Rep. Mike Rogers

Maddy summaryHRES 485 is a non-binding resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' support for designating June 9 as "Batten Disease Awareness Day." It does not create new laws or policies, but formally recognizes Batten disease - a rare, fatal neurological disorder affecting children - as a condition requiring public awareness. The resolution describes Batten disease as a genetic condition causing progressive vision loss, seizures, motor skill decline, and early death, with no known cure. It directly affects families and advocacy groups for this rare disease by promoting public recognition on a specific date. This is a symbolic gesture with no direct impact on healthcare, funding, or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit for expenses related to "qualified access technology for the blind" under the Internal Revenue Code. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $2,000 per year (adjusted for inflation) for costs paid for hardware, software, or IT that converts visual information into formats usable by blind individuals, covering the taxpayer, their spouse, or a dependent who is blind. The credit is limited to $2,000 over any three consecutive tax years per blind individual and expires after 2028. It directly affects blind individuals and their families who purchase qualifying assistive technology. The credit cannot be claimed for expenses already covered by other tax deductions or credits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that AM radio receivers be included as standard equipment in all new motor vehicles (such as cars and trucks) sold in the United States, with a rule to be issued by the Department of Transportation within one year. The rule must ensure AM radio is easily accessible on the dashboard and allows manufacturers to use digital AM radio technology instead of traditional AM. During the one-year period between the bill's enactment and the rule's effective date, manufacturers must clearly label vehicles without AM radio. The bill also directs a study to evaluate whether an alternative system could deliver emergency alerts as reliably as AM radio across the country, especially during crises.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has final authority over energy efficiency standards for manufactured housing. It requires any energy standards developed under federal law (like those from the Energy Independence and Security Act) to be formally adopted into HUD's manufactured housing construction standards before becoming enforceable. The bill directly affects manufactured housing manufacturers and HUD, as it ensures HUD - not other agencies - controls which energy standards apply. Key provisions eliminate references to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and establish HUD as the sole authority for adopting these standards into its code. This streamlines the process but does not create new energy requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 3435, the Charitable Act, creates a temporary tax deduction for charitable contributions for individual taxpayers who do not itemize deductions. It allows these taxpayers to deduct up to one-third of their standard deduction amount for charitable gifts in 2023 and 2024. The bill directly affects millions of filers who typically take the standard deduction instead of itemizing, making charitable giving more tax-advantageous for them during these two years. The provision expires after 2024 and does not change the standard deduction amount itself.

This resolution commends the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a federally owned electric utility corporation, on the 90th anniversary of the signing of the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933. It also honors the accomplishments of the TVA in improving navigation, controlling floods, promoting environmental stewardship, and providing electricity. Further, it recognizes the TVA, its employees, and its retirees for their service in the areas of energy, the environment, and economic development in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Maddy summaryHRES 363 is a resolution expressing support for recognizing National Police Week, an annual observance established by law to honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The resolution acknowledges 556 officers killed in the line of duty during 2022 and calls for ensuring law enforcement officers have necessary equipment, training, and resources to protect both themselves and the public. It encourages the American public to observe National Police Week by honoring law enforcement personnel and recognizing their essential mission in serving communities across the United States. This resolution does not create new law but formally expresses congressional support for an existing observance.

Maddy summaryHR 2787 modifies a grant program under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to support rural households with water and wastewater systems. It directs the Secretary to provide grants to nonprofit organizations, which then offer subgrants (for households earning under 60% of median nonmetropolitan income) or loans (for households earning 60% or more) to cover construction, refurbishing, or servicing of individually owned household well and decentralized wastewater systems. Key changes include increasing the maximum loan amount from $15,000 to $20,000 and adding funding for 5-year performance warranties on wastewater systems. The bill also extends the program’s funding deadline from 2023 to 2028. This directly affects low- and moderate-income rural households in areas served by participating nonprofits.

Maddy summaryHR 3240 grants a federal charter to the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP), a California-based nonprofit already recognized as a veterans service organization under IRS tax law. The bill establishes specific rules for VAREP, requiring it to maintain its tax-exempt status, submit annual reports to Congress, and follow restrictions like not issuing stock, making political contributions, or claiming government authority. VAREP must continue its existing mission of supporting veterans through financial literacy programs, housing assistance (including foreclosure prevention), workforce development, and suicide awareness initiatives. This charter does not create new government benefits but formally recognizes and regulates this specific organization's federal status.

Maddy summaryThe Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act allows states to retain 25% of funds recovered from fraudulent unemployment claims (for pandemic-related benefits) to improve fraud prevention systems. States can use these retained funds to modernize unemployment systems, hire fraud investigators, reimburse administrative costs, or conduct other fraud prevention activities. The bill requires states to use specific data matching systems like the National Directory of New Hires to detect fraud more effectively. It modifies federal rules to ensure states can use recovered funds without violating deposit requirements. This legislation aims to reduce unemployment fraud while protecting taxpayers and victims of fraud.