CONtinuity in Necessary Evaluative Crisis Treatment Act of 2024 or the CONNECT Act of 2024 This bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to award grants to certain crisis centers for providing follow-up care to individuals who receive suicide prevention and crisis intervention services.
This resolution supports the designation of National Teach Ag Day and recognizes the important role of agricultural education and the National FFA Organization in developing the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases loan limits for farmers under the Farm Service Agency. It raises the maximum farm ownership loan amount from $600,000 to $850,000 (and guaranteed loans from $1.75 million to $3.5 million), and operating loans from $400,000 to $750,000 (guaranteed from $1.75 million to $3 million). It also doubles the microloan cap from $50,000 to $100,000. Additionally, the bill creates a new process allowing distressed guaranteed loans to be refinanced into direct loans if borrowers can't resolve issues with lenders and the farm operation can become financially viable. These changes directly affect farmers and ranchers seeking credit through the Farm Service Agency.
Maddy summaryThe Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 allocates $7 billion in funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) during fiscal year 2024. The ACP provides subsidies to low-income households to help cover the cost of internet service and connected devices like laptops or tablets. This funding ensures the program can continue supporting eligible households throughout the year, with the money remaining available until fully spent. The bill extends existing program funding without changing eligibility criteria or service requirements.
Maddy summaryHR 6950, the Working Dog Health and Welfare Act of 2024, requires federal agencies and their contractors managing working dog programs to implement specific health and welfare recommendations from a 2022 Government Accountability Office report within 180 days of the law's enactment. It directly affects all federal agencies (including Congress and courts as defined), their contractors, and the Department of State when providing working dogs to foreign partners. Key mechanisms include mandatory implementation of the GAO's recommendations, a 60-day reporting requirement to Congress on steps taken, and ensuring new programs established after enactment follow these standards. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to standardize care for working dogs used in federal operations, without altering existing program structures or outcomes.
Maddy summaryHR 6746, the Iron Deficiency Education and Awareness Act, creates a national public health campaign to increase screening and awareness of iron deficiency among women and children under two. The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to fund a $7 million annual campaign (2024-2028) using evidence-based media, culturally tailored resources, and partnerships with health providers and community organizations. It specifically targets high-risk groups including menstruating women, pregnant/breastfeeding individuals, women with gastrointestinal conditions, Black and Hispanic women, and parents of children under two. The campaign will disseminate information on symptoms, screening recommendations, and prevention strategies through social media, health facilities, schools, and community outreach.
Maddy summaryHR 6720 creates a grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide stabilization payments to farmworkers, meat processing workers, and grocery workers affected by natural or other disasters designated by the Secretary. Eligible entities - such as labor unions or membership organizations representing these worker groups - can apply for funding to support affected workers. The program is authorized to spend up to $50 million, with the Secretary required to report on its outcomes within four years. This bill directly affects workers in specific food industry sectors during disaster events, offering financial stabilization through grants administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Clean Air Act to explicitly include "fuel for ocean-going vessels" in the definition of fossil fuel used for regulatory purposes. It directly affects ocean shipping companies and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as the EPA must create new regulations within one year to implement this change. The key provision expands existing Clean Air Act requirements to cover marine fuels, requiring the EPA to promulgate regulations and submit a report to Congress within 365 days of final rulemaking. The bill does not mandate specific fuel types but adjusts regulatory scope to include ocean vessels.
Maddy summaryHR 6600, "Tyler’s Law," requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study how often hospital emergency departments test for fentanyl during overdose cases, along with the costs, benefits, risks, and patient privacy impacts. The study must be completed within one year of the bill’s enactment, followed by guidance issued within six months on whether fentanyl testing should become routine. This guidance will address how hospitals can inform clinicians about testing protocols and how fentanyl testing might affect future overdose risks and patient health outcomes. The bill directly affects hospitals and emergency departments treating overdose patients, focusing on improving data-driven practices for fentanyl detection.
Maddy summaryThe YouthBuild for the Future Act increases annual funding for the YouthBuild program, authorizing $159.5 million for 2024 with incremental growth through 2029. It reserves 20% of funds above $125 million for rural programs and tribes, while adding new requirements like meal assistance, benefits counseling for programs like SNAP, and support services for participants with disabilities. The bill updates participant eligibility terms (e.g., "youth justice-involved" instead of "youth offender") and mandates annual consultation with program providers to set performance goals. It directly affects low-income youth in rural areas, tribal communities, and justice-involved youth through expanded workforce training and support services.
