Rep. Harriet M. Hageman

Maddy summaryHR 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act, would require public schools receiving federal funding to provide parents with greater access to educational information. The bill mandates that schools post curricula online or widely distribute it to parents, include school budgets in report cards, and provide specific information about school activities including violent incidents and plans to eliminate gifted programs. It also guarantees parents the right to meet with teachers twice a year, review library materials, and address school boards. These requirements would apply to all local educational agencies and schools covered by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The bill amends existing education laws to strengthen parental transparency and involvement in their children's education.

Maddy summaryHR 1575, the Pregnancy Center Security Act, provides federal grants to pregnancy-help organizations that promote childbirth over abortion. The bill authorizes competitive grants for facility upgrades, including security systems like cameras or ADA-compliant improvements. Organizations receiving funds must not provide or refer for abortion services, and cannot affiliate with entities that do. The grants are restricted to security or accessibility enhancements, with no funding allowed for abortion-related activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows federally recognized tribes to lease, sell, or transfer real property they own outright (fee title) without needing federal government approval. It directly affects tribes holding land in fee simple, removing a historical requirement from the 1834 Act. The bill explicitly excludes trust lands (property held by the U.S. for tribes) and does not change existing rules for those properties. Key provisions clarify that tribes retain full control over their fee-owned land transactions while maintaining federal oversight for trust assets.

Maddy summaryHRES 236 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' disapproval of plans to build a new FBI headquarters outside Washington, D.C. It cites alleged politicization by the FBI's Washington Field Office - such as targeting citizens' First Amendment rights and suppressing investigations - as reason to halt funding for the new facility. The resolution specifically states no federal funds should be used to plan or acquire property for the suburban headquarters. It does not change law or block actual funding (as resolutions lack legal force), but formally opposes the project based on the cited concerns. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Gaetz and referred to relevant committees for review.

Maddy summaryHR 1457, the COAL Act, requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to expedite processing for pending coal lease applications already in the system. It mandates the BLM to publish draft environmental assessments, set fair market value, and grant these leases promptly. The bill directly affects coal companies with applications under review under the Mineral Leasing Act. It also overrides Secretarial Order 3338 (2016), which had paused federal coal leasing, ensuring existing applications move forward without delay.

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 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 1524 (FAIR Act of 2023) prohibits federal agencies, contractors, and recipients of federal funds from intentionally discriminating against or granting preferences based on race, color, or national origin. It directly affects federal contractors, state/local entities receiving federal aid, and educational institutions using federal funds by banning preferential treatment (including quotas or set-asides) in contracts, employment, and admissions. Key provisions require federal agencies to review and update policies within six months of enactment to comply with the ban. The bill does not impact immigration laws or pending cases/contracts but allows civil lawsuits for violations with remedies like back pay and attorney fees.

Maddy summaryHR 1506, the Advisory Committees Free of ESG Act of 2023, prohibits federal agencies from creating or maintaining advisory committees based on environmental, social, or governance (ESG) factors. It bans committees focused on topics like climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, race or gender-based governance structures, or ideologies such as critical race theory. The bill requires immediate termination of any existing advisory committee violating this ban, with enforcement handled by the General Services Administration Administrator, agency Inspectors General, or through citizen lawsuits. This directly affects federal advisory committees that included ESG-related topics, mandating their dissolution under the new rules.

Reprioritizing Unserved Rural Areas and Locations for Broadband Act of 2023 or the RURAL Broadband Act of 2023 This bill restricts the use of Rural Utilities Service grants or loans to deploy broadband infrastructure that would overbuild or otherwise duplicate existing broadband networks.