Rep. Michelle Steel

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 allocates $7 billion in funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) during fiscal year 2024. The ACP provides subsidies to low-income households to help cover the cost of internet service and connected devices like laptops or tablets. This funding ensures the program can continue supporting eligible households throughout the year, with the money remaining available until fully spent. The bill extends existing program funding without changing eligibility criteria or service requirements.

Maddy summaryHRES 927 is a symbolic resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives condemning antisemitism on college campuses and criticizing the testimony of three university presidents (Harvard’s Claudine Gay, MIT’s Sally Kornbluth, and Penn’s Elizabeth Magill) before the House Education Committee. It specifically addresses their evasive responses when asked whether calls for the genocide of Jews violate campus policies, noting their statements about "context" and lack of clear condemnation. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally expresses the House’s stance against antisemitism and holds university leadership accountable for their testimony. It directly affects the referenced university presidents and their institutions by publicly criticizing their handling of campus antisemitism.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes tax relief for qualified residents of Taiwan earning income in the United States by reducing tax rates on interest, dividends, and royalties to 10% or 15% (instead of the standard 30%). It also exempts certain wages and income from entertainment activities under $30,000 from U.S. taxation. To qualify, individuals must meet specific residency requirements, and entities must demonstrate substantial business activity in Taiwan. The bill modifies withholding tax procedures to implement these new rates and requires reciprocal tax benefits from Taiwan to be in place.

Maddy summaryHRES 921 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the 30th anniversary of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program. It recognizes the program’s work supporting at-risk youth aged 16-18 by providing free, structured education and discipline through a 5.5-month residential phase (covering life skills, leadership, academics, and physical fitness) followed by a 12-month mentoring phase. The resolution highlights that the program, operating in 28 states and territories, has served over 8,000 cadets annually and helped more than 200,000 youth graduate with academic credentials since its inception. The resolution expresses the House’s reaffirmed commitment to the program’s mission of developing character and preparing youth for societal success.

Maddy summaryThe DETERRENT Act requires institutions of higher education to disclose foreign gifts and contracts meeting specific value thresholds ($50,000 or more) to the Department of Education, with special rules for contracts involving "foreign countries of concern" or "foreign entities of concern." It creates a public database of these disclosures, mandates faculty and staff to report foreign gifts related to research, and establishes a waiver process for institutions seeking to contract with prohibited foreign entities. Institutions that fail to comply face fines ranging from 1% to 100% of their federal funding, depending on the violation and whether it's a first or repeat offense. The bill applies primarily to institutions receiving significant federal funding, particularly those with substantial research programs. It aims to increase transparency around foreign influence in higher education while maintaining academic freedom.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows ordained ministers, members of religious orders, and Christian Science practitioners who currently have Social Security exemptions to revoke that exemption. They can file an application by the due date of their second tax year after December 31, 2025 (2027), choosing to pay Social Security taxes starting in 2026 or 2027. Once revoked, the exemption cannot be reinstated, and late filings require back payment of taxes for the affected year. The IRS must also create a plan within 90 days to inform clergy about this option.

Maddy summaryHR 6451, the Mental Health Justice Act of 2023, provides $250 million in federal grants to states, tribes, and localities to hire mental health professionals as first responders for specific emergencies. It directs these professionals to replace police in situations involving mental health crises, substance use, or intellectual/developmental disabilities - such as when a 911 caller describes a mental health emergency or a first responder identifies someone needing mental health support. The bill requires grantees to train responders in de-escalation techniques, link individuals to community-based services (not incarceration), and report on outcomes like reduced arrests or use of force. It also mandates data collection on demographics and prevents funneling people into institutional settings, with annual reports to Congress on program effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $14.3 billion in supplemental security funding to Israel following the October 7, 2023 attacks. The funding includes $4 billion for Iron Dome and David's Sling defense systems, $1.35 billion for the Iron Beam defense system development, and $3.5 billion for foreign military financing. The bill requires regular reporting to Congress on security assistance provided to Israel and designates all funds as "emergency requirements" under federal budget law. It also modifies existing laws to facilitate the transfer of defense articles and services to Israel, aiming to strengthen Israel's defense capabilities against rocket threats.

Adding Coccidioidomycosis to the FDA Priority Review Voucher Program Act of 2023 This bill expands the priority-review voucher program for tropical diseases to include coccidioidomycosis (also known as Valley fever). A voucher entitles the holder to have a future new drug or biological product application acted upon by the Food and Drug Administration within six months.

Maddy summaryThe Hire Student Veterans Act expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include veterans using educational benefits (like the GI Bill) to attend school. It directly affects employers who hire veterans receiving education assistance under specific veterans' education laws (such as Chapter 30, 33, or 1606/1607 of U.S. Code). The bill adds these veterans to the tax credit program, allowing employers to claim a credit for hiring them, while adjusting the minimum employment period requirement to exclude this group. This change applies to veterans hired after the bill's enactment, providing a financial incentive for employers to hire student veterans.