Rep. W. Gregory Steube

Maddy summaryHR 2962, the Hydrogen Permitting Simplification Act, exempts certain federal hydrogen production projects from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process. It directly affects developers of hydrogen facilities using nuclear, solar, wind, or geothermal energy by removing the requirement for environmental impact assessments under NEPA for projects under this specific energy policy title. The key provision amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to add a new section stating that major federal actions involving these hydrogen production sources are not subject to NEPA. This simplifies permitting for qualifying clean hydrogen projects by eliminating a standard federal environmental review step.

Maddy summaryHR 2955, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, establishes a Federal Work Group to improve data collection and best practices for youth in residential programs (like therapeutic schools, treatment centers, and group homes). The Work Group, composed of federal agency representatives and diverse stakeholders, must develop national data standards, create risk assessment tools, and issue biennial reports with recommendations to enhance safety, reduce restraints, and expand community-based alternatives. It directly affects youth with mental health, substance use, or disability needs placed in these facilities, as well as agencies overseeing them. The bill also mandates a National Academies study to examine funding, oversight, and barriers to community care. These mechanisms aim to standardize data tracking and promote less restrictive, trauma-informed care for youth in residential programs.

Maddy summaryThe Employee Rights Act (HR 2700) amends key labor laws to strengthen employee rights in collective bargaining and privacy. It requires employers to use secret ballot elections for selecting bargaining representatives and to provide labor organizations with voter lists containing employee names and one form of contact information (chosen by the employee) within two business days of an election. The bill prohibits employers from using employee personal information for non-organizing purposes and mandates written authorization for using union dues on non-bargaining activities, with authorizations expiring after one year. Additionally, it clarifies joint employment standards to prevent misclassification and adds tribal sovereignty protections to labor law definitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill blocks the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and mortgage enterprises (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) from implementing new single-family mortgage credit fee changes announced on January 19, 2023. It specifically cancels the fee framework updates detailed in FHFA's January 19 announcement and related lender letters (LL-2023-01 and Bulletin 2023-1). The bill does not stop mortgage enterprises from using risk-based pricing for credit fees, which remains permitted. It directly affects the FHFA's authority and the mortgage pricing structure for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Maddy summaryHR 2937, the Repeal CFPB Act, would end the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by repealing the 2010 law that created it. If passed, this bill would eliminate the CFPB entirely, restoring all financial regulations and enforcement powers that existed before the CFPB was established. It directly affects consumers and financial institutions that currently interact with the CFPB for oversight of products like mortgages, credit cards, and loans. The key mechanism is a complete repeal of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, reversing the creation of the agency and returning regulatory authority to other agencies like the Federal Reserve.

Maddy summaryHR 2826, the Save Local Business Act, clarifies when multiple businesses can be held jointly responsible for labor laws. It amends the National Labor Relations Act and Fair Labor Standards Act to state that a business is only a joint employer if it directly controls key employment terms like hiring, pay, schedules, or discipline for another business's workers. This directly affects franchisors, contractors, and similar business models that might previously have been deemed joint employers under broader interpretations. The bill aims to limit joint employer liability to cases where one business has clear, day-to-day control over essential worker conditions.

Maddy summaryHR 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023, amends Title IX to prohibit federally funded schools and athletic programs from allowing individuals assigned male at birth to participate in women's or girls' sports teams. The bill defines "sex" for this purpose as "reproductive biology and genetics at birth," making it a violation of federal law to permit such participation in designated women's or girls' programs. It allows males to train with women's teams only if no female is deprived of a roster spot, competition opportunity, scholarship, or other benefit tied to the team. This law directly affects public and private schools receiving federal financial assistance that operate athletic programs.

Maddy summaryHR 2808, the Arnold Daniel Palmer Commemorative Coin Act, authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce three commemorative coins in 2029 honoring golfer Arnold Palmer: $5 gold coins (50,000 max), $1 silver coins (400,000 max), and half-dollar clad coins (750,000 max). The bill requires coin designs to feature Palmer's image and includes surcharges ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollar) that fund the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation. All surcharge revenue must support the Foundation's work in youth health, character development through golf, and nature wellness programs. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued in 2029, with all funds covering minting costs before surcharges are directed to the Foundation.

Maddy summaryHR 2743 prohibits large financial institutions (over $100 billion in assets) from denying banking services to lawful businesses based on subjective political reasons, industry type, or reputational concerns. It requires these institutions to use objective, risk-based assessments for service decisions and provide written justifications for denials. The law applies to banks, credit unions, and payment networks, with civil penalties for violations including fines up to $10,000 per incident. It specifically ensures businesses operating legally under federal law receive fair access to financial services without discrimination. The bill mandates that denials be based on documented risk factors, not political bias or category-based exclusion.

Homeland and Cyber Threat Act or the HACT Act This bill allows claims in federal or state court against foreign states that conduct or participate in cyberattacks against U.S. nationals.