Rep. Andy Barr

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the "Hello Girls" - female telephone operators who served in the Army Signal Corps during World War I. They provided critical battlefield communications in France (connecting 26 million calls), wore military uniforms, and faced combat risks, but were denied veteran benefits for 60 years due to being classified as civilian contractors. The medal recognizes their pioneering service, devotion, and the decades-long struggle to gain military recognition. The award follows similar recognition for other WWII women veterans and aims to correct the historical injustice they faced.

Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States Act or the A-PLUS Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to revise its regulations to allow livestock market agencies (e.g., auction market owners) to hold an ownership interest in, finance, or participate in the management or operation of a meat packer with a cumulative slaughter capacity of (1) less than 2,000 animals per day or 700,000 animals per year for cattle and sheep, and (2) less than 10,000 animals per day or 3 million animals per year for hogs.

Maddy summaryHR 1492, the CBO Show Your Work Act, requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to publicly publish its fiscal models, data, and detailed methodologies used when estimating the costs and effects of legislation. Specifically, the bill mandates that the CBO make available all models, data preparation routines, and the specific assumptions and computations behind its cost estimates - enabling independent verification by non-CBO staff. This applies to all estimates prepared under the law, with limited exceptions for data protected by other statutes (requiring only descriptive statistics and access details for such data). The changes take effect six months after the bill becomes law. The bill directly affects the CBO’s internal processes and transparency practices, not the legislative content itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the use of 529 college savings accounts to cover career training and credentialing costs. It allows funds to pay for tuition, fees, books, and testing expenses related to recognized postsecondary credential programs (like vocational certifications) that meet specific standards under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The change directly affects workers seeking industry-recognized credentials - such as nursing certifications or IT certifications - instead of traditional degrees. It treats these expenses the same as traditional college costs for 529 account withdrawals, making it easier to save for career-focused training. The provision applies to expenses paid after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryHR 1379, titled the *Access to Small Business Investor Capital Act*, simplifies reporting requirements for investment companies that hold shares in business development companies (BDCs). The bill allows registered investment companies (like mutual funds) to exclude BDC-related fees and expenses from their standard "Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses" calculations in registration statements, instead disclosing these costs in a footnote. This change directly affects investment companies managing portfolios with BDC investments and the BDCs themselves, reducing administrative complexity. The provision modifies existing SEC disclosure rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940 without creating new capital access for small businesses.

Maddy summaryThe TABS Act of 2023 would rename the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to the Consumer Financial Empowerment Agency (CFEA) throughout U.S. federal law. This bill would change the agency's name in the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 and over 25 other federal statutes, including the Dodd-Frank Act and Truth in Lending Act. The bill does not alter the agency's responsibilities, authority, or budget structure - only its name. This is a procedural change affecting all federal documents, regulations, and references to the agency.

This bill treats Hurricane Ian (occurring on and after September 22, 2022) as a qualified disaster area for purposes of the disaster-related personal casualty loss tax deduction.

Maddy summaryHR 1322 expands federal retirement benefits to include specific non-traditional law enforcement roles. It adds IRS employees focused on tax collection, U.S. Postal Inspection Service staff, Department of Veterans Affairs police officers, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized property specialists to the definition of "law enforcement officer" under federal retirement systems. Current employees in these newly covered positions must elect to pay deposits for past service to receive full retirement credit, while their agencies must contribute additional funds for that past service. The bill also temporarily prevents mandatory separation for current law enforcement officers for three years after enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 1313, the Transparency in CFPB Cost-Benefit Analysis Act, requires the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to include detailed cost-benefit analyses in all proposed financial regulations. The bill mandates that the CFPB explain the need for a regulation, assess costs and benefits for small businesses and the economy, evaluate alternatives, and justify decisions where benefits don't outweigh costs. It also requires consultation with the Small Business Administration if a rule increases costs for small businesses and a distribution analysis of burdens. This bill directly affects the CFPB's rulemaking process by increasing transparency in how financial regulations are developed.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Department of Defense from using funds to pay for or reimburse abortion services, except when the pregnancy endangers the mother's life, results from rape, or results from incest. It directly affects military personnel, civilian DOD employees, and contractors receiving medical care at military facilities by restricting funding for abortion-related expenses. Key provisions include amending federal law to ban reimbursement for travel or licensing costs related to abortion services and repealing a 2022 DOD memo that expanded access to such care. The bill explicitly blocks all funding for abortion services beyond the existing exceptions, with no new exceptions added. It does not change abortion access for civilians outside the military healthcare system.