Rep. Melanie A. Stansbury

Maddy summaryHR 1304, the Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2023, settles water rights claims for the Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of Jemez, and Pueblo of Zia in New Mexico. The bill establishes settlement trust funds totaling $1.1 billion (with $296 million for Acoma, $464 million for Laguna, $290 million for Jemez, and $200 million for Zia) to fund water infrastructure, management, and related projects. It requires the tribes to waive historical water rights claims against the United States and other parties, while preserving their ability to enforce current water rights and protect environmental quality. The settlement will become effective once specific conditions are met, including state law changes to allow water rights leases up to 99 years.

Maddy summaryThe Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2024 establishes new safety requirements for high-hazard trains carrying hazardous materials, including speed limits of 50 mph (40 mph in urban areas) for trains with 20 or more flammable liquid tank cars. The bill requires rail carriers to provide real-time electronic train consist information to emergency responders and State emergency commissions, including details about hazardous materials being transported, routes, and emergency response contacts. It mandates railroads to develop and regularly update hazardous materials emergency response plans, with triennial reviews by the Federal Railroad Administration. The act also phases out older tank cars by December 2027, requiring all tank cars to meet DOT-117 specifications for flammable liquids, and increases civil penalties for rail safety violations up to $5 million.

Maddy summaryHR 4581, the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2024, amends Title V of the Social Security Act to explicitly allow federal funds to support stillbirth prevention efforts. The bill directs states receiving Title V maternal and child health funds to use these resources for evidence-based programs and research aimed at reducing stillbirths, including tracking fetal movements, screening for growth issues, smoking cessation, and community support. It directly affects state maternal health programs by clarifying that existing funding can now cover specific stillbirth prevention activities previously not explicitly permitted. The law changes how Title V funds may be spent, adding clear provisions for research and programs targeting stillbirth reduction. This is a policy change that updates funding guidelines without creating new programs or mandates.

Maddy summaryHRES 1355 is a non-binding resolution supporting the designation of July 10 as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day. It honors lineworkers who maintain electrical infrastructure under hazardous conditions, including during disasters, and commemorates Henry Miller, the first president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who died on July 10, 1896, while troubleshooting an electrical outage. The resolution encourages public recognition of these workers' contributions but does not create new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryHRES 1353 is a resolution introduced by House members to impeach Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. The resolution outlines three articles of impeachment alleging Thomas failed to disclose gifts and financial transactions with donor Harlan Crow over 15 years, refused to recuse from cases involving his spouse's financial interests, and participated in cases concerning the 2020 election results despite his spouse's involvement in efforts to overturn them. These allegations claim Thomas violated federal ethics laws requiring judicial disclosure and recusal to maintain impartiality. The resolution would be referred to the Senate for trial if passed by the House, but it is not a law that would directly affect anyone beyond the impeachment process.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1354) is a formal House of Representatives impeachment action against Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, introduced by multiple Democratic representatives on July 10, 2024. It alleges two violations: (1) Alito failed to recuse himself from three election-related cases (Trump v. United States, Fischer v. United States, and Trump v. Anderson) despite flying flags associated with the 2020 election denial movement outside his homes, which the resolution claims demonstrated bias; and (2) Alito allegedly failed to disclose luxury travel gifts from donors, violating financial disclosure laws. The resolution argues these actions breached his judicial oaths and federal recusal statutes (28 U.S.C. § 455) and financial disclosure requirements (5 U.S.C. §§ 13103-13104). As a procedural resolution, it initiates impeachment proceedings but does not change law or policy; the Senate would need to hold a trial for removal.

Maddy summaryHR 8825, the Right to Vote Act, establishes a fundamental right for all citizens of legal voting age to vote in federal elections. It directly affects voters across all states and territories by prohibiting government actions that make voting harder (like restrictive ID laws or reduced polling places) unless those actions are the least restrictive way to serve a significant government interest. The bill creates two legal standards: "retrogression" (diminishing voting access) and "substantial impairment" (making voting significantly harder), allowing voters to sue in federal court to challenge such restrictions. Courts must expedite these cases, and the law applies to all federal elections occurring on or after September 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax on imported oil and gas (defined as "methane adjustment substances") based on the methane emissions associated with their production in the exporting country. Importers pay the tax, which is calculated by comparing the volume of imported product to the total production in that country, multiplied by the emissions charge a foreign producer would pay under U.S. Clean Air Act rules. It aims to reduce global methane emissions by making high-emission imports more expensive, while encouraging international cooperation with major oil/gas importers to adopt similar measures. The tax applies to sales/use after December 31, 2024, and includes provisions for tracking supply chain emissions and expanding the mechanism to other oil/gas-dependent products.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes two subaccounts within the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund to address specific U.S. obligations under tribal water rights settlements. The Operations, Maintenance, and Repair (OMR) Subaccount ($34 million annually until 2033) funds maintenance for existing projects like the Ak-Chin Indian Community water system, Animas-La Plata Project, Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, and Snake River flow augmentation. The New and Continuing Settlements (NCS) Subaccount ($250 million annually until 2033) provides flexible funding for new or ongoing settlements approved by Congress, with the Secretary of the Interior determining transfer amounts and timing to fulfill U.S. obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 2365, Public Law 118-66) directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the National Parkinson’s Project. It requires HHS to create and update a coordinated national plan for preventing, diagnosing, treating, and researching Parkinson’s disease and related disorders (including multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy), while coordinating federal research and care efforts across agencies like the NIH, CDC, and VA. The law mandates annual progress assessments, an advisory council with patient advocates and diverse experts, and annual reports to Congress on federal Parkinson’s programs and recommendations for improvement. It affects federal agencies managing Parkinson’s-related programs and aims to improve care coordination and research efficiency for patients and caregivers, with the law sunsetting in 2035.