Rep. Michael Lawler

Maddy summaryThe FEMA Independence Act of 2023 would restructure the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a cabinet-level independent agency directly reporting to the President, rather than operating within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This would transfer all FEMA functions to the new independent agency within 120 days, establishing a Director appointed by the President with Senate confirmation who oversees FEMA's mission of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The bill includes provisions to maintain continuity of operations and personnel during the transition, and updates references to FEMA in other laws to reflect its new status as an independent agency. The change aims to strengthen FEMA's focus on emergency management by removing it from the DHS structure.

Saving Our Mainstreet American Locations for Leisure and Shopping Act of 2023 This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, income attributable to certain discharges of commercial or retail indebtedness secured by real property.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program to incentivize SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients to purchase "naturally nutrient-rich dairy" like fluid milk, yogurt, and cheese at checkout. It allocates $10 million annually to fund competitive grants for state/local governments and nonprofits to implement projects that provide point-of-sale incentives for qualifying dairy products. Projects must use electronic systems to apply incentives only toward eligible dairy purchases and undergo independent evaluations using rigorous methods to measure impact on consumption. The program replaces an existing dairy incentive initiative under the 2018 farm bill, with a transition period ensuring no disruption to current projects.

Fairness in Vineyard Data Act This bill requires the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to conduct a survey, within one year of the bill's enactment, on grape production in each state and publish the data on the NASS website. In the following four years, NASS must make publicly available on the website data from the five states with the highest grape production in the preceding year.

Maddy summaryThe Better CARE for Animals Act of 2023 amends the Animal Welfare Act to strengthen enforcement of animal welfare standards. It gives the Attorney General authority to bring civil cases for violations, including seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day per violation and injunctions to remove or relocate animals. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and Attorney General to coordinate through a new Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on repeat violators. These changes directly affect dealers, exhibitors, and enforcement agencies by expanding civil enforcement tools and clarifying jurisdiction over rule violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends existing programs that provide payments to counties and states with federal land, primarily to support local schools and communities. It updates key deadlines, extending secure payments through 2026, special project authorities through 2029, and county fund expenditure authority through 2028. A new pilot program allows regional foresters to appoint resource advisory committee members directly, with this authority ending October 1, 2028. These changes directly affect rural counties and states managing federal lands, maintaining current funding mechanisms without altering eligibility or payment amounts.

Maddy summaryHR 4739, the Protecting America’s Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act, amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to improve assistance for orchardists and nursery tree growers experiencing tree loss. It lowers the mortality threshold from 15% to "normal mortality," requires replacement activities within 12 months (or as needed for tree survival), and allows growers to use assistance for alternative replanting options like different tree varieties, stand densities, or locations - without exceeding the original assistance amount. The bill also excludes growers with 75%+ farming income from gross income limits and mandates the Secretary to notify applicants within 120 days of application status. This directly affects growers facing tree loss due to pests, disease, or other causes, streamlining program access and flexibility.

Maddy summaryHR 4706, the Senior Nutrition Task Force Act of 2023, establishes an interagency task force to coordinate federal efforts addressing hunger and improving access to healthy food for older adults and adults with disabilities. The task force, led by the Agriculture Secretary and including representatives from multiple federal agencies (like Health, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs), will identify best practices, measure progress, and examine barriers to collaboration across existing nutrition programs. It requires the task force to submit a report to Congress by September 2026 detailing recommendations, existing barriers, and innovative approaches to reduce food insecurity for these groups. The bill does not create new benefits but focuses on improving coordination among current federal nutrition services.

Naturally Offsetting Emissions by Managing and Implementing Tillage Strategies Act of 2023 or the NO EMITS Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to carry out activities to improve soil health, including to address climate change. Specifically, USDA must establish a program that provides agricultural producers incentives (i.e., payments) for and technical assistance with adopting or maintaining practices or cropping systems to improve soil health, award grants to states and Indian tribes for implementing soil health programs, and use a portion of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide agricultural producers with technical assistance for mitigating and adapting to climate change. The bill also (1) makes practices related to livestock production eligible for certain competitive grants under the On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials program, and (2) increases funding for the program.

Maddy summaryThe Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act (HR 3200) helps communities near federal recreation areas - like national parks and forests - manage tourism impacts. It requires the Interior and Agriculture Secretaries to assess local needs (such as housing shortages and infrastructure demands) and provide financial or technical assistance to businesses (e.g., hotels, campgrounds) to support sustainable visitation. The bill also establishes a unified system for tracking annual visitor numbers, launches a pilot program for real-time visitation data at 20+ recreation sites, and mandates a digital version of national park passes by January 2024. These changes directly affect gateway communities, federal land managers, and tourism businesses, aiming to distribute visitor traffic more evenly and improve data transparency.