Rep. Bennie G. Thompson

Maddy summaryThe Toxic Free Food Act of 2024 requires the FDA to revise its "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) rule within 180 days of enactment. It mandates that food manufacturers must submit detailed safety data - including cumulative effects, safety factors, and protections for vulnerable groups - before marketing a substance as GRAS or using it in food. The bill also prohibits carcinogens and novel chemicals from being classified as GRAS, requires public posting of all GRAS submissions with a 90-day review period, and bans the use of experts with conflicts of interest in safety assessments. This directly affects food manufacturers, the FDA, and consumers by increasing transparency and safety standards for food additives.

Maddy summaryHR 9768 establishes the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative under the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to strengthen public-private partnerships for cybersecurity. It directly affects critical infrastructure owners, cybersecurity companies, government agencies, and foreign partners (with restrictions) by creating a formal program for sharing threat intelligence, developing coordinated response plans, and enhancing situational awareness. Key mechanisms include requiring a detailed charter outlining partnership rules, establishing an advisory council with 25 partner representatives, and mandating secure information sharing protocols to protect threat data. The Collaborative must submit annual reports to Congress and expires after five years, with no guaranteed rights for participating entities.

Maddy summaryHR 1719, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2023, establishes a presumption that certain cancers diagnosed in public safety officers (like police and firefighters) are work-related if linked to their duties. It defines 22 specific cancers (including lung, mesothelioma, and WTC-related cancers) as "exposure-related," allowing officers or their families to receive benefits without proving direct work connection, provided they were diagnosed within 15 years of leaving active service. The bill also creates a process for adding new cancers to the list based on scientific evidence, requiring the Bureau to review petitions and make decisions within 180 days. This applies to deaths or disabilities occurring on or after January 1, 2023, directly affecting officers who developed covered cancers during service.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 130 is a symbolic concurrent resolution commending state and local governments that treat reproductive rights as human rights following the *Dobbs* decision. It recognizes efforts by cities like Austin, Texas, and Montgomery County, Maryland, to expand abortion access and condemn criminalization of pregnancy outcomes. The resolution affirms that reproductive rights are human rights, urges states to repeal restrictive laws, and references U.S. obligations under international human rights treaties. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or alter existing policies.

Maddy summaryHRES 1495 designates September 2024 as "Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month" to raise public education about sickle cell disease (SCD), which affects approximately 100,000 people in the U.S., predominantly in African American communities. The resolution urges the Department of Health and Human Services to address access barriers for SCD treatments in Medicare and Medicaid, calls for increased National Institutes of Health research funding, and proposes forming a federal interagency cabinet to coordinate SCD policy. It also encourages public events during September to highlight early detection, treatments, and preventative care for SCD complications. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws but directs federal agencies to prioritize equitable access and research for SCD.

Maddy summaryHR 3433, the "Give Kids a Chance Act of 2024," requires pharmaceutical companies developing certain cancer drugs to conduct pediatric studies if the drugs target molecular pathways relevant to childhood cancers. It directly affects drug manufacturers submitting new applications for cancer treatments, particularly those combining previously approved adult cancer drugs or containing a single new active ingredient. The bill amends FDA regulations to mandate these pediatric investigations only when specific conditions are met, such as when a drug's molecular target is relevant to pediatric cancer growth. The FDA must issue implementing guidance within 12 months, and reports to Congress will track implementation and effectiveness starting 2 years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Student Food Security Act of 2024 would expand eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to include college students at institutions of higher education who meet specific financial criteria, such as having a student aid index of 0 or being eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. It requires the USDA to develop a strategy to increase awareness of SNAP eligibility among students and creates a demonstration program testing new ways for students to use SNAP benefits on campus, including purchasing prepared food at campus dining facilities. The bill authorizes $1 billion in grants over seven years to colleges to develop programs addressing students' basic needs like food and housing insecurity, with priority given to community colleges and institutions with high numbers of Pell Grant recipients. This legislation would directly affect college students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, and institutions of higher education that would receive funding to support student basic needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Diversity and Inclusion Administrator at the Department of Labor to increase African American participation in apprenticeship programs. It requires all new and renewing registered apprenticeship programs to submit plans for boosting African American enrollment, and authorizes competitive grants for programs targeting underrepresented groups in industries like construction, tech, and healthcare. Grant recipients must report on metrics including participant demographics, program completion rates, and job placement in related fields. The law directly affects African American youth and other underrepresented groups by mandating systemic changes to apprenticeship programs nationwide.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires a government audit to study how federal agencies manage disaster recovery funds for Puerto Rico after hurricanes, earthquakes, and the pandemic. The audit will catalog all relevant grants, assess data tools used in the grant process, and identify gaps hindering effective aid delivery. Agencies managing these funds must provide timely information to complete the report within one year of the bill's passage. The study aims to improve data systems specifically for Puerto Rico's recovery efforts.

Maddy summaryHR 9743, the DEPLOY Tax Relief Act, creates a new tax deduction for federal disaster relief workers. It directly affects workers certified by FEMA as traveling on temporary duty for federally declared disasters who are away from home for more than one year. The bill amends the tax code to allow these workers to deduct travel expenses incurred during such extended assignments. This provides a concrete tax benefit for their out-of-pocket costs while serving in long-term disaster response roles.