelerate DNA analysis for criminal investigations.

Maddy summaryThe Respect State Housing Laws Act amends the CARES Act by removing subsection (c) of Section 4024, which governed notice requirements for housing assistance programs. This change eliminates a specific federal notice provision that applied to tenants and landlords receiving CARES Act housing aid. The bill directly affects the administrative process for housing assistance under the CARES Act, streamlining or removing a requirement for notice delivery. It modifies an existing provision without creating new policy or altering broader housing protections.

Maddy summaryThe HOUSE Act of 2024 withdraws a federal rule requiring new housing projects financed by HUD and USDA to meet specific energy efficiency standards. It prohibits federal agencies from using funds to implement or enforce this rule or similar rules, mandating a return to the previous energy efficiency standards for these housing programs. The bill also extends these restrictions to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Additionally, it amends a law to allow states with energy efficiency standards meeting or exceeding the previous federal requirements (if at least 26 states have adopted such standards) to be used instead of federal rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill gives states the option to restrict Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for specific items. States may ban purchases of sugary drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts like cakes or cookies using SNAP benefits. The Secretary of Agriculture will maintain a list of these restricted items, but states can implement bans without federal approval or additional reporting. This change directly affects SNAP participants in states that choose to adopt such restrictions, altering which food items can be bought with benefits.

Maddy summaryHJRES 165 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a Department of Education rule issued in April 2024 that updated protections against sex discrimination in schools receiving federal funding. The resolution aims to disapprove this specific rule (published as 89 Fed. Reg. 33474), which would have required schools to address sex-based discrimination in educational programs. If passed, the rule would no longer be in effect, meaning schools would not need to comply with its requirements. This resolution directly affects all schools and educational programs receiving federal financial assistance, as it targets the implementation of the new nondiscrimination standard.