Rep. Jim Costa

Maddy summaryThe HELPER Act of 2023 creates a new FHA mortgage insurance program specifically for first responders and K-12 teachers. It allows eligible first-time homebuyers in these professions to secure mortgages with 100% financing (no down payment required) for purchasing or repairing a primary residence. To qualify, applicants must be employed as law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, or K-12 teachers, have completed housing counseling, and meet specific employment history requirements (e.g., 4 years in the role or disability-related release). The program authorizes $660,000 for fiscal year 2024 and $160,000 annually through 2030, with authority expiring after 5 years.

Maddy summaryHRES 376 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' view that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) must maintain door-to-door delivery for all residential and business customers. It cites concerns that ending this service would disproportionately affect elderly and disabled individuals who rely on secure, convenient mail access for essential items like medications. The resolution notes that voluntary shifts to centralized pickup in 2013 affected only 0.8% of businesses, highlighting dependence on in-person delivery for security and revenue. It urges USPS to avoid reducing door delivery or requiring customers to pay for it.

Maddy summaryThe ACRE Act of 2023 amends the tax code to exclude interest income from certain rural and agricultural loans from taxable income for eligible lenders. It directly affects banks, savings associations, and their wholly-owned entities that provide qualified loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate, including single-family homes in designated rural areas (with a $750,000 loan balance cap) or aquaculture facilities. The key provision allows these lenders to exclude interest earned on qualifying loans from their gross income, effectively reducing their tax liability on such lending activity. The bill applies to loans made after its enactment date and aligns with existing definitions of rural property from the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987.

Maddy summaryThe Transit to Trails Act establishes a federal grant program to fund transportation projects connecting critically underserved communities - defined as areas lacking adequate park access, low-income, communities of color, or environmental justice areas - to public lands and recreational spaces. Eligible entities, including states, local governments, tribal organizations, and park districts, can apply for grants to develop transportation connectors (like bus routes) and culturally appropriate education materials, with priority for projects using low-emission vehicles and offering discounted fares for low-income riders. Grants range from $25,000 to $500,000, with federal funding covering up to 80% of costs, and recipients must report on demographics served and project outcomes. The program is funded at $40 million annually in its fifth year, aiming to improve mobility to parks and recreation in communities historically excluded from such access.

Maddy summaryHR 2419, the Canal Conveyance Capacity Restoration Act, authorizes federal funding to repair ground sinking (subsidence) that has reduced water delivery capacity in California’s Friant-Kern Canal, Delta-Mendota Canal, and California Aqueduct. It provides up to 33% federal financial assistance (with local cost-sharing) for projects restoring canal capacity and mitigating subsidence impacts, requiring projects to meet groundwater sustainability goals and comply with environmental laws. The bill directly affects California water agencies and disadvantaged communities by increasing drought resilience, groundwater recharge, and reliable water supply. Funding is limited to repairs and does not cover new reservoirs or canal expansions.

Maddy summaryHRES 333 is a symbolic House resolution supporting the designation of April as "National Donate Life Month" and expressing gratitude to Americans who have registered as organ and tissue donors. It does not create new laws or programs but encourages broader public awareness and registration by urging individuals to consider donation, recognizing donor families and living donors, and asking states to issue proclamations. The resolution directly affects all U.S. citizens by promoting organ donation awareness and thanking registered donors, while acknowledging the ongoing need for donors (with over 104,000 people on the national transplant waiting list as of 2023). It focuses on recognition and education, not policy changes.

Maddy summaryHR 3117, the Hotel to Housing Conversion Act of 2023, creates a $750 million federal grant program to help convert vacant hotels, motels, or residential properties into emergency shelters and housing for homeless individuals and families. The grants, distributed to states and local homeless service networks, cover acquisition, renovation, operating costs, and supportive services like counseling. Eligible projects must address urgent housing needs in areas with high homelessness, as determined by competitive applications. The program runs from fiscal years 2024 through 2028, requiring grantees to report on how funds reduced homelessness in their communities.

Maddy summaryThe Words Matter Act of 2023 replaces the outdated term "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" across numerous federal laws and regulations. It amends over 20 provisions in the U.S. Code, Social Security Act, and other statutes - including healthcare, disability programs, and legal definitions - to update terminology used in areas like nursing home care, criminal justice, and federal grants. The bill explicitly states this is a purely linguistic change, not a policy shift, and does not alter eligibility, benefits, or program requirements for individuals with intellectual disabilities. It affects all federal programs and legal references that previously used the terms "mental retardation," "mentally retarded," or "developmentally disabled."

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a restriction that previously barred people in jail or prison while awaiting trial from receiving Medicaid health benefits. It directly affects individuals in custody pending legal proceedings by allowing states to provide Medicaid coverage for their medical care during this time. The bill also allocates $50 million in planning grants to help states develop systems to enroll these individuals, recruit healthcare providers who can serve them, and establish electronic billing for services provided in correctional facilities or through outpatient care. Key provisions require states to assess healthcare needs, eliminate policy barriers, and create plans to increase provider participation in Medicaid for this population.

Maddy summaryHRES 358 is a symbolic resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). It recognizes the NWTF's 50 years of work, including conserving over 22 million acres of habitat, investing $500 million in conservation, and recruiting over 1.5 million hunters since 2012. The resolution celebrates the NWTF's role as a key partner in wildlife conservation and hunting heritage efforts. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but formally honors the organization's contributions to habitat conservation and outdoor traditions.