Rep. Don Bacon

Maddy summaryThis bill makes the adoption tax credit refundable, meaning adoptive parents who claim the credit can receive a cash refund even if they owe no federal income tax. Currently, the credit is non-refundable, so any excess credit beyond taxes owed is lost. The bill redesignates the credit in tax code (from section 23 to 36C), adds new requirements for third-party affidavits to verify adoptions, and applies to tax returns filed for 2024 and later. It directly affects adoptive parents who qualify for the credit but have no tax liability.

Healthy Air Travel Act This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration to establish an interagency task force to develop and implement a strategy to identify and advance research on communicable diseases in air travel. The task force must consult with representatives from the aviation industry, health experts, and labor stakeholders in developing the strategy. Under the bill, the term communicable disease refers to certain diseases that have the potential to cause a future epidemic or pandemic of infectious disease that would constitute a public health emergency of international concern as declared, after the date of the bill's enactment, by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit for expenses related to "qualified access technology for the blind" under the Internal Revenue Code. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $2,000 per year (adjusted for inflation) for costs paid for hardware, software, or IT that converts visual information into formats usable by blind individuals, covering the taxpayer, their spouse, or a dependent who is blind. The credit is limited to $2,000 over any three consecutive tax years per blind individual and expires after 2028. It directly affects blind individuals and their families who purchase qualifying assistive technology. The credit cannot be claimed for expenses already covered by other tax deductions or credits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) joint task force specifically focused on stopping opioid trafficking at the border, particularly fentanyl and synthetic opioids. It allows DHS to partner directly with private sector organizations (like pharmaceutical or logistics companies) to temporarily assign their employees to the task force, with the private companies covering all costs - without requiring standard federal advisory committee processes. The bill also requires DHS to collaborate with other federal, state, local, tribal, and international agencies on this effort and to report annually on resource gaps and how well the task force is coordinating with others. The primary effect is to enhance DHS's border security operations targeting opioid smuggling through new private-sector partnerships and interagency coordination.

This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require that medications and medical equipment for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose be included in an aircraft emergency medical kit; the FAA must, to the maximum extent possible, follow the guidance of the Aerospace Medical Association. In a 2019 guidance document to the FAA, the Aerospace Medical Association recommended including an opioid antagonist (e.g., naloxone or Narcan) in an aircraft emergency medical kit.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the 2016 Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act to clarify which federal departments handle tax refunds for Coast Guard veterans with combat injuries. It specifically adds the Secretary of Homeland Security (for Coast Guard members when not part of the Navy) and the Secretary of Transportation (for Coast Guard members under Transportation) to the list of officials responsible for processing these refunds. The bill requires these departments to identify and refund improperly withheld taxes within one year of enactment and to prevent future errors starting immediately. It directly affects Coast Guard veterans who received combat-related injuries during service periods when the Coast Guard operated under different departments.

Maddy summaryHRES 349 is a symbolic resolution recognizing May as National Foster Care Month. It does not create new laws or change existing policies; instead, it encourages Congress to implement policies improving outcomes for children in foster care. The resolution highlights challenges like prolonged foster care stays, educational instability, and aging-out youth, while urging support for prevention services, family reunification, and permanent placements. It reaffirms existing federal programs under the Social Security Act but has no binding effect on legislative action.

Maddy summaryThe AIR PUMP Act requires airlines to provide nursing crew members (like flight attendants and pilots) with reasonable break time to express breast milk for up to one year after their child's birth, as well as a private, non-bathroom space for this purpose. It specifically excludes breaks during critical flight phases and ensures accommodations won't compromise safety, security, or require significant costs (e.g., aircraft modifications). The bill includes anti-retaliation protections for employees who request accommodations or file complaints, and enforces these requirements through the Department of Labor using existing Fair Labor Standards Act mechanisms. This directly affects airline employees who are nursing parents and their employers, aligning airline workplace policies with federal breastfeeding protections.

This resolution encourages the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to continue its work in educating the public about the dangers of antisemitism and the origins of the Holocaust, congratulates those responsible for the creation of the museum, condemns antisemitism, supports educational and community-based programs that counter antisemitism and hate, and supports the designation of a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Day.

Maddy summaryHRES 425 is a non-binding House resolution designating July 19, 2023, as "Glioblastoma Awareness Day" to increase public recognition of glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. It directly supports patients, caregivers, and families affected by the disease, which has a low 5-year survival rate (6.9%) and no effective screening methods. The resolution encourages greater public awareness, honors those impacted by the disease, and urges continued research investments, including through the Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network. It does not create new laws or alter funding but serves as a symbolic statement to advance understanding and support for glioblastoma research.