Rep. Don Bacon

Maddy summaryHR 6744, the "No VA Resources for Illegal Aliens Act," prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from providing health care or processing health care claims for individuals unlawfully present in the United States who are not already eligible for VA health care under existing law. This bill directly affects undocumented immigrants who do not qualify for VA benefits through standard veteran eligibility criteria. The key provision explicitly bars VA resources from being used for any care or claims processing for such individuals. The bill does not alter VA eligibility rules for veterans but prevents the use of VA funds for non-eligible non-citizens unlawfully present in the U.S.

Youth Lead Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 National Institute of Food and Agriculture grants to the Girl Scouts of the USA, the Boy Scouts of America, the National 4–H Council, and the National FFA Organization. These grants must be used to establish pilot projects to expand the programs carried out by the organizations in rural areas and small towns.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases loan limits for farmers under the Farm Service Agency. It raises the maximum farm ownership loan amount from $600,000 to $850,000 (and guaranteed loans from $1.75 million to $3.5 million), and operating loans from $400,000 to $750,000 (guaranteed from $1.75 million to $3 million). It also doubles the microloan cap from $50,000 to $100,000. Additionally, the bill creates a new process allowing distressed guaranteed loans to be refinanced into direct loans if borrowers can't resolve issues with lenders and the farm operation can become financially viable. These changes directly affect farmers and ranchers seeking credit through the Farm Service Agency.

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 allocates $7 billion in funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) during fiscal year 2024. The ACP provides subsidies to low-income households to help cover the cost of internet service and connected devices like laptops or tablets. This funding ensures the program can continue supporting eligible households throughout the year, with the money remaining available until fully spent. The bill extends existing program funding without changing eligibility criteria or service requirements.

Maddy summaryHRES 946 is a symbolic House resolution recognizing "Gold Shield Families" - defined as the families of fallen police officers, firefighters, EMTs, correction officers, emergency dispatchers, and emergency service providers who died in the line of duty. The resolution formally honors their sacrifices and resilience, affirming that their hardships should not be forgotten. It includes no new funding, regulations, or policy changes; instead, it serves as a commemorative gesture expressing national gratitude. The resolution directs that a copy be sent to the President and made public to publicly recognize these families' contributions.

Maddy summaryThe Housing for Heroes Act of 2023 expands eligibility for HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door program to include active-duty military members, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. It removes the requirement that properties must be located in designated "revitalization areas" for these groups to purchase homes under the program. HUD must update its regulations to implement this change, allowing eligible individuals to buy single-family homes nationwide without location restrictions. This directly affects those three professions by broadening their access to affordable housing opportunities through an existing federal program. The bill makes a concrete policy change to the program's eligibility rules, not to housing prices or availability.

Maddy summaryHR 6853, the SOS Act, requires the Congressional Budget Office to include a new graph in annual reports about Social Security trust funds. The graph must compare projected payments under a 1985 law (section 257(b)(1)) with actual outlays from current law. This procedural bill affects how Congress reports on Social Security funding, adding transparency about payment assumptions versus current spending. It does not change eligibility or benefit amounts for seniors or disability recipients.

Maddy summaryHR 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023, allows schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer whole milk as an option during lunch. It amends the school lunch law to explicitly permit schools to serve flavored and unflavored whole milk alongside reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free milk choices for students. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to adjust meal regulations to account for saturated fat from whole milk, ensuring it doesn't count against meal fat limits. This change directly affects participating schools and the students who receive school lunches, expanding their milk beverage options.

Maddy summaryHRES 937 is a non-binding House resolution raising awareness about chordoma, a rare bone cancer affecting the skull and spine. It directly addresses chordoma patients and families globally (including approximately 300 new U.S. diagnoses annually) who face limited treatment options and high recurrence rates. The resolution expresses the House’s sense that increased funding is needed for accurate diagnosis, new treatment development, faster research-to-treatment translation, and patient-centered drug discovery. As a symbolic measure, it does not allocate funds but urges greater support for this underserved cancer community.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Defense Secretary to use cost-plus incentive-fee contracts for military construction at three specific ICBM bases (F.E. Warren, Malmstrom, and Minot) for the Sentinel missile program's initial production phase. It directly affects the Sentinel program's infrastructure development at these three Air Force bases by modifying standard contracting rules. The key provision permits a specific contract type (cost-plus incentive-fee) for one low-rate production lot of launch facilities and related infrastructure, which typically carries higher cost risk than fixed-price contracts. This change aims to reduce schedule and cost risks for the program's construction phase without altering the program's core mission or policy.