Rep. Josh Harder

Maddy summaryThe PAST Act of 2023 amends the Horse Protection Act to ban specific devices used to cause pain (soring) in horses at shows, particularly affecting Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses. It defines prohibited "action devices" (like boots or chains causing friction) and requires licensed, conflict-free inspectors at events to enforce rules. The bill increases penalties for violations to up to $5,000 fines or 3 years in jail, and mandates longer disqualifications for repeat offenses (180 days → 1 year → 3 years). Horse show organizers, exhibitors, and participants must comply with these new inspection and penalty requirements.

This resolution reaffirms the central role of local frontline health workforces in achieving global health objectives. The resolution also urges greater global attention and support for local frontline health workers.

Maddy summaryHR 3228 establishes the Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program to expand the workforce of school-based mental health providers. It authorizes the Education Secretary to partner with eligible graduate schools (offering accredited programs in school counseling, psychology, or social work) to cover up to 50% of participating students' tuition costs, with schools matching that contribution. The program prioritizes students who received Federal Pell Grants or attended certain institutions as undergraduates. It directly affects graduate students in school-based mental health fields and participating institutions, aiming to increase the pipeline of licensed providers for schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to exclude the value of employer-provided child or dependent care services from calculations used to determine overtime pay. It directly affects employers who offer childcare benefits and their employees, as these benefits will no longer count toward an employee's regular rate of pay for overtime purposes. The key provision adds a new category to the list of non-wage benefits that employers can provide without triggering higher overtime compensation requirements. The change applies to overtime pay for workweeks beginning after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryHR 3238, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023, updates the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program to increase the availability of affordable housing across the United States. The bill makes several key changes including increasing state funding formulas, modifying tenant eligibility rules to better serve vulnerable populations (such as domestic violence victims and students), and expanding credit eligibility for projects in rural and Native American communities. Specific provisions raise the credit for properties serving extremely low-income households, clarify rules around tenant income increases, and require housing providers to protect victims of domestic violence. The bill also updates terminology from "low-income" to "affordable" throughout the tax code and enhances program transparency through data sharing requirements. These changes aim to make the LIHTC program more effective at creating and preserving affordable housing units for low-income households nationwide.

Maddy summaryThe Invest to Protect Act of 2023 establishes a federal grant program for local law enforcement agencies with fewer than 200 officers (including counties, municipalities, and tribal governments) to fund training and support services. Grants cover de-escalation training, mental health resources, evidence-based safety training (such as handling domestic violence or mental health crises), and recruitment/retention incentives like signing bonuses, retention bonuses (up to 20% of salary), and stipends for graduate education in mental health or social work. The bill requires a streamlined grant application process (under two hours), public disclosure of bonus amounts, and annual audits to prevent misuse of funds.

Maddy summaryThe HELPER Act of 2023 creates a new FHA mortgage insurance program specifically for first responders and K-12 teachers. It allows eligible first-time homebuyers in these professions to secure mortgages with 100% financing (no down payment required) for purchasing or repairing a primary residence. To qualify, applicants must be employed as law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, or K-12 teachers, have completed housing counseling, and meet specific employment history requirements (e.g., 4 years in the role or disability-related release). The program authorizes $660,000 for fiscal year 2024 and $160,000 annually through 2030, with authority expiring after 5 years.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies administering the WIC program to publicly post details about infant formula bid solicitations online within 5 business days of posting the bid. Specifically, states must share the bid title, application website, contact information, and deadline via a central federal portal, which the Secretary must then publish publicly within 5 days. It directly affects state WIC agencies and the public by increasing transparency in how states purchase infant formula. The bill creates a new online information-sharing requirement under the Child Nutrition Act, without changing WIC eligibility or benefits.

Maddy summaryHR 2419, the Canal Conveyance Capacity Restoration Act, authorizes federal funding to repair ground sinking (subsidence) that has reduced water delivery capacity in California’s Friant-Kern Canal, Delta-Mendota Canal, and California Aqueduct. It provides up to 33% federal financial assistance (with local cost-sharing) for projects restoring canal capacity and mitigating subsidence impacts, requiring projects to meet groundwater sustainability goals and comply with environmental laws. The bill directly affects California water agencies and disadvantaged communities by increasing drought resilience, groundwater recharge, and reliable water supply. Funding is limited to repairs and does not cover new reservoirs or canal expansions.

Helping Our Heroes Act This bill allows a charitable tax deduction for the service of bona fide volunteer firefighters and emergency medical and rescue personnel. The amount of the deduction is $20 for each hour of service provided by such personnel, limited to 300 hours with respect to any individual in a taxable year. The deduction is available to taxpayers who do not otherwise itemize their deductions.