Rep. Ritchie Torres

Maddy summaryHR 6830, the "Books Save Lives Act," requires covered schools (elementary/secondary schools receiving federal funds) and public libraries receiving federal assistance to maintain staffed libraries with diverse book collections. These collections must include books written by, illustrated by, or about individuals from underrepresented communities - defined as racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, religious minorities, or people with disabilities. The bill states that excluding such "covered books" could be used as evidence of discrimination under civil rights laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It also mandates a report on the impact of book-banning campaigns on these communities within 180 days of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the National School Lunch Act to require that the value of donated foods distributed to service institutions (like schools and community organizations) under the summer food service program equals the national average value of donated foods, as determined by existing rules. It directly affects schools and nonprofits that provide summer meals to children by standardizing how the value of donated food commodities is calculated. The key mechanism updates Section 13(h) to mandate this national average value, replacing previous methods. This ensures consistent funding for food assistance during summer months without changing program eligibility or structure.

Maddy summaryThe Brittany Clardy Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Act establishes a new Office within the Department of Justice to address the disproportionate rates of missing and murdered Black women and girls in the U.S. The Office will collect and analyze data on these cases - including case resolution times, Amber Alert usage, and trafficking links - and create a public dashboard for tracking. It also creates a grant program for community organizations to provide culturally appropriate prevention services, law enforcement training, and victim support. The Office must submit biennial reports to Congress with findings and recommendations to improve the criminal justice response to these cases. This bill directly affects Black women and girls facing violence, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations providing related services.

Antisemitism Inclusion in DEI Act of 2023 This bill requires issuers of securities to report annually whether the issuer has a diversity, equity, and inclusion program that includes training to combat antisemitism.

Maddy summaryHR 2627, the "Increasing Investor Opportunities Act," removes restrictions preventing closed-end investment companies (like mutual funds) and business development companies from investing all their assets in private funds. The bill amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Securities Exchange Act to clarify that the SEC cannot block such investments solely because the funds are private, and ensures stock exchanges cannot prohibit listing securities based on this investment strategy. It defines "private fund" consistently across securities laws to eliminate regulatory ambiguity. This directly affects investment companies seeking greater flexibility in their portfolio choices without requiring new regulatory approvals.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a National Center for Advanced Development in Education within the Institute of Education Sciences to identify and promote advances in teaching and learning across all education levels. The Center will collect and analyze education data, fund research through grants, and disseminate evidence-based practices to educators and parents, with specific focus on addressing educational disparities and supporting student development through the "science of learning and development." It authorizes $500 million annually for fiscal years 2024-2028 to support these activities, including improving statewide data systems that track student progress from early childhood through workforce. The Center will work with schools, educators, and communities to develop solutions for improving education outcomes, particularly for underserved students. This legislation directly affects educators, school administrators, and students by creating a new federal entity focused on evidence-based education research and implementation.

Maddy summaryHR 6567 establishes a new FEMA program to improve disaster recovery in U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The program will identify and address recurring challenges - such as outdated infrastructure, remote locations, language barriers, and limited staff - that delay recovery after hurricanes and other disasters. FEMA must provide tailored technical assistance, develop training courses, and create best practices for territories applying for federal disaster funding. The bill authorizes $50 million annually (2024-2028) for this program and requires biennial reports to Congress on progress and recommendations for continuation. It directly affects territories struggling with slow recovery due to unique geographic, economic, and administrative hurdles.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to require lenders to collect and report data on loans to LGBTQI-owned businesses. It specifically adds "LGBTQI-owned" to existing categories for data collection, includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status as protected characteristics in lending data, and defines an "LGBTQI-owned business" as one where over 50% of ownership/control and net profit/loss accrues to self-identifying LGBTQI individuals. The policy change directly affects financial institutions that report lending data to the government, mandating they track and disclose these new categories. This provides concrete data on lending practices for LGBTQI business owners, who face documented barriers in accessing credit.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the United States Postal Service facility at 298 Route 292 in Holmes, New York, as the "Sheriff Adrian 'Butch' Anderson Post Office Building." It updates all federal references (including laws, maps, and documents) to use this new name for the location. The bill has no policy changes or financial impact - it solely commemorates Sheriff Adrian "Butch" Anderson through a building designation.

Maddy summaryThe Saving Vet Halls Act of 2023 authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide grants to eligible veterans service organizations (like local VFW or American Legion chapters) for repairing or upgrading existing facilities or technology at their locations. Organizations must submit a detailed plan for their proposed improvements and cannot use funds for new construction. Grants are capped at $75,000 per organization annually, and recipients cannot receive another grant for five consecutive fiscal years. The bill allocates $10 million in funding to support these facility and technology upgrades for veterans service organizations nationwide.