Rep. Ann M. Kuster

Maddy summaryHR 2974 establishes the United States Interagency Council on Housing Affordability and Preservation, a new federal body composed of heads from 21 agencies (including HUD, Treasury, and Justice) to coordinate efforts on affordable housing. The Council’s key duties include developing a national strategic plan for affordable housing within 12 months, reviewing federal housing programs, providing regional support to states and localities to access federal resources, and requiring annual agency reports on housing barriers. It mandates $4.8 million annually for operations (2024-2028) and encourages states to create their own housing councils to align with federal goals. The bill directly affects federal agencies, state/local governments, and low-income renters by improving coordination and access to housing programs, without directly changing housing subsidies or tenant protections.

Fresh Start Act of 2023 This bill allows grants under the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) to be used to implement a state law that provides for the automatic expungement or sealing of certain criminal records. The NCHIP provides grants to state and tribal governments to enhance the quality, completeness, and accessibility of criminal history record information and ensure the implementation of effective background check systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force and replaces it with a narrower authorization targeting three specific terrorist groups: al Qaeda in Afghanistan, Islamic State Khorasan in Afghanistan, and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in Iraq and Syria. It requires the President to annually certify that these groups still pose a direct and substantial threat to the United States and mandates detailed reports to Congress on military actions taken under this authority, including civilian casualties, force used, and diplomatic efforts to reduce extremism. The authorization expires four years after enactment unless Congress reauthorizes it, with a 180-day wind-down period for military operations. The bill establishes specific transparency requirements and congressional oversight mechanisms for military actions against these designated groups.

Maddy summaryHR 2918, the Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2023, amends the Fair Housing Act to explicitly protect survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking from housing discrimination. It adds "survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or severe forms of trafficking" as a protected class under the law, prohibiting landlords and housing providers from refusing to rent, evicting, or charging more based on this status. The bill also clarifies that discrimination based on survivor status - including denial of housing due to protective orders, shelter stays, or prior incidents - is illegal. This directly affects survivors who face barriers like denied rentals, evictions, or higher costs when seeking safe housing, addressing documented discrimination reported by 67% of survivors in New York studies. The law preserves survivors' ability to pursue other discrimination claims under the Fair Housing Act.

Raise the Age Act of 2023 This bill establishes new restrictions on the sale or transfer of certain semiautomatic firearms to individuals under 21 years of age. Specifically, this bill makes it unlawful for a licensed gun dealer, importer, manufacturer, or collector to sell or deliver a semiautomatic center-fire rifle or semiautomatic center-fire shotgun that has (or has the capacity to accept) an ammunition feeding device with a capacity of more than five rounds to an individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is under age 21. The prohibition does not apply if the individual under age 21 is a full-time law enforcement officer or active-duty member of the Armed Forces. The bill also requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation to report on the operation of its public access line, including a description of information sharing protocols and recommendations for improving such protocols.

Maddy summaryThe Right to Read Act of 2023 defines an "effective school library" as one with certified librarians, adequate resources, and support for digital and information literacy. It requires states and school districts to ensure all students, particularly those in under-resourced schools, have access to such libraries through new reporting requirements and funding mechanisms. The bill provides $500 million annually for literacy programs and mandates biennial data collection on school library resources. It also protects staff from liability for following right-to-read policies and requires school libraries to uphold First Amendment rights by providing diverse reading materials without political bias.

Maddy summaryHR 2370, the Access to AEDs Act, authorizes $25 million in federal funding (2024-2028) to help public elementary and secondary schools improve access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and CPR training. The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to school districts and partners for developing AED programs, training staff and students, purchasing and maintaining AEDs, and creating cardiac emergency response plans. It specifically targets schools to address sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), which is a leading cause of death among student athletes and youth, with 90% of SCA victims dying without immediate CPR and defibrillation. The law requires grantees to report on their activities and establishes a clearinghouse to collect data on school AED access and costs.

Maddy summaryThe Family Building FEHB Fairness Act (HR 2828) amends the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program to add assisted reproductive treatment as a covered benefit for federal employees and their families. It specifically defines these treatments to include procedures like in vitro fertilization, intrauterine insemination, and the preservation of eggs, sperm, or embryos. The bill requires the Office of Personnel Management to include these services under FEHB coverage, expanding access to reproductive care for eligible federal workers. The change would take effect one year after the bill's enactment, directly affecting federal employees enrolled in the FEHB program seeking fertility-related medical services.

Partner with Korea Act This bill creates an E-4 treaty trader visa category for up to 15,000 nationals of South Korea each fiscal year who are coming to the United States solely to perform specialty occupation services, subject to various requirements. The 15,000 limit shall only apply to principal recipients of such visas and not their accompanying spouses or children. (A specialty occupation is one that requires the theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor's degree or higher.)

Maddy summaryHR 2845, the Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act, creates a centralized School Cybersecurity Information Exchange website managed by CISA to provide K-12 schools, school districts, and state education agencies with tailored cybersecurity resources, best practices, and funding opportunities. It establishes a voluntary registry for schools to report cyber incidents (like ransomware attacks) and requires CISA to publish annual, anonymized reports on incident trends. The bill also funds a K-12 Cybersecurity Technology Improvement Program to deploy protective tools, offer training, and prevent threats, with $10 million authorized annually for 2024-2025. This directly supports schools in strengthening digital security for students and staff, focusing on practical, accessible solutions rather than legislative changes.