Rep. Mike Thompson

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal grant program to help low-income homeowners and affordable housing owners make their properties more resilient to climate-driven hazards like floods, wildfires, and extreme heat. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to award grants to states, tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations to fund weatherproofing upgrades - including natural solutions like rain gardens - and requires strict eligibility rules (e.g., income ≤300% of poverty level, or properties with long-term affordability restrictions). Grantees must use funds for climate adaptation projects, provide outreach, and prohibit rent hikes for two years on multifamily buildings receiving funding. The program authorizes $250 million annually for 2024-2029 to implement these concrete resilience improvements.

Maddy summaryThe Equality Act (HR 15) would amend federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations, housing, employment, credit, and jury service. It amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics under existing sex discrimination provisions. The bill would require businesses, housing providers, employers, and government entities to provide equal access and services without regard to a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. It includes specific definitions for gender identity and sexual orientation to clarify protections across all covered areas. The law would apply to all entities covered by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including those receiving federal funding.

Maddy summaryHR 4121, the Right to Contraception Act, establishes a federal statutory right for individuals to access contraceptives and contraception services without government restriction or coercion, directly affecting all people seeking reproductive care and health care providers. The bill prohibits state or federal laws that limit access to contraceptives (defined broadly to include devices, drugs, and fertility methods), prevent individuals from obtaining or using them, or allow providers to refuse services based on personal beliefs. It preempts conflicting state laws, requires any restrictions to be justified by "clear and convincing evidence" of advancing access with no less restrictive alternative, and allows private lawsuits to challenge violations. The Act applies nationwide to all health care providers and individuals, protecting access regardless of factors like race, income, or location.

Maddy summaryThe Cleaner Air Spaces Act of 2023 creates a federal grant program to help air pollution control agencies establish clean air centers and provide free air filtration units to low-income households with vulnerable members during wildfire smoke events. It directly affects households in low-income communities that include individuals at high risk from wildfire smoke due to health conditions, disability, or age. The program requires agencies to partner with community organizations, set up accessible clean air centers in smoke-prone areas, distribute at least 1,000 free air filtration units per program (with one replacement per unit), and collect usage data through surveys. The bill authorizes $30 million over three years for these grants, with a requirement for agencies to report program outcomes to Congress within three years.

Maddy summaryHR 3946, the FASD Respect Act, establishes a new federal program within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The bill creates FASD Centers for Excellence to build state, tribal, and national capacity for prevention, identification, and support services - directly affecting individuals with FASD, their families, and healthcare providers. Key provisions include developing standardized diagnostic guidelines, expanding screening and training for medical professionals, creating a national resource directory for FASD services, and promoting culturally informed interventions. The program requires HHS to report to Congress on progress within four years. This legislation restructures existing HHS authority to focus comprehensively on FASD across the lifespan, replacing older terminology with consistent "FASD" references.

Maddy summaryHR 4172, the Hate Crimes Commission Act of 2023, establishes a 12-member United States Commission on Hate Crimes to investigate trends and improve responses to hate crimes. The commission, appointed by Senate and House leaders plus the Attorney General and Secretary of Health and Human Services, will examine hate crime increases since 2015, factors driving them, and strategies to reduce underreporting to the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System. It will also assess successful bias prevention efforts and online hate crime prevalence. Within one year of its formation, the commission must submit a report to Congress and the President with recommendations for federal agencies and community-based prevention programs. This bill directly affects local law enforcement agencies through reporting requirements and federal agencies through proposed policy changes.

Maddy summaryThe American Dream and Promise Act of 2023 would create two pathways to permanent residency for certain immigrants. The "Dream Act" portion would provide conditional permanent resident status to individuals who entered the U.S. as children, have lived continuously in the U.S. since January 1, 2021, and meet educational requirements (such as completing high school, earning a degree, or enrolling in education programs). The "American Promise Act" portion would provide permanent residency to individuals eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) as of specific dates (January 1, 2017, or January 20, 2021). The bill includes provisions for background checks, fee exemptions for low-income applicants, and processes for removing conditional status after meeting specific criteria like completing higher education or earning income.

Maddy summaryHRES 505 is a non-binding resolution recognizing June 19, 2023, as the annual observance of Juneteenth Independence Day. It acknowledges the historical significance of June 19, 1865, when Union troops announced the end of slavery in Texas, marking the first widespread celebration of freedom for formerly enslaved people in the U.S. The resolution encourages all Americans to observe the day through ceremonies and educational activities to honor this milestone in U.S. history. It does not create new policy or benefits but formally supports public recognition of Juneteenth as part of the nation's heritage.

Maddy summaryHRES 454 is a procedural resolution that sets the rules for the House to consider H.R. 715, a bill requiring background checks for every firearm sale. It waives objections to the bill and establishes a one-hour debate period equally divided between the committee leadership. This resolution does not change the law but enables the House to move forward with voting on the background check bill.

Maddy summaryHR 4070, the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2023, excludes certain payments received from state disaster mitigation programs from taxable income. It directly affects homeowners who get funds from state or state-regulated programs to make property improvements specifically designed to reduce damage from windstorms, earthquakes, or wildfires (like installing fire-resistant roofing or seismic upgrades). The bill adds a new tax exclusion in the Internal Revenue Code, meaning these qualified mitigation payments won't be counted as gross income for tax purposes. This change applies to payments made after December 31, 2020, with options for retroactive tax filings.