Rep. Frank J. Mrvan

Maddy summaryHR 8469, the Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act of 2024, requires the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to establish a new program within its existing education initiative. The program targets underrepresented groups in cybersecurity, including racial and ethnic minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, older individuals (40+), those from low-income backgrounds, and people with nontraditional educational paths (like community colleges or HBCUs). CISA must tailor outreach to schools, unions, community colleges, and local workforce offices to promote cybersecurity careers in these communities. The bill authorizes $20 million annually (2025-2030) and mandates annual reports to Congress on the program's impact on workforce diversity.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes existing mental health support programs for healthcare professionals under the Dr. Lorna Breen Act. It extends funding and reporting periods for two key initiatives: (1) an education campaign encouraging healthcare workers to access mental health services, and (2) programs promoting mental wellness within healthcare workplaces. The bill updates the timeline from 2022-2024 to 2025-2029 for both programs and requires grantees to focus on reducing administrative burdens for healthcare workers. It directly affects healthcare professionals by maintaining access to mental health resources and supports eligible entities like hospitals and health systems administering these programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires call center employers (with 50+ full-time staff) to notify the Labor Secretary 120 days before moving operations overseas or contracting such work, adding them to a public list for 5 years. Employers on this list become ineligible for federal grants or loans during that period, and federal contracts must prioritize companies not relocating work overseas. It also mandates that all businesses handling customer service communications disclose agent locations at call start (with limited exceptions), allow transfers to U.S.-based agents upon request, and annually certify compliance to the FTC. These provisions directly affect large call center employers and all businesses providing customer service via phone, email, or chat in the U.S.

Maddy summaryThe Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2024 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. The Federal Labor Relations Authority will determine if each state's laws "substantially provide" for these rights, and if not, federal standards will apply to that state. These standards include the right to self-organization, collective bargaining, recognition of labor organizations, and procedures for resolving disputes. The bill preserves existing collective bargaining agreements and excludes certain employee categories like emergency services workers from some provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare to pay separately for certain high-cost diagnostic drugs used in nuclear imaging (like those for cancer detection) starting in 2024. It applies to drugs with a daily cost of $500 or more (adjusted annually), ensuring they are not bundled with other services. Payments will be based on either the drug's average sales price or wholesale cost, with adjustments to keep overall Medicare spending unchanged. This directly affects Medicare Part B providers (hospitals, clinics) and beneficiaries receiving these specific diagnostic treatments.

Maddy summaryThe Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of 2024 would transition Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, particularly screening agents, from TSA-specific personnel rules to the standard federal government personnel system under Title 5 of the U.S. Code by December 31, 2024. The bill prohibits changes to current personnel policies for covered employees until the transition date and ensures no reduction in pay or benefits during the conversion process. It preserves certain benefits like law enforcement availability pay for Federal air marshals and maintains collective bargaining rights for screening agents. The bill also requires various reports to Congress on recruitment, implementation, diversity, and workplace safety to be submitted within specified timeframes.

Maddy summaryHRES 1206 is a symbolic House resolution supporting the designation of May 2024 as "Mental Health Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise public awareness about mental health challenges, emphasizing the need to reduce stigma and treat mental well-being as equally important as physical health. The resolution cites statistics on rising mental health crises - including increased anxiety, depression, and suicide rates among youth, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and communities of color - to underscore the urgency of the issue. It encourages nationwide efforts to promote mental health awareness and access to care during this designated month.

Maddy summaryHR 1803, the CURD Act, defines "natural cheese" in federal law to clarify labeling standards for consumers. It specifies that natural cheese must be made by curdling milk (or milk derivatives) through traditional methods without certain processed additives, while explicitly excluding pasteurized process cheeses, cheese spreads, and similar products. The bill requires that products labeled as "natural cheese" meet this new definition, updating FDA labeling rules under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This directly affects cheese manufacturers (who must comply with the definition) and consumers (who gain clearer product distinctions on labels). The change replaces vague industry terms with a consistent, science-based standard to improve transparency.

Maddy summaryThe Broadcast VOICES Act creates a new tax certificate program to encourage broadcast station ownership by socially disadvantaged individuals (defined as women or people who have faced racial/ethnic prejudice). It requires the Federal Communications Commission to submit biennial reports to Congress on the number of minority and women-owned broadcast stations and to provide recommendations for increasing such ownership. The program establishes rules including a $50 million limit on qualifying sales, a 2-3 year minimum holding period for stations owned by socially disadvantaged individuals, and tax benefits treating qualifying sales as "involuntary conversions" for tax purposes. The bill also creates a tax credit for contributions to entities training socially disadvantaged individuals in broadcast management. The tax provisions of the bill will expire 16 years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal program to help low-income households pay water and wastewater bills. It targets households receiving certain federal benefits (like SNAP, SSI, or LIHEAP) or with income below 150% of the poverty level, defined by state-specific thresholds. The program provides grants to states and tribes based on poverty rates or high housing cost burdens, with $1.1 billion authorized, to cover arrearages and service rates for eligible households. Funds cannot replace existing assistance but may supplement other programs, and the program will transfer to the EPA after a specified date.