Rep. H. Morgan Griffith

Maddy summaryThe Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025 amends the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 to update research priorities and funding allocations for water resources research institutes. The bill adds artificial intelligence to the list of research areas alongside private industry and increases federal funding authorization to $16 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2029. It requires 20 percent of these funds to support research addressing interstate water problems and allows grants for projects focusing on regional or multi-state water issues. The legislation also expands the types of research institutes eligible for funding to include those working on problems identified by Congress as having interstate significance.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 6317) is a procedural naming resolution. It designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 12109 New Kent Highway in New Kent, Virginia, as the "Patricia Paige Post Office." The bill updates all official U.S. government references (including laws, maps, and documents) to use the new name for this specific post office location. It does not change postal services or create new policies - it only changes the facility's official name.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames a U.S. Postal Service facility at 46164 Westlake Drive in Sterling, Virginia, as the "Firefighter Trevor Brown Post Office Building" to honor Firefighter Trevor Brown. It requires all future federal references to that specific location to use the new name. The bill affects only the postal facility's official designation and has no policy or funding provisions. (Procedural naming resolution, 2 sentences)

Maddy summaryThe Protecting Domestic Mining Act of 2025 amends the FAST Act to explicitly include mining projects in the definition of those eligible for streamlined permitting under the law. It prohibits the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing a specific proposed rule (published as 88 Fed. Reg. 65350) that would have revised the scope of mining projects covered under the FAST Act. This bill directly affects domestic mining operations by ensuring their projects are covered under the existing permitting process without requiring new rulemaking. The key mechanism is the amendment to the definition, which makes the proposed rule unnecessary and blocks its implementation.

Maddy summaryHR 5267, the American Franchise Act, clarifies when franchisors can be considered joint employers of franchisee employees under federal labor laws. It defines "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential employment terms like wages, benefits, hours, hiring, and discipline - requiring franchisors to actively set these terms to be deemed joint employers. The bill explicitly excludes routine brand standards, training, or minimal safety requirements from constituting such control. This directly affects franchisors and franchisees by limiting joint employer liability to cases where franchisors exert significant, ongoing influence over core employment decisions. The law applies prospectively to new cases after enactment, not past disputes.

Maddy summaryHR 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act, restricts Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing certain investments like stocks in publicly traded companies. It requires 7-14 days' advance public notice before selling any such investment, including the sale date, description, and number of shares. Exceptions apply for work-related transactions (e.g., employer compensation) and reinvesting dividends. Violations trigger a fee of $2,000 or 10% of the investment’s value (whichever is greater), plus any net gain, paid from personal funds - not congressional allowances or campaign donations. The bill aims to prevent conflicts of interest by increasing transparency around congressional financial dealings.

Maddy summaryThe Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act prohibits federal agencies from buying, using, or contracting for automated surveillance systems that rely on license plate recognition, facial recognition, biometric identification, or other technologies designed for mass tracking. It also prevents state, local, and tribal governments from using federal funds to acquire or operate these same surveillance tools. If federal agencies obtain data in violation of these rules, the law requires them to delete the information within 30 days and bars its use as evidence in any court or administrative proceeding.

Maddy summaryHR 6529, the Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act, mandates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to hold a technical conference within 90 days of enactment. The conference will include AI data centers, utilities, and ratepayer advocates to develop strategies protecting residential and small commercial customers from rising energy costs caused by large energy users. FERC must then submit a report with recommendations to Congress within 180 days. This procedural bill directly affects households and small businesses facing potential rate increases due to AI data center energy demands.

Maddy summaryHR 6213, the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025, prohibits the U.S. Department of Labor from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing OSHA's proposed "Heat Injury and Illness Prevention" standard (published August 30, 2024). This bill directly blocks the specific regulatory proposal targeting heat safety in both outdoor and indoor work settings. It does not create new requirements or affect workers; it solely prevents the implementation of the existing OSHA proposal. The bill is procedural, focusing on halting a regulatory action rather than establishing new policy.

Maddy summaryHR 2306 extends the Adams Memorial Commission's authority until 2032 and authorizes $50 million in federal funds for the memorial, requiring a 1:1 non-federal match and limiting administrative costs to 4% of federal funds. It updates location rules to allow the memorial within a designated area mapped by the Commission. The bill primarily affects the Adams Memorial Commission and entities contributing to the memorial's funding. It makes no new policy changes but adjusts procedural timelines and funding requirements for an existing commemorative project.