Rep. Jack Bergman

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.

Maddy summaryHR 3792 extends U.S. security funding for Israel through 2028 (Section 3) and expands energy cooperation to include advanced nuclear technologies and carbon capture (Section 5). It requires annual reports on regional security partnerships involving Israel (Section 6) and ensures countries in the Abraham Accords can access U.S. development programs (Section 8). The bill also mandates reports on diplomatic efforts against ICC investigations targeting the U.S. and Israel (Section 10) and encourages people-to-people programs to strengthen the Abraham Accords (Sections 7, 9). These provisions directly affect Israel’s diplomatic engagement, security partnerships, and economic cooperation in the Middle East.

Maddy summaryHR 3684, the Douglas Mike Day Psychedelic Therapy to Save Lives Act of 2023, authorizes the Department of Defense to fund research on using psychedelic substances for treating specific conditions in active-duty military personnel. The bill creates a grant program to support phase II clinical trials (using substances like MDMA, psilocybin, or ibogaine) or training for treating PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, with participants including active-duty service members. It removes barriers for military personnel to join these trials, regardless of federal scheduling of the substances or military justice rules. The bill appropriates $15 million annually from 2024 to 2028 for this research and requires regular reports to Congress on grant recipients and trial findings.

Maddy summaryHR 3592, the Donut Dollies Congressional Gold Medal Act, would award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 627 women who served as "Donut Dollies" in the Red Cross Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas (SRAO) program during the Vietnam War (1962-1973). The bill directs the Treasury to design and strike the medal, which would be presented by congressional leaders and then given to the Smithsonian Institution for public display and research. It also authorizes the sale of bronze duplicates at cost to cover production expenses. This commemorative measure recognizes the service of these women, who provided recreational support to U.S. troops across 28 locations in Vietnam while facing war-zone dangers.

Maddy summaryHR 3165, the Military Housing Transparency and Accountability Act, requires the military to create a new database tracking complaints about housing units occupied by service members and their families who do not own their housing. It mandates an annual report to Congress summarizing all complaints, categorized into specific types like mold or lead hazards (physiological), security issues (psychological), safety risks, and maintenance problems (timeliness and quality). This directly affects military members and their dependents living in government-provided housing. The bill aims to improve transparency by making complaint data publicly available and requiring the military to report on actions taken to resolve issues.

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 3392, the Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2023, requires the Air National Guard to maintain at least 25 fighter squadrons (each with a minimum of 18 aircraft) by mandating one-for-one replacement of existing squadrons by 2034. The bill directs the Air Force Secretary to develop and submit a recapitalization plan to Congress within 120 days of enactment, including modernizing squadrons and fielding new "Next Generation Air Dominance" systems. This directly affects the Air National Guard's fighter force structure, setting specific numerical requirements for aircraft and squadrons. The law allows limited waivers for extraordinary circumstances but maintains the core 2034 deadline for full recapitalization.

Maddy summaryThe Farm Operations Support Act maintains the minimum wage rate for H-2A agricultural workers at the level established in each state on December 1, 2022, through December 31, 2023. This directly affects agricultural employers who hire temporary foreign workers under the H-2A visa program and the workers themselves, by preventing the standard annual adjustment to the wage rate. The bill provides one-year stability in labor costs for employers without altering the underlying wage requirements.

Maddy summaryThe FIGHT Act (HR 2742) amends the Animal Welfare Act to specifically target animal fighting events, such as cockfighting, by defining "rooster" as any male chicken over six months old and banning the live broadcasting (simulcasting) of such events. It prohibits using the postal service or interstate transport to move roosters for animal fighting purposes and adds civil enforcement tools allowing citizens to sue violators after a 60-day notice period. Fines up to $5,000 per violation may be imposed, and property used in animal fighting ventures can be seized. These changes strengthen enforcement against animal fighting by expanding legal remedies for the public and authorities.

Maddy summaryHR 3240 grants a federal charter to the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP), a California-based nonprofit already recognized as a veterans service organization under IRS tax law. The bill establishes specific rules for VAREP, requiring it to maintain its tax-exempt status, submit annual reports to Congress, and follow restrictions like not issuing stock, making political contributions, or claiming government authority. VAREP must continue its existing mission of supporting veterans through financial literacy programs, housing assistance (including foreclosure prevention), workforce development, and suicide awareness initiatives. This charter does not create new government benefits but formally recognizes and regulates this specific organization's federal status.