Rep. Kelly Armstrong

Maddy summaryHR 1058 streamlines approval for new cross-border energy infrastructure projects in the U.S., directly affecting energy companies seeking to build oil/gas pipelines or electricity transmission lines across U.S. borders with Canada or Mexico. It replaces Presidential permits with a new "certificate of crossing" process managed by FERC (for pipelines) or the Department of Energy (for electricity), requiring decisions within 120 days unless the project lacks public interest. The bill also mandates that natural gas import/export applications be approved within 30 days and repeals a requirement for Federal Power Act approval for electricity projects. Existing facilities and projects with pending permits as of the bill's enactment are exempt from these new rules.

Maddy summaryHR 1061 amends existing law to expand eligibility for irrigation districts to access Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program pumping power. It defines "eligible irrigation district" as those located in a specific test area or a 28,000-acre area within the program that remains undeveloped. These districts would receive pumping power only under a contract with the Secretary of the Interior, subject to the Secretary’s established terms and rates. The bill directly affects eligible irrigation districts in designated areas of the Missouri Basin, enabling them to utilize existing program resources for water pumping. This is a procedural change to eligibility criteria, not a new funding mechanism.

Maddy summaryHR 1067, the American Energy Act, aims to expedite oil and gas drilling by limiting court interventions in permit and lease processes. It requires federal agencies to process drilling permit applications even if environmental lawsuits are pending, and prevents courts from vacating lease sales or delaying development unless imminent environmental harm is proven with no other legal remedy. Permits would now be valid for four years or until the underlying lease expires, whichever comes first. This primarily affects oil and gas companies seeking drilling rights, federal agencies managing leases (like the Department of the Interior), and environmental groups challenging projects in court.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the "Hello Girls" - female telephone operators who served in the Army Signal Corps during World War I. They provided critical battlefield communications in France (connecting 26 million calls), wore military uniforms, and faced combat risks, but were denied veteran benefits for 60 years due to being classified as civilian contractors. The medal recognizes their pioneering service, devotion, and the decades-long struggle to gain military recognition. The award follows similar recognition for other WWII women veterans and aims to correct the historical injustice they faced.

Maddy summaryHR 1492, the CBO Show Your Work Act, requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to publicly publish its fiscal models, data, and detailed methodologies used when estimating the costs and effects of legislation. Specifically, the bill mandates that the CBO make available all models, data preparation routines, and the specific assumptions and computations behind its cost estimates - enabling independent verification by non-CBO staff. This applies to all estimates prepared under the law, with limited exceptions for data protected by other statutes (requiring only descriptive statistics and access details for such data). The changes take effect six months after the bill becomes law. The bill directly affects the CBO’s internal processes and transparency practices, not the legislative content itself.

Maddy summaryHR 1388 authorizes the minting of commemorative coins to honor the 1865 Sultana steamboat disaster, the deadliest maritime tragedy in U.S. history. It specifies three coin types ($5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar) with defined weights and compositions, to be sold at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively). All surcharges collected will fund the Sultana Historical Preservation Society for museum development, including exhibits, artifact preservation, and facility construction. The coins are legal tender but intended for collectors, with sales limited to a one-year period starting January 2023.

This resolution supports the designation of National FFA Week. It also (1) recognizes the important role of the National FFA Organization (Future Farmers of America) in developing the next generation of leaders who will change the world, and (2) celebrates the 90th anniversary of the iconic FFA jacket.

Maddy summaryThe Military Spouse Hiring Act expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include military spouses. Employers who hire a spouse of an active-duty military member - certified by a local agency as meeting eligibility requirements on the hiring date - can claim this tax credit. The credit reduces the employer's federal tax liability for hiring such individuals. This provision applies to new hires after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryHR 1247 would award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Freedom Riders collectively, honoring their pivotal role in challenging segregation in interstate travel during the Civil Rights movement. The medal, to be struck by the U.S. Mint and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, recognizes their nonviolent protests that led to the 1961 federal ban on segregation in interstate public facilities. This is a symbolic tribute with no legal effect, as the bill does not create new policies or alter existing laws.

Maddy summaryThe SECURE Notarization Act of 2023 establishes federal standards for electronic and remote notarizations in interstate commerce, allowing notaries to verify identities and perform notarizations remotely using video communication. Key requirements include creating audio-visual recordings of remote notarizations, verifying identities through two distinct methods (or a credible witness), and retaining recordings for at least 5 years. The bill ensures federal courts and all states must recognize valid notarizations performed under these standards, regardless of whether the notarization was done electronically, remotely, or with a physical signature. It does not require notaries to use electronic methods and preserves state authority to enforce stricter rules, as long as they meet the minimum federal baseline.