Rep. James P. McGovern

Health Share Transparency Act of 2023 This bill requires a health care sharing ministry (HCSM) to disclose specific information to individuals enrolling in the HCSM and to designated government agencies. (An HCSM is a faith-based organization with members who share a common set of ethical or religious beliefs and who contribute regular payments to cover the medical expenses of other members.) The bill requires an HCSM to disclose to an enrolling individual information such as (1) the average out-of-pocket expenses an enrollee incurs, (2) how to file a complaint or appeal a coverage determination, and (3) a list of the HCSM's non-reimbursable items and services. The bill also requires that an HCSM submit annual financial disclosures and program information to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Internal Revenue Service, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. HHS is required to publicly post this information. Additionally, health insurance brokers contracting with an HCSM are required to provide an enrolling individual with information about health insurance coverage that is available through Medicare, Medicaid, or a health insurance exchange, as appropriate. HHS may apply civil monetary penalties to an HCSM that fails to comply with the bill's requirements. Further, the bill requires the Federal Trade Commission to publicly disclose information about consumer complaints regarding HCSMs.

Veterans Service Organization Modernization Act of 202 3 This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide competitive grants to veterans service organizations for repairs or rehabilitation of existing facilities and for modernization of technologies.

Maddy summaryHRES 850 is a purely ceremonial resolution designating the House Press Gallery as the "Frederick Douglass Press Gallery." It honors Frederick Douglass, the first Black journalist permitted in Capitol press galleries (1871-1875), recognizing his role as a pioneering journalist, abolitionist, and advocate for civil rights during Reconstruction. The resolution commemorates his historical connection to the space where he reported on legislation affecting the African-American community. As a naming resolution, it has no policy or legal effect beyond this commemorative gesture.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 839) condemns antisemitism at U.S. colleges and universities and urges campus leaders to publicly oppose hate speech targeting Jewish students, faculty, and staff. It encourages university presidents, administrators, and faculty to speak out against speech that promotes violence or discrimination based on religion, national origin, or ancestry. The resolution specifically calls on institutions to support Jewish student organizations and ensure Jewish members can study and work without fear. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but expresses congressional support for addressing antisemitism on campuses.

Maddy summaryHR 6173 establishes a pilot program to address technology-based abuse against victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It authorizes up to 15 grants of $2 million each to partnerships between tech-focused schools, domestic violence centers, and local governments to provide victims with devices and tech safety support. The bill also creates a separate $20 million grant program over five years to fund training materials for organizations helping victims navigate tech abuse. These programs directly affect victims facing digital stalking or harassment by abusers, aiming to improve safety through targeted resources and education.

Maddy summaryHRES 831 is a symbolic congressional resolution supporting October as "National Domestic Violence Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or allocate funding, but formally expresses the House of Representatives' support for the goals of raising awareness about domestic violence. The resolution urges Congress to continue highlighting domestic violence's impact and backing programs that prevent and address it. It directly affects public awareness efforts and serves as a non-binding statement of congressional support for victims and advocacy organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates legal terminology in District of Columbia court codes to replace outdated and potentially stigmatizing terms. It specifically replaces "substantially retarded persons" and similar phrases with "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities" in three sections covering U.S. District Court, Superior Court, and Family Court jurisdiction. The change directly affects how DC courts formally reference individuals in legal contexts, aligning terminology with current standards. It is a purely procedural update to court codes with no new policy or funding provisions. The bill does not alter eligibility, rights, or court procedures - only the language used in the legal text.

Maddy summaryHR 6153 requires the President to review sanctions against 49 specific Hong Kong officials within 180 days of the bill's enactment. The review must determine if these individuals - such as judges, prosecutors, police officials, and security committee members - meet criteria under laws like the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and the Global Magnitsky Act. The President must submit a detailed justification to congressional committees, including the Foreign Relations and Financial Services committees. This bill directly affects the listed officials by initiating a formal assessment of their sanctions status, without altering existing sanctions or guaranteeing any outcome.

Maddy summaryHR 5983, the Clean Water Act of 2023, redefines "protected water resources" under federal law to explicitly include all interstate and intrastate waters (such as intermittent and ephemeral streams), wetlands, and their tributaries. This directly affects federal agencies like the EPA, states managing water quality, and developers or landowners needing permits for activities near these waters. The bill eliminates the Supreme Court’s narrow "navigable waters" definition from Sackett v. EPA (2023), restoring protections for tens of millions of acres of wetlands and millions of miles of small streams. Key mechanisms require the EPA to annually review and adjust exclusions from protections based on scientific evidence, ensuring water bodies critical to drinking water, flood control, and ecosystems remain safeguarded.

Maddy summaryHR 5937, the National Children’s Museum Act, formally designates the National Children’s Museum (operating as a nonprofit under IRS 501(c)(3)) as the official national children’s museum and secures its space in the Ronald Reagan Building. The bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to enter a cooperative agreement providing the museum with rent-free use of its current 32,369-square-foot space (suite C-001) for the duration of its existing lease, subject to the museum maintaining its 501(c)(3) status and using the space as a children’s museum. Funding for this arrangement will come from existing GSA funds (Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation or International Trade Center funds), and the museum must submit annual reports on operations and finances to specific congressional committees. This procedural bill primarily affects the museum’s operational stability and space agreement, not broader policy.