Rep. Donald Norcross

Maddy summaryThe 21st Century Skills Act creates a new skills training grant program to help adults and dislocated workers access job training and supportive services. It provides funding based on household income ($10,000 for low-income individuals, $8,000 for moderate-income, and $6,000 for higher-income) to cover training costs, child care, transportation, and other necessary expenses. The bill establishes a CareerOneStop website portal to help eligible individuals find and compare training programs, and requires training providers to meet performance standards. It also limits training program costs to 110% of average community college tuition in the local area and prioritizes individuals receiving public assistance or who are basic skills deficient.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies to adjust contract prices to reimburse contractors for paying employees during government funding lapses (e.g., shutdowns). It covers costs for furloughed, laid-off, or reduced-hour workers, or for restoring paid leave used during the lapse, with a weekly cap of $1,442 per employee. Directly affecting federal contractors and their employees who experienced work disruptions due to funding gaps, it mandates agencies to make these adjustments promptly after enactment. Contractors must provide proof of costs, and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy must report on implementation to Congress within a year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies to mandate that auto manufacturers bidding on vehicle assembly contracts disclose detailed workforce information for each plant involved. Specifically, contractors must provide average and range of hourly wages, temporary worker counts, and any OSHA or National Labor Relations Act violations at each manufacturing location. It also requires written agency permission - and additional disclosures - if a contractor seeks to shift production to a new plant, with notification to affected labor unions. The law directly affects auto manufacturers competing for federal vehicle assembly contracts and aims to increase transparency around labor practices.

Maddy summaryHRES 718 is a symbolic resolution supporting the designation of September 23, 2023, as "Bruce Springsteen Day" to honor the musician's contributions. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals or groups, as it is a non-binding expression of congressional support. The resolution highlights Springsteen's career, his connection to New Jersey (where he was born), and his impact on American music and culture. It specifically recognizes his birthday as the designated day and his work addressing themes like working-class life and national unity. This is a ceremonial gesture with no legal or policy consequences.

Maddy summaryHR 5596 (Put Our Neighbors to Work Act of 2023) requires military construction contractors to prioritize hiring local workers by giving preference to entities hiring at least 51% of employees who live near the project site (within a state or 60-mile radius). It also creates a small business incentive: subcontract value is doubled for contracts awarded to small businesses located near the work site, improving their compliance with federal procurement goals. The bill mandates public transparency by requiring contractors to publish subcontract details online and report monthly to Congress on covered military construction contracts. These provisions apply to military construction, family housing, and facilities projects across all U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia.

Maddy summaryThe Better CARE for Animals Act of 2023 amends the Animal Welfare Act to strengthen enforcement of animal welfare standards. It gives the Attorney General authority to bring civil cases for violations, including seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day per violation and injunctions to remove or relocate animals. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and Attorney General to coordinate through a new Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on repeat violators. These changes directly affect dealers, exhibitors, and enforcement agencies by expanding civil enforcement tools and clarifying jurisdiction over rule violations.

Maddy summaryHR 4845, the Food Secure Strikers Act of 2023, amends the Food and Nutrition Act to remove a restriction that previously disqualified workers from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if they were on strike. The bill changes eligibility rules so that striking workers are no longer automatically ineligible for SNAP benefits solely because they are participating in a labor strike. This change directly affects workers involved in strikes who rely on SNAP for food assistance, ensuring they can access benefits during labor disputes. The key provision removes specific language from Section 6(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act that had barred strike participants from SNAP enrollment.

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 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 summaryThe No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act would deny tax deductions for employers who attempt to influence employees' decisions about union activities, including unfair labor practices like firing workers for organizing or using captive audience meetings. It targets expenses related to union-busting tactics, such as consulting fees and other costs used to sway workers' opinions about collective bargaining. Employers would need to report these expenses on tax returns and would no longer be able to deduct them from taxable income. The bill aims to prevent employers from using tax-deductible expenses to influence union elections, aligning with existing rules that deny tax deductions for political spending. It would apply to expenses incurred in taxable years beginning 240 days after enactment.