Rep. Joe Neguse

Maddy summaryHR 3303, the Maternal Health for Veterans Act, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to annually report on maternity care coordination programs and maternal health outcomes for veterans receiving care through VA facilities or VA-contracted providers. The bill mandates the VA to collect data on maternal outcomes - including disparities affecting high-risk demographic groups - and submit recommendations to Congress by September 2028. It authorizes $15 million annually (2024-2028) for VA maternity care coordination programs, supplementing existing funding without reducing current resources. The law directly affects veterans using VA maternity services, aiming to improve care through data-driven strategies.

Maddy summaryHR 1083, the Caring for Survivors Act of 2023, increases financial support for surviving spouses of veterans. It amends Title 38 to raise dependency and indemnity compensation from a fixed $1,154 to 55% of the monthly compensation rate under section 1114(j), effective six months after enactment. The bill also modifies eligibility for survivors of veterans who died before 1993, ensuring they receive the greater of their current benefit or the new calculation. Additionally, it reduces the required continuous service rating period for survivors from 10 years to five years when a veteran was totally disabled at death. These changes directly affect surviving spouses, particularly those with veterans who died prior to 1993.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes federal grants to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation for establishing a library in Medora, North Dakota, requiring the Foundation to match federal funds two-to-one from non-Federal sources (e.g., state funds or private donations). It directs federal agencies to transfer relevant artifacts and collections to the library without cost for public display. The library will operate independently under the Foundation, with no ongoing federal management or operational involvement.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal grant program to support accredited zoos, aquariums, and wildlife facilities caring for threatened and endangered species. It creates a "Wildlife Confiscations Network" to coordinate federal law enforcement with qualified facilities handling seized animals (like those from illegal trade), and authorizes a new permit under the Endangered Species Act to streamline rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction efforts. Facilities must meet standards for animal care, comply with the Animal Welfare Act, and use grants for specific costs like veterinary care, transportation, and reintroduction - capping federal funding at $1 million per facility annually (except during emergencies). The program directly affects accredited wildlife facilities, federal agencies (like USFWS), and law enforcement, aiming to standardize and fund conservation efforts for species under the Endangered Species Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $5 billion annually (2025-2034) for three key housing programs - Home Investment Partnerships, Community Development Block Grants, and the Housing Trust Fund - but restricts funding to areas already designated with a "high housing cost adjustment" by HUD. It mandates a two-year assessment by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to evaluate how area median income (AMI) calculations impact affordability, particularly in high-cost urban areas, including analyzing ZIP code-level metrics and alternatives to AMI. The study must examine rent burdens, income limits for tax-subsidized housing, and the specific effects of high-cost adjustments in places like New York City. The bill directly affects low-income and middle-class families in urban areas where housing costs significantly exceed local median income, aiming to inform potential reforms to housing affordability metrics.

Maddy summaryThe SMASH 2.0 Act reauthorizes $100 million annually for mosquito control programs from 2024 to 2028, supporting state and local health departments managing mosquito-borne disease prevention. It requires grant recipients to consider innovative technology for mosquito control and allows up to 5% of funds for training public health workers. The bill also mandates coordination with the Strategic National Stockpile to stockpile nonperishable products for controlling disease-carrying insects during emergencies. This law directly affects public health agencies responsible for mosquito abatement and vector-borne disease response.

Maddy summaryThe Cultural Resource Challenge Act of 2024 requires the National Park Service (NPS) to strengthen the management and preservation of cultural resources within national parks and historic sites. It creates a grant program to fund projects enhancing cultural resource resilience (e.g., climate adaptation, digital documentation), prioritizing work that supports Native American, minority, and underrepresented communities, and includes a $20 million Career Academy for NPS staff training on climate impacts, cultural competency, and community engagement. Eligible recipients include tribal governments, states, nonprofits, and educational institutions, with grants covering up to 80% of project costs (waivable for tribal projects under $10,000). The bill mandates annual progress reports to Congress and a comprehensive "State of our Cultural Resources" report within four years, authorizing $250 million over six years (2025-2030) for implementation.

Maddy summaryThe TERRA Act (Tribal Environmental Resiliency Resources Act) allows Indian Tribes to integrate funding from multiple Federal environmental and disaster-related programs into a single comprehensive plan to address threats like flooding, erosion, wildfires, and sea level rise. It streamlines processes by reducing administrative burdens through consolidated reporting requirements, enabling Tribes to create one annual report instead of multiple reports for individual programs, and allowing reallocation of funds for community-driven relocation or environmental remediation without additional approvals. The Act establishes the Department of the Interior as the lead agency with sole authority to approve these plans and integrate Federal programs, while providing mechanisms for Tribes to request waivers of certain statutory requirements and expedite land trust acquisitions for relocation purposes. Tribes can use integrated funds for infrastructure development, environmental remediation, and community-driven relocation, with reduced requirements for separate recordkeeping and reporting for each Federal program.

Maddy summaryThe Prevent Illegal Gun Resales Act increases licensing fees for firearm dealers and requires them to implement specific business practices to prevent firearms from being diverted to illegal markets or straw purchasers. It mandates dealers to certify secure gun storage availability, submit detailed business procedures, maintain electronic records of transactions, and respond to law enforcement requests within 24 hours. Dealers must update security measures if they report multiple lost/stolen firearms or firearms traced to crimes, with penalties including civil fines up to $5,000 and license suspension for non-compliance. The bill also establishes enhanced regulations for "high risk" dealers identified by the Attorney General based on crime trace data or previous violations.

Maddy summaryHR 7849, the Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act of 2024, establishes a federal grant program to help homeowners in high-risk disaster areas make their homes more resilient. The program provides up to $10,000 per household (adjusted annually for inflation) for specific qualifying mitigation activities, such as reinforcing roofs, installing flood barriers, or creating fire-resistant landscaping. Homeowners must have an adjusted gross income under $250,000 ($500,000 for joint filers) and the work must meet FEMA-established standards. States and tribal governments administer the program, with funds intended to incentivize insurance companies to offer or increase coverage in vulnerable areas.