Rep. Mike Levin

Maddy summaryHR 7185 reauthorizes the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program through 2030, with specific focus on fentanyl. It allocates $302 million annually for HIDTA operations and adds $14.2 million yearly for grants to enhance fentanyl seizure efforts through competitive grants. The bill requires annual reports detailing fentanyl seizures and trafficking data, and directs the Attorney General to assign at least 16 assistant U.S. attorneys to prioritize fentanyl trafficking cases. This directly affects federal drug task forces, law enforcement agencies, and prosecutors working on fentanyl-related investigations.

100 Year Canister Life Act This bill directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to issue regulations that require casks used in dry storage systems for spent nuclear fuel (i.e., nuclear waste) to be capable of operating safely for at least 100 years. Specifically, the regulations must prohibit the NRC from issuing or renewing any certificate of compliance or license for a dry storage cask for spent nuclear fuel without a finding that the cask can safely operate with spent nuclear fuel for a period of at least 100 years. Under current NRC regulations, a cask must be designed to operate safely for the term proposed in the license, which may not exceed 40 years.

Maddy summaryHR 7155 establishes the Abraham Accords Bureau within the FDA to strengthen U.S. healthcare supply chains. The bureau, headquartered at the FDA, will create lists of essential medical products primarily made in "covered countries" (nations with documented religious freedom violations or human rights issues) and identify facilities in Abraham Accords countries (like the UAE and Bahrain) that could support U.S. medical needs. It will facilitate FDA consultations with these countries on manufacturing standards, share regulatory information, and provide technical assistance to help shift production away from covered countries. The bureau must report to Congress within three years on progress in diversifying supply chains and improving FDA coordination with Abraham Accords nations.

Maddy summaryHR 7127, the FAIR Act, establishes pay adjustments for federal employees in 2025. It increases base pay by 4% for most federal workers under statutory pay systems and for "prevailing rate" employees (like those in specific geographic areas), while raising locality pay rates by 3.4%. The bill directly affects all federal employees receiving pay under these systems, as it modifies their 2025 salary calculations. These changes are based on statutory formulas under Title 5 of the U.S. Code, with no new policy mechanisms beyond the specified percentage increases. The adjustments apply to pay rates in effect as of the end of fiscal year 2024.

Maddy summary# Summary of the Clean Electricity and Transmission Acceleration Act of 2023 This comprehensive legislation establishes significant reforms across environmental policy, energy infrastructure, and community engagement frameworks. Key provisions include: 1. **Environmental Justice Framework**: - Creates an Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights at EPA - Establishes a White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council - Prohibits disparate impact discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act - Requires community impact reports for Federal actions affecting environmental justice communities 2. **NEPA Reforms**: - Mandates 90-day public comment periods for environmental justice communities - Requires translation of documents into languages spoken by 5%+ of affected communities - Requires assessment of cumulative impacts, including historical pollution - Requires climate change impact assessments using social cost of carbon - Establishes searchable digital archives of NEPA documents 3. **Community Engagement Requirements**: - Creates "Senior Community Engagement Officers" and "Tribal Community Engagement Officers" at all federal agencies - Requires community benefits agreements for major projects - Establishes grants for capacity building in environmental justice communities - Creates an E-NEPA permitting portal for public access to documents 4. **Energy Policy Provisions**: - Includes reforms for FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) environmental justice liaison - Establishes requirements for intervenor funding at FERC - Contains provisions for transmission planning and infrastructure 5. **Tribal Consultation**: - Strengthens tribal consultation requirements for projects affecting tribal lands - Requires government-to-government relationships with tribal nations The legislation represents a significant shift toward integrating environmental justice considerations throughout the federal permitting and review process, with specific requirements for meaningful community engagement, transparency, and consideration of cumulative impacts on vulnerable populations. It also establishes new funding mechanisms and administrative structures to support these environmental justice goals.

Maddy summaryHR 7056, the Access to Family Building Act, establishes federal rights for individuals to access assisted reproductive technology (ART) like IVF without unreasonable restrictions, directly affecting patients seeking fertility treatments and health care providers offering ART services. The bill prohibits states from imposing limitations on ART that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures, fail to advance safety, or unduly restrict access, while allowing health and safety regulations that are necessary and least restrictive. It creates federal enforcement mechanisms, including lawsuits by the Attorney General or affected individuals to challenge violating state laws, and preempts conflicting state regulations. The bill explicitly preserves state authority over health/safety regulations and does not alter existing state insurance coverage laws for ART.

Maddy summaryHRES 882 is a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on November 21, 2023, declaring support and gratitude to food banks, food pantries, and community-based organizations addressing food insecurity. It recognizes these groups' work in serving over 5 billion meals annually, rescuing wasted food (nearly 118 billion pounds yearly), and supporting vulnerable populations including 44.2 million people in food-insecure households in 2022. The resolution specifically acknowledges their role in providing emergency aid, nutrition education, and disaster response, while highlighting that 55% of food-insecure households did not access federal nutrition programs. It does not create new policies or funding but formally commends these organizations' contributions to reducing food insecurity and improving community health.

Maddy summaryHR 6081 amends the short title of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act (Public Law 106-506) to honor Senator Dianne Feinstein, renaming it the "Dianne Feinstein Lake Tahoe Restoration Act." This change applies to all federal references in laws, maps, regulations, documents, or records that previously cited the original title. The bill does not alter the Act's policies or funding but updates its official name and all related references. It directly affects federal agencies and documents that reference the legislation. This is a purely procedural renaming with no substantive policy changes.

Maddy summary# Summary of "Protecting Communities from Plastics Act" (Title II) This comprehensive legislation addresses the environmental, health, and environmental justice impacts of plastics production and use. Key provisions include: ## Environmental Justice Protections - Requires environmental justice assessments for permits of "covered facilities" (plastics manufacturing facilities) - Mandates consultation with "fenceline communities" (communities near facilities) including: * Prompt notification in multiple languages * Public hearings with translation services * Community benefit agreements - Establishes a 45-day waiting period before approving permits after public hearings ## Regulatory Requirements - Amends Clean Air Act to establish new source performance standards for plastics facilities - Requires continuous monitoring of air emissions (benzene, nitrogen oxides, etc.) - Amends Clean Water Act to prohibit discharge of plastic pellets in wastewater - Requires financial assurance for facility closure and emergency response - Prohibits new facility permits within 5 miles of community buildings (schools, hospitals, etc.) ## Research and Monitoring - Requires study of microplastics in food (including fish, meat, fruits, vegetables) - Mandates research on microplastics in human bodies (urine, breastmilk, stool) - Establishes a pilot program to test technologies for microplastic removal - Requires inventory of plastics manufacturing and distribution ## Additional Provisions - Temporary permitting moratorium on new plastics facilities (during "temporary pause period") - Requires listing of discarded polyvinyl chloride as hazardous waste - Limits National Recycling Strategy to exclude chemical recycling technologies - Creates grants to reduce single-use plastics in agricultural packaging - Requires biodegradable alternatives to plastic weed barriers The legislation aims to address the disproportionate environmental and health impacts of plastics production on vulnerable communities while establishing comprehensive regulatory frameworks for plastics manufacturing and disposal.

Maddy summaryHR 3925 establishes a federal grant program to fund youth fishing projects in coastal and Great Lakes areas. The bill authorizes $2 million annually (2024-2028) for grants to eligible entities like nonprofits, schools, state/local governments, or Tribal organizations to cover equipment, transportation, licenses, and educational components for youth. Priority is given to projects serving underserved communities, defined as groups facing systemic barriers due to race, disability, poverty, or inequality. Recipients must report annually on grant usage and participant numbers to Congress.