Rep. Val T. Hoyle

Maddy summaryHR 1351, the "Save Oak Flat From Foreign Mining Act," repeals Section 3003 of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which had mandated transferring 2,422 acres of Oak Flat in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest to foreign-owned Resolution Copper for mining. The bill withdraws this land from all mining activities, preventing Resolution Copper from using destructive block cave mining that would destroy the sacred site and harm water resources. Oak Flat, a National Register-listed Traditional Cultural Property sacred to Indigenous tribes, would be protected from a mine projected to deplete 775,000 acre-feet of groundwater over 40 years and create a 4,000-acre toxic waste dump. The legislation directly affects Resolution Copper (owned by Rio Tinto and BHP) and aims to halt the project that would obliterate cultural resources and exacerbate regional water shortages.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all active-duty military members' base pay to be at least $31,200 annually, effective within 30 days of enactment. It directly affects every active-duty service member by establishing a new minimum pay floor. The key mechanism mandates the Department of Defense to adjust pay rates under Title 37, U.S. Code, to meet or exceed this amount by the deadline. The change applies uniformly across all military branches without exceptions.

Maddy summaryHJRES 54 proposes a constitutional amendment stating that only natural persons (human beings) have rights protected by the U.S. Constitution, explicitly denying constitutional rights to corporations, limited liability companies, and other artificial entities. It would require governments to regulate or restrict corporate political contributions and spending to ensure equal access to elections, mandate public disclosure of all political spending, and clarify that campaign finance rules do not violate the First Amendment. This amendment directly affects corporations and other artificial entities by removing their constitutional standing in legal challenges and subjecting their political activities to stricter government oversight. If passed, it would fundamentally change how corporations interact with election laws and constitutional protections, though it preserves press freedom under Section 3. The bill is a proposed amendment requiring ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures to become part of the Constitution.

Maddy summaryHR 1812 requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to study whether the Universal Service Fund (USF), which funds broadband access in rural and low-income areas, should expand who pays into the fund to ensure fairness. Within 120 days of enactment, the FCC must complete this study and report findings to Congress. By one year after enactment, the FCC must also develop new rules to reform the USF contribution system, specifically expanding who contributes. This directly affects telecommunications companies that pay into the USF, as the changes could shift funding responsibilities, potentially impacting broadband costs for consumers and businesses. The bill aims to make the funding system more equitable without specifying final changes.

Maddy summaryThe Women's Health Protection Act of 2023 would protect access to abortion services by prohibiting states from imposing restrictions that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures. The bill would ensure people can obtain abortion services before fetal viability without unnecessary limitations like mandatory waiting periods or biased counseling, and after viability when necessary to protect the patient's life or health. It would preempt state laws that conflict with these protections and allow for civil enforcement actions to challenge restrictive state laws. This bill directly affects people seeking abortion services (including transgender and nonbinary individuals who can become pregnant), health care providers, and states that have implemented abortion restrictions.

Maddy summaryHRES 277 is a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in April 2023 that urges the United States Postal Service (USPS) to restore mail delivery standards in effect as of July 1, 2012. It specifically calls for ending the 2015 service cuts that eliminated overnight first-class mail delivery and delayed other mail types, which the resolution states harmed businesses, rural communities, and the economy. The resolution cites the Postal Regulatory Commission’s finding that USPS could achieve cost savings without degrading service, emphasizing that returning to 2012 standards would improve delivery reliability without worsening USPS finances. As a resolution, it does not mandate action but expresses the House’s policy preference.

Maddy summaryHR 2501, titled "Sunset for the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force Act," would end the 2001 law (Public Law 107-40) that authorized military force following the September 11 attacks. The bill directly affects military operations currently justified under that 2001 authorization, requiring future actions to seek new congressional approval. It mandates the repeal of the 2001 AUMF 240 days after the bill becomes law, ending its legal authority. The bill states Congress finds the 2001 authorization has been used too broadly, conflicting with constitutional war powers.

Fair Manufactured Housing Lending Act This bill requires a manufactured or modular home retailer to comply with consumer mortgage protections, including those related to lending origination and conflicts of interest.

Maddy summaryThe Sunshine in Product Safety Act (HR 1686) amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to publicly disclose safety information about consumer products without delay. It removes a provision (Section 6(b)) that previously allowed the Commission to withhold information if it had not met certain procedural requirements. This change directly affects consumers and product safety advocates by ensuring faster public access to safety data on potentially hazardous items. The bill simplifies disclosure requirements, making safety information more readily available to the public.

Maddy summaryHR 2394, the Protection from Abusive Passengers Act, creates a federal list of passengers who commit specific aviation security offenses, such as assaulting crew members, threatening flight safety, or tampering with security systems. Individuals added to this list are banned from boarding commercial flights until removed through established procedures. The bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to develop clear policies for adding individuals to the list, handling appeals within 5 days for potential errors, and maintaining annual reports on the list's composition. These provisions directly affect passengers convicted of or penalized for the specified offenses, aiming to enhance safety by restricting repeat offenders from flying.