Rep. Don Bacon

Maddy summaryThe Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act of 2023 requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to mandate secondary cockpit barriers on all commercial passenger aircraft operating under standard airline regulations. Specifically, it directs the FAA to issue an order requiring installation of these barriers within 18 months of the law's enactment. This applies to most major airlines operating scheduled passenger flights in the U.S. The key provision is the new safety requirement for barriers to prevent unauthorized cockpit access during flights. The law directly affects commercial airlines and their aircraft, focusing on a concrete operational safety change without specifying cost or implementation details.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs federal agencies to improve mental health support for educators and school staff, including teachers, administrators, and support personnel. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to share evidence-based practices for preventing suicide and promoting mental wellness, and to run a national awareness campaign reducing stigma around seeking care. The bill creates new grant programs for schools and colleges to fund mental health initiatives and training, with $35 million annually for 2024-2026. Additionally, it mandates a federal review of mental health challenges in the education workforce and a GAO report on existing federal grant programs addressing these issues.

This resolution states that the House of Representatives expresses deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the earthquakes which occurred in Turkey (Turkiye) and the region on February 6, 2023. The resolution also states that the House of Representatives (1) wishes a speedy recovery for the injured; (2) commends the hard work of search and rescue personnel; (3) conveys its solidarity with Turkey, the Turkish people, and the Syrian people; and (4) urges the Biden administration to provide immediate assistance to Turkey and the region.

Maddy summaryHR 936, the Tanning Tax Repeal Act of 2023, repeals a 10% federal excise tax on indoor tanning services that was originally enacted under the Affordable Care Act. This bill directly affects tanning salons and businesses providing indoor tanning services by eliminating their obligation to pay this tax on customer services. The repeal applies to services performed after the bill's enactment date, removing the tax provision from the Internal Revenue Code. The bill does not create new requirements or alter other tax policies, solely removing this specific tax.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the volunteers and communities who supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. It directs the U.S. Mint to create a gold medal commemorating the approximately 55,000 volunteers (mostly women) from Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas who served over 6 million troops from 1941 to 1946. The medal will be displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska, and bronze duplicates may be sold to cover minting costs. The bill is purely commemorative, with no policy changes or direct effects on current laws or programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates the federal government to develop a comprehensive strategy specifically targeting drug trafficking routes through the Caribbean into the United States, including ports of entry, maritime corridors, and air routes. The strategy must define agency roles, detail required resources, and ensure legitimate trade and travel are not hindered. It specifically requires plans to reduce drug-related violent crime in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with recommendations for additional federal assistance or authorities needed by local law enforcement. The bill creates a procedural requirement for this planning document but does not allocate new funding or change existing laws.

This resolution expresses that the House of Representatives recognizes the Ukrainian famine of 1932-1933, known as the Holodomor, as a genocide; remembers the atrocities of the Holodomor and extends deepest sympathies to the victims, survivors, and families of this tragedy; condemns the systematic violations of human rights, including the starvation, repression, and persecution of the Ukrainian people by the Soviet Union; recognizes the findings of the Commission on the Ukraine Famine as submitted to Congress on April 22, 1988; and is resolute that Ukraine remain independent and sovereign to protect the people from future genocide.

Maddy summaryHR 866, the Equal COLA Act, changes how cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated for federal retirees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). It requires that each year's COLA be based on the exact percent change in the price index from the previous year's base quarter, rounded to the nearest 0.1%, effective December 1. This applies to all FERS annuities starting before, on, or after the bill's enactment date, ensuring a standardized calculation method for retirees' annual adjustments.

Reimbursing Border Communities Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to make grants to certain border communities for expenses related to security measures along the southern border. Specifically, the local government of a community is eligible for a grant if it is located within 200 miles of the border and is not a sanctuary jurisdiction as defined by the bill. Additionally, no grant may be used to reimburse nonprofit organizations, fund legal representation, or provide educational, housing, food, or health care resources to a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law).

Maddy summaryHCONRES 9 is a symbolic resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that formally denounces socialism as incompatible with American values, citing historical examples of socialist regimes causing widespread suffering and authoritarian rule. It states Congress opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States. This resolution has no legal effect, does not change any laws, and serves solely as a non-binding statement of congressional opinion. It directly affects no individuals or policies, as it is purely a declarative position.