Rep. Troy E. Nehls

Maddy summaryHR 1515, the RED Tape Act of 2023, requires federal agencies to repeal or amend two existing regulations that create new financial or administrative burdens on businesses or individuals before issuing a new regulation with similar or greater costs. Agencies must certify that the new rule's cost does not exceed the combined cost of the repealed rules. The bill applies to most agency rules, including those from executive orders or guidance documents, but excludes internal agency policies or rules meant to reduce existing burdens. This directly affects federal agencies when creating new regulations and indirectly impacts businesses and individuals subject to those regulations.

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 1514, the Medal of Honor Act, increases monthly pension payments for living recipients of the Medal of Honor and their surviving spouses. It amends federal law to raise the monthly pension for living recipients from $1,388.68 to $8,333.33. For surviving spouses, the monthly pension is set at $1,489.73, with adjustments over time. The bill directly affects current Medal of Honor recipients and their spouses by increasing their financial benefits under existing law.

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.

Maddy summaryThe POWER Act of 2023 prevents the President from blocking or delaying new oil, gas, coal, or mineral leases on federal lands without explicit Congressional approval. It specifically stops executive actions that would delay or cancel permits for energy development on National Forests, public lands, the outer continental shelf, or energy-managed lands. The bill requires Congress to pass new laws if it wants to restrict energy leasing or withdraw land from development under existing federal land laws. This directly affects energy companies seeking to develop resources on federal property by limiting executive authority over lease approvals.

Maddy summaryHJRES 41 disapproves a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule that expanded the "public charge" standard, which previously allowed officials to deny visas or green cards to immigrants likely to use public benefits like Medicaid or housing assistance. This resolution would nullify the rule (published in the Federal Register as 87 Fed. Reg. 5547), meaning it could no longer be enforced against immigrants applying for U.S. entry or residency. The bill directly affects noncitizens seeking visas, green cards, or adjustment of status who might use public benefits, as the rule had broadened the criteria for denying their applications. As a disapproval resolution under the Congressional Review Act, it stops the rule from taking effect without creating new immigration law.

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.

Maddy summaryHR 1193, the Domestic Preferences for Building America Act, requires federal agencies to prioritize U.S. contractors for infrastructure projects valued at $100 million or more. It mandates that recipients of federal funds for such projects certify they will award contracts only to U.S. persons or qualified U.S. joint ventures (with at least 51% U.S. ownership), and prohibits contracts with entities tied to "covered countries" (like designated nonmarket economies). The bill sets clear definitions for eligibility, including requirements for U.S. incorporation, business location, and workforce composition, while allowing exceptions for existing disadvantaged business programs. It takes effect 180 days after enactment.

No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights Act This bill modifies the retention requirements for firearm transaction records of federal firearms licensees (FFLs) that go out of business. Current law generally requires FFLs that go out of business to deliver their firearm transaction records to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This bill removes the requirement for FFLs that go out of business to deliver their firearm transaction records to the ATF. Further, the bill requires the ATF to destroy all out-of-business records it has collected from FFLs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Department of Defense from using funds to pay for or reimburse abortion services, except when the pregnancy endangers the mother's life, results from rape, or results from incest. It directly affects military personnel, civilian DOD employees, and contractors receiving medical care at military facilities by restricting funding for abortion-related expenses. Key provisions include amending federal law to ban reimbursement for travel or licensing costs related to abortion services and repealing a 2022 DOD memo that expanded access to such care. The bill explicitly blocks all funding for abortion services beyond the existing exceptions, with no new exceptions added. It does not change abortion access for civilians outside the military healthcare system.