Rep. Don Bacon

Maddy summaryHR 4708, the H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers Act, streamlines U.S. visa processes for agricultural (H-2A) and non-agricultural (H-2B) workers. It extends the validity of employer certifications and petitions for these visas from one year to three years, reducing administrative burdens. The bill also allows interview waivers for workers renewing status within four years of their previous visa expiration. Additionally, it requires the Department of Labor to publish seasonal employment data on its website at an employer's request, enhancing transparency for seasonal hiring. These changes directly affect U.S. employers seeking temporary foreign workers and the workers themselves.

Maddy summaryThe Housing Transparency Improvement Act requires public housing agencies to create an online portal for residents and applicants in low-income housing and properties under the Rental Assistance Demonstration program. The portal must provide plain-language access to housing management details, legal rights (with translation), and real-time tracking for service requests and complaints using a ticket system. Agencies must also publish annual fact sheets online detailing funding sources, inspection scores, renovation plans, and contact information for property managers. Small agencies (with ≤50 units in rural areas) are exempt from the portal but must submit alternative transparency methods to HUD, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may provide grants to cover implementation costs.

Maddy summaryHR 4709, the U.S.-Israel Anti-Killer Drone Act of 2023, amends a reporting requirement in the National Defense Authorization Act to enhance U.S.-Israel cooperation on countering Iranian drone threats. The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report within 180 days detailing the status of joint efforts to develop and deploy counter-drone technologies, including assessments of current capabilities and proposed policy changes. It also increases funding for this cooperation from $40 million to $55 million annually. The bill directly affects U.S. and Israeli military operations by mandating formal coordination to address Iran’s growing arsenal of armed drones, which have been used against U.S. allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia. This is a procedural bill focused on improving existing coordination, not on new weapons or sanctions.

Maddy summaryHR 4721, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, makes a permanent the 20% tax deduction for eligible small business owners under Section 199A of the tax code. This provision directly affects pass-through business owners (like S-corps, partnerships, and sole proprietorships) who qualify for the deduction. The bill achieves this by removing the temporary expiration language (subsection (i)) from the existing tax code provision. The key change is ending the need for annual congressional extensions of this deduction, providing long-term tax certainty for small businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023, establishes new standards for when veterans can receive care from private providers instead of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It requires the VA to allow veterans to seek community care if they cannot get an in-person appointment within 30 days for primary care or 60 days for specialty care at a VA facility within a 30 or 60-minute drive, respectively. The legislation also mandates that the VA notify veterans of their eligibility for community care within two business days, provide information about telehealth options, and explain reasons for denied care requests along with appeal instructions. Additional provisions include requiring the VA to conduct outreach to inform veterans about community care options, mandate the use of value-based reimbursement models for community care, and establish a pilot program to improve care administration through scheduling improvements and provider incentives. The bill also extends the deadline for health care entities to submit claims under the prompt payment standard from 180 days to one year, and requires the VA Inspector General to assess VA medical center performance in implementing community care programs within three years of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for home modifications for disabled veterans using VA home health services. It raises the maximum annual amount veterans can receive for home improvements from $6,800 to $10,000 and for structural alterations from $2,000 to $5,000. The bill also requires annual adjustments to these amounts based on inflation, using the Consumer Price Index, to maintain their real value over time. These changes apply only to veterans who first apply for these benefits after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryHR 2768, the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act, establishes a VA grant program to fund peer-to-peer mental health support for veterans. It provides up to $250,000 per grant to eligible nonprofits, veteran service organizations, or state/local Tribal agencies to create programs where veterans serve as peer specialists offering 24/7 nonclinical support. The program requires adherence to VA-developed standards for volunteer training and service delivery, while prohibiting the collection of veterans' personally identifying information. The bill authorizes $25 million over three years to implement this initiative, directly benefiting veterans seeking accessible mental health assistance through peer networks.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 1282 (Major Richard Star Act), expands benefits for certain military retirees by allowing them to receive both veterans' disability compensation and military retirement pay simultaneously. It specifically affects combat-related disabled retirees under Chapter 61 of the military retirement system who have fewer than 20 years of service. The key change removes the automatic reduction of military retirement pay when these retirees also receive disability compensation, as amended in Section 1413a(b)(3) of Title 10. Technical updates to the law’s structure and effective date (starting after enactment) complete the provisions.

Maddy summaryThe RISE from Trauma Act creates federal grants to support community-based coordination of trauma-informed services for children, youth, and families who have experienced or are at risk of trauma. It provides up to $6 million per grant to local entities that bring together diverse stakeholders (including schools, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community organizations) to develop local strategies for preventing trauma, promoting resilience, and improving outcomes in health, education, and child welfare. The bill reauthorizes and expands existing programs like the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, school-based trauma support services, and hospital-based interventions for trauma patients. It also includes specific funding increases for these programs and requires grant recipients to prioritize communities with high rates of trauma exposure, including those affected by violence, substance misuse, or systemic inequities.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that research and promotion boards support efforts to develop new markets and strengthen existing markets via research, education, and promotion.