Rep. Yadira Caraveo

Maddy summaryHRES 211 expresses the House of Representatives' support for designating March 8, 2023, as "National Emily Warner and Women Airline Pilots Day." The resolution honors Emily Howell Warner, who became the first female airline pilot hired by a U.S. airline in 1973 and the first female airline captain in 1976, for her pioneering role in advancing women in aviation. It highlights her founding of organizations like the International Society of Women Airline Pilots and notes that women now represent over 16% of U.S. airline pilots.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the use of 529 college savings accounts to cover career training and credentialing costs. It allows funds to pay for tuition, fees, books, and testing expenses related to recognized postsecondary credential programs (like vocational certifications) that meet specific standards under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The change directly affects workers seeking industry-recognized credentials - such as nursing certifications or IT certifications - instead of traditional degrees. It treats these expenses the same as traditional college costs for 529 account withdrawals, making it easier to save for career-focused training. The provision applies to expenses paid after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryHR 1447 prevents employers from ending health insurance coverage for workers during a lawful strike or a lockout (when an employer stops work to pressure union demands). It directly affects unionized workers participating in strikes or facing lockouts, ensuring they maintain healthcare coverage during these labor disputes. The bill adds penalties: employers violating this rule face up to $75,000 per violation for lockouts ($150,000 for repeat offenses or serious harm) and up to $50,000 per violation for strikes ($100,000 for repeat offenses or serious harm). These penalties apply to employers who cut healthcare during strikes or lockouts, with the National Labor Relations Board enforcing the fines.

Maddy summaryThe STEM RESTART Act creates a federal grant program to help mid-career workers, particularly women and people from underrepresented racial groups, return to STEM careers. It provides funding for small and medium-sized businesses to establish "returnship" programs that offer above-entry-level positions with full benefits for 10 weeks or more. The program requires grantees to track participants' demographics and employment outcomes, with $50 million authorized annually from 2024-2028. These returnships must provide compensation equivalent to full-time employees with similar experience, including benefits like health care and child care. The bill targets workers who left the workforce but want to return, especially those from rural areas or underrepresented populations.

Maddy summaryHR 1405, the IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act, establishes two programs within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The IMPACTT Program provides trauma support training for HSI staff working with trafficking victims, focusing on recognizing burnout and stress, self-care resources, and supervisor training. The Victim Assistance Program mandates specific staffing (including forensic interview specialists and victim assistance specialists) at HSI offices and task forces to deliver victim-centered, trauma-informed support, including emergency aid like food, shelter, and transportation. The bill requires annual reports to Congress on training participation and victims assisted, aiming to improve both staff well-being and victim support services.

Don't BLock Our Communities Act or the D-BLOC Act This bill prohibits railroad carriers from obstructing travel at public highway-rail crossings for more than 10 minutes, except under limited circumstances (e.g., safety issues). The Department of Transportation (DOT) must investigate and send notices to carriers of repeated incidents; carriers are subject to civil penalties for violations that occur after having received notice. Additionally, each Class I railroad carrier must publish on its home page an active link to the blocked highway-rail crossing portal that is maintained by the Federal Railroad Administration. The portal is used to (1) collect information from the public, including first responders, regarding blocked highway-rail grade crossing events; (2) solicit the apparent cause of the blocked crossing and provide examples of common causes of blocked crossings; (3) provide each complainant with the contact information for reporting a blocked crossing to the relevant railroad; and (4) encourage each complainant to report the blocked crossing to the relevant railroad.

American Patriots of WWII through Service with the Canadian and British Armed Forces Gold Medal Act of 2023 This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to all U.S. nationals who voluntarily joined the Canadian and British Armed Forces and their supporting entities during World War II in recognition of their dedicated service.

Maddy summaryThe Combating Rural Inflation Act requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to create and publish a new monthly index starting in January 2024. This index, called the Consumer Price Index for Rural Consumers, will track changes in typical spending patterns for people living in rural communities. The bill does not alter existing laws or provide new funding - it only mandates the BLS to collect and release this specific data to monitor rural cost-of-living trends.

Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act of 2023 This bill establishes programs and requirements to support the inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in clinical research. For example, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to align the Food and Drug Administration's regulations for human subjects in clinical trials with other departmental regulations for pregnant women in clinical research. The bill also establishes (1) a national online clearinghouse with information about clinical trials that enroll pregnant and lactating women, (2) an advisory committee to help coordinate federal activities with respect to clinical research for pregnant and lactating women, and (3) an educational campaign on the importance of including pregnant and lactating women in clinical research. The National Institutes of Health must also prioritize certain research projects on new and existing medications for pregnant and lactating women based on need, feasibility, and the potential impact of the research.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the SNAP program to allow households with children under 18 who meet specific medical criteria to deduct their recurring medical expenses when calculating food assistance benefits. It expands the existing deduction for "elderly or disabled" members to include these medically vulnerable children, referencing criteria from the Social Security Act. The change simplifies the process for families seeking to reduce their SNAP income calculation by accounting for these medical costs. The policy takes effect October 1, 2023, directly benefiting low-income families caring for children with qualifying health conditions.