Rep. Jim Costa

Maddy summaryHR 7170, the Victims' VOICES Act, amends federal restitution law to require courts to reimburse specific expenses for individuals who assume a victim's legal rights (such as family members or advocates). It mandates that defendants pay for lost income, childcare, transportation, and related costs directly tied to attending court proceedings, participating in investigations, or accompanying victims to necessary medical care, therapy, or rehabilitation. The bill focuses on concrete reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred during legal and medical processes, rather than creating new programs. This change directly affects those stepping into a victim's role during criminal cases, ensuring they are financially supported for essential participation.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial resolution (HRES 985) expresses the U.S. House of Representatives' support for Catholic schools during the 50th anniversary of National Catholic Schools Week. It acknowledges Catholic schools' contributions to education, diversity, and community values - highlighting their 1.7 million students, 98.9% high school graduation rate, and role in serving diverse communities - while applauding the National Catholic Educational Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for organizing the event. The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes; it solely serves as a symbolic gesture of recognition.

Maddy summaryHR 7132 creates a federal grant program to help state and local governments, tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations develop and implement housing plans. Grants fund both planning (creating strategies) and implementation (putting strategies into action) to increase housing supply and affordability while avoiding displacement of current residents. At least 10% of funds must support rural communities, and recipients must report annually on progress and submit final evaluations after three years. The program requires comprehensive plans addressing housing needs, land use reforms, and community engagement to expand housing options.

Maddy summaryHR 6662 establishes the White House Rural Council, chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture, to coordinate federal efforts supporting rural economic development. The Council requires regular meetings among 26+ federal departments and agencies (including Agriculture, Labor, Commerce, and Energy) to share data, identify collaboration opportunities, and address rural economic challenges. Key provisions mandate joint planning to improve services for rural stakeholders like small businesses, Tribal governments, and agricultural organizations, while identifying gaps in current programs. The bill requires no new funding, directing agencies to use existing resources and personnel to fulfill these coordination duties. It directly affects federal departments and agencies responsible for rural economic initiatives across the U.S.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act to authorize CCC funds for emergency assistance to dairy and livestock producers. It directly affects dairy and livestock producers who suffer losses from natural disasters, specifically covering costs for livestock relocation, shelter, and feed crop losses. The key provision adds a new section (h) to the CCC Act, enabling the use of CCC funds for these targeted disaster-related expenses. The assistance is triggered by natural disasters, with no additional eligibility criteria specified in the bill text.

Maddy summaryThe Farmers First Act of 2023 amends the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network program to expand mental health support for farmers and ranchers. It increases annual funding from $10 million to $15 million for fiscal years 2024-2028, adds crisis lines to the program’s services, and expands referral options to connect individuals with certified community clinics, health centers, rural clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and critical access hospitals. These changes directly affect agricultural workers facing mental health or substance use challenges by improving access to specialized care. The bill focuses on strengthening existing support infrastructure rather than creating new programs.

Maddy summaryHR 7056, the Access to Family Building Act, establishes federal rights for individuals to access assisted reproductive technology (ART) like IVF without unreasonable restrictions, directly affecting patients seeking fertility treatments and health care providers offering ART services. The bill prohibits states from imposing limitations on ART that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures, fail to advance safety, or unduly restrict access, while allowing health and safety regulations that are necessary and least restrictive. It creates federal enforcement mechanisms, including lawsuits by the Attorney General or affected individuals to challenge violating state laws, and preempts conflicting state regulations. The bill explicitly preserves state authority over health/safety regulations and does not alter existing state insurance coverage laws for ART.

Maddy summaryThe Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act of 2024 creates a new federal grant program to address nursing faculty shortages. It authorizes $28.5 million annually (2024-2028) to help nursing schools supplement faculty salaries, covering the gap between clinical nurse pay and teaching salaries. Schools must submit detailed salary data and plans to sustain higher pay after the 3-year grant period. The program prioritizes schools in high-need areas, serving vulnerable populations, or recruiting underrepresented faculty, with a report required to Congress after 3 years.

Maddy summaryThe LAKES Act (HR 6906) allows local governments and nonprofit organizations to collect and retain user fees for managing lakes and recreation facilities under Army Corps of Engineers projects. It requires that at least 80% of fees collected at a specific site be used for that site's maintenance, while permitting entities to keep up to 100% of fees for related operations. The bill modifies existing laws to ensure these fees supplement, not replace, regular federal funding for recreation facilities. It directly affects local public entities and nonprofits managing Corps-managed water resources. The key change is enabling these groups to retain and use user fees they collect, improving local funding for facility upkeep.

Maddy summaryHRES 882 is a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on November 21, 2023, declaring support and gratitude to food banks, food pantries, and community-based organizations addressing food insecurity. It recognizes these groups' work in serving over 5 billion meals annually, rescuing wasted food (nearly 118 billion pounds yearly), and supporting vulnerable populations including 44.2 million people in food-insecure households in 2022. The resolution specifically acknowledges their role in providing emergency aid, nutrition education, and disaster response, while highlighting that 55% of food-insecure households did not access federal nutrition programs. It does not create new policies or funding but formally commends these organizations' contributions to reducing food insecurity and improving community health.