Rep. H. Morgan Griffith

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins marking the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary in 2025. It authorizes three coin types: $5 gold coins (max 50,000), $1 silver coins (max 400,000), and half-dollar coins (max 750,000), with surcharges of $35, $10, and $5 respectively. The surcharge proceeds will fund the Marine Corps Heritage Center's educational programs, with no net cost to taxpayers as the Treasury must recover all minting costs through the surcharges. The coins can only be issued during 2025, and the Treasury must ensure all costs are covered before distributing funds to the Heritage Foundation.

Maddy summaryHR 4721, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, makes a permanent the 20% tax deduction for eligible small business owners under Section 199A of the tax code. This provision directly affects pass-through business owners (like S-corps, partnerships, and sole proprietorships) who qualify for the deduction. The bill achieves this by removing the temporary expiration language (subsection (i)) from the existing tax code provision. The key change is ending the need for annual congressional extensions of this deduction, providing long-term tax certainty for small businesses.

Commerce Spectrum Coordination Act of 2023 This bill establishes the Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The duties of the committee include advising and making recommendations with respect to (1) developing policies to maintain or strengthen global leadership in the introduction of communications technologies and services, (2) advancing spectrum-based innovation, (3) fostering increased spectrum sharing, and (4) identifying international opportunities to further U.S. economic interests through spectrum management.

Maddy summaryHR 4458, the "Improving Contract Transparency for the SNS Act," sets new rules for government contracts buying medical supplies for the Strategic National Stockpile. It limits initial contracts to five years (with a possible 10-year exception for complex cases) and restricts renewals to five years each. The bill requires the Health Secretary to notify relevant congressional committees and vendors 90 days before modifying, renewing, extending, or terminating any contract. This directly affects the federal government and suppliers providing drugs, vaccines, medical devices, or other stockpile items.

Maddy summaryThe Improving Contract Transparency at BARDA Act limits most contracts with BARDA (the federal agency managing biomedical research and development) to a maximum five-year term. Initial contracts may extend up to 10 years if the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines complexity justifies it, but renewals are capped at five years each. The bill requires the Secretary to notify vendors within 90 days of any decision to renew, extend, or terminate a contract. These changes aim to enhance oversight and transparency in BARDA's contracting process.

Maddy summaryHR 3696 is a procedural bill that names the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Lynchburg, Virginia, as the "Private First Class Desmond T. Doss VA Clinic." The bill directs all federal references in laws, regulations, maps, and documents to use this new name. It does not change the clinic's operations, funding, or services. This is a symbolic renaming effort with no substantive policy changes or direct impact on veterans' benefits. The bill affects only the official designation of this specific clinic location.

Maddy summaryHJRES 44 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a 2021 rule by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The rule classified firearms with stabilizing braces as "short-barreled rifles," which would have required additional licensing and regulation. This resolution uses a specific legal process (under Title 5, U.S. Code) to formally disapprove the ATF rule, meaning the rule would no longer be in effect. It directly affects firearm owners, manufacturers, and dealers who would have been subject to the rule’s requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 277 would require Congress to approve major federal regulations before they take effect. Major rules are defined as those with significant economic impact ($100 million+ annually), major cost increases for consumers or industries, or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, or innovation. Agencies must submit detailed information about these rules to Congress, including cost-benefit analyses, before they can take effect. Congress would have 70 session days to approve the rule with a joint resolution; if they don't act within that timeframe, the rule would not take effect. This would increase congressional oversight of federal regulations and require more detailed information about proposed rules before they become law.

Maddy summaryHJRES 69 is a resolution seeking to disapprove an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule published on June 5, 2023, which established a "Federal Good Neighbor Plan" for the 2015 ozone air quality standards. The rule aimed to address ozone pollution crossing state lines, particularly affecting southeastern states and industries subject to the 2015 ozone standards. This resolution would block the rule from taking effect by invoking the Congressional Review Act, preventing it from being enforced. If enacted, it would directly stop the EPA from implementing this specific plan, impacting states and businesses that would have had to comply with the rule.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates opioid prevention funding by specifically naming the fentanyl crisis in grant program language and increases annual funding. It amends the Public Health Service Act to include "such as the fentanyl crisis" when describing eligible public health crises for prevention grants, and raises authorized funding from $496 million (2019-2023) to $505.579 million annually (2024-2028). The changes directly affect federal opioid prevention grant programs administered by health agencies, ensuring funding aligns with current overdose challenges. The bill focuses on maintaining and expanding existing prevention efforts through updated language and increased financial support.