Rep. Ilhan Omar

Targeting Resources for Equitable Access to Treatment for Long COVID Act or the TREAT Long COVID Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants to create or expand the capacity of clinics that treat patients with persistent, long-term symptoms following recovery from acute COVID-19 (i.e., Long COVID) and associated conditions. Eligible recipients include federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, urban Indian health centers, and state and local health departments.

Maddy summaryThe PAST Act of 2023 amends the Horse Protection Act to ban specific devices used to cause pain (soring) in horses at shows, particularly affecting Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses. It defines prohibited "action devices" (like boots or chains causing friction) and requires licensed, conflict-free inspectors at events to enforce rules. The bill increases penalties for violations to up to $5,000 fines or 3 years in jail, and mandates longer disqualifications for repeat offenses (180 days → 1 year → 3 years). Horse show organizers, exhibitors, and participants must comply with these new inspection and penalty requirements.

This resolution reaffirms the central role of local frontline health workforces in achieving global health objectives. The resolution also urges greater global attention and support for local frontline health workers.

Maddy summaryHR 3276 establishes two pilot programs under the National School Lunch Act. First, it creates a $10 million, 3-year grant program to help schools serve 100% plant-based meals (no animal products) to students, prioritizing schools serving high proportions of low-income students and supporting culturally appropriate meal planning. Second, it creates a $2 million pilot to reimburse schools for costs of providing nondairy milk substitutes for students with dietary needs, targeting schools with high lactose intolerance rates. Both pilots require annual reporting on participation and outcomes, with the dairy substitute program ending after 3 years. The bill directly affects public school food authorities serving eligible students.

Maddy summaryHR 3238, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023, updates the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program to increase the availability of affordable housing across the United States. The bill makes several key changes including increasing state funding formulas, modifying tenant eligibility rules to better serve vulnerable populations (such as domestic violence victims and students), and expanding credit eligibility for projects in rural and Native American communities. Specific provisions raise the credit for properties serving extremely low-income households, clarify rules around tenant income increases, and require housing providers to protect victims of domestic violence. The bill also updates terminology from "low-income" to "affordable" throughout the tax code and enhances program transparency through data sharing requirements. These changes aim to make the LIHTC program more effective at creating and preserving affordable housing units for low-income households nationwide.

Maddy summaryHR 3145, the People Over Parking Act of 2023, eliminates local and state requirements for minimum parking spots at new or substantially rebuilt residential, retail, commercial, or industrial developments located within 0.5 miles of a "covered public transit point." This directly affects developers and local governments in areas meeting the transit access criteria defined by the bill (such as fixed-guideway transit or high-frequency bus routes intersecting at least two lines). The key mechanism is preempting conflicting state or local laws, giving property owners sole discretion over parking provision within the specified transit-accessible zones. The bill aims to reduce mandatory parking infrastructure, potentially encouraging transit use and denser development near transit hubs.

This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that it is the policy of the United States to recognize the Palestinian Nakba and support Palestinian refugees' rights. It also states that it is the policy of the United States to denounce threats and condemn certain actions by Israel against the Palestinian people.

Maddy summaryHR 3179, the Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2023, provides federal grants to colleges offering construction and manufacturing apprenticeship programs. It funds two key initiatives: (1) Community Outreach Grants to help colleges recruit students and partner with employers, especially in rural areas and for underrepresented groups like first-generation, minority, and nontraditional students; and (2) Student Support Grants to improve retention through services like career advising, mental health resources, and childcare. The bill allocates $5 million annually (2024-2028) for these programs, with each college receiving up to $500,000 per grant. It directly affects apprenticeship colleges, their students, and local employers by expanding access to skilled trades careers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. public schools to include Asian Pacific American history in all K-12 American history and civics education. It amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to mandate that curriculum standards, teacher training, and national assessments explicitly cover this history as part of American history. The policy directly affects students and teachers nationwide by changing how history is taught in public schools. The key mechanism is requiring specific curriculum updates to address gaps in current Eurocentric teaching, ensuring students learn about APA contributions, experiences, and challenges as integral to U.S. history.

Maddy summaryHR 2689, the Trust in Government Act of 2023, requires federal agencies to modernize service delivery by creating online tools and reducing paperwork for citizens. It directly affects the public interacting with agencies, mandating specific changes like fully online passport renewals (State Department), expanded IRS electronic filing options (Treasury), centralized online permitting (Interior), simplified SNAP/WIC enrollment (Agriculture), and Social Security document uploads (HHS). Key provisions eliminate physical document requirements where possible, introduce telehealth for workers' compensation (Labor), and establish a single digital platform for veterans' services (VA). Agencies must certify compliance to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) within 180 days, with quarterly reports to Congress on progress. The law aims to improve public perception of government interactions by making services more efficient and accessible.