Rep. Mike Levin

Maddy summaryHRES 668, the BUDS Resolution, amends House rules to allow bipartisan joint sponsorship of public bills and resolutions by one majority-party and one minority-party member. This change directly affects House members seeking to co-sponsor legislation with cross-party support, updating the existing rules for naming cosponsors and submitting constitutional authority statements. The key mechanism requires that for joint sponsorship, one sponsor must represent the majority party and the other the minority party, with both sponsors sharing responsibility for related procedural steps. This procedural adjustment streamlines the process for bipartisan co-sponsorship without altering legislative policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames a U.S. Postal Service facility in Escondido, California, to honor Captain E. Royce Williams. It officially designates the building at 1157 West Mission Avenue as the "Captain E. Royce Williams Post Office Building" and updates all federal references to the location to use this new name. The change affects only official documents and records, not the building's operations or services. This is a purely administrative naming action with no policy or funding implications.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to report on its Warrior Training Advancement Course (WARTAC), tracking veteran participation rates, cost savings, and hiring outcomes for veterans completing the program. It also creates a 2-year pilot program under the Department of Agriculture to hire veterans transitioning from military service into vacant USDA positions related to agriculture, conservation, and nutrition. The pilot mandates reporting on the number of veterans hired, their transition to full-time federal roles, and program effectiveness. These provisions directly affect veterans using the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and federal agencies like the VA and USDA.

Maddy summaryHR 4302, the Transparency in Energy Production Act of 2023, requires energy companies seeking or holding leases to develop operations on public or Indian lands to disclose standardized environmental data. This applies to both fossil fuel projects (like oil and gas) and renewable energy projects (like wind and solar), mandating annual reports that detail greenhouse gas emissions, water use, biodiversity impacts, and other metrics disaggregated by state and operation type. Companies must submit these reports to the relevant federal agency (Interior or Agriculture) at lease application and annually thereafter, with failure to comply risking lease denial or suspension. The data must be published online in a machine-readable format and included in regular congressional reports assessing environmental impacts, wildfire risks, supply chain sources, and lifecycle effects of energy production.

Maddy summaryHR 4185, the EAT Healthy Foods from Local Farmers Act, allows states to use federal funds to purchase fresh produce, dairy, and other priority foods directly from local small farms and food businesses - particularly those owned by women, veterans, or beginning farmers - to distribute through emergency food programs. It allocates $50 million annually (2024-2028) for states to create projects that partner with eligible local growers and emergency feeding organizations, focusing on culturally relevant foods for communities facing food insecurity. States must submit plans detailing partnerships, food types, and timelines, with annual reporting to Congress on project effectiveness. The bill aims to strengthen local food supply chains, improve access to nutritious food, and support underserved agricultural businesses.

Maddy summaryHRES 645 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing August as "Chicano Heritage Month" to celebrate the contributions of Mexican Americans to U.S. history. It highlights historical figures like labor leaders Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, landmark court cases (e.g., *Mendez v. Westminster* ending school segregation), and cultural impacts such as Selena's influence on music. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment by the House to honor this heritage. It encourages the public and institutions to observe the month with events celebrating Mexican American contributions.

Maddy summaryThe CHARGE Act of 2023 modernizes U.S. electricity transmission planning and cost allocation to better support renewable energy integration and grid reliability. It requires transmission providers to conduct interregional planning every five years, allocate costs based on multiple benefits (including reduced consumer costs, renewable energy access, and grid resilience), and make hourly operational data publicly available. The bill establishes an Office of Transmission within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and creates an Independent Transmission Monitor to oversee planning processes. These changes aim to reduce costs for consumers, improve grid reliability, and support the transition to cleaner energy sources through concrete regulatory reforms.

Maddy summaryHR 4249, the VET PFAS Act, provides healthcare benefits to veterans and their families exposed to PFAS chemicals at military bases. Veterans who served at contaminated bases (including through water sources) and developed specific conditions like testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, or pregnancy-induced hypertension become eligible for VA healthcare without needing medical proof of cause. Family members who lived at these bases or were in utero during such residence also qualify for covered conditions. The bill creates a "presumption of service connection" for these illnesses, meaning the VA assumes PFAS exposure caused the condition. It requires annual VA reports tracking beneficiaries, denials, and conditions treated.

Maddy summaryHRES 644 is a House resolution calling on the Judicial Conference of the United States to authorize public broadcasting of Donald Trump's upcoming trial. The trial relates to alleged crimes connected to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. This resolution requests but does not require the Judicial Conference to make the trial proceedings publicly accessible. It is a procedural measure, not a law altering any legal process.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes increased federal funding for early childhood special education programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It specifically restores funding for Part C (services for infants and toddlers with disabilities) and Section 619 (preschool programs for children with disabilities ages 3-5) by setting annual appropriations from $503 million to $1.22 billion for Section 619 and $932 million to $1.73 billion for Part C through 2028. These funds would directly support states in delivering high-quality early intervention and preschool services to children with disabilities and their families. The bill aims to reverse decades of reduced per-child funding, which had fallen significantly from historical highs.