Rep. Chrissy Houlahan

Maddy summaryThe AFIDA Improvements Act of 2024 updates the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act to require foreign individuals or entities owning at least 1% of U.S. agricultural land (directly or through multiple ownership tiers) to report their holdings. It creates new enforcement duties for the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center (FPAC-BC) to validate data, ensure compliance, and identify violators. The bill mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to share foreign ownership reports with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and update agency handbooks using recommendations from a 2024 Government Accountability Office report. These changes apply directly to foreign landowners and agricultural agencies like the Farm Service Agency, aiming to improve transparency around foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to improve access to existing financial protections for active-duty service members, reservists, and their dependents. It requires military financial literacy training to include SCRA consumer protections (like interest rate limits), mandates notifications about these benefits at key service milestones (e.g., when entering service or being mobilized), and clarifies that creditors must apply the SCRA interest rate cap to *all* pre-service debts, not just specified ones. Creditors must also provide multiple submission methods (online, mail, fax) for servicemembers to submit required documents. These changes aim to make SCRA benefits easier to understand and utilize without creating new financial obligations.

Maddy summaryHR 7087, the MOMS Act, establishes a pilot program to provide evidence-based mental health support for pregnant and postpartum members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their beneficiaries (including family members). It requires the Defense Health Agency to integrate these prevention programs into existing maternal or pediatric care at military medical facilities, prioritizing diverse locations and removing barriers like childcare access. The bill mandates an advisory committee with military members, experts, and service organizations to guide implementation, along with annual reports tracking participation by demographics and a study on the program’s effectiveness. Funded at $5 million annually from 2025-2029, the pilot aims to reduce perinatal mental health conditions and improve military readiness.

Maddy summaryHR 7056, the Access to Family Building Act, establishes federal rights for individuals to access assisted reproductive technology (ART) like IVF without unreasonable restrictions, directly affecting patients seeking fertility treatments and health care providers offering ART services. The bill prohibits states from imposing limitations on ART that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures, fail to advance safety, or unduly restrict access, while allowing health and safety regulations that are necessary and least restrictive. It creates federal enforcement mechanisms, including lawsuits by the Attorney General or affected individuals to challenge violating state laws, and preempts conflicting state regulations. The bill explicitly preserves state authority over health/safety regulations and does not alter existing state insurance coverage laws for ART.

Maddy summaryThe Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act of 2024 creates a new federal grant program to address nursing faculty shortages. It authorizes $28.5 million annually (2024-2028) to help nursing schools supplement faculty salaries, covering the gap between clinical nurse pay and teaching salaries. Schools must submit detailed salary data and plans to sustain higher pay after the 3-year grant period. The program prioritizes schools in high-need areas, serving vulnerable populations, or recruiting underrepresented faculty, with a report required to Congress after 3 years.

Maddy summaryThe Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act establishes a new federal grant program to improve public transportation service. It provides funding to urban areas, states, and Indian tribes to cover up to 50% of public transit operating costs (up to 80% in persistent poverty areas and 100% for Indian tribes), with requirements to report on service frequency, access to jobs, and conduct community surveys. The program mandates that a majority of funds must benefit underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty, defined as census tracts with high poverty rates or minority populations. Recipients must maintain their transit funding levels and report on improvements in access to essential services. The bill authorizes $20 billion annually for fiscal years 2024-2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 16-member Fiscal Commission in Congress to develop bipartisan recommendations for improving the federal budget and debt situation. The Commission must identify policies to balance the budget, stabilize the debt-to-GDP ratio at or below 100%, and improve long-term fiscal outlook, with recommendations requiring approval from at least 3 Republican and 3 Democratic members. The Commission must submit its report and legislative language by November 15, 2024, including economic and budgetary effects, after which Congress would consider the proposals through expedited procedures. The Commission would terminate 30 days after submitting its final report.

Maddy summaryThe BOP Release Card ID Act of 2024 requires the Bureau of Prisons to issue a photo identification card meeting federal standards to U.S. citizen prisoners released from federal custody. The card must be valid for at least 18 months and accepted by federal programs like Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP, as well as for entry into federal buildings. The bill also directs the Attorney General to provide guidance to states on issuing similar cards for state prisoners, with annual reports to Congress on progress.

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 allocates $7 billion in funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) during fiscal year 2024. The ACP provides subsidies to low-income households to help cover the cost of internet service and connected devices like laptops or tablets. This funding ensures the program can continue supporting eligible households throughout the year, with the money remaining available until fully spent. The bill extends existing program funding without changing eligibility criteria or service requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 6524, the Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion Act, creates a new federal apprenticeship program to address the cybersecurity workforce shortage by training individuals for cybersecurity roles within federal agencies. The program partners with community colleges, career and technical schools, and other educational institutions to provide training aligned with federal cybersecurity needs. It also establishes a pilot program specifically for veterans and military members transitioning to civilian life, offering cybersecurity training with portable credentials that can be used across the job market. The bill requires coordination with multiple federal agencies and includes reporting requirements to assess program effectiveness and track participant employment outcomes.