Rep. Jennifer A. Kiggans

Maddy summaryHR 5130, the "Finish It Act," requires the Department of Defense to use stored border wall construction materials (valued at approximately $300 million) for building permanent barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border within 30 days of the bill's enactment. It mandates that states receiving materials certify they will use them exclusively for border barriers, with penalties for unused materials (requiring repayment of the original cost) and imposes a 1% budget cut for every two days of delay in implementation. The bill also demands a detailed report from the Department of Defense within 90 days, including internal communications about storage costs and contracts with private landowners. This legislation directly affects the Department of Defense and border states, focusing on redirecting existing resources rather than creating new funding or construction.

Maddy summaryThe Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2023 ensures that scholarship payments received by nurses under the Nurse Corps program (specifically, section 846 of the Public Health Service Act) are treated as tax-exempt, matching the tax treatment of other similar scholarship programs. This change directly affects nurses who receive these scholarships, preventing them from being taxed on these payments. The bill amends two sections of the Internal Revenue Code to include this scholarship program within the existing tax-exempt category for qualified scholarships. The new tax treatment applies to payments received in taxable years beginning after the law's enactment.

Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act This bill waives the adjusted gross income limitations for payments or benefits under specific Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster assistance programs for a person or legal entity that derives a portion of their income from agriculture. (Currently, a person or entity is not eligible to receive certain benefits during a crop, fiscal, or program year if their average gross income exceeds $900,000.) Specifically, in the case of an excepted payment or benefit, the adjusted gross income limitation is waived if 75% or more of the average adjusted gross income for the person or entity is derived from farming, ranching, or silviculture activities. These activities include agritourism, direct-to-consumer marketing of agricultural products, and the sale of agricultural equipment owned by such person or entity. The bill applies to the USDA Livestock Indemnity Program; Livestock Forage Disaster Program; Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program; Tree Assistance Program; and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.

Maddy summaryThe SHELLS Act creates a new Office of Aquaculture within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support sustainable shellfish farming (like oysters and clams), algae cultivation, and land-based aquaculture systems. It establishes an advisory committee with 14 members representing aquaculture farmers, Tribal communities, coastal towns, academic institutions, and food industry stakeholders to advise on best practices and barriers. The bill authorizes $25 million annually (2024-2028) for the office to provide technical assistance, coordinate with agencies like NOAA, and gather production data. This directly affects shellfish and algae producers, coastal communities, and Tribal nations by promoting practices that support food security while limiting environmental harm.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Chesapeake National Recreation Area as a new unit of the National Park System to preserve and promote public access to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It defines the Recreation Area's boundaries using a specific map, creates an Advisory Commission with 19 members representing Maryland, Virginia, tribal interests, and youth, and outlines how land acquisition and management will occur through donations, purchases, or partner agreements. The legislation requires coordination with existing programs like Chesapeake Gateways and the Bay Program, while emphasizing conservation of natural, recreational, historical, and cultural resources. It directly affects communities, conservation organizations, and local governments in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by creating a formal structure for managing and expanding public access to Bay resources. The bill sets requirements for cooperative agreements with partner sites and mandates a management plan to coordinate activities with neighboring communities and existing conservation efforts.

Family Savings for Kids and Seniors Act This bill provides an annual inflation adjustment after 2023 to the $5,000 tax exclusion for employer-provided dependent care assistance.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 620) is a non-binding House of Representatives statement expressing support for Japan's efforts to secure justice for Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. It directly urges North Korea to release any remaining abductees, return remains and provide details about deceased victims, offer appropriate restitution, and issue a formal apology. The resolution references North Korea's 2002 admission of abductions (after 24 years of captivity for some) and emphasizes the conflict with human rights principles. As a symbolic gesture, it does not impose new legal requirements but calls for North Korea to address past actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. President to sell up to two nuclear-powered attack submarines (Virginia-class) from the U.S. Navy inventory to Australia over a 15-year period to support the AUKUS security partnership. It requires Australia to cover all costs, including repairs performed at U.S. shipyards, and mandates detailed certifications to Congress on national security impacts, U.S. industrial capacity, and Australia's ability to operate the submarines. The bill also requires annual reports for 15 years on submarine transfers, defense service exports, and production schedules. This directly affects Australia's naval capabilities and U.S.-Australia defense cooperation under the AUKUS framework.

Maddy summaryHR 4461 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to mandate that disability benefit questionnaires collected by non-VA medical professionals be transmitted to the VA in a machine-readable digital format within 180 days of enactment. This affects veterans applying for disability benefits (claimants), non-VA healthcare providers conducting examinations, and the VA itself. The bill mandates the VA to issue technical standards for this format within 90 days and update questionnaires to maintain machine-readability, while also requiring the VA to submit an IT system modification plan to Congress. The VA must publicly post these standards and the IT plan on its website.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins marking the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary in 2025. It authorizes three coin types: $5 gold coins (max 50,000), $1 silver coins (max 400,000), and half-dollar coins (max 750,000), with surcharges of $35, $10, and $5 respectively. The surcharge proceeds will fund the Marine Corps Heritage Center's educational programs, with no net cost to taxpayers as the Treasury must recover all minting costs through the surcharges. The coins can only be issued during 2025, and the Treasury must ensure all costs are covered before distributing funds to the Heritage Foundation.