Rep. Katie Porter

Maddy summaryHR 4268, the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act of 2023, would provide $350 million annually (2024-2028) in federal grants to nonprofit organizations that help individuals cover travel and logistical costs for accessing abortion care across state lines. The bill directly supports people living in states with abortion bans or severe restrictions who must travel for care, including expenses like transportation, lodging, childcare, meals, and lost wages. Grants may not fund abortion procedures themselves but cover related logistical barriers identified in the bill’s findings, such as increased travel times and costs post-Dobbs. Eligible organizations must provide unbiased, medically accurate assistance, with priority given to those serving individuals traveling to access abortion services.

Maddy summaryHR 4263, the ADINA Act, requires drug manufacturers to clearly label human-use drugs containing major food allergens (like peanuts or shellfish) or ingredients derived from gluten-containing grains (such as wheat or barley). This affects drug producers and pharmacies by mandating that labels state the presence of these allergens and specify the exact gluten source if applicable. The law aims to inform consumers with allergies about potential risks in medications. It applies to all drugs meeting these criteria, with implementation beginning within two years of the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 3698, the Feed Hungry Veterans Act of 2023, amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand eligibility for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to more veterans. It adds four new categories of veterans who can qualify: those with a "catastrophically disabled" status under military disability law, veterans under 65 receiving a pension under specific veteran benefits law, and those meeting existing high-disability rating thresholds. This change directly affects veterans who previously did not meet the program’s eligibility criteria but now qualify under these expanded definitions. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2023, making these eligibility changes operational for SNAP enrollment.

Maddy summaryHR 3519, the Hot Foods Act of 2023, amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to be used for hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption at participating retailers. This change directly affects SNAP recipients who purchase such hot foods and retailers that sell them. The key provision removes the previous exclusion of hot foods from SNAP eligibility, while adding a limit that no more than 50% of a retailer's total gross sales from SNAP can come from hot foods. The bill clarifies that hot foods can be purchased for home or immediate consumption, aligning SNAP rules with current retail practices for prepared foods.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE Act of 2023 extends a 2018 law that prohibits slaughtering animals for human consumption to include horses, donkeys, and other equine animals, such as ponies. It amends Section 12515 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 by updating the language to replace "dog or cat" with "dog, cat, or equine" in both the section title and the main prohibition. This change directly affects the livestock industry and slaughter facilities by banning the processing of equines for food. The bill modifies existing law without adding new enforcement mechanisms, closing a gap in animal protection.

Maddy summaryThe COVER Act of 2023 establishes the "Good Steward Cover Crop Program," which provides farmers with an additional $5 per acre in premium subsidies for planting qualifying cover crops (like grasses, legumes, or brassicas) on land where they also grow cash crops and maintain crop insurance. This directly affects farmers enrolled in federal crop insurance programs, particularly underserved producers, by reducing their insurance costs when adopting conservation practices. The program requires annual reporting of acreage and allocates $60 million for fiscal year 2024, increasing annually to $84 million by 2028, with a portion reserved for outreach and technical support. A separate soil health pilot program also allows farmers using innovative soil practices to access additional premium subsidies through reinsurance arrangements.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2023, aims to improve access to nutrition assistance for older adults and people with disabilities through several key changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and related programs. It extends SNAP certification periods to 36 months, establishes a standard medical expense deduction for elderly/disabled participants, and creates streamlined application processes (Elderly Simplified Application Program and Combined Application Program) to reduce administrative burdens for eligible households. The bill also establishes a pilot program to improve enrollment among older adults, kinship families, and people with disabilities, and adds provisions for food delivery services for SNAP participants who are elderly or disabled and unable to shop. Additionally, it increases funding for the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program and creates infrastructure funding for farmers' markets to improve access to fresh food in underserved communities.

Maddy summaryTim's Act establishes pay parity for federal wildland firefighters by creating special base pay rates that are higher than standard General Schedule rates, with specific percentage increases (ranging from 1.5% to 27%) for different grades. It also creates incident standby premium pay (50% of basic pay) for designated sleep/rest periods during wildfire incidents and requires rest and recuperation leave after qualifying incidents. The bill includes provisions for tracking chronic diseases through a new database, mental health support programs, and retirement benefits specifically for wildland firefighters. It directly affects federal wildland firefighters employed by the Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, and Tribal Firefighters who maintain specific qualifications for wildland fire management.

Maddy summaryThe LGBTQI+ and Women's History Education Act of 2023 would provide $2 million annually for five years to develop educational resources about women's and LGBTQI+ history for K-12 classrooms. The bill directs the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to create inclusive teaching materials that address historical gaps where women and LGBTQI+ individuals, particularly those of color and with disabilities, have been underrepresented. These resources would include digital content, print materials, and professional development for teachers to help implement more comprehensive curricula. The bill aims to address findings showing only 13% of named historical figures in textbooks are women and that LGBTQI+ history is often omitted or marginalized in school curricula. The program would require annual reports to Congress on how funds are used, with the program set to sunset in 2028.

Maddy summaryThe Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2023 requires oil and gas operators on federal lands and National Wildlife Refuge System lands to provide financial assurances (bonds) before starting surface-disturbing activities to cover reclamation costs. It sets minimum bond amounts of $150,000 per activity or $500,000 per state (adjusted for inflation), and mandates both interim and final reclamation plans for all operations. The bill also establishes a $0.10 per barrel fee on oil and gas production from federal lands to fund orphaned well plugging and reclamation, and creates annual inspection fees based on the number of wells (ranging from $700 to $9,800 annually). These provisions aim to ensure taxpayers aren't left bearing the cost of reclamation when operators fail to meet their obligations.