Rep. Wiley Nickel

Maddy summaryThe Economic Opportunity for Distressed Communities Act creates a tax incentive for investing capital gains in designated distressed communities by allowing taxpayers to defer capital gains tax when investing in qualified distressed opportunity funds. The bill establishes a 10-year holding period with increasing basis adjustments (10% after 5 years, 5% more after 7 years) for investments held in these funds. It defines "qualified distressed opportunity funds" as investment vehicles holding at least 90% of assets in designated distressed zone property, with specific requirements for the types of property and businesses that qualify. The bill includes penalties for funds that fail to maintain the 90% asset requirement, with exceptions for reasonable cause, and applies to investments made after the act's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThe SUPER Demonstration Act creates a competitive grant program to fund affordable housing development in communities experiencing significant workforce growth from federal infrastructure investments (like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act). Local governments or public housing agencies must apply, demonstrate housing need tied to these federal projects, and commit to reforming zoning or regulatory barriers to qualify for grants. Funds - partially drawn from $3 billion in unused pandemic relief money - can be used to convert vacant offices to housing, support construction through partnerships, or provide developer assistance. The program requires grantees to implement zoning reforms and will be evaluated annually to measure its impact on housing development timelines and outcomes.

Maddy summaryHRES 1386 is a non-binding House resolution expressing the House's condemnation of Project 2025. It states that if enacted, Project 2025 would threaten healthcare access (including ending protections for pre-existing conditions and banning Medicare drug negotiations), restrict abortion and fertility services, cut education funding, raise costs for working families, and give tax breaks to wealthy corporations. The resolution specifically lists these potential impacts as reasons for the House to "condemn in the strongest terms" Project 2025. As a resolution, it does not create new law but formally expresses the House's position on this policy proposal.

Maddy summaryHRES 1382 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' view that Americans should resolve political disagreements without threats or violence, citing recent incidents like the 2011 shooting of Rep. Giffords and increased threats against election officials. It calls on political leaders of all parties to consistently and often condemn political violence, including after the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump. The resolution does not create new laws but formally states the House's position on this issue.

Maddy summaryHR 9104, the Access to Birth Control Act, requires pharmacies that normally stock contraception to provide birth control or related medications without delay if in stock, or immediately offer alternatives like referrals to other pharmacies or expedited orders if unavailable. It prohibits pharmacists from intimidating customers, misrepresenting availability, breaching confidentiality, or refusing to fill valid prescriptions for birth control. Pharmacies violating these rules face civil penalties up to $1,000 per day or private lawsuits. The law specifically applies to pharmacies that routinely carry contraception and excludes cases where a valid prescription is missing or payment cannot be made. It aims to address documented refusals to dispense birth control, particularly following the Dobbs decision.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to meet specific on-time delivery performance standards for periodicals (newspapers and magazines) before the Postal Regulatory Commission can approve new rate increases for those services. It mandates annual public reports tracking USPS's on-time delivery performance for both in-county and out-of-county newspaper mail, with requirements for data collection if individual mail tracking isn't feasible. The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study alternative pricing models for periodicals that don't cover their costs, with a report due within two years. These provisions directly affect USPS operations, newspaper publishers, and the postal rate-setting process, aiming to link service quality to financial decisions.

Maddy summaryHR 9038, the FAIR Fleets Act, requires the U.S. Postal Service to conduct ongoing assessments of its vehicle distribution and develop a strategic plan to increase fleet availability in underserved areas using fuel-efficient, modern vehicles. The bill mandates an annual report to Congress by December 31 each year, detailing fleet distribution by state, steps taken to improve service in underserved areas, and recommendations for further action. Underserved areas are specifically defined to include rural regions, postal regions with aging vehicles, counties with significant delivery delays, high-poverty urban neighborhoods, and tribal lands. The law aims to improve fleet modernization and equitable distribution across all U.S. regions.

Maddy summaryHR 4581, the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2024, amends Title V of the Social Security Act to explicitly allow federal funds to support stillbirth prevention efforts. The bill directs states receiving Title V maternal and child health funds to use these resources for evidence-based programs and research aimed at reducing stillbirths, including tracking fetal movements, screening for growth issues, smoking cessation, and community support. It directly affects state maternal health programs by clarifying that existing funding can now cover specific stillbirth prevention activities previously not explicitly permitted. The law changes how Title V funds may be spent, adding clear provisions for research and programs targeting stillbirth reduction. This is a policy change that updates funding guidelines without creating new programs or mandates.

Maddy summaryHJRES 109 is a procedural resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accounting rule. It targets the SEC's "Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121" (SAB 121), which provides guidance on revenue recognition accounting for public companies. The resolution invokes federal law (Chapter 8 of Title 5) to block the rule, following a Government Accountability Office (GAO) determination that SAB 121 qualifies as a "rule" subject to congressional review. If enacted, this resolution would prevent SAB 121 from taking effect, directly affecting how public companies report revenue in financial statements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to expand access to business support services for minority entrepreneurs. It requires Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Centers to be located "in or near" historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions. The bill also adjusts funding, increasing annual support to $125 million starting in fiscal year 2024 (previously scheduled for 2025). These changes directly affect entrepreneurs at minority-serving institutions by improving their access to business development resources.