Rep. Jason Crow

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the law governing Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for uniformed service members stationed in the U.S. It changes the calculation method so that BAH amounts must equal the actual monthly cost of adequate housing in each location, as determined by the Secretary of Defense. This directly affects active-duty service members and their families who receive BAH for housing. The key provision replaces the previous formula with a requirement that BAH payments match local housing costs for members in the same pay grade and dependency status. The change ensures BAH reflects current housing expenses rather than an older calculation method.

Maddy summaryThe SOAR Act (Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act) modernizes recreation permitting on federal lands by creating single joint permits for trips crossing multiple federal land units, reducing processing times and costs through categorical exclusions, and establishing clearer fee structures for recreation service providers. It requires federal agencies to improve online application systems for special recreation permits and enhances coordination between the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture. The bill also creates a program to coordinate Federal and State recreation passes to improve visitor access to parks and public lands. These changes directly affect recreation service providers, federal land management agencies, and visitors to national parks, forests, and public lands.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal grant program to fund state and tribal governments in implementing Next Generation 9-1-1 systems, which upgrade emergency call systems to handle text, video, and data alongside voice calls. It requires grantees to develop coordinated implementation plans emphasizing cybersecurity, interoperability, rural/urban equity, and sustainable funding, with funds covering training, infrastructure, and public outreach. The bill mandates an annual report to Congress, creates a cybersecurity center for threat coordination, and forms an advisory board of public safety professionals to guide implementation. It directly affects state/local emergency communications centers, public safety agencies, and the 9-1-1 systems used by the public during emergencies.

Maddy summaryHR 2454, the United States-Israel PTSD Collaborative Research Act, establishes a grant program to fund joint research projects between U.S. academic or nonprofit entities and Israeli institutions focused on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The bill directs the Secretary of Defense, with coordination from the Departments of Veterans Affairs and State, to award grants for collaborative research addressing PTSD treatment gaps, building on existing U.S.-Israel scientific cooperation frameworks. It specifically targets research into improved PTSD diagnosis and treatment methods, rather than providing direct services or benefits. The program requires annual reporting to Congress on research outcomes and terminates seven years after the first grant is issued.

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 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.

Maddy summaryHR 1139, the GUARD VA Benefits Act, amends federal law to strengthen penalties for individuals or organizations charging veterans unauthorized fees when helping with VA benefit claims. It directly affects veterans seeking assistance with VA claims and the representatives (like advocates or attorneys) who might charge them fees. The bill adds a new provision making it a violation to solicit, charge, or receive any fee for preparing, presenting, or prosecuting VA claims, punishable by fines under Title 18. This change specifically targets unauthorized fee-charging while excluding fees covered under existing exceptions in sections 5904 or 1984 of the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores benefits for surviving spouses of military members who died in service and later remarried. It amends two key laws: it prevents termination of Survivor Benefit Plan annuities solely due to remarriage (with a specific provision to restart payments for those who remarried before age 55), and it ensures remarriage doesn't block Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments, requiring the government to restart DIC for eligible spouses who remarried before age 57. The bill directly affects surviving spouses who lost benefits due to remarriage under prior rules. It makes concrete policy changes by removing remarriage as a barrier to ongoing financial support for these families.