Maddy summaryThe No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act would deny tax deductions for employers who attempt to influence employees' decisions about union activities, including unfair labor practices like firing workers for organizing or using captive audience meetings. It targets expenses related to union-busting tactics, such as consulting fees and other costs used to sway workers' opinions about collective bargaining. Employers would need to report these expenses on tax returns and would no longer be able to deduct them from taxable income. The bill aims to prevent employers from using tax-deductible expenses to influence union elections, aligning with existing rules that deny tax deductions for political spending. It would apply to expenses incurred in taxable years beginning 240 days after enactment.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHR 5428, the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act, prevents employers from deducting certain expenses related to influencing workers' decisions about union representation. It targets spending on tactics like anti-union meetings, workplace surveillance, or consultants during organizing campaigns, making these costs non-deductible for tax purposes. Employers must report such expenses on their tax returns, including details about the activities and amounts spent. The bill aims to remove tax incentives for employer interference in union elections, aligning with federal labor law protections for workers' collective bargaining rights.
Maddy summaryHR 3152, the "Fight CRIME Act," aims to maintain international restrictions on Iran's missile-related activities by requiring diplomatic efforts to extend these restrictions before they expire in October 2023. The bill mandates annual reports detailing U.S. diplomatic strategies, potential impacts of expiration, and measures to deter missile technology transfers to Iran. It establishes sanctions against foreign individuals or entities that knowingly support Iran's missile or drone programs, including asset freezes and visa restrictions. These sanctions apply regardless of whether UN restrictions remain in effect after their expiration, directly affecting foreign entities involved in these activities.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) to increase access to healthy food for low-income SNAP participants. It raises the incentive funding percentage from 50% to 80% for eligible purchases, creates new cooperative agreements to scale state programs (requiring 90% of funds to be used for redeemed incentives at retailers), and expands a produce prescription program where healthcare providers can refer patients to buy fresh produce. The bill allocates increased annual funding through 2029, including $57.5 million annually for 2024-2028, and requires a study on transitioning produce prescription costs to health insurance within 10 years. It directly affects SNAP recipients, participating retailers (including farmers markets), and community health centers.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. military to clean up PFAS chemical contamination at its sites using the strictest available standard. When addressing PFAS pollution from military activities, the Defense Department must meet the most stringent standard among state environmental rules, federal guidelines, or public health advisories for drinking water. It directly affects communities near military bases with PFAS contamination and the Department of Defense as the cleanup agency. The law ensures cleanup levels are as protective as possible under existing regulations, without changing other environmental laws.
Maddy summaryHR 5260, the PFAS Free Military Purchasing Act, prohibits the U.S. Department of Defense from purchasing specific items containing harmful PFAS chemicals. Starting April 2023, it bans PFOS and PFOA in nonstick cookware and stain-treated furniture/carpet; by April 2025, it expands to ban 14 additional PFAS chemicals across a broader list of items like food packaging, cleaning products, and clothing. The bill requires the Defense Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress on steps taken to eliminate PFAS-containing purchases. This directly affects military procurement contracts for these everyday items used in bases and facilities.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Defense to assess potential exposure to PFAS chemicals (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) during routine health exams, separation physicals, and deployment evaluations for active-duty military members. If an assessment indicates possible exposure, the military must provide blood testing to document it, with results added to the service member's health record. The bill also creates a registry for service members with PFAS exposure, mandates sharing this data with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and allows former members and their families living near affected bases to access free blood testing through TRICARE or vouchers. It directly affects current and former military personnel and their families who lived at locations with known or suspected PFAS contamination.
Maddy summaryHR 5261, the PFAS Training For DoD Providers and Servicemembers Act, requires the Department of Defense to provide mandatory training to all its health care providers about the potential health effects of PFAS chemicals (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances). This training aims to ensure military health care providers understand PFAS exposure risks when treating servicemembers. The bill directly affects DoD health care providers, who must complete this training. The key provision is the mandatory nature of the training, which must cover specific health effects of PFAS without altering existing medical protocols.
Maddy summaryHR 5262, the DoD PFAS Cleanup Transparency Act of 2023, requires the Department of Defense to publicly post annual updates on the status of environmental cleanup efforts at military sites contaminated with PFAS chemicals. Starting one year after the law takes effect, the Defense Secretary must publish timely, regularly updated information on a specific public website about cleanup progress where funds have been allocated for environmental restoration. This law directly affects DoD sites with PFAS contamination and makes the public, including affected communities, the primary audience for this transparency. The key mechanism is the mandatory annual reporting requirement on cleanup status, rather than altering cleanup standards or funding.
Maddy summaryThe ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2023 provides federal funding through grants, loans, and combinations of both to build broadband infrastructure in rural areas. It requires projects to provide at least 100 Mbps downstream and 100 Mbps upstream service, with priority given to areas where at least 90% of households lack such service. The bill authorizes $650 million annually from 2024-2028 for this program, targeting rural communities that currently lack adequate broadband access, while requiring cost-sharing of up to 25% and technical assistance for applicants. Eligible entities include state/local governments, tribes, cooperatives, and corporations, but not individuals or general partnerships. The program will expire on September 30, 2028.