Rep. John B. Larson

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies federal highway funding rules to prioritize safety for cyclists and pedestrians. It allows states and local governments to receive 100% federal funding for projects that connect existing bike/pedestrian infrastructure or reduce safety risks for these users, instead of the usual lower federal share. The bill also requires projects to align with state safety plans focusing on vulnerable road users and includes specific "Proven Safety Countermeasures" for cyclists/pedestrians. These changes directly affect states administering federal highway funds and local governments seeking to improve non-motorized transportation infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThe Food Deserts Act creates a federal grant program to help establish grocery stores in underserved communities by funding state revolving funds. States receive capitalization grants (up to $150 million for FY2022) to provide low-interest loans to grocery stores that meet specific criteria, such as selling unprocessed, affordable healthy foods and matching 20% of the loan with non-federal funds. Priority is given to stores hiring local workers, offering nutrition education, sourcing from local farms, and having established supply chains. The program directly supports grocery store operators in areas with limited access to fresh food, aiming to improve community health outcomes through increased access to nutritious options.

Maddy summaryThe Outdoors for All Act establishes a federal grant program to fund outdoor recreation projects in underserved communities. It authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to award grants to eligible entities (like states, cities, tribal organizations, or nonprofits) for acquiring land, developing parks, or renovating outdoor facilities in qualifying urban areas (population 25,000+ or tribal lands) or low-income communities (where 30%+ of residents have incomes at or below 80% of local median income or 200% of the federal poverty line). Grants require a 100% cash or in-kind match (with limited waivers), prohibit funding for indoor facilities or maintenance, and prioritize projects enhancing park access, engaging youth, creating jobs, or improving environmental benefits like reducing urban heat islands. The program mandates annual reporting and focuses on concrete community outcomes rather than speculative results.

Maddy summaryHRES 230 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the service of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers across the U.S. It does not create new policies or funding but formally honors their contributions. The resolution highlights how these volunteers provide millions of service hours annually in areas like education, disaster response, and community support, while acknowledging their role in promoting volunteerism and national service. It specifically encourages public recognition during AmeriCorps Week and urges broader community involvement in service programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the "Hello Girls" - female telephone operators who served in the Army Signal Corps during World War I. They provided critical battlefield communications in France (connecting 26 million calls), wore military uniforms, and faced combat risks, but were denied veteran benefits for 60 years due to being classified as civilian contractors. The medal recognizes their pioneering service, devotion, and the decades-long struggle to gain military recognition. The award follows similar recognition for other WWII women veterans and aims to correct the historical injustice they faced.

Maddy summaryThe SVB Act (HR 1602) repeals Title IV of the 2018 Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, which had relaxed banking regulations. It directly affects banks previously subject to those relaxed rules, particularly smaller institutions that benefited from the 2018 changes. The bill’s key mechanism is restoring the pre-2018 regulatory framework, reversing the specific provisions that eased oversight. This returns banking oversight to the structure that existed before the 2018 law took effect, without creating new rules.

Maddy summaryHR 1538 creates a new "emerging business enterprise" designation for very small, young businesses (under 5 years old, with fewer than 25 employees or under 10% of industry size standards, and managers earning no more than 200% of average manager salaries). It requires federal agencies to set annual goals for awarding 3% of contracts to these businesses, prioritizing them if goals aren't met. The bill also waives SBA loan fees for eligible businesses and mandates agencies to report their progress to the Small Business Administration and Congress annually. These provisions aim to increase federal contracting opportunities for early-stage small businesses through defined eligibility, agency targets, and financial incentives.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the World Trade Center Health Program to expand eligibility to include certain Department of Defense and Federal agency workers who responded to the September 11 attacks at the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It establishes a 500-person enrollment cap for these responders, allows a broader range of licensed health care providers to conduct program evaluations, and creates two new funding mechanisms totaling $2.04 billion for the program through 2033. The bill also clarifies enrollment counts by excluding deceased individuals from program statistics and adjusts funding calculations to ensure continued support for affected responders and survivors. These changes directly affect 9/11 responders who worked at the Pentagon and Shanksville sites and their families participating in the health program.

Maddy summaryHR 1328, the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2023, requires certain home-use medical devices (like blood pressure monitors and sleep apnea machines) to include nonvisual accessibility features - such as voice commands or audio feedback - by 2025. It directly affects blind or low-vision users who rely on these devices for independent, safe, and private care at home. The bill mandates that devices classified as Class II or III (and cleared via FDA processes) must meet accessibility standards ensuring equal usability for blind or low-vision individuals, with limited waivers allowed for manufacturers facing undue hardship. The FDA will develop and enforce these standards within two years, consulting with accessibility experts and blind users.

Maddy summaryThe Paycheck Fairness Act (HR 17) strengthens equal pay protections by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act. It prohibits pay discrimination based on sex, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The bill modifies employer defenses for pay differences to require demonstration that any disparity is job-related, consistent with business necessity, and accounts for the entire pay differential. It also prohibits employers from relying on wage history when making hiring decisions or setting pay, enhances penalties for violations, and requires the EEOC to collect compensation data disaggregated by sex, race, and national origin.