Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson

Maddy summaryThe CHARGE Act of 2023 modernizes U.S. electricity transmission planning and cost allocation to better support renewable energy integration and grid reliability. It requires transmission providers to conduct interregional planning every five years, allocate costs based on multiple benefits (including reduced consumer costs, renewable energy access, and grid resilience), and make hourly operational data publicly available. The bill establishes an Office of Transmission within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and creates an Independent Transmission Monitor to oversee planning processes. These changes aim to reduce costs for consumers, improve grid reliability, and support the transition to cleaner energy sources through concrete regulatory reforms.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes certain pay adjustments from federal pay cap calculations. It excludes annual pay adjustments under Section 5303 and locality-based pay adjustments under Section 5304 when determining if an employee's total pay exceeds maximum limits. This directly affects federal civilian employees, administrative law judges, and military personnel by preventing these adjustments from counting toward pay caps. As a result, employees may reach higher pay levels without triggering cap restrictions, addressing pay compression concerns.

Maddy summaryHR 5010, the "Recognizing Gun Violence as a Public Health Emergency Act," requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services and CDC to produce annual reports on gun violence impacts. These reports must include detailed data broken down by age, race, location, and incident type (like homicide, suicide, or unintentional shootings), as well as information on community prevention programs and research funding. The bill directly affects federal agencies (HHS and CDC) by mandating this data collection, and indirectly affects communities by creating a standardized public health data source on gun violence. It does not change existing laws or fund new programs but aims to inform future prevention efforts through comprehensive reporting. The reports must supplement, not replace, existing federal health research.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires phone calls, texts, and chats to 9-8-8 (the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline) to be routed to the nearest participating crisis center within 90 days of enactment, while protecting caller privacy by not revealing precise location. It mandates all phone carriers to transmit every 9-8-8 call or text - including those from prepaid or non-initialized handsets - and updates phone systems to allow direct 9-8-8 dialing without extra steps. The law affects crisis centers (by directing calls to their area), callers (through improved routing and privacy), and phone carriers (by requiring transmission compliance). These changes aim to make the 9-8-8 system more efficient and accessible for those seeking mental health support.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act to prevent fees on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) electronic benefit transactions. It requires state agencies managing SNAP to update EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) systems to meet modern security standards and review technology contracts regularly. States must cover costs for these changes, with new funding provided for implementing the updated requirements. The changes take effect October 1, 2023, directly affecting state agencies that administer SNAP benefits.

Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act This bill provides statutory authority for and expands the Farm Service Agency's (FSA's) Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program (the Increasing Land Access Program) for farmers, ranchers, and forest owners. Specifically, the FSA must make competitive grants to, enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide other capital support to eligible entities (e.g., state or local governments, Indian tribes, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education) to provide direct assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest owners who are (1) historically underserved, or (2) operating in high-poverty areas. The bill specifically excludes from assistance any foreign-based or foreign-owned corporation. The direct assistance may include payments to intended beneficiaries to acquire real property (including air rights and water rights), secure clear title on an heirs' property farmland, and improve or remediate land, water, and soil. Eligible entities may also use grants (1) to provide direct assistance to intended beneficiaries in assessing, purchasing, acquiring, or retaining eligible land; (2) for activities designed to support farm establishment and long-term viability; and (3) to provide technical assistance. The FSA must establish a stakeholder committee and, in collaboration with the committee, develop a process for evaluating proposals and distributing funds to eligible entities. In developing this process, the FSA must consider perspectives from diverse stakeholders, diverse geographic distribution, and diverse farming models, practices, and purposes.

Maddy summaryHR 3904, the "Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act," increases federal crop insurance subsidies for beginning farmers and ranchers. It revises the definition of a "beginning farmer" from 5 to 10 crop years of experience, allowing more new operators to qualify. The bill also establishes a tiered subsidy system: new farmers receive 15 percentage points higher subsidies for their first two years, 13 points for the third year, 11 points for the fourth year, and 10 points for years five through ten. This directly affects new agricultural producers by making crop insurance more affordable during their early years of operation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal pilot program to help homeless individuals access SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. It authorizes $12.5 million annually (2024-2029) to fund grants for community organizations, homeless service providers, and public housing agencies to provide direct outreach, application assistance, transportation to SNAP offices, and staff training. The program specifically targets barriers like lack of documentation and awareness, focusing on helping homeless households enroll in SNAP by connecting them with existing resources. Grantees must report annually on outcomes, including the number of homeless individuals served and enrollment impacts. The pilot runs for up to 5 years, with funds supplementing (not replacing) existing state/local programs.

Maddy summaryHR 4987, the Democracy Restoration Act of 2023, would restore voting rights for people with felony convictions who are living in their communities (not incarcerated), directly affecting approximately 4.6 million disenfranchised Americans. The bill requires states to automatically restore voting rights upon completion of sentences, including probation or parole, without requiring payment of fines or fees. It mandates notification to individuals about their restored voting rights and prohibits states from conditioning voting rights on payment of legal financial obligations. The legislation addresses the disproportionate impact of voting restrictions on racial minorities, particularly Black and Latino communities, who face significantly higher rates of disenfranchisement. This bill would apply to all federal elections held on or after its enactment date.

Maddy summaryThe Break the Cycle of Violence Act establishes federal grants to fund community-based violence intervention programs in areas disproportionately affected by gun violence, particularly communities of color. It authorizes $300 million for 2024, increasing to $700 million annually through 2031, for evidence-informed strategies including trauma-responsive care, violence interruption, and economic opportunities for opportunity youth (ages 16-25 not in school or employment). The bill requires grantees to implement culturally competent services targeting individuals at high risk of violence or victimization, with a focus on reducing gun violence without contributing to mass incarceration. It creates a National Community Violence Response Center to coordinate data collection, research, and best practices for community violence prevention. The legislation also includes provisions for job training and workforce development programs through the Department of Labor to connect opportunity youth with in-demand occupations.