Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter

Maddy summaryHJRES 35 is a congressional resolution disapproving an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that established procedures for emissions charges on petroleum and natural gas systems. Specifically, it targets the EPA’s November 2024 rule titled "Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Procedures for Facilitating Compliance, Including Netting and Exemptions," which would have required companies to pay fees based on emissions. The resolution, passed by both chambers in February 2025, nullifies the rule, preventing it from taking effect. This directly affects oil and gas companies subject to the EPA’s emissions regulations, removing a specific compliance mechanism they would have faced.

Maddy summaryHRES 226 is a ceremonial resolution commemorating Delta Air Lines' 100th anniversary, marking the centennial of its founding on March 2, 1925. It recognizes Delta's history as the first U.S. airline to reach 100 years (originally as Huff Daland Dusters, an aerial crop-dusting company) and highlights its current scale, including 100,000 employees, 5,000 daily flights, and global connectivity. The resolution contains no policy changes or binding provisions - it simply expresses the House's recognition of Delta's milestone and its role in connecting people and supporting communities. As a commemorative resolution, it does not affect any individuals, businesses, or regulations.

Maddy summaryHR 2098, the "Deliver for Democracy Act," requires the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to meet specific on-time delivery targets for periodicals (including newspapers) to receive annual rate increases. The bill mandates that the Postal Regulatory Commission must confirm USPS achieved either a 95% on-time delivery rate for periodicals or a 2-percentage-point improvement over the prior year before authorizing new rates. It also requires the Postmaster General to submit annual public reports tracking on-time delivery performance for newspaper mail in-county and out-of-county, using stakeholder feedback and alternative data methods if needed. Additionally, the bill directs the GAO to study alternative pricing options for periodicals and submit a report within two years.

Maddy summaryHR 2168, the BO’s Act, requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study home cardiorespiratory monitors used for infants. The study must assess the monitors' effectiveness in tracking heart rate and oxygen levels, evaluate new care models for safe infant sleep environments, and examine health insurance coverage criteria. A report on these findings must be submitted to Congress within one year of the bill’s enactment. This bill does not change current policy but aims to inform future decisions about monitor coverage and infant safety practices, directly affecting parents, healthcare providers, and insurers.

Maddy summaryThe FOCA Act of 2025 prohibits federal agencies from requiring or banning contractors from using union agreements in construction project bids or contracts. It directly affects federal agencies, contractors, and subcontractors working on federally funded or assisted construction projects (like buildings or infrastructure). The law requires bid documents to not favor or penalize contractors based on whether they have union agreements, aiming to promote open competition and prevent discrimination. This changes how agencies structure bids but does not affect union agreements themselves. The bill applies to all new contracts and subcontracts after enactment, with limited exemptions only for public health/safety emergencies or national security.

Safe Routes Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of Transportation to waive vehicle weight limits for covered logging vehicles, thus allowing logging vehicles to travel on interstate highways in certain circumstances. The term covered logging vehicle means a vehicle that (1) is transporting raw or unfinished forest products, including logs, pulpwood, biomass, or wood chips; (2) is traveling a distance not greater than 150 air miles on interstate highways from origin to a storage or processing facility; and (3) meets state legal weight tolerances and vehicle configurations for transporting raw or unfinished forest products within the state boundaries in which the vehicle is operating.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 217) is a ceremonial recognition, not a policy bill. It honors the 113th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the United States of America and its founder, Juliette Gordon Low, on March 12, 2025. The resolution celebrates the organization’s mission to build girls' courage, confidence, and leadership through programs in STEM, outdoors, and civic engagement. It specifically commends Girl Scout Gold Award recipients from 2024 and notes the upcoming release of the Juliette Gordon Low Commemorative Quarter by the U.S. Mint. The resolution has no binding effect or direct impact on policy, funding, or individuals.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the U.S. Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, citing ongoing violence against religious minorities. It specifically calls for Nigeria to protect religious minorities, prosecute perpetrators of attacks, and address displacement of millions caused by religiously motivated violence. The resolution also recommends increased U.S. diplomatic engagement with Nigeria and targeted sanctions against those responsible for religious freedom violations. This follows the State Department's omission of Nigeria from its CPC list in 2021-2023 and its 2024 failure to release an annual report.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act This bill expedites payment of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and eligibility for Medicare coverage for those with metastatic breast cancer (i.e., breast cancer that has spread to other sites in the body). Specifically, the bill eliminates the 5-month waiting period for SSDI benefits and the subsequent 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage for individuals with metastatic breast cancer. Under current law, individuals generally must wait 5 months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits and an additional 24 months to become eligible for Medicare.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how individual investors in mutual funds (regulated investment companies) are taxed on certain dividends. It allows investors to defer paying tax on capital gain dividends that are automatically reinvested in additional fund shares through a dividend reinvestment plan. The deferred tax is recognized later when the investor sells shares or upon their death. It also establishes that shares acquired through this reinvestment are treated as held for over one year from the start, potentially qualifying for long-term capital gains rates. The rule applies only to individual investors (not estates, trusts, or dependents claimed by others).