Rep. Maxwell Frost

Maddy summaryThe Homes Act of 2024 would establish a new Housing Development Authority within the Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop permanently affordable housing. The Authority would acquire properties and convey them to eligible entities (including community land trusts, tenant organizations, and public housing agencies) under strict requirements for permanent affordability, climate resilience, and community control. The bill would set rents at 25% of household income, limit annual rent increases to 3% or the Consumer Price Index, and require "just-cause" evictions with tenant protections. It would also create a tenant right to purchase their rental properties through a "first look" process and prioritize housing for underserved communities and families experiencing homelessness.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. government to immediately restore funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), reversing a temporary funding pause. It repeals two appropriations acts that halted payments and requires the Secretary of State to resume UNRWA funding under existing authorities. The legislation specifically aims to support UNRWA’s critical humanitarian work - providing shelter, education, healthcare, and aid to Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan - during an acute famine risk in Gaza. It also mandates quarterly reports to Congress on UNRWA’s implementation of reforms from an independent review, ensuring accountability for its humanitarian mission.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Medicaid and CHIP rules to let eligible out-of-state healthcare providers enroll without extra state screening. It applies to providers already in Medicare or their home state program, with low fraud risk, serving children under 21 with complex medical conditions. Providers would receive 5 years of enrollment under this streamlined process, eliminating state-level barriers. The change directly affects children seeking specialized care across state lines and the providers who serve them.

Maddy summaryHRES 1461 is a symbolic resolution designating September 2024 as "National Voting Rights Month" to raise awareness about voting access. It encourages all U.S. citizens to uphold voting rights, supports existing voting rights legislation like the Freedom to Vote Act, and recommends schools teach about voting history and current restrictions. The resolution specifically aims to highlight efforts to address historical and ongoing barriers affecting historically marginalized groups, including Black, Latino, and disabled voters. It does not create new laws but promotes educational initiatives and media campaigns about registration deadlines and election access.

Maddy summaryThe American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2024 provides down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers, expands Fair Housing Act protections to include gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, source of income, and veteran status, and makes significant reforms to the Community Reinvestment Act to improve access to credit in underserved communities. The bill also provides housing loan benefits for direct descendants of veterans who served between 1944 and 1968, increases accessibility requirements for housing constructed with federal funds, and includes estate tax changes for high-value estates. It aims to address housing affordability, reduce discrimination in housing, and improve access to credit in underserved communities.

Maddy summaryHRES 1448 is a non-binding House resolution stating that the House believes every person has the right to emergency health care, including abortion care, during medical emergencies. It specifically addresses concerns that abortion restrictions force medical providers to choose between treating patients in life-threatening situations or risking criminal charges. The resolution highlights that such restrictions disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, people of color, immigrants, low-income individuals, and LGBTQI+ patients. It does not change existing laws but expresses congressional support for ensuring access to emergency care without legal barriers. The resolution was introduced by multiple House members and referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Maddy summaryHRES 1437 is a ceremonial resolution designating the week beginning September 9, 2024, as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week." It recognizes Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) - colleges and universities with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment - and their role in educating low-income students, advancing economic mobility, and serving 31.7% of all undergraduate students. The resolution calls for the public and organizations to observe this week with ceremonies and activities during Hispanic Heritage Month. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or change existing policies - it is purely a symbolic gesture of recognition.

Maddy summaryHR 6242, the VOTES Act of 2023, expands voting rights for military service members overseas by updating the definition of eligible voters under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). The bill replaces "active duty" with "active duty, active service, or inactive duty-training" throughout UOCAVA, ensuring service members in reserve training (inactive duty) qualify for absentee voting just like those on active duty. This change directly affects U.S. military personnel serving overseas in any duty status under Title 10 of the U.S. Code. The law takes effect for elections after January 1, 2025, making absentee voting procedures more inclusive for all uniformed service members.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies work permit rules for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries. It ensures work authorization automatically extends for the same duration as a TPS designation when a foreign country’s TPS status is renewed, provided the beneficiary files a renewal request during the designated period. The Department of Homeland Security must update its website and the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system to reflect these automatic extensions. The bill directly affects TPS holders who rely on work permits while their country’s TPS designation remains active.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program to provide emergency grants to farm worker organizations during covered disasters. It directly affects migrant and seasonal farm workers who lose income or cannot work due to events like hurricanes, wildfires, pandemics, or extreme weather. The grants fund immediate relief (including direct cash or aid), building community resilience, infrastructure support, and emergency services. Funds remain available until spent, and the program requires consultation with eligible organizations, defined as farm worker groups or qualified nonprofits with relevant experience.