Rep. Derrick Van Orden

Maddy summaryHR 8060, the CALL Act, requires refugee resettlement agencies to notify specific elected officials before placing refugees in a community. It directly affects resettlement agencies and requires them to notify Senators from the state, the local House representative, and applicable state legislators prior to making a placement within a state. The key provision amends immigration law to mandate this pre-placement notification, replacing a previous requirement with a clearer, multi-tiered notification process. This change aims to ensure local elected officials are informed about refugee placements in their jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryHR 7732 (ETS Act) requires the Department of Defense to provide mandatory preseparation counseling to active duty military members transitioning out of service. It mandates at least three days of in-person counseling for members with secured employment or education plans, and five days for others, with counseling to be provided by third-party entities (not military personnel). The bill also creates an Employment Navigator and Partnership Program to connect service members and spouses with private employment counselors meeting specific criteria, and establishes a pilot program offering tailored career counseling to military spouses at four installations per service branch. These changes aim to improve transition support by standardizing counseling, expanding access to employment services, and addressing financial stability needs.

Maddy summaryHR 6046, the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act, requires the Secretary of State to designate Ansarallah (the Houthis) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization within 90 days of enactment and mandates the President to impose sanctions under existing authorities (Executive Orders 13224 and 13780) against Ansarallah and its members, agents, or affiliates. The bill directly affects Ansarallah and any foreign entities linked to it by triggering U.S. sanctions. Key provisions set strict 90-day deadlines for both the designation and sanctions implementation. The law focuses on reversing a prior designation revocation and enforcing existing legal mechanisms against the group.

Maddy summaryHR 5917, the "Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act," expands sanctions against foreign individuals and entities that direct the use of civilians as human shields. It specifically adds members or agents of Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) to the list of targets for sanctions when they order or control civilians to shield military objectives. The bill requires the President to justify sanction decisions to Congress within 120 days and extends the sunset date for related sanctions from 2023 to 2030. Additionally, it mandates a Department of Defense report within 120 days detailing strategies to counter human shield tactics used by groups like Hamas and PIJ, including plans for international coordination.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide annual preventative health evaluations to veterans with spinal cord injuries or disorders. The evaluations cover health risk assessments, chronic pain management, dietary needs, prosthetic equipment functionality, and assistive technology options (like mobility devices or speech generators). The VA must also report annually to Congress on how many veterans receive these evaluations and assistive technologies, and consider these evaluations when assessing VA network performance. The law directly affects veterans with spinal cord injuries/disorders by mandating proactive health checks focused on preventing complications and improving mobility.

Maddy summaryHR 5530, the VA Emergency Transportation Access Act, prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from lowering payment rates for specialized transportation used by veterans and eligible individuals (like ambulances or wheelchair vans) without strict requirements. It mandates that any rate change that could reduce access to care must first undergo a detailed review analyzing economic impacts on the VA and transportation industry, and ensure the new rate covers actual costs. The VA must also develop a formal process for rate changes and consult with industry experts, veterans' groups, and healthcare agencies before implementing such changes. This bill directly affects veterans relying on specialized transportation for medical care, particularly those in rural or underserved communities, by safeguarding their access to necessary emergency transport services.

Maddy summaryHR 3649 establishes a 5-year pilot program to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program, limited to three Veterans Health Administration networks, offers HBOT through VA-approved providers using FDA-approved or investigational medical devices. Funding comes solely from donations to a dedicated VA HBOT Fund, with no annual budget constraints. This bill directly affects eligible veterans seeking this specific treatment option, but does not guarantee long-term coverage beyond the pilot's five-year term.

Maddy summaryThe Love Lives On Act of 2023 modifies benefits for surviving spouses of military veterans and service members. It removes an expiration date on the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship for surviving spouses, ensures remarriage doesn't automatically end eligibility for veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation, and expands access to commissary and exchange privileges for remarried surviving spouses. The bill also clarifies that remarried widows or widowers whose subsequent marriage ended (due to death, divorce, or annulment) can still be considered dependents under TRICARE. These changes directly affect surviving spouses of veterans and military members who have remarried or are considering remarriage, providing more consistent benefits regardless of marital status.

Maddy summaryHRES 1148 is a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that condemns the Iranian government for supporting terrorism, regional proxy conflicts, and internal suppression of dissent - including its crackdown on protests following Mahsa Amini's death in 2022. It specifically calls for maintaining sanctions against Iran, supporting the Iranian Resistance's Ten-Point Plan (which advocates for a democratic, secular, nonnuclear Iran), and protecting Iranian political refugees in Albania. The resolution also affirms the Iranian people's right to self-determination under international law and urges the U.S. to recognize their struggle for freedom. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally expresses congressional stance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to annually assess U.S. reliance on critical farm inputs - such as fertilizers, seeds, veterinary drugs, and agricultural equipment - that could be disrupted if China exploits supply chains. It mandates identifying domestic production capacity, supply chain vulnerabilities, and recommending ways to reduce dependency through onshore or nearshore production. The assessment must protect private company data, prohibiting disclosure of identifiable information and ensuring only anonymized aggregate data is used or shared. The law focuses on supply chain security for American agriculture without compelling businesses to provide sensitive information.