Rep. Troy A. Carter

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies to acquire and maintain opioid overdose reversal kits (like naloxone) and train employees annually on their use, effective within 270 days of enactment. It mandates these actions for all federal agencies - including the Veterans Health Administration - while providing non-mandatory guidance to private employers on similar practices. The law directly affects federal workplaces by making kits and training a requirement, and indirectly encourages private employers to adopt similar safety measures. Key provisions include a 270-day deadline for the Labor Department to issue regulations for federal agencies and non-binding guidance for other employers. The bill focuses on practical workplace safety measures without altering existing federal health or safety laws.

EITC Modernization Act This bill extends the earned income tax credit to taxpayers with certain dependents, including children and aged dependents, and to qualifying students. It also establishes a matching grant program for tax return preparation assistance for low-income taxpayers.

Maddy summaryHR 5369, the Tipped Worker Protection Act, requires employers to pay tipped workers the full federal minimum wage (currently $7.25/hour) instead of the current lower "tip credit" rate ($2.13/hour). It phases in this change over time, starting with a $3.60/hour cash wage in the first year, increasing by $1.50 annually until matching the standard minimum wage. The bill prohibits employers from keeping or using customer tips for any purpose (including covering costs like credit card fees) and mandates that all tips go directly to employees, with new rules governing voluntary tip pools. It directly affects restaurant, bar, and similar service workers who rely on tips for income.

Maddy summaryThis bill helps disaster survivors without formal property deeds prove ownership for FEMA aid by expanding acceptable evidence to include mortgage statements, property tax receipts, wills, death certificates, or other documentation showing occupancy or ownership ties. It allows FEMA to consider "constructive ownership" when proof is lacking, prohibits requiring notarized statements, and updates eligibility language from "uninhabitable" to "damaged" by disasters. The law applies to disaster assistance funds appropriated after enactment, directly affecting households seeking housing aid after major disasters. It streamlines access to aid for those with incomplete documentation, such as survivors inheriting property without formal transfers.

Maddy summaryThis resolution supports designating August as National Black Business Month to honor the economic contributions of Black-owned businesses across the U.S. It recognizes that Black businesses, which contributed $83.6 billion in receipts in 2023 and employed over 1.3 million people, continue to face barriers like limited access to capital and higher loan denial rates. The resolution does not create new laws or programs but symbolically acknowledges their historical and current impact on the economy. It is a non-binding House resolution passed to raise awareness, not to mandate policy changes.

Maddy summaryHR 5322, the Time Off to Vote Act, requires most private employers (with 25+ employees) to provide two consecutive hours of paid leave for employees to vote in federal elections. Employers must grant this leave upon request, can schedule it during early voting periods if permitted by state law, and cannot include lunch breaks in the leave period. The bill prohibits retaliation against employees who take this leave and ensures it does not affect accrued employment benefits. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $10,000 per offense, enforced by the Department of Labor.

Maddy summaryHR 5312, the Supporting Healthy Mothers and Infants Act of 2023, updates the WIC program by replacing the term "drug abuse" with "substance use disorder" throughout its rules to reduce stigma and improve care. It requires the development of evidence-based nutrition education materials for pregnant and postpartum individuals with substance use disorder, as well as for infants affected by prenatal exposure or neonatal abstinence syndrome. The bill mandates outreach to potentially eligible individuals and creates an online clearinghouse for nutrition resources, with $1 million authorized for fiscal year 2024. This directly affects WIC participants - mothers and infants impacted by substance use disorder - by providing more accurate, supportive resources under the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands SNAP eligibility for college students by modifying existing rules. It allows students attending higher education institutions (as defined by the Higher Education Act) to qualify for SNAP benefits if they have a zero expected family contribution (EFC) from FAFSA or meet specific criteria for independent student status under the Higher Education Act. The changes replace outdated language about "employment" with "attending school or working" and remove barriers that previously excluded many low-income students. This directly affects low-income undergraduate and graduate students who may face food insecurity while enrolled in college. The policy change takes effect 180 days after enactment.

This resolution expresses support for the designation of a national day of remembrance for the victims of forced migration of Black people throughout United States history.

Voters on the Move Registration Act of 2023 This bill requires the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to develop, and specified agencies to distribute, a statement providing individuals with information on how to register to vote and their voting rights. This information must be provided to individuals upon their participation in certain rental assistance programs or application for certain residential mortgages.