Rep. Doug Lamborn

Maddy summaryHJRES 27 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a federal rule that redefined which waterways fall under the Clean Water Act's protections. It targets a rule submitted by the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on January 18, 2023, which aimed to revise the "Waters of the United States" definition. The resolution would formally disapprove this rule under a specific federal procedure (Chapter 8 of Title 5), preventing it from taking effect. This would directly affect how federal agencies regulate pollution and development near water bodies, including wetlands and smaller streams.

Maddy summaryHR 2647, the Restore Public Health Institution Trust Act of 2023, requires the U.S. Comptroller General to produce a report within 120 days of enactment examining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) public health messaging and guidance during the pandemic. The report must analyze the data used by the CDC, assess how inconsistent messaging affected public trust and vaccine uptake (including for school-age children), and evaluate potential influence from outside groups like teachers unions. It will also provide recommendations to improve the CDC's future communication and decision-making processes. This bill does not change CDC policies but mandates an independent review to address concerns about public health communication. The report will be submitted to specific congressional committees focused on health, education, and oversight.

Maddy summaryThe PLUS for Veterans Act of 2023 clarifies and updates rules for veterans' benefit claims under the Department of Veterans Affairs. It sets a $12,500 annual fee cap (adjusted for inflation) for agents or attorneys representing veterans, prohibits charging fees for medical exams, and prohibits unauthorized fees with penalties including fines or up to one year in prison. The bill directly affects veterans seeking benefits, their legal representatives, and the VA by standardizing fee agreements, requiring VA reports on agent/attorney suspensions, and ensuring veterans can access free services from VA-recognized organizations. Key provisions include banning fees for medical reports and requiring clear fee disclosures to veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Dolores River National Conservation Area (approximately 52,872 acres of Bureau of Land Management land) and Dolores River Special Management Area (approximately 15,452 acres of National Forest land) in Colorado to protect natural, recreational, and cultural resources including native fish, whitewater boating, and scenic areas. Management plans must be developed within 3 years for both areas, requiring consultation with local governments, water users, conservation groups, and tribal representatives. The bill protects existing water rights and tribal treaty rights, prohibits new road construction in sensitive areas, and limits motorized vehicle use to designated routes within the conservation areas. It also makes technical modifications to release portions of the Dolores River from potential Wild and Scenic River designation.

Maddy summaryThis bill terminates the national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020, under the National Emergencies Act. It ends the executive branch's authority to use emergency powers related to that specific declaration. The resolution passed both chambers in early 2023 and took effect April 10, 2023, without creating new policies or affecting specific groups.

Maddy summaryHR 2380, the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2023, allows state and federal correctional facilities (like prisons and jails) to operate cellphone jamming systems to block wireless signals from contraband devices or communications involving individuals held in the facility. The bill restricts the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from blocking such jamming systems, but requires facilities to limit jamming only to housing areas, have state facilities cover all costs, and consult with local law enforcement before implementation. It defines "jamming systems" broadly to include all necessary equipment and installation details. This bill directly affects correctional facilities seeking to prevent cell phone use by inmates, particularly for security purposes related to contraband. The law does not create new restrictions on cellphone use but changes how facilities can deploy jamming technology.

Maddy summaryHR 1839, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, makes the illicit use and distribution of xylazine a federal crime by adding it to the Controlled Substances Act. The bill broadly defines xylazine to cover numerous chemical variants and prohibits human use or non-licit distribution, while preserving legitimate veterinary and pharmaceutical uses. It requires tracking xylazine in drug supply chains and mandates two reports to Congress within 1 and 4 years on its prevalence, sources, and whether it should be rescheduled. The bill directly affects individuals distributing or using xylazine illicitly, including as an additive to drugs like fentanyl, and aims to address its public health risks. Congress declared illicit xylazine an "emerging drug threat" under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for U.S.-Israel cooperation to monitor and disrupt tunnels along the Gaza border. It amends a 2016 law by changing the end date from December 31, 2024, to December 31, 2026. The extension directly affects U.S. and Israeli security agencies working together on tunnel surveillance and prevention. The key mechanism is simply updating the expiration date for this existing program.

Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act This bill prohibits using federal funds for certain abortion-related purposes outside the United States. The bill prohibits federal funding for certain foreign and domestic organizations that are engaged in activities such as performing abortions, furnishing items intended to procure abortions, or providing financial support to other organizations that conduct such activities. The prohibition does not apply to abortions resulting from rape or incest, or when the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term.

Maddy summaryHR 1581, the America Works Act of 2023, modifies work requirement exemptions for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It expands direct exemptions to include individuals medically certified as unfit for work, parents or caregivers of children under 7, and pregnant women, while removing a specific enforcement clause (Section 6(o)(4)(A)(ii)). The bill adjusts existing exemption rules to clarify that certain exemptions apply retroactively to cases beginning before the bill's enactment date. These changes directly affect SNAP recipients who would otherwise face work requirements under federal law.