Rep. Tracey Mann

Short Line Railroad Relief Act This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to provide emergency grants or enter into contracts and other agreements for capital projects for short line railroads. A project must protect, repair, reconstruct, or replace short line railroad equipment and facilities in danger of suffering catastrophic damage, or that have suffered catastrophic damage, as a result of an emergency. An emergency includes a natural disaster affecting a wide area or a catastrophic failure from any external cause that results in the declaration of an emergency or a major disaster.

This bill generally prohibits Title X grants for family planning services, research, and training from being used for a hotline, website, or other system that provides individuals with counseling and referrals regarding abortion services. However, the prohibition does not apply (1) in cases of rape or incest, or (2) when a physician certifies that the individual suffers from a physical condition that is life-threatening unless an abortion is performed.

Maddy summaryHR 3036, the Increased TSP Access Act of 2023, amends conservation program rules to expand access to third-party providers (TSPs) who offer technical assistance to farmers on conservation practices. It creates new pathways for non-Federal entities like agricultural cooperatives or professional associations to certify TSPs, streamlines certification processes (requiring Secretary review within 10 business days), and sets payment rates for TSPs equivalent to government-provided technical assistance. The bill mandates public reporting on certification numbers, payment details, and a target utilization rate for TSPs to improve conservation program delivery. It directly affects farmers participating in USDA conservation programs by increasing options for technical support and requiring transparency in how TSPs are certified and compensated.

Aviation Investment and Recruitment Act of 2023 or the AIR Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 aviation workforce development programs for pilots and mechanics.

Maddy summaryHR 3639, the After Hours Child Care Act, creates a new Child Care and Development Innovation Fund to improve access to child care for parents working nontraditional hours (such as evenings, nights, or weekends). The bill directly affects working parents with young children and eligible child care providers who serve these families. It authorizes competitive grants (ranging from $25,000 to $500,000) to providers or partnerships with businesses/community organizations to expand after-hours care programs, establish workplace child care, or improve existing facilities. Grantees must cover 25% of costs, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services must report biennially on program impact to Congress.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that AM radio receivers be included as standard equipment in all new motor vehicles (such as cars and trucks) sold in the United States, with a rule to be issued by the Department of Transportation within one year. The rule must ensure AM radio is easily accessible on the dashboard and allows manufacturers to use digital AM radio technology instead of traditional AM. During the one-year period between the bill's enactment and the rule's effective date, manufacturers must clearly label vehicles without AM radio. The bill also directs a study to evaluate whether an alternative system could deliver emergency alerts as reliably as AM radio across the country, especially during crises.

Maddy summaryHR 3337, the Fuels Parity Act, removes a prohibition that previously excluded corn starch ethanol from being counted as "advanced biofuel" under the Clean Air Act. This change directly affects corn-based ethanol producers by allowing corn starch ethanol to qualify under renewable fuel standards. The bill also requires the EPA to update its methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions from corn-based ethanol and biomass-based diesel every five years, starting 90 days after enactment, with the first update mandating the use of the Argonne National Laboratory's GREET model. These provisions aim to standardize how emissions are assessed for these fuels under federal renewable fuel programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has final authority over energy efficiency standards for manufactured housing. It requires any energy standards developed under federal law (like those from the Energy Independence and Security Act) to be formally adopted into HUD's manufactured housing construction standards before becoming enforceable. The bill directly affects manufactured housing manufacturers and HUD, as it ensures HUD - not other agencies - controls which energy standards apply. Key provisions eliminate references to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and establish HUD as the sole authority for adopting these standards into its code. This streamlines the process but does not create new energy requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 3537 authorizes the minting of commemorative coins to mark the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Foreign Service, established by the 1924 Rogers Act. The bill specifies three coin types ($5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar clad) with limited mintage (50,000 gold, 400,000 silver, 750,000 half-dollars) to be issued in 2025, featuring designs honoring diplomatic history. A surcharge on each coin sale ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollars) will fund the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST) to support its oral history program and diplomatic preservation efforts. The coins will be legal tender, sold at cost-plus-surcharge, with all revenue directed to ADST per the bill's provisions.

Maddy summaryHR 3435, the Charitable Act, creates a temporary tax deduction for charitable contributions for individual taxpayers who do not itemize deductions. It allows these taxpayers to deduct up to one-third of their standard deduction amount for charitable gifts in 2023 and 2024. The bill directly affects millions of filers who typically take the standard deduction instead of itemizing, making charitable giving more tax-advantageous for them during these two years. The provision expires after 2024 and does not change the standard deduction amount itself.