Rep. Katie Porter

Maddy summaryHR 1509 reauthorizes annual federal funding for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI), which helps establish grocery stores and healthy food access in underserved communities. The bill mandates increasing annual funding from $25 million in fiscal year 2024 up to $50 million per year starting in 2028. This funding supports projects like new supermarkets in "food desert" areas, directly benefiting residents in low-income neighborhoods with limited grocery options. The initiative provides grants and loans to developers, aiming to improve nutrition access without changing existing program rules.

Maddy summaryThe Free to Grow Act of 2023 repeals a specific felony provision related to hemp production under federal law. It removes Section 297B(e)(3)(B) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, which previously classified certain hemp production violations as felonies. This change directly affects hemp producers by eliminating the risk of felony charges for regulatory non-compliance in hemp cultivation. The bill simplifies legal consequences for growers by aligning penalties with the current federal regulatory framework for hemp.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 32 is a symbolic resolution supporting International Transgender Day of Visibility, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 30, 2023. It encourages Americans to observe the day through ceremonies and activities, celebrates transgender achievements, and recognizes the community's fight for dignity amid ongoing discrimination and anti-trans legislation. The resolution does not create new laws or policies - it is a non-binding statement of support, referencing over 700 anti-trans bills introduced in 2021-2023 that target education, healthcare, and identity documents. It directly acknowledges transgender individuals and their contributions without altering any legal rights or obligations.

Maddy summaryThe RISE Act (HR 2401) requires colleges to accept multiple types of documentation - such as past Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Section 504 plans, or licensed professional evaluations - to verify a student’s disability for accommodations, rather than requiring current evaluations. It also mandates institutions to publicly share clear, accessible processes for determining accommodation eligibility and to report specific disability-related enrollment data (like total students with disabilities and accommodations used) to federal databases. The bill authorizes $10 million for a national support center to assist postsecondary students with disabilities. It applies directly to institutions of higher education and students formally registered with disability services offices, without altering existing ADA definitions or rights.

Maddy summaryHR 2403, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2023, modifies federal firearm background check procedures to address delays. It requires firearm licensees to wait at least 10 business days after a prospective buyer submits a petition verifying they are not prohibited from owning firearms before completing a sale, if the background check system hasn't cleared the transaction. The bill also mandates the Attorney General to create an electronic petition form, provide timely responses to petitions, and track delays. Additionally, it requires multiple reports analyzing implementation, transaction delays, denial reasons by state, and potential impacts on domestic violence victim safety, with the first report due within 150 days of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal courts from excluding potential jurors from service due to disability or age. It amends jury service laws to remove disability and age as disqualifying factors, requiring courts to provide reasonable accommodations so individuals with disabilities can serve if otherwise qualified. The law directly affects people with disabilities and older adults who may have been previously disqualified from federal jury duty without considering accommodations. Key provisions mandate that courts must assess whether a disability can be reasonably accommodated before disqualifying someone, ensuring equal access to jury service under federal law.

Maddy summaryHR 2427, the Hmong Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes Congress to award a gold medal to honor Hmong veterans who served with U.S. forces during the Vietnam War. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to strike the medal and present it to the Smithsonian Institution for display, recognizing their combat service, heavy casualties, and displacement after the war. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to cover costs. This procedural bill commemorates the Hmong people's military contributions and their refugee resettlement in the U.S., affecting the Hmong community as a whole.

Maddy summaryHR 2394, the Protection from Abusive Passengers Act, creates a federal list of passengers who commit specific aviation security offenses, such as assaulting crew members, threatening flight safety, or tampering with security systems. Individuals added to this list are banned from boarding commercial flights until removed through established procedures. The bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to develop clear policies for adding individuals to the list, handling appeals within 5 days for potential errors, and maintaining annual reports on the list's composition. These provisions directly affect passengers convicted of or penalized for the specified offenses, aiming to enhance safety by restricting repeat offenders from flying.

Maddy summaryThe International Human Rights Defense Act of 2023 creates a permanent Special Envoy at the State Department to coordinate U.S. efforts against discrimination and violence targeting LGBTQI+ people globally. The bill requires the development of an annual global strategy to address criminalization, discrimination, and violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics. It also mandates that U.S. country reports on human rights practices include detailed information about laws and practices affecting LGBTQI+ communities. The legislation authorizes U.S. foreign assistance programs to support LGBTQI+ rights through health services, legal protections, and community capacity building. This bill aims to strengthen U.S. diplomatic engagement on LGBTQI+ rights as part of broader human rights policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Veterans Affairs Secretary to expand or modify an existing national cemetery (under National Cemetery Administration control) before Arlington National Cemetery reaches capacity, ensuring it provides full military honors using the same standards and eligibility criteria that applied to Arlington as of March 31, 2023. It directly affects veterans and their families seeking burial with full military honors at national cemeteries nationwide. The bill also mandates a joint report within one year to Congress on expanding cemetery capacity and assessing whether interment criteria should recognize exceptional service, including impacts on women, non-combat veterans, and other groups. The key mechanism is preserving current military honors standards at alternative cemeteries to prevent Arlington's capacity limits from disrupting existing burial practices.