Rep. Morgan McGarvey

Maddy summaryHR 2777, the School Meals during School Closures Act, allows schools to continue providing meals during certain closures without following standard meal program rules. It directly affects schools and meal providers by enabling the Secretary to waive requirements under the National School Lunch Act for closures due to strikes (excluding employer lockouts), weather disasters, public health emergencies, unsafe facilities, construction, or other unanticipated events. The key provision creates a new waiver exception (added to Section 12 of the Act) that skips specific regulatory hurdles normally required for meal services during these closures. This change ensures students can still receive meals when schools close unexpectedly for covered reasons.

Maddy summaryHRES 269 is a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 30, 2023. It recognizes the federal government's duty to develop and implement a Transgender Bill of Rights to protect transgender and nonbinary people. The resolution outlines key provisions, including ensuring access to gender-affirming medical care, ending discrimination in employment and housing, and improving legal recognition of gender identity on government documents. It also calls for addressing systemic barriers in education, safety, and economic security faced by transgender and nonbinary individuals.

Maddy summaryHR 2715, the Keep Our PACT Act, mandates increased federal funding for two key education programs. It requires specific annual funding levels for Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (which supports high-poverty schools) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), guaranteeing students with disabilities access to a high-quality education. The bill sets mandatory funding amounts that rise each year, with IDEA funding gradually increasing to reach 40% of the national average per-pupil expenditure for students with disabilities by fiscal year 2033. This directly affects school districts receiving Title I funds and states administering IDEA services for students with disabilities. The bill fulfills a prior commitment made under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004.

Maddy summaryHR 2725, the "Do No Harm Act," amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to clarify that RFRA does not apply when federal laws protect against discrimination or promote equal opportunity. It specifically exempts protections under the Civil Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, workplace benefits like leave, child labor safeguards, and healthcare access from RFRA challenges. The bill also clarifies that RFRA does not block private lawsuits between individuals, applying only to cases involving government entities. This amendment ensures that existing federal civil rights and workplace protections remain enforceable under RFRA.

Maddy summaryThe Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2023 strengthens the Americans with Disabilities Act's requirement that individuals with disabilities receive long-term services and supports in community settings rather than institutions. It defines "community-based" services to include specific housing options where individuals with disabilities can live independently with maximum control over their lives, including access to integrated housing, employment, and community participation. The bill requires states to develop transition plans to move people from institutional settings to community-based services within 12 years, with measurable annual targets for reducing institutionalization. It establishes enforcement mechanisms through the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services to ensure compliance with these requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Puppy Protection Act of 2023 sets new standards for businesses that sell dogs (dealers), directly affecting pet stores and breeders operating under the Animal Welfare Act. It requires specific housing with space allowances based on dog size (e.g., 12-30 square feet per dog), temperature control (45-85°F), clean food twice daily, and daily exercise or socialization with humans/dogs for at least 30 minutes. The bill also mandates annual veterinary exams including dental care, strict breeding limits (e.g., age restrictions, maximum 2 litters in 18 months), and efforts to place retired breeding dogs in homes instead of selling them to other breeders. Regulations must be finalized within 18 months of enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 1378, the Veterans’ Appeals Backlog Improvement Act, establishes two new programs to improve staffing at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for processing veterans' appeals. It creates a competitive internship program for ABA-accredited law students to gain experience with the Board of Veterans' Appeals, and a nine-year pilot program to recruit and retain entry-level attorneys through student loan repayment benefits and structured professional development, including mentorship and rotational assignments. The bill requires the VA to report on improving telehearings access within 180 days, including recommendations for reimbursing travel costs and testing new methods for remote hearings. These provisions aim to reduce the appeals backlog by strengthening the VA’s legal workforce, directly affecting VA recruitment and retention of legal professionals.

Maddy summaryThe Ending PUSHOUT Act of 2023 aims to reduce discriminatory school discipline practices that disproportionately push students of color, particularly girls of color, out of school. It requires schools to collect detailed data on disciplinary actions disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability status, and other factors to identify patterns of overuse and discrimination. The bill provides grants to schools to implement trauma-informed practices, restorative approaches, and mental health supports instead of exclusionary discipline, while prohibiting out-of-school suspensions for minor infractions in early grades and banning practices like corporal punishment and certain restraints. It also establishes a joint task force with diverse representation to study discipline disparities and recommend solutions to prevent students from being pushed out of schools. The legislation seeks to create safer school environments by addressing the root causes of discipline issues rather than relying on punitive measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use existing funds more flexibly to assist homeless veterans and veterans in HUD housing programs. It authorizes the VA to provide immediate needs like food, shelter, transportation for appointments, and communication devices (e.g., phones, tablets) to support veterans' stability and health. The law expands how VA funds can be applied beyond traditional housing assistance, focusing on urgent, practical support. It directly affects homeless veterans and those in HUD's housing assistance program by enabling faster, more adaptable aid. The bill amends existing VA law to improve responsiveness to veterans' immediate survival and health needs.

Maddy summaryThe Panama Canal Zone Veterans Act of 2023 creates a presumption that veterans who served in the Panama Canal Zone between 1958 and 1999 (or until the last military member left) and developed specific illnesses are automatically eligible for VA benefits without needing to prove a direct link between their service and the condition. It lists 16 illnesses, including prostate cancer, lung cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and several other cancers, as qualifying for this presumption due to presumed exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange during service. The VA will use regulations based on medical evidence to determine which illnesses qualify under this provision. This change directly affects veterans who served in the Panama Canal Zone during the covered period and later developed one of the listed conditions.