Maddy summaryHR 2974 establishes the United States Interagency Council on Housing Affordability and Preservation, a new federal body composed of heads from 21 agencies (including HUD, Treasury, and Justice) to coordinate efforts on affordable housing. The Council’s key duties include developing a national strategic plan for affordable housing within 12 months, reviewing federal housing programs, providing regional support to states and localities to access federal resources, and requiring annual agency reports on housing barriers. It mandates $4.8 million annually for operations (2024-2028) and encourages states to create their own housing councils to align with federal goals. The bill directly affects federal agencies, state/local governments, and low-income renters by improving coordination and access to housing programs, without directly changing housing subsidies or tenant protections.
Rep. David J. Trone
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Combating Child Labor Act strengthens penalties for employers violating child labor laws under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It increases criminal fines to $500,000 or up to 10 years in prison for willful violations causing death or serious injury to children under 18, and raises civil penalties for such violations up to $700,000 per incident. The bill also requires the Department of Labor to publish an annual report detailing child labor violations, including employer names, types of violations, and trends by industry or region. This report will help track enforcement efforts and identify high-risk areas, directly affecting employers who violate child labor rules and the Department of Labor’s oversight role.
Fresh Start Act of 2023 This bill allows grants under the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) to be used to implement a state law that provides for the automatic expungement or sealing of certain criminal records. The NCHIP provides grants to state and tribal governments to enhance the quality, completeness, and accessibility of criminal history record information and ensure the implementation of effective background check systems.
Maddy summaryHRES 332 is a symbolic House resolution expressing congressional support for Ukraine's victory in its war against Russia. It affirms that U.S. policy should aim for Ukraine to prevail and return to its internationally recognized 1991 borders, with the House declaring that Ukraine's victory must be secured through NATO integration. The resolution also calls for the Russian Federation to pay reparations, global support for Ukraine's rebuilding, accountability for Russian leaders, and justice for victims of wartime crimes. As a non-binding "sense of Congress" resolution (not a law), it does not change U.S. policy but reflects the House's stance on supporting Ukraine.
Maddy summaryThe Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act of 2023 creates a federal grant program to fund organizations (called "workforce intermediaries") that help employers establish registered apprenticeship programs in high-growth industries like health care, technology, and advanced manufacturing. These intermediaries receive competitive grants of up to $6 million each (with a 20% non-federal matching requirement) to provide employer outreach, program design support, and apprentice services, prioritizing sectors with low current apprenticeship participation. The program requires grantees to focus on expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups (such as women, minorities, and veterans) and tracks outcomes like program completion rates and post-apprenticeship earnings. Authorized at $25 million annually from 2024-2028, the bill mandates performance evaluations to determine future funding based on results in creating accessible, high-quality apprenticeships.
Raise the Age Act of 2023 This bill establishes new restrictions on the sale or transfer of certain semiautomatic firearms to individuals under 21 years of age. Specifically, this bill makes it unlawful for a licensed gun dealer, importer, manufacturer, or collector to sell or deliver a semiautomatic center-fire rifle or semiautomatic center-fire shotgun that has (or has the capacity to accept) an ammunition feeding device with a capacity of more than five rounds to an individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is under age 21. The prohibition does not apply if the individual under age 21 is a full-time law enforcement officer or active-duty member of the Armed Forces. The bill also requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation to report on the operation of its public access line, including a description of information sharing protocols and recommendations for improving such protocols.
End Gun Violence Act of 2023 This bill extends federal restrictions on the sale or disposition of firearms and ammunition to a new category of persons: persons who have been convicted in any court of a violent misdemeanor within the preceding five years.
Maddy summaryThe Right to Read Act of 2023 defines an "effective school library" as one with certified librarians, adequate resources, and support for digital and information literacy. It requires states and school districts to ensure all students, particularly those in under-resourced schools, have access to such libraries through new reporting requirements and funding mechanisms. The bill provides $500 million annually for literacy programs and mandates biennial data collection on school library resources. It also protects staff from liability for following right-to-read policies and requires school libraries to uphold First Amendment rights by providing diverse reading materials without political bias.
Maddy summaryHR 2370, the Access to AEDs Act, authorizes $25 million in federal funding (2024-2028) to help public elementary and secondary schools improve access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and CPR training. The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to school districts and partners for developing AED programs, training staff and students, purchasing and maintaining AEDs, and creating cardiac emergency response plans. It specifically targets schools to address sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), which is a leading cause of death among student athletes and youth, with 90% of SCA victims dying without immediate CPR and defibrillation. The law requires grantees to report on their activities and establishes a clearinghouse to collect data on school AED access and costs.
This resolution affirms that it is U.S. policy to see Ukraine prevail against the Russian invasion and restored to its internationally recognized 1991 borders. The resolution also states that the peace brought by Ukraine's victory must be secured by integrating Ukraine into NATO and other Euroatlantic institutions.