Rep. Jeff Hurd

Maddy summaryThis resolution blocks a Department of Energy rule that would have set new energy efficiency standards for gas-fired instant water heaters. It prevents the rule from taking effect, meaning appliance manufacturers would not have to meet the proposed efficiency requirements. The rule, submitted in December 2024, directly affected manufacturers of these water heaters and consumers purchasing them. Congress approved this disapproval through a joint resolution passed on May 9, 2025.

Maddy summaryHR 3292, the REPORT Act, requires the President to provide advance notice and justification before changing import duties. Specifically, the President must publish a detailed justification in the Federal Register at least 48 hours before any duty increase or decrease takes effect. Additionally, the U.S. Trade Representative must brief relevant congressional committees (Ways and Means and Finance) within 7 days of such a duty change. This bill directly affects the executive branch's process for modifying import duties, aiming to increase transparency for Congress and the public.

Maddy summaryHR 3231, the American Energy Act, streamlines oil and gas drilling permit processing by requiring the government to approve applications even during pending lawsuits (unless a court has already canceled the lease), and limits court challenges to lease sales. It sets a four-year expiration for drilling permits and bars courts from halting development or lease awards based on environmental lawsuits (like those under NEPA) after bids are opened, unless imminent environmental harm is proven with no other remedy. This directly affects oil and gas companies seeking permits, federal agencies managing leases, and courts handling related litigation. The bill changes procedural rules for permits and lease sales without altering environmental standards.

Maddy summaryHR 3228, the Constitutional Hearing Protection Act, reclassifies firearm silencers as firearms under federal tax law and eliminates their separate registration under the National Firearms Act. It requires the Attorney General to destroy all existing federal silencer registration records within one year and preempts state laws that impose taxes, registration, or recordkeeping requirements on silencers. The bill defines "firearm silencer" and specifies that manufacturers must mark silencers on a "keystone part" with a serial number. This directly affects silencer owners, manufacturers, and state governments by standardizing federal regulation and removing state-level restrictions.

Maddy summaryHRES 366 is a non-binding resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, known as Black April in Vietnamese history. It honors the Vietnamese American community - now over 2.3 million strong - who resettled in the U.S. after 1975 and have contributed to American society through diverse fields like public service and business. The resolution commemorates the service of U.S. and South Vietnamese military personnel during the Vietnam War and reaffirms U.S. support for democracy and human rights in Vietnam. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws but encourages public observance of this historical event and the community's resilience.

Maddy summaryHR 3078 requires the U.S. Department of Energy to develop new technologies that detect fentanyl vapor or particles. The bill mandates coordination between the Energy Secretary, Attorney General, Homeland Security Secretary, and Postmaster General to test these technologies. Specifically, the program focuses on rapid screening for fentanyl in mail, prisons, U.S. borders, and other related settings. This creates a new federal research initiative with defined use cases for fentanyl detection technology.

Maddy summaryThe MMEDS Act of 2025 creates tax credits for medical manufacturers operating in economically distressed zones (areas with high poverty rates) to encourage job creation and medical manufacturing in these communities. It provides a 40% tax credit for wages, employee benefits, and facility costs related to medical manufacturing in these zones, with higher credits (60%) for facilities that repatriated manufacturing from foreign countries or produce "population health products" for vulnerable populations. The bill establishes a process for designating economically distressed zones based on poverty rates and requires states to submit strategic development plans. The tax credits apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryThe TAKE IT DOWN Act makes it a crime to intentionally share intimate images or digital forgeries of people without their consent, with penalties of up to 2 years in prison for adults and 3 years for minors. It requires major online platforms to establish a 48-hour process for victims to request removal of such content, with platforms protected from liability when acting in good faith. The bill defines "digital forgery" as AI-generated content that appears authentic and applies to websites and apps primarily hosting user-generated content, excluding email services and broadband providers. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce these notice and takedown requirements. This legislation directly affects victims of nonconsensual intimate content, the platforms hosting such material, and individuals who distribute it.

Maddy summaryHR 3028, the Duty Drawback Clarification Act, clarifies tariff classifications for whisky imports by updating the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. It replaces a general whisky tariff code with specific subheadings based on whisky type (Irish/Scotch, Bourbon, Rye, or "other") and container size (under or over 4 liters), adding 8 new statistical suffixes. This change directly affects whisky importers and U.S. Customs officials by standardizing how these products are classified for duty-free entry (as indicated by "Free" in the tariff). The new classifications take effect 15 days after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Fight Fentanyl Act increases annual funding for fentanyl-related law enforcement efforts to $333 million from 2025 through 2030. It requires the Office of National Drug Control Policy to report annually on how HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) funds target fentanyl trafficking, including seizure data and threat assessments. The bill also mandates the Attorney General to prioritize fentanyl prosecutions by temporarily reassigning U.S. attorneys to these cases. These provisions directly affect federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies working on fentanyl interdiction and prosecution.