Rep. Sam Graves

Maddy summaryThis bill (HJRES 163) is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule finalized on May 9, 2024. The EPA rule established new emissions standards for greenhouse gases from fossil fuel power plants (both new and existing) and repealed a previous rule called the Affordable Clean Energy Rule. The resolution would block this EPA rule from taking effect by invoking the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code). If passed, it would prevent the EPA rule from being enforced, directly affecting fossil fuel power plant operators and the EPA’s regulatory authority over emissions.

Maddy summaryHR 9604, the Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act, requires states and trail sponsors to obtain landowner consent and provide fair market value compensation before temporarily converting abandoned rail corridors into trails. It mandates written notice to affected property owners and local governments, signed approval from landowners within 30 days, and ongoing financial responsibility for trail maintenance. The bill also requires a 90-day public comment period and a detailed cost-benefit analysis assessing safety, health, economic impacts, and the likelihood of future rail service before approval. An advisory committee of landowners, rail carriers, and trail sponsors will later recommend maintenance standards, but the core changes focus on protecting landowner rights during corridor conversions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal law to give states more control over where electric transmission lines are built. It requires that any proposed transmission project must minimize harm to farmers and landowners, provide adequate compensation for any damage, and show that consumer benefits outweigh agricultural impacts. The bill also prohibits the federal energy agency from reviewing or approving a project if a state has already denied a similar application or is actively considering one. This directly affects farmers, landowners, and state regulators by shifting siting authority to states and adding new requirements for project developers. The bill does not address the Green New Deal itself, but focuses solely on transmission line siting rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Council on Environmental Quality to annually publish detailed reports starting in 2024, tracking how the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) impacts federal projects. The reports will include data on lawsuits challenging NEPA compliance (listing agencies and case outcomes), the length of environmental impact statements (page counts over 5 years), and timelines for completing environmental reviews (over 10 years). These reports must be publicly available with underlying data, directly affecting federal agencies that manage NEPA reviews and providing transparency for Congress and the public. The bill focuses on collecting factual data about NEPA's implementation, not changing the law itself.

Maddy summaryHJRES 167 cancels a U.S. Department of Agriculture rule that would have allowed electronic eartags as official identification for cattle and bison. The resolution directs that the rule published in the Federal Register on May 9, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 39540), has no force or effect. This directly affects ranchers and farmers who would have been required to use electronic identification systems for livestock. The bill halts the implementation of this specific regulatory change without creating new requirements.

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 globally conscious leaders who will change the world; and (2) celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Give the Gift of Blue program, which has donated more than 17,000 FFA blue jackets to FFA members in need.

Maddy summaryThe SAFER at the Border Act prohibits the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from temporarily admitting (paroling) certain individuals at the border. It defines "known terrorists" (those arrested, charged, or convicted for terrorism), "suspected terrorists" (reasonably suspected of terrorism), and "special interest aliens" (those with potential terrorism links based on travel patterns). The bill explicitly bans parole for these individuals, even for humanitarian reasons or public benefit, and also prohibits parole for refugees. Additionally, it allows states to sue the Department of Homeland Security if they suffer financial harm exceeding $100 from the parole of such individuals.

Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act of 2024 This bill prohibits states or localities from imposing a levy or collecting an excise tax on the sale of a firearm, ammunition, or any part or component thereof, by a manufacture or retailer.

Maddy summaryHRES 1371 is a House resolution condemning the Biden Administration and Vice President Kamala Harris for failing to secure the U.S. border. It cites statistics including over 9.7 million illegal immigration encounters since 2021 and the end of the Remain in Mexico program as evidence. As a symbolic resolution with no policy changes, it publicly expresses the House's disapproval of current border policies without altering any laws or enforcement actions.

Maddy summaryHR 9140 requires the Secretary of the Interior to issue a report within 180 days of enactment about how mine subsidence affects communities. The report must detail economic and welfare impacts on communities and describe current Department efforts to minimize subsidence risks. This procedural bill mandates a review of existing conditions but does not change laws or create new requirements. It directly affects communities near active or abandoned mines experiencing land sinking from underground mining.