Rep. Erin Houchin

Maddy summaryThe 21st Century Dyslexia Act amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to add a clear definition of dyslexia as a specific learning disability and requires schools to provide equal access to accommodations and services for all eligible children with dyslexia, including those from low-income families, low socioeconomic status families, and limited English proficient children. The bill defines dyslexia as an unexpected difficulty in reading due to challenges in processing the sounds of language, which affects reading, spelling, and speaking abilities. This change ensures students with dyslexia are explicitly recognized under IDEA and schools must provide inclusive support without barriers related to background. The bill directly affects students with dyslexia and their schools by mandating these specific recognition and access requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish a "crisis evacuation loan program" for U.S. citizens needing emergency evacuation abroad during crises. It replaces the previous "repatriations loan program" name and directs existing funding from the Department of Homeland Security’s Shelter and Services Program to the State Department to administer these loans. The program allows the State Department to provide loans for evacuation costs, which must be repaid by the affected citizens. This change primarily affects U.S. citizens abroad facing sudden emergencies requiring urgent travel assistance.

Maddy summaryHR 5110, the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act, amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to clarify that federal education funds cannot be used for certain weapons - but this restriction does not apply to archery, hunting, or other shooting sports training programs. The bill directly affects schools and educational programs seeking to use federal funds for these specific activities, such as archery clubs or hunting safety education. It adds an explicit exception to the existing prohibition, allowing funds to support "educational instruction or enrichment activities" in these sports under authorized programs. This change removes ambiguity about funding eligibility for such educational initiatives in K-12 schools.

Maddy summaryThe Depositor Protection Act of 2023 increases federal deposit insurance coverage for noninterest-bearing transaction accounts (such as business checking accounts) from $250,000 to $100 million. Smaller banks with less than $250 billion in assets can choose to opt out of this increased coverage without paying additional fees. The bill also increases the threshold for reciprocal deposits from $5 billion to $10 billion and creates a temporary 90-day window for acquiring "distressed banks" (banks whose stock price has dropped at least 20% since March 2023) without standard regulatory approvals, subject to certain capital and rating conditions. The higher insurance limits would revert to $250,000 after two years.

Maddy summaryHJRES 11 proposes a constitutional amendment that would limit Members of Congress to serving a maximum of three terms in the House of Representatives and two terms in the Senate. If passed and ratified, it would prevent any member who has already served the maximum terms from running for re-election, including time spent filling vacancies (for more than one year in the House or three years in the Senate). This amendment directly affects current and future members of Congress by changing eligibility rules for re-election. The proposal is currently a joint resolution in the House, requiring ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures to become part of the Constitution.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Opportunity Zones program by requiring designated census tracts to meet specific poverty and income criteria, with a process to replace tracts that no longer qualify. It establishes mandatory annual reporting for Opportunity Zone funds and investors, collecting data on investments, employment, and community impact. The bill extends the tax deferral period for capital gains invested in Opportunity Zones from 2026 to 2028. Additionally, it creates a $1 billion State and Community Dynamism Fund to support investments in underserved communities, with specific requirements for how these funds can be used for affordable housing, small businesses, and community capacity building.

Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act This bill provides FY2024 appropriations for the salaries and expenses of certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees who are required to work during a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown) in FY2024. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to CBP for the salaries and expenses of agents of the U.S. Border Patrol and officers of the Office of Field Operations who are excepted from furlough (i.e., required to work) during a lapse in discretionary appropriations in FY2024.

Maddy summaryHR 5340 requires retirement plans to provide clear, standardized disclosures before participants choose investments outside the plan's designated options (like self-directed brokerage accounts). It mandates a four-part notice explaining that non-designated investments aren't monitored by fiduciaries, may carry higher fees/risks, and includes a graph showing hypothetical retirement balances at 4%, 6%, and 8% annual returns. This directly affects plan participants who select investments beyond the plan's curated options. The rule takes effect January 1, 2025, aiming to improve transparency about investment risks in retirement accounts.

Maddy summaryHR 5337, the Retirement Proxy Protection Act, amends ERISA to clarify how retirement plan fiduciaries (like 401(k) plan managers) must handle voting on company shareholder proxies. It requires fiduciaries to act solely in participants' financial interest when deciding whether to vote, considering economic impact and costs, while allowing them to skip voting on proposals affecting less than 5% of plan assets in a company. The bill establishes "safe harbor" rules that protect fiduciaries from liability if they follow policies limiting voting to proposals with material economic impact or asset thresholds. It also mandates recordkeeping of voting decisions and monitoring of third-party advisors managing these votes, effective January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHR 5686 authorizes $30 million in U.S. humanitarian aid for Armenians in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh affected by recent conflicts and blockades, and $12 million in foreign military financing to support Armenia's sovereignty and security cooperation. The bill requires the State Department to develop a strategy protecting Nagorno-Karabakh residents' rights, including cultural heritage and security, and mandates a 90-day report on Azerbaijani military actions during 2022-2023 attacks. It also directs the U.S. to push for International Criminal Court investigations into alleged atrocities and imposes sanctions on Azerbaijani officials involved in blockades or attacks. The legislation focuses on concrete U.S. policy actions - aid, accountability measures, and diplomatic efforts - without prescribing specific outcomes.