Rep. Don Bacon

Maddy summaryHR 9920 (the BE GONE Act) amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand the definition of "aggravated felonies" by adding "sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence" as a specific category. This change directly affects non-citizens convicted of these offenses, as it triggers mandatory deportation under existing immigration law. The bill does not create new penalties or enforcement procedures but alters the legal definition that determines deportation eligibility. It is a definitional amendment to existing immigration law, not a new enforcement measure.

Maddy summaryHR 9928, the U.S. Park Police Modernization Act, adjusts salary structures for U.S. Park Police officers by updating pay scales and step progression timelines. It sets specific pay rates for each rank (from Private to Chief) relative to Executive Schedule level V, with Private positions capped at 95% of that rate and higher ranks at full Executive Schedule level V. The bill modifies step progression times (e.g., 52 weeks between steps for lower ranks) and clarifies that prior salary adjustments before January 3, 2021, are disregarded. This bill directly affects all U.S. Park Police officers by standardizing their compensation structure under the District of Columbia Police and Firemen’s Salary Act. It is a procedural salary adjustment, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal grant program to fund mental health screenings for corrections officers in federal, state, and local detention facilities. It requires states and localities receiving grants to hire mental health liaisons who coordinate screenings, outreach teams, and referrals to mental healthcare providers. The program mandates brief, standardized screenings (5-10 questions) for all officers to identify severe mental illness, followed by referrals through trained outreach teams. Funding totals $50 million in 2025, increasing annually to $70 million in 2029, with 90% allocated to grants for screenings and referrals across federal, state, and local facilities.

Maddy summaryHRES 1462 is a symbolic resolution supporting the designation of September 16-20, 2024, as "Malnutrition Awareness Week." It does not create new laws or funding but recognizes the significance of malnutrition as a public health issue affecting vulnerable groups, including older adults, children, and communities of color. The resolution highlights existing programs like the Older Americans Act and Federal child nutrition initiatives, while encouraging awareness and access to nutrition services. It serves as a non-binding acknowledgment of malnutrition's impact and ongoing efforts to address it.

Maddy summaryHR 9898 requires the Department of Energy to lead a federal task force that will analyze U.S. critical materials processing capacity and report to Congress within one year. The report must identify supply chain gaps, assess regulatory barriers (like Clean Air Act compliance), and evaluate opportunities for foreign investment from allied nations. It also mandates a GAO review of how current policies and permitting processes hinder domestic investment in processing critical minerals used in clean energy and technology. The bill directly affects federal agencies, domestic processing industries, and potential foreign investors seeking to build U.S. facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows healthcare providers and medical debt collectors to report consumers' paid medical debts or successful payment plan participation as positive credit history. It directly affects consumers who have paid medical bills or met payment plans, enabling them to improve their credit scores through these positive entries. Key provisions require credit bureaus to include this positive information in credit reports and scores, and mandate that healthcare entities report paid medical debt from the past year or ongoing payment plan compliance. The law aims to correct the current system where unpaid medical debt harms credit scores, while paid debt is not recognized as a positive factor.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Clean Air Act to modify ethanol waiver processes and fuel volatility standards. It adds a new provision allowing fuel to enter commerce if it meets Reid Vapor Pressure requirements through similarity to certified vehicles or existing waivers, and adjusts vapor pressure limits from 10% to 10-15% in several sections. Small refineries that retired credits for 2016-2018 compliance years may now have those credits returned or applied to future years if their petitions remained pending as of December 1, 2022. The changes directly affect fuel retailers, ethanol producers, and small refineries by altering compliance pathways for fuel standards and credit management under the renewable fuel program.

Maddy summaryThe Abundant American Resources Act of 2024 requires federal agencies to conduct studies on the economic value of minerals in specific public lands and waters. The Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management must each complete a study within three years to estimate the dollar value of minerals like oil, gas, and metals in designated onshore and offshore areas. These studies exclude National Parks and certain pre-2000 national monuments but include co-managed areas and lands withdrawn from mining or leasing. The bill does not authorize new resource extraction or change existing laws - it only mandates data collection for future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryThe Hydrogen for Industry Act of 2024 establishes a federal grant program to fund commercial-scale demonstration projects using hydrogen in heavy manufacturing sectors like steel, cement, ammonia production, and chemical synthesis. It allocates $1.2 billion (2025-2029) for competitive grants up to $400 million per project, requiring 50% cost sharing from applicants and prioritizing projects that reduce emissions, use ≥50% hydrogen blends, and benefit disadvantaged communities. Projects must complete pilot testing, monitor hydrogen leaks, and demonstrate emissions reductions at industrial facilities. The bill also mandates a federal study on hydrogen safety, costs, and environmental impacts for industrial use.

Maddy summaryHRES 1510 is a symbolic resolution expressing support for "Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Day" (observed September 25, 2024). It acknowledges that military sexual trauma (MST) affects approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 50 men in the military, causing long-term physical and mental health impacts like PTSD and suicide risk. The resolution urges the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs to improve access to MST-related care, reduce stigma, and ensure survivors receive respectful support without fear of retaliation. It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes the need for better systems to support military personnel and veterans affected by MST.