Rep. Troy A. Carter

Maddy summaryThis bill allows states and tribal governments to opt for a lump sum payment instead of standard FEMA disaster aid for small disasters. Specifically, governors or tribal leaders can request 80% of the estimated damages (capped at $10 million) for disasters eligible under FEMA's Public Assistance Program, bypassing the usual reimbursement process. Funds must be used for recovery by the state or tribe, with no adjustment for actual costs later. States cannot also claim additional aid for the same disaster, and they must report expenses to FEMA. It directly affects state and tribal governments handling small-scale disasters under $10 million in eligible damages.

Maddy summaryHR 8530, the Improving Federal Building Security Act of 2024, requires federal agencies managing buildings protected by the Federal Protective Service to form Facility Security Committees (FSCs). These committees must respond to security recommendations within 90 days, either accepting them or providing justification and cost-benefit analysis for rejection. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress tracking FSC compliance, justification for rejected recommendations, financial impacts, and risk mitigation efforts, with a separate report on surveillance technology use. The law expires after 5 years and requires a GAO effectiveness review at that time, with no new funding authorized. It applies to all federal buildings covered by the Federal Protective Service.

Maddy summaryHR 6751 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Roberto Clemente, a Hall of Fame baseball player and humanitarian, including 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins must feature Clemente's image and inscriptions like "Roberto Clemente" and "2027," with all sales including a surcharge ($5-$35 per coin) paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation. The foundation, which supports youth sports, education, and disaster relief programs, will use these funds for its mission, while the U.S. Treasury must recover all production costs. The coins will be sold exclusively in 2027, with no net cost to the government.

Maddy summaryHR 6083, the Duplications of Benefits Victims Relief Act, amends a 2018 FAA law to help victims who received duplicate benefits. It extends the period for qualifying for a waiver (from 2016-2021 to an ongoing period ending when the change takes effect), increases the waiver amount from $5 to $10, and removes income limits that previously restricted eligibility. This directly affects individuals who received overlapping benefits under the original law, ensuring broader access to relief. The bill makes concrete changes to eligibility rules without altering the core purpose of the original waiver program.

Maddy summaryThe Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women’s Health Act of 2024 would expand access to preventive cancer screenings (including breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer screenings) for women, with a focus on low-income women, women of color, rural communities, and underserved populations. It authorizes $20 million annually for grants to health care providers - such as family planning centers - to increase screenings and establishes a training program for health care providers on best practices and cultural competency to address racial disparities. The bill also mandates a study analyzing cancer screening rates and disparities by race, income, geography, and insurance status, with reports to Congress every five years. These provisions aim to improve early detection, reduce mortality, and address systemic barriers in women’s cancer care.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act to explicitly include substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder treatment in federal disaster relief funding. It expands access to addiction services for disaster survivors by requiring that mental health and counseling assistance programs funded under the Act cover these specific needs. Key provisions revise existing language to add "substance use disorder" and "alcohol use disorder" throughout the law, ensuring these services are directly eligible for disaster-related funding. The bill also mandates a federal report within 180 days to update application forms and guidance documents to reflect these changes, ensuring implementation aligns with the new provisions.

Maddy summaryThe Securing the Cities Improvement Act revises the criteria for selecting cities and counties to receive funding under the Securing the Cities (STC) program. Instead of prioritizing "high-risk urban areas," it requires selections based on a jurisdiction's preparedness capabilities, threat level, vulnerability, and potential consequences of nuclear or radiological terrorist attacks. The bill also mandates the program to establish clear performance metrics, monitor spending, and submit a detailed report to Congress within two years on program results and future adjustments. These changes aim to make the program more targeted and accountable for enhancing local security against high-consequence threats.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 103 Benedette Street in Rayville, Louisiana, as the "Luke Letlow Post Office Building" to honor Luke Letlow, a former Louisiana congressman. It changes all official references to this specific post office location to reflect the new name. The bill has no policy impact on postal operations, services, or funding - it is solely a ceremonial naming designation. The change applies to all federal documents, maps, and records referencing the facility.

Maddy summaryHRES 1594 is a symbolic House resolution supporting the designation of "National Rural Health Day," observed annually on the third Thursday of November. It recognizes rural health care providers and the communities they serve, highlighting challenges like hospital closures, workforce shortages, and access barriers in rural areas. The resolution expresses the House's commitment to improving rural health care accessibility and affordability but does not create new laws or allocate funding. It is a non-binding gesture aligning with an existing observance since 2011, organized by the National Rural Health Association.

Maddy summaryThe Minority Diabetes Initiative Act (HR 10193) creates a federal grant program to improve diabetes care in minority communities. It authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to fund public and nonprofit health providers - including community health centers, tribal health departments, and community organizations - to deliver specific diabetes services. These grants must cover routine care, prevention education, eye/foot care, and treatment for complications like kidney disease, while requiring services to be culturally appropriate and offered in accessible languages. The program is funded through annual appropriations for fiscal years 2025-2030. This bill directly affects minority communities with high diabetes rates by expanding access to comprehensive, culturally responsive care through eligible health providers.