Rep. Tracey Mann

Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2023 This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for qualifying hospitals, including hospitals in rural areas and health professional shortage areas. Current law provides for an increase of up to 200 positions per fiscal year beginning in FY2023, with a total increase of 1,000 positions; each hospital may receive up to 25 additional positions. Current law also provides for an additional increase of up to 200 positions for FY2026, with at least 100 of these positions for psychiatry or related specialties; each hospital may receive up to 10 additional positions. The bill provides for an additional increase of 2,000 positions per fiscal year from FY2025-FY2031; during this period, each hospital may receive up to 75 additional positions in total under the bill and current law. Additionally, one-third of the positions that are made available under the bill must be allocated to hospitals that are already operating above applicable resident limits. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on strategies to increase the diversity of the health professional workforce, including with respect to representation from rural, low-income, and minority communities.

Maddy summaryHR 1839, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, makes the illicit use and distribution of xylazine a federal crime by adding it to the Controlled Substances Act. The bill broadly defines xylazine to cover numerous chemical variants and prohibits human use or non-licit distribution, while preserving legitimate veterinary and pharmaceutical uses. It requires tracking xylazine in drug supply chains and mandates two reports to Congress within 1 and 4 years on its prevalence, sources, and whether it should be rescheduled. The bill directly affects individuals distributing or using xylazine illicitly, including as an additive to drugs like fentanyl, and aims to address its public health risks. Congress declared illicit xylazine an "emerging drug threat" under existing law.

Maddy summaryHR 1812 requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to study whether the Universal Service Fund (USF), which funds broadband access in rural and low-income areas, should expand who pays into the fund to ensure fairness. Within 120 days of enactment, the FCC must complete this study and report findings to Congress. By one year after enactment, the FCC must also develop new rules to reform the USF contribution system, specifically expanding who contributes. This directly affects telecommunications companies that pay into the USF, as the changes could shift funding responsibilities, potentially impacting broadband costs for consumers and businesses. The bill aims to make the funding system more equitable without specifying final changes.

Maddy summaryThe Campus Free Speech Restoration Act amends the Higher Education Act to strengthen student speech protections at colleges and universities receiving federal funding. It requires public institutions to follow strict guidelines for speech restrictions (ensuring they're content-neutral, viewpoint-neutral, and the least restrictive means to achieve a compelling interest), and mandates private institutions to disclose all speech-related policies on their websites in an easily accessible location. The bill defines "expressive activity" broadly to include peaceful assembly, distributing literature, carrying signs, and other First Amendment-protected activities, while prohibiting "free speech zones" and restrictive speech codes. Students can file complaints about speech policy violations, with potential consequences for non-compliant institutions including loss of federal funding after a formal review process. The law aims to ensure campus speech policies align with First Amendment protections without unduly restricting student expression.

Maddy summaryHR 2539 permanently extends the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program, which incentivizes private investment in low-income communities. The bill directly affects community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and investors who fund projects in designated low-income areas by ensuring the credit remains available beyond 2025. Key provisions include automatically adjusting the credit amount annually for inflation starting in 2024 and clarifying that the credit can be used to offset alternative minimum tax liability. This maintains the program’s effectiveness in channeling capital to underserved neighborhoods without changing eligibility or funding levels.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 2451 (Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2023), prevents colleges receiving federal funds from punishing students or single-sex social organizations (like fraternities/sororities) solely because of their single-sex membership policies. It prohibits actions such as denying housing, scholarships, or leadership roles, or forcing students to waive these protections as a condition of enrollment. The law does not require colleges to recognize such groups, nor does it block disciplinary action for misconduct unrelated to membership (e.g., academic issues). It directly affects students in single-sex organizations and institutions participating in federal student aid programs under Title IV.

Fairness for Rural Teaching Hospitals Act of 2023 This bill modifies the payment methodology for the Medicare-Dependent Hospital program, which provides additional payments to certain small rural hospitals that have a high proportion of Medicare patients. Specifically, the bill excludes indirect medical costs from initial payment calculations and instead requires an additional, separate payment for such costs.

Maddy summaryHR 1818, the Aviation Workforce Development Act, expands tax-advantaged savings plans (529 plans) to cover costs for specific aviation training programs. It allows funds from these plans to pay for tuition, fees, and required materials at FAA-certified aviation maintenance technician schools (Part 147) or commercial pilot training programs (Part 61 or 141). This directly affects students pursuing careers as aircraft maintenance technicians or commercial pilots by making these training costs more affordable through existing tax-advantaged savings. The bill amends the tax code to include these programs under "qualified higher education expenses" for 529 plan distributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits public colleges receiving federal funds under the Higher Education Act from denying religious student groups equal access to campus facilities and official recognition that is available to other student organizations. It directly affects public institutions of higher education that receive federal funding, requiring them to treat religious groups the same as secular groups regarding access to spaces and official status. The key provision states that schools cannot withhold these rights based on a group's religious beliefs, practices, speech, leadership standards, or conduct. The law aims to ensure religious student organizations have the same opportunities as non-religious groups on campus.

Maddy summaryHR 1806, the Small LENDER Act, reduces reporting burdens for small lenders by creating a phased transition period for new data collection rules under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. It requires regulators to give qualifying small lenders a 3-year period to comply with new rules and a subsequent 2-year "safe harbor" period during which they aren’t penalized for non-compliance. A "small business lender" is defined as one originating at least 500 small business loans (defined as loans to entities with $1 million or less in annual revenue) in each of the two prior calendar years. This directly affects small lenders meeting these volume thresholds, easing their administrative burden without changing existing lending standards.