Rep. Julia Letlow

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 2715, the *Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act*, expands the authority to destroy imported goods that pose public health risks. It amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to order the destruction of any refused import (not just drugs or devices) if it presents a significant health concern. The bill also prohibits the unauthorized movement, sale, or export of such refused goods. These changes apply to importers of hazardous refused articles 180 days after enactment, with the FDA required to finalize implementing regulations within 90 days.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 6963) names the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Lafayette, Louisiana, as the "Rodney C. Hamilton Sr. VA Clinic." It honors Rodney C. Hamilton Sr., a Korean War veteran who received the Purple Heart, served on Lafayette's city council, and helped establish the clinic that opened in 2016. The bill changes the clinic's official name to recognize his contributions to veterans' care and community service. This is a ceremonial designation with no impact on clinic operations or services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.

Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act This bill prohibits payment card networks from using merchant codes that distinguish firearms retailers from general-merchandise retailers or sporting-goods retailers. The Department of Justice must enforce this bill and report annually on the resulting investigations and cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for any program, activity, literature, or material provided to children under 18 that includes "sexually oriented material," defined as depictions of explicit conduct or content involving gender dysphoria or transgenderism. It exempts standard science courses (like biology and anatomy), religious texts, and specific "classic" works of literature and art listed in designated references (e.g., *Great Books of the Western World* and Smarthistory guides). The law directly affects federally funded K-12 educational programs, restricting how school districts can use federal dollars for curriculum materials. It does not ban teaching about human anatomy, art history, or literature, as those are explicitly excluded from the definition of prohibited material.

Maddy summaryThis bill redesignates the existing National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund as the America's Legacy Restoration Fund to address deferred maintenance on federal lands. It directs revenue from recreation fees and a portion of energy development income into the fund, which must be used primarily for repairing critical infrastructure like roads, trails, and buildings managed by agencies such as the National Park Service and the Forest Service. The legislation establishes strict rules requiring that most funds go toward non-transportation projects, mandates transparency through public dashboards tracking project status, and sets aside a small percentage for matching private donations. Additionally, the bill increases entrance fees for foreign visitors to ensure they contribute to the fund, while prohibiting the use of these specific funds for land acquisition or employee bonuses.

Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act This bill repeals the Corporate Transparency Act. The act requires existing companies and newly created companies to report beneficial ownership information to the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for purposes of addressing the financing of terrorism and money laundering.

Maddy summaryThe Rural Grants Transparency Act requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create clear, plain-language guides for rural development grant programs, helping small towns and nonprofits better understand eligibility and application steps. The bill mandates that these guides be updated every 90 days and include specific details like evaluation criteria, common reasons for rejection, and contact information for local offices. Additionally, the law ensures applicants receive standardized notifications about their application status and, if denied, a plain-language explanation of why their request was rejected along with advice for future submissions. To further increase openness, the Secretary must publish a searchable database of all awarded grants and release detailed scoring factors for competitive programs. These changes are designed to improve access to funding without requiring new money or altering existing program rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act, expands legal protections for firearm manufacturers and sellers by strengthening their immunity from civil lawsuits. It requires courts to immediately dismiss any pending cases against these companies that are based on the criminal or unlawful misuse of a gun by a third party, while also clarifying that sellers are not liable for negligence in entrusting products to others. The legislation further restricts who can file such suits by prohibiting foreign governments from bringing these claims and adding a specific exception for victims under the age of 17, though it maintains immunity for cases involving design or manufacturing defects. Additionally, the bill allows companies to move these cases to federal court and grants them the right to appeal dismissal orders immediately, along with the ability to recover legal fees if they win. Finally, it preempts state and local laws that attempt to impose liability on these entities for the same types of misuse-related harms.