Rep. Matthew M. Rosendale, Sr.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 8306, the SHUSH Act) changes federal law to treat firearm sound suppressors (often called "silencers") as firearms for regulatory purposes, removing them from specific federal restrictions. It preempts state laws that impose taxes, registration, or recordkeeping requirements on sound suppressors, meaning states cannot enforce such rules for suppressors used in interstate commerce. The bill also updates tax code and firearm definitions to align with this federal treatment, ensuring suppressor owners meeting federal requirements comply with existing National Firearms Act standards. It directly affects suppressor owners and state governments that previously regulated suppressors through taxes or registration.

Maddy summaryHJRES 131 seeks congressional disapproval of an EPA rule establishing emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles model years 2027 and later. If passed, this resolution would block the EPA's rule from taking effect, preventing automakers from having to comply with those specific pollution requirements. The bill targets the EPA's April 18, 2024, rule published in the Federal Register (89 Fed. Reg. 27842). This is a procedural disapproval resolution under the Congressional Review Act, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryThe VA Abortion Transparency Act of 2024 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit quarterly reports to Congress detailing abortions facilitated by the VA. These reports must include the total number of abortions broken down by type (surgical vs. medication), location (VA facility vs. non-VA provider), patient category (veteran vs. dependent), gestational age, legal justification, and Veterans Integrated Service Network. The reports also must detail all related costs, including staff training, infrastructure, and funding sources (such as the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund), while excluding any patient identifiers. This bill directly affects the VA's reporting obligations to Congress regarding its abortion-related activities.

Maddy summaryHR 3397, the WEST Act of 2024, requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw its 2023 proposed rule titled "Conservation and Landscape Health" (published at 88 Fed. Reg. 19583). The bill mandates that the BLM Director must immediately withdraw this specific proposed rule and cannot take any action to finalize, implement, or enforce it or any substantially similar rule. This bill directly affects the BLM agency by halting the regulatory process for this conservation-focused rule. It is a procedural measure that prevents the rule from moving forward, without creating new policy or impacting other entities.

Maddy summaryHR 764, the "Trust the Science Act," requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a specific 2020 rule removing gray wolves from the endangered species list within 60 days of the bill's enactment. This directly affects gray wolf populations by changing their federal conservation status. The bill's key provision mandates that this reissuance cannot be challenged in court, eliminating judicial review of the decision. The bill focuses solely on procedural implementation of a prior rule, not broader scientific policy.

Maddy summaryHR 615, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023, prevents federal agencies from banning lead ammunition or tackle on public lands and waters managed for hunting or fishing, except in specific cases. The bill allows exceptions only if a state wildlife department confirms lead use is harming local wildlife, and the federal action aligns with state law or state agency approval. It directly affects hunters and anglers using federal lands and waters, ensuring they can continue using lead products unless a state verifies a local wildlife issue requiring a ban. The law requires federal agencies to justify any exception with state data and policy compliance in official notices.

Maddy summaryHR 8160, the Breaking Irresponsible Energy and Commercial Habits Act (BREACH Act), prohibits the Secretary of the Army from breaching federally operated dams under specific conditions. It blocks dam breaches that would increase carbon emissions by over 10%, reduce commercial navigability of the waterway, or raise prices for shipped goods (including agriculture) by at least 10%. The bill requires the Army Secretary to consult with the Energy, Transportation, Agriculture, Commerce, and state agencies before making such decisions. This directly affects federal dam management decisions and commercial shipping interests reliant on waterways managed by federally operated dams.

Maddy summaryHR 8161, the Electric Act, prohibits the retirement of federally operated hydropower dams (managed by the Interior or Army) if such retirement would raise electricity rates by more than 10% or decrease energy reliability by more than 10% in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, or California. It requires the Secretary to replace 100% of the retired dam's baseload generation (the minimum power supplied to the grid) within 30 days of retirement. The bill directly affects federally managed hydropower facilities in the specified western states by setting strict financial and reliability thresholds for retirement decisions. It defines key terms like "baseload generation" and specifies which federal agencies (Interior or Army) oversee different dam operations. The law aims to prevent grid disruptions and rate hikes from decommissioning federal hydropower sources.

Maddy summaryThe ACRES Act (HR 8159) prohibits the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from breaching any federally operated dam if the replacement energy project would require at least 5% more land area than the dam itself occupies. It directly affects federal dam management decisions and energy projects seeking to replace dam operations. The key provision requires the Army Secretary, in coordination with the Interior Secretary, to conduct a study analyzing the land area occupied by the dam before considering any breach. This law aims to prevent dam removals that would significantly expand the land footprint of replacement energy infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHRES 1177 designates May 5, 2024, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls." The resolution expresses congressional support for this designation, calls on the public to commemorate affected individuals and show solidarity with families, and recommends the Department of Justice commission a new study on the crisis to update statistics since the 2016 report. It directly affects awareness efforts for Indigenous communities and families impacted by violence, while acknowledging ongoing gaps in addressing the crisis despite prior legislation like Savanna’s Act. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but focuses on recognition and data collection.