Rep. Jared F. Golden

Maddy summaryHR 6641, the Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act, establishes a federal task force to identify and address critical needs of working waterfronts, which are coastal areas used for commercial fishing, boating, aquaculture, and related activities. The bill creates a grant program to help coastal states, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations develop and implement plans to preserve and expand working waterfronts through property acquisition, facility improvements, and climate adaptation measures. It also establishes a loan fund to provide financial assistance for waterfront preservation, with special provisions for disadvantaged communities and requirements for covered entities to develop plans ensuring waterfronts remain available for their intended uses. The legislation authorizes $50 million annually from 2024-2028 for these programs, with reporting requirements to track implementation and effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Never Again Education program, which funds Holocaust education initiatives in schools. It extends the program's funding authorization period from ending after four fiscal years to continuing annually through fiscal year 2030. The bill modifies the existing law (Public Law 116-141) by updating the funding timeline without changing program requirements or eligibility. It directly affects the existing grant program supporting educational materials and teacher training on the Holocaust. The change ensures continued federal funding for these specific educational efforts until 2030.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a two-year pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve data collection and analysis of suicides and suicide attempts by veterans occurring on VA property (e.g., at medical centers or facilities). It creates a cross-departmental working group - including staff from mental health, health care, benefits, and cemetery offices - to conduct root cause analyses, interview families, and standardize data collection through updated reports and a unified management system. The program requires annual briefings to Congress on findings and mandates annual VA reports starting in 2025 to track trends and recommend prevention strategies. Additionally, it directs the Comptroller General to assess the VA’s suicide prevention efforts, including staffing, policies, and organizational structure.

Maddy summaryThe IMAGINE Act encourages research and use of innovative materials in infrastructure construction and preservation to improve performance, extend service life, and reduce costs. It establishes an Interagency Innovative Materials Standards Task Force to coordinate federal standards and identify barriers to new materials, and creates Innovative Material Innovation Hubs at qualifying institutions like universities to conduct research on these materials. The bill also establishes specific grant programs for innovative bridge construction (Innovative Bridge Program) and water infrastructure projects (Water Infrastructure Innovation Program), with preferences for domestically sourced materials and projects in at-risk areas. Funding is authorized for these programs through fiscal year 2028, with annual reporting requirements to Congress.

Maddy summaryThe Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023 modifies rules for veterans' educational benefits to streamline approval of commercial driver education programs at branch locations. It allows a branch of an educational institution to be exempt from full approval requirements if it is appropriately licensed and uses the same curriculum as an approved main location. Schools must submit an annual report to the Department of Veterans Affairs verifying curriculum consistency, and the VA may withhold this exemption if needed. The changes will take effect 180 days after the VA establishes reporting rules, which must be finalized within 180 days of the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires military commanders to approve leave for active-duty service members and their dependents seeking abortion care without needing to disclose the specific procedure. It mandates reimbursement for travel costs to clinics providing abortion services when local access is unavailable and protects the privacy of those using this leave. The bill explicitly prohibits any negative consequences for service members who request or take such leave. It directly affects military personnel and their families by ensuring timely, private, and accessible abortion care without command interference.

Maddy summaryThe SHIP Act imposes sanctions on foreign entities that knowingly handle Iranian petroleum, targeting those involved in port operations, transportation, refining, or ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil. Starting 90 days after enactment, the President must block assets, deny visas, and impose penalties on individuals or companies engaging in these activities, including family members or owners of sanctioned entities. It requires annual reports tracking Iran's oil exports, revenues, and key players like shipping companies and ports. The sanctions terminate if the President certifies Iran has stopped supporting terrorism and dismantled weapons programs.

Maddy summaryHR 6201, the Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2023, creates the Iran Sanctions Enforcement Fund to cover costs related to seizing and forfeiting property from Iran or its designated proxies (like Hezbollah or the Revolutionary Guard Corps) that violate U.S. sanctions. The fund, initially $150 million, pays for investigative costs, property management, informant rewards, and equipment for federal, state, and local agencies involved in enforcement. It also establishes an Export Enforcement Coordination Center within Homeland Security to improve interagency cooperation on enforcing export controls targeting Iran. The bill requires annual reports on fund usage and mandates repayment of the initial $150 million by 2034, unless waived for national security reasons.

Maddy summaryThis bill denies U.S. green energy tax credits to companies connected to specific countries. It targets companies created in, controlled by, or owned by entities linked to China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea. The law amends the tax code to exclude these "disqualified companies" from claiming credits under sections covering solar, wind, and other clean energy investments. This directly affects U.S. businesses with ties to those nations seeking federal tax benefits for green energy projects.

Maddy summaryHRES 559 is a non-binding House resolution declaring U.S. policy that a nuclear-armed Iran is unacceptable. It states the U.S. must prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons under any circumstances, use all means necessary to stop this, and support allies like Israel in doing so. The resolution does not create new laws or programs but formally expresses congressional position on Iran's nuclear program. It directly affects U.S. foreign policy direction and diplomatic messaging, not specific individuals or groups.