Rep. Sean Casten

Maddy summaryHR 1645 establishes a national biochar research network with up to 20 research sites to study how biochar (a charcoal-like soil additive) affects soil health, carbon storage, and crop production across different conditions. The network will test various biochar types, production methods, and applications to provide region-specific guidance for farmers, ranchers, foresters, and urban land managers on sustainable use. It authorizes $50 million annually (2023-2028) for USDA-administered research, focusing on soil carbon sequestration, climate mitigation, and practical farming applications. The research aims to develop science-based recommendations for improving soil health, reducing emissions, and supporting farm profitability through biochar integration.

Maddy summaryThe Puppy Protection Act of 2023 sets new standards for businesses that sell dogs (dealers), directly affecting pet stores and breeders operating under the Animal Welfare Act. It requires specific housing with space allowances based on dog size (e.g., 12-30 square feet per dog), temperature control (45-85°F), clean food twice daily, and daily exercise or socialization with humans/dogs for at least 30 minutes. The bill also mandates annual veterinary exams including dental care, strict breeding limits (e.g., age restrictions, maximum 2 litters in 18 months), and efforts to place retired breeding dogs in homes instead of selling them to other breeders. Regulations must be finalized within 18 months of enactment.

SALT Fairness for Working Families Act This bill increases the limit on the individual income tax deduction for certain state and local taxes, which is currently $10,000 per year ($5,000 for a married taxpayer filing a separate return). The bill increases the limit to $15,000 (twice that amount in the case of a joint return) and requires the increased limit to be adjusted for inflation after 2023.

Maddy summaryHR 2413, the Dental Care for Veterans Act, reclassifies dental care as standard medical services under the VA's existing benefits structure, eliminating prior restrictions that treated dental care separately. It modifies how dental appliances are procured and establishes a phased eligibility timeline: veterans already eligible for dental benefits gain immediate access, while others qualify over 1-4 years based on their current benefit status. The bill affects all veterans currently covered under VA dental programs, changing their access to care without creating new funding. Key provisions streamline dental service delivery under Title 38, aligning it with other medical benefits.

Maddy summaryThe Panama Canal Zone Veterans Act of 2023 creates a presumption that veterans who served in the Panama Canal Zone between 1958 and 1999 (or until the last military member left) and developed specific illnesses are automatically eligible for VA benefits without needing to prove a direct link between their service and the condition. It lists 16 illnesses, including prostate cancer, lung cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and several other cancers, as qualifying for this presumption due to presumed exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange during service. The VA will use regulations based on medical evidence to determine which illnesses qualify under this provision. This change directly affects veterans who served in the Panama Canal Zone during the covered period and later developed one of the listed conditions.

Maddy summaryHR 1351, the "Save Oak Flat From Foreign Mining Act," repeals Section 3003 of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which had mandated transferring 2,422 acres of Oak Flat in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest to foreign-owned Resolution Copper for mining. The bill withdraws this land from all mining activities, preventing Resolution Copper from using destructive block cave mining that would destroy the sacred site and harm water resources. Oak Flat, a National Register-listed Traditional Cultural Property sacred to Indigenous tribes, would be protected from a mine projected to deplete 775,000 acre-feet of groundwater over 40 years and create a 4,000-acre toxic waste dump. The legislation directly affects Resolution Copper (owned by Rio Tinto and BHP) and aims to halt the project that would obliterate cultural resources and exacerbate regional water shortages.

Securing Access to Lower Taxes by ensuring Deductibility Act or the SALT Deductibility Act This bill repeals the temporary restrictions in taxable years 2018 through 2025 on the deductibility of state and local taxes.

Maddy summaryThe School Meals Expansion Act (HR 2567) amends the National School Lunch Act to make it easier for schools to provide free meals to all students. It lowers the income threshold to 25% (from a higher previous rate) and increases the eligibility multiplier to 2.5 for school years starting July 1, 2023. This means school districts with 25% or more students from low-income families can now qualify for full federal funding to offer free meals to all students without requiring individual applications. The bill directly affects local school districts that choose to participate in the community eligibility program under the National School Lunch Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $50 million annually from 2024 through 2029 for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct or support research on firearms safety and gun violence prevention. The funding is specifically for studies under the Public Health Service Act, adding to existing research budgets rather than replacing them. It directly affects CDC researchers and public health agencies by providing dedicated resources to study gun violence causes and prevention strategies. The bill creates no new regulations or requirements, only enabling research to inform future policy decisions.

Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2023 This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for qualifying hospitals, including hospitals in rural areas and health professional shortage areas. Current law provides for an increase of up to 200 positions per fiscal year beginning in FY2023, with a total increase of 1,000 positions; each hospital may receive up to 25 additional positions. Current law also provides for an additional increase of up to 200 positions for FY2026, with at least 100 of these positions for psychiatry or related specialties; each hospital may receive up to 10 additional positions. The bill provides for an additional increase of 2,000 positions per fiscal year from FY2025-FY2031; during this period, each hospital may receive up to 75 additional positions in total under the bill and current law. Additionally, one-third of the positions that are made available under the bill must be allocated to hospitals that are already operating above applicable resident limits. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on strategies to increase the diversity of the health professional workforce, including with respect to representation from rural, low-income, and minority communities.