Maddy summaryThe TAPP American Resources Act (HR 1335) requires the immediate resumption of quarterly onshore oil and gas lease sales in specific states including Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Nevada, and Alaska, with replacement sales if initial sales are canceled or have low bid coverage. The bill streamlines federal permitting processes by establishing strict deadlines for environmental reviews (1 year for assessments, 2 years for impact statements), reducing oil and gas royalty rates from 16.67% to 12.5%, and requiring agencies to publicly report on pending lease applications and permit processing. It directly affects oil and gas companies seeking federal leases, federal agencies managing energy development (like the Bureau of Land Management), and state governments that may receive revenue from energy production. The legislation also includes provisions for geothermal leasing, coal development, offshore oil and gas leasing, and transparency requirements for all federal energy permitting processes.
Rep. Bruce Westerman
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses congressional support for designating March 21, 2023, as "National Agriculture Day." It symbolically recognizes agriculture's economic importance as a major U.S. industry, celebrating its impact on jobs and communities. The bill does not create new laws, funding, or regulations - it is a non-binding statement of support. It directly affects the agricultural sector by highlighting its contributions through a formal congressional acknowledgment.
Correcting Guam's History in the PACT Act This bill expands eligibility for a presumption of service-connection for specified diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. Under the bill, service performed in Guam or its territorial waters between August 15, 1958, and July 31, 1980, provides a veteran who has a specified disease that is associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents with eligibility for a presumption of service-connection. (Under current law, the eligible time frame for service in Guam is between January 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980.)
No Federal Funds for Abortion Travel Expenses Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to support interstate travel to obtain an abortion.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to change how tipped workers' wages are calculated. It removes the previous requirement that tipped employees must "customarily and regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips" to qualify for the lower tipped wage rate. Instead, it requires that tipped workers' combined tips and cash wages must equal or exceed the standard minimum wage for each pay period. Employers can now choose the pay period length (daily, weekly, biweekly, etc.) for this calculation. The bill directly affects restaurant servers, bartenders, and other tipped service workers who earn tips.
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 summaryThis bill expands the use of 529 college savings accounts to cover career training and credentialing costs. It allows funds to pay for tuition, fees, books, and testing expenses related to recognized postsecondary credential programs (like vocational certifications) that meet specific standards under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The change directly affects workers seeking industry-recognized credentials - such as nursing certifications or IT certifications - instead of traditional degrees. It treats these expenses the same as traditional college costs for 529 account withdrawals, making it easier to save for career-focused training. The provision applies to expenses paid after the bill's enactment date.
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.
Patients' Right to Know Their Medication Act of 2023 This bill establishes requirements relating to the form, content, and distribution of patient safety labels for prescription drugs. Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration must issue regulations with requirements relating to the authorship, content, format, color, printing, and dissemination of such patient safety information. The regulations must require labels to include the drug's approved uses, known interactions with other drugs or substances, contact information for the drug's manufacturer, and other specified information relating to patient safety. The information must be in plain, neutral language and must be given in printed form with each prescription.
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.