Rep. Jim Costa

Pyrolysis Innovation Grants Act This bill requires the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to award grants for pilot projects that have the potential to reduce or sequester greenhouse gas emissions and that convert and valorize tree nut harvest by-products into higher value biocarbon products. Eligible grantees include, among others, certain colleges or universities and agricultural business entities.

Maddy summaryThe Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023 establishes a new federal program to help dairy and livestock producers reduce methane emissions and improve soil health. It directly affects eligible producers who currently use liquid manure lagoons or methane-capturing systems by offering cost-sharing (up to 90% federal funding) to adopt covered management measures like pasture-based grazing, solid manure separation systems, or composting practices. The program allocates $1.5 billion over five years (2024-2028), prioritizing projects near low-income communities and reserving funds for beginning, limited-resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers. Payments require producers to implement at least one approved measure for up to three years, with a $825,000 cap per entity over five years.

Maddy summaryHR 4350, the MONARCH Act of 2023, establishes a $12.5 million annual fund (2023-2027) to support habitat restoration for western monarch butterflies, which are at risk of extinction due to a 99% population decline over 30 years. The bill authorizes grants to eligible entities like tribal governments, nonprofits, and local agencies to restore milkweed, protect overwintering sites, and conserve pollinator habitats across California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. Projects must include community consultation, avoid conflicts with food safety, and demonstrate clear conservation benefits. The Secretary of the Interior will manage the grants, require annual progress reports to Congress and the public, and coordinate with existing conservation plans.

Maddy summaryHR 4288, the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act, establishes national uniformity for pesticide labeling under federal law. It prohibits states, local governments, or courts from imposing additional or different labeling requirements on pesticides beyond those approved by the federal Administrator under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The bill requires that all pesticide labeling aligns with federal human health assessments and carcinogenicity classifications, preventing states from creating separate rules for warnings or packaging. This directly affects pesticide manufacturers, distributors, and state regulatory agencies by eliminating conflicting state labeling standards. The key mechanism is a federal preemption of state labeling rules that differ from the nationally approved labeling.

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.

Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish within USDA a stand-alone competitive research and extension grant program to increase the competitiveness of specialty crops in the United States through the advancement and acceleration of mechanization and automation. Specialty crops are fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture). The bill provides specified funds for FY2024 and each succeeding year to carry out the program. The grant program includes projects that create or improve cost-effective technologies to reduce a specialty crop grower's manual labor requirements and increase the efficiency of crop production, resource management, harvesting, processing, post-harvest technologies, and packaging; increase adoption of mechanization and automation technologies; and accelerate automation and mechanization through prototype development, in-field trial testing, ongoing industry engagement, and rapid commercialization. Entities eligible for the grant program are federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations and corporations, state agricultural experiment stations, individuals, and organizations representing specialty crop growers.

Maddy summaryHRES 645 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing August as "Chicano Heritage Month" to celebrate the contributions of Mexican Americans to U.S. history. It highlights historical figures like labor leaders Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, landmark court cases (e.g., *Mendez v. Westminster* ending school segregation), and cultural impacts such as Selena's influence on music. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment by the House to honor this heritage. It encourages the public and institutions to observe the month with events celebrating Mexican American contributions.

Maddy summaryHRES 653 is a symbolic resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' support for recognizing August 13-19, 2023, as "Warehouse Worker Recognition Week." It directly honors workers in the logistics industry, who handle critical supply chain tasks like packing, processing, and moving goods. The resolution highlights their contributions to the economy (over 9 million workers), acknowledges challenging conditions like extreme heat in warehouses, and commits to reducing workplace injuries. It does not create new laws but aims to raise awareness of warehouse workers' essential role as frontline employees.

Providing Essential Temporary Shelter Assistance For Emergencies Act of 2023 or the PETSAFE Act of 2023 This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a pilot program to provide grants for mobile pet shelters during emergencies and major disasters. FEMA may provide funds to state, local, and tribal governments to establish a new pet shelter site that is a mobile unit, which may be a companion animal mobile equipment trailer, to be used in case of evacuation due to emergencies and major disasters. FEMA's authority to approve projects under this bill shall cease on January 1, 2029.

Maddy summaryHJRES 84 designates August 20 as "Slavery Remembrance Day" to commemorate the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in what is now Virginia on August 20, 1619. The resolution urges the President to issue an annual proclamation encouraging Americans to observe the day with ceremonies and activities reflecting on slavery's history. It specifically honors 21 Black Congress members from the Reconstruction Era as honorary cosponsors and calls for acknowledging the enduring impacts of slavery. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect any group beyond establishing an annual observance.