Rep. Hillary J. Scholten

Maddy summaryThis bill extends existing programs that provide payments to counties and states with federal land, primarily to support local schools and communities. It updates key deadlines, extending secure payments through 2026, special project authorities through 2029, and county fund expenditure authority through 2028. A new pilot program allows regional foresters to appoint resource advisory committee members directly, with this authority ending October 1, 2028. These changes directly affect rural counties and states managing federal lands, maintaining current funding mechanisms without altering eligibility or payment amounts.

Maddy summaryThe John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023 would strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by updating the criteria for which states and localities must obtain federal preclearance before changing voting practices. It would establish new standards for proving vote dilution and vote denial by requiring courts to consider historical discrimination, racial polarization in voting, and whether voting practices disproportionately burden minority voters. The bill would also require states and localities to provide public notice of voting changes and share demographic data about polling locations. These changes would primarily affect jurisdictions with a history of voting rights violations, aiming to prevent discriminatory voting practices before they take effect.

Maddy summaryHR 5517 creates a Capacity Building Grant Program to fund predevelopment activities like planning, community mapping, and feasibility studies, and a HOST (Hospitality and Outdoor-Recreation Supporting Tourism) Grants program to support tourism infrastructure, marketing, and event activities. The bill increases federal funding for Tribal organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations to 100% for HOST grants and sets aside 5% of funding for Tribal communities, 20% for rural areas, and 40% for outdoor recreation. It modifies existing economic development programs to include these new provisions and defines key terms related to tourism and outdoor recreation activities. This legislation directly affects local communities, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and tourism-related businesses seeking federal economic development support.

Maddy summaryThe Humane Cosmetics Act of 2023 bans cosmetic animal testing in the United States, prohibiting companies from conducting or contracting such testing after its enactment (effective 1 year later). It also bans selling or transporting cosmetics developed using animal testing conducted after that date within U.S. interstate commerce. The law directly affects cosmetic manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers operating in the U.S. market, requiring them to use non-animal testing methods for safety evaluations. Exceptions exist for foreign regulatory requirements or when no alternative testing methods are available for specific ingredients.

Maddy summaryHR 3152, the "Fight CRIME Act," aims to maintain international restrictions on Iran's missile-related activities by requiring diplomatic efforts to extend these restrictions before they expire in October 2023. The bill mandates annual reports detailing U.S. diplomatic strategies, potential impacts of expiration, and measures to deter missile technology transfers to Iran. It establishes sanctions against foreign individuals or entities that knowingly support Iran's missile or drone programs, including asset freezes and visa restrictions. These sanctions apply regardless of whether UN restrictions remain in effect after their expiration, directly affecting foreign entities involved in these activities.

Maddy summaryHR 5419, the Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act, amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to exclude direct sellers (like door-to-door sales representatives) and qualified real estate agents from the federal definition of "employee." This change means these workers would no longer be automatically covered by federal minimum wage and overtime protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill directly affects individuals working in these specific roles by altering their legal classification under labor law. The key provision is a new definition inserted into existing law, aligning labor classification with existing tax code definitions for these professions.

Maddy summaryHR 5383, the GIVE MILK Act, amends the Child Nutrition Act to allow WIC participants with young children to choose their preferred milk type (whole, low-fat, or nonfat) instead of receiving a default option. This change directly affects WIC participants caring for children aged 12 months to 4 years, aligning with dietary guidelines for that age group. The key provision requires the Secretary of Agriculture to issue the milk type elected by the participant or their guardian, updating WIC program regulations under Section 17(f) of the Child Nutrition Act. The bill focuses on enabling participant choice based on established nutritional recommendations for childhood development.

Maddy summaryHRES 668, the BUDS Resolution, amends House rules to allow bipartisan joint sponsorship of public bills and resolutions by one majority-party and one minority-party member. This change directly affects House members seeking to co-sponsor legislation with cross-party support, updating the existing rules for naming cosponsors and submitting constitutional authority statements. The key mechanism requires that for joint sponsorship, one sponsor must represent the majority party and the other the minority party, with both sponsors sharing responsibility for related procedural steps. This procedural adjustment streamlines the process for bipartisan co-sponsorship without altering legislative policy.

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.

Maddy summaryHR 5295, the Expanding the VOTE Act, modifies Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act to expand language access for voters. It requires states and localities to provide voting materials (including ballots and instructions) in the language of covered language minority groups, with new provisions for American Indian and Alaska Native languages requiring tribal government consultation for unwritten languages. The bill creates $15 million in grants to help jurisdictions provide voting materials in languages that don’t currently trigger Section 203 coverage, while mandating continued provision for those groups in future elections. It also directs a study to evaluate lowering population thresholds for language protections and expanding the definition of covered languages.