Rep. Deborah K. Ross

Maddy summaryHR 4272, the Stop Fentanyl Now Act of 2023, directly affects schools, public health systems, and law enforcement by expanding prevention and response efforts to the fentanyl crisis. The bill requires schools to train staff on carrying and administering naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal drug) and provides grants to states for school-based programs, treatment access, and harm reduction tools like fentanyl test strips. It also increases law enforcement resources to disrupt fentanyl trafficking, including targeting online sales, and removes legal barriers for possessing fentanyl test strips. These provisions aim to reduce overdose deaths by improving education, treatment access, and prevention strategies in communities most impacted by fentanyl-laced pills.

Maddy summaryThe HERO Act establishes a national data system to track suicides among public safety officers, including firefighters, EMTs, police, and telecommunicators, collecting detailed statistics by age, gender, occupation, and employment status (career, volunteer, or retired). It mandates annual reports to Congress and public availability of findings to identify suicide trends and effective interventions. The bill also funds peer-support wellness programs for fire/EMS departments, behavioral health programs for healthcare providers, and resources to train mental health professionals on treating public safety personnel. All data collection and program provisions include strict privacy safeguards to protect confidentiality and prohibit using suicide data to deny survivor benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act by creating a federal grant program to improve swimming pool safety across the United States. The program provides funding to states, Indian Tribes, and qualified nonprofit organizations that have enacted swimming pool safety laws meeting federal standards. Grant recipients must use at least 25% of funds for hiring and training personnel to enforce safety standards and inspect pool drain covers, with the remainder for public education and swimming lessons (limited to 25% of that portion). The bill authorizes $5 million annually from 2024-2028 for these grants and a separate $5 million for public education campaigns, requiring annual reporting on program implementation and effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHR 4268, the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act of 2023, would provide $350 million annually (2024-2028) in federal grants to nonprofit organizations that help individuals cover travel and logistical costs for accessing abortion care across state lines. The bill directly supports people living in states with abortion bans or severe restrictions who must travel for care, including expenses like transportation, lodging, childcare, meals, and lost wages. Grants may not fund abortion procedures themselves but cover related logistical barriers identified in the bill’s findings, such as increased travel times and costs post-Dobbs. Eligible organizations must provide unbiased, medically accurate assistance, with priority given to those serving individuals traveling to access abortion services.

Maddy summaryHR 3698, the Feed Hungry Veterans Act of 2023, amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand eligibility for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to more veterans. It adds four new categories of veterans who can qualify: those with a "catastrophically disabled" status under military disability law, veterans under 65 receiving a pension under specific veteran benefits law, and those meeting existing high-disability rating thresholds. This change directly affects veterans who previously did not meet the program’s eligibility criteria but now qualify under these expanded definitions. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2023, making these eligibility changes operational for SNAP enrollment.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE Act of 2023 extends a 2018 law that prohibits slaughtering animals for human consumption to include horses, donkeys, and other equine animals, such as ponies. It amends Section 12515 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 by updating the language to replace "dog or cat" with "dog, cat, or equine" in both the section title and the main prohibition. This change directly affects the livestock industry and slaughter facilities by banning the processing of equines for food. The bill modifies existing law without adding new enforcement mechanisms, closing a gap in animal protection.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend House rules to allow members to vote by proxy and remotely attend committee meetings under specific health circumstances. It directly affects House members with a serious medical condition (including pregnancy-related) or those primarily caring for a spouse or dependent with such a condition. To qualify, a member must provide a doctor’s recommendation and a signed letter designating a proxy for voting or enabling remote committee participation. Remote committee attendance would count toward quorum and not be considered an absence, while proxy voting would let the designated member cast the absent member’s vote.

Maddy summaryHJRES 76 proposes renaming the Robert E. Lee Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery to the "Arlington House National Historic Site." This procedural bill would replace all official references to the memorial with the new name and repeal two prior resolutions (1955 and 1972) that established the memorial. The change affects how the site is identified in federal laws, documents, and records but does not alter its management or historical significance. The bill focuses solely on the official designation, not on policy changes or historical interpretation.

Maddy summaryThis bill improves the VA Work-Study program for veterans and active-duty military members by expanding eligible work opportunities to include roles with state/local governments and nonprofits that support veterans. It establishes a higher minimum wage standard, requiring payments to meet the highest of federal, state, or local minimum wage rates. The bill also requires electronic time tracking for participants and annual public reporting on program data, including participant demographics, wages, hours worked, and participating schools. These changes apply to work-study payments made on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Program within the Fulbright exchange system to honor civil rights leader John Lewis and advance U.S. foreign policy through global civil rights education. It creates a new fellowship for U.S. early- to mid-career professionals, selecting at least 25 annually for 10-month programs to conduct research or intern with approved organizations in countries participating in Fulbright exchanges. Fellows must complete a work plan, attend an orientation in Washington, DC, and present findings at an annual summit, with the State Department covering costs for travel, lodging, and expenses. The program requires annual reports on participant demographics and program effectiveness, and expires seven years after enactment.