Rep. Deborah K. Ross

Maddy summaryHR 3325, the Recruit and Retain Act of 2024, expands how federal COPS grants can be used to help law enforcement agencies hire officers. It allows grants to cover application fees (like background checks) for agencies facing declining recruitment, permits up to 2% of grant funds for administrative costs, and creates a new "Pipeline Partnership Program" requiring law enforcement agencies to partner with schools or colleges to engage students through career events, mentoring, and internships. The bill also adds guidance for agencies operating below budgeted staffing levels and mandates a Comptroller General study on recruitment/attrition trends across all levels of law enforcement. These changes directly affect local, state, and tribal police departments struggling to recruit or retain officers, as well as educational institutions partnering with them.

Maddy summaryThe Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023 reauthorizes and updates the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, focusing on improving weather forecasting capabilities across multiple domains. It authorizes annual funding for research and development in tornado, hurricane, and atmospheric river forecasting, with specific provisions for enhancing data collection from commercial sources and improving public communication of weather warnings. The bill establishes programs to improve data assimilation practices, support agricultural and water management applications, and enhance the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's computing resources for weather modeling. This legislation directly affects the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, its partners in the weather enterprise, and the public who rely on weather forecasts and warnings for safety and planning.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 5-year research program at the Department of Energy to study abandoned oil and gas wells. It funds research on better methods to locate these wells, plug them safely, repurpose them for uses like geothermal energy, and understand their environmental impacts - including methane emissions and groundwater risks. The program will receive $30 million in fiscal year 2024, increasing to $35 million by 2028, with coordination required from universities, labs, and private companies. It directly affects the Department of Energy and state agencies tasked with implementing the research, but does not fund direct well cleanup.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1157) is a symbolic gesture recognizing the work of linemen. It does not create new laws or policies; instead, it formally expresses the House's support for designating April 18, 2024, as "National Lineman Appreciation Day." The resolution highlights linemen's critical role in maintaining power infrastructure, their work as first responders during emergencies, and their safety risks. It directly affects no individuals or entities through policy changes - it solely offers ceremonial recognition of linemen's contributions to public safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the EPA to establish new water quality standards and discharge limits for PFAS chemicals (like "forever chemicals") within strict deadlines. It mandates the EPA to publish human health criteria by 2027 and set industry-specific discharge limits for targeted sectors (e.g., chemical manufacturing, electroplating, landfills) by 2025-2027. The bill also requires immediate monitoring of PFAS discharges from these industries and wastewater treatment facilities, and allocates $200 million annually (2024-2028) to help treatment works address PFAS contamination. These changes directly affect regulated industries, wastewater systems, and communities near water sources contaminated by PFAS.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies bankruptcy law to prevent debtors from using bankruptcy proceedings to avoid paying for alleged child sexual abuse. It requires courts to hold conferences within 60 days for victim impact statements (describing emotional, physical, or financial harm suffered), prohibits bankruptcy filings for such claims, and mandates forensic reviews of nonprofit debtors (501(c)(3) organizations) in related cases. Victims are treated as creditors with special protections, including limits on sealing evidence to protect their identity. The changes apply specifically to bankruptcy cases where debts stem from alleged child abuse allegations.

Maddy summaryHR 8061, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024, ensures stable funding for the Crime Victims Fund by directing certain False Claims Act collections into it from 2024 through 2029. Specifically, it adds a provision requiring that amounts collected under the False Claims Act (excluding whistleblower rewards and government reimbursement for damages) be deposited into the fund during this period. This directly affects crime victims who rely on the fund for services like counseling and emergency aid, as it prevents potential shortfalls in funding. The bill makes a concrete policy change by redirecting specific federal civil penalties into the fund, rather than altering the fund's existing purposes or eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 288) urges the European Union to formally designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization under EU legal framework Common Position 931. It does not create new laws but requests the EU take this specific action, noting the EU has previously sanctioned IRGC individuals but not the organization as a whole. The resolution cites the IRGC's role in human rights abuses, support for proxy groups, and involvement in conflicts like Ukraine as context for the request. Introduced in April 2023 by 20+ House members, it is a non-binding expression of congressional preference.

Maddy summaryHR 3649 establishes a 5-year pilot program to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program, limited to three Veterans Health Administration networks, offers HBOT through VA-approved providers using FDA-approved or investigational medical devices. Funding comes solely from donations to a dedicated VA HBOT Fund, with no annual budget constraints. This bill directly affects eligible veterans seeking this specific treatment option, but does not guarantee long-term coverage beyond the pilot's five-year term.

Maddy summaryThe Love Lives On Act of 2023 modifies benefits for surviving spouses of military veterans and service members. It removes an expiration date on the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship for surviving spouses, ensures remarriage doesn't automatically end eligibility for veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation, and expands access to commissary and exchange privileges for remarried surviving spouses. The bill also clarifies that remarried widows or widowers whose subsequent marriage ended (due to death, divorce, or annulment) can still be considered dependents under TRICARE. These changes directly affect surviving spouses of veterans and military members who have remarried or are considering remarriage, providing more consistent benefits regardless of marital status.