Rep. Jennifer A. Kiggans

Maddy summaryThis bill provides one-time financial assistance to U.S. farmers growing specific crops (like corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice) during the 2024 crop year if their expected costs exceed expected returns. Payments equal 60% of the difference between the expected cost of production per acre (based on USDA cost forecasts) and the expected gross return per acre (based on projected farm prices and yields). Payments are calculated using actual planted acreage plus 50% of acreage prevented from planting due to natural disasters, with annual caps of $175,000 or $350,000 depending on the farm’s primary income source. The program uses existing USDA data sources and applies standard farm payment limits.

Maddy summaryThe COAST Act amends a 1946 flood control law to increase annual funding for emergency shoreline protection from $25 million to $45.5 million. It expands the types of infrastructure protected to include public recreational assets, public lands, and parks, while maintaining coverage for highways, bridges, historical lighthouses, schools, hospitals, and nonprofit services. The bill directly affects communities vulnerable to coastal erosion by enabling faster repairs to critical infrastructure during emergencies. Key changes are limited to the funding amount and the updated list of protected assets under the existing emergency protection program.

Maddy summaryThe WISER Act of 2024 provides automatic discharge status upgrades and a one-time $25,000 compensation payment to eligible female veterans who were involuntarily separated from military service under Executive Order 10240 between April 1951 and February 1976. It directly affects these veterans (and their surviving spouses if the veteran died after the bill's enactment) by treating them as if they completed their assigned duty for benefits purposes and authorizing the $25,000 payment. The bill establishes automatic eligibility for veterans separated under the executive order, with additional eligibility for those who gave birth, gained custody of a child, or experienced a pregnancy loss within 10 months of separation. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of Defense will administer the programs, requiring applications but not further proof of eligibility for the covered groups.

Maddy summaryHR 9983, the Save Our Ships Act, establishes a new $5 million annual grant program under the Department of the Interior to preserve historic military vessels. The program provides competitive grants to museums, memorials, and other public sites displaying decommissioned military ships (like those operated by the Navy, Coast Guard, or Maritime Commission) for physical repairs, environmental hazard mitigation, and education programs about maritime careers. Eligible recipients include state/local governments and nonprofit organizations managing these sites, with funds specifically targeting the upkeep of vessels and workforce development in shipbuilding. This bill directly supports the long-term preservation of these vessels for public education and historical access.

Maddy summaryHRES 1537 is a non-binding House resolution condemning Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, including 7 Americans still held captive. It calls on Hamas to immediately surrender, cease attacks, and release all hostages unconditionally, while reaffirming Israel's right to self-defense. The resolution also urges international organizations to condemn Hamas' actions and address the global surge in antisemitism following the attacks. As a symbolic statement, it does not create new laws or alter policy but expresses congressional position. The bill specifically references the ongoing captivity of seven U.S. citizens: Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judith Weinstein Haggai, Omer Neutra, and Keith Siegel.

Maddy summaryHRES 1504 designates October 2024 as Filipino American History Month to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Filipino Americans to the United States. The resolution urges the American public to observe the month through educational programs and activities highlighting the community's early settlements, military service (including World War II veterans' contributions), and roles in healthcare, labor movements, and other fields. As a non-binding congressional resolution, it formally recognizes Filipino American heritage without creating new legal obligations or policy changes.

Maddy summaryHRES 1469 is a formal House resolution condemning 15 specific officials in the Biden-Harris administration for their roles in the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. It alleges failures including inadequate planning for evacuations, disregarding warnings about Taliban actions, and misleading the public - leading to the Abbey Gate terrorist attack that killed 13 U.S. service members. The resolution does not create new legal requirements but formally condemns these individuals for "decisionmaking and execution failures" during the withdrawal. It directly addresses President Biden, Vice President Harris, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and other senior officials named in the resolution. This is a symbolic statement of congressional disapproval, not a binding policy change.

Maddy summaryHR 3169, the Port Crane Security and Inspection Act of 2023, requires the Department of Homeland Security to inspect internet-connected foreign cranes deemed high-risk for security threats before they are used at U.S. ports. It mandates a threat assessment of existing and new cranes within 180 days of enactment and orders cranes posing security risks to be taken offline until certified safe. The bill prohibits operating new foreign cranes (from "covered foreign countries" like those identified as adversaries by U.S. intelligence) after enactment and bans the use of foreign software on port cranes after a 5-year deadline. This directly affects port operators and crane manufacturers from countries designated as security threats, focusing on securing port cyber infrastructure.

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 summaryThis bill requires states to count military service members (and their dependents) as residents of their home state for Medicaid eligibility if they're temporarily relocated due to active duty but remain legally resident there. It specifically applies to those already receiving home and community-based services under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. States must deem these individuals as residents of their home state starting January 1, 2028, ensuring continued access to their existing Medicaid services without requiring a new state residency determination.