Rep. Ann M. Kuster

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a single Congressional Gold Medal to honor all U.S. Army Dustoff crews who served during the Vietnam War (1962-1973). It recognizes their critical role in evacuating nearly 900,000 wounded personnel, including U.S., South Vietnamese, and allied forces, under extreme combat conditions. The medal, designed with input from the Secretary of Defense, will be presented to the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum for permanent display. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to cover costs, but the primary action is the commemorative recognition of these crews' service.

Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish infertility treatments, standard fertility preservation services, or both to a covered veteran or partner of a covered veteran. A covered veteran is a veteran who is enrolled in the VA health care system and has infertility or is at risk of having infertility, as determined by a licensed physician. The VA may furnish up to three completed in vitro fertilization cycles that result in live birth, or 10 attempted cycles, whichever occurs first. Additionally, the VA may furnish in vitro fertilization treatment using donated gametes or embryos. The VA must receive consent to furnish an in vitro fertilization cycle from the covered veteran, the partner of a covered veteran, and the third-party donor (if applicable). For purposes of paying travel expenses for treatment or services to the partner of a covered veteran, the VA must deem the partner to be a veteran receiving treatment or care. The VA must prescribe regulations related to the provision of infertility treatments and standard fertility preservation services as required by this bill. Prior to the enactment of such regulations, the VA must ensure that (1) counseling and treatment furnished under existing authority is available to a veteran and the veteran's partner, regardless of whether they are married; and (2) treatment under existing authority may be furnished using donated gametes or embryos.

Maddy summaryHR 987 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Golda Meir, Israel's first female Prime Minister, and the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Israel relations. It specifies three coin types: $5 gold coins (max 50,000), $1 silver coins (max 400,000), and half-dollar clad coins (max 750,000), with detailed weight and composition requirements. All coins will include Golda Meir's image, her name, and commemorative inscriptions, and will be sold during 2026. A surcharge ($35 for $5 coins, $10 for $1 coins, $5 for half-dollars) will be paid to the American Friends of Kiryat Sanz Laniado Hospital Inc. to support its hospital operations.

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 summaryHR 782 prohibits state officials from interfering with abortion services provided across state lines. It specifically blocks states from restricting: (1) out-of-state patients traveling for legal abortions, (2) providers offering such services, (3) assistance for travel or care, or (4) the interstate shipment of FDA-approved abortion drugs. The bill allows the federal Attorney General or affected individuals to sue violators for injunctions, damages, and attorney fees. It directly affects patients seeking care in other states, healthcare providers, transportation services, and pharmacies handling FDA-approved abortion medications. The law focuses on preventing state laws from blocking access to legally permitted abortion services.

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.

Maddy summaryHR 652, the Zero Food Waste Act, establishes a $650 million EPA grant program to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030 (compared to 2010 levels). It directly affects states, local governments, tribes, and nonprofits that apply for grants to fund food waste reduction activities, such as studying waste generation, collecting data, implementing diversion programs (like charging higher fees for landfill disposal), or supporting anaerobic digestion projects. Grants require grantees to collect data, publish reports, and prioritize projects in communities disproportionately affected by waste-related environmental or health impacts. The bill mandates annual EPA reports to Congress on progress toward the 50% reduction target.

Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from requiring payment from a veteran for any contraceptive item that is required to be covered by health insurance plans without a cost-sharing requirement.

Maddy summaryHR 889, the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act, excludes certain federal broadband grants from recipients' taxable income. It specifically applies to grants received under programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program and state digital equity grants. The bill prevents double tax benefits by disallowing deductions or credits for expenses covered by these excluded grants and reduces the adjusted basis of related property. This policy change directly affects broadband providers, local governments, and tribal entities receiving qualifying grants from federal or state sources for broadband infrastructure deployment.

Maddy summaryHR 927, the Supreme Court Ethics Act, establishes new ethics rules and oversight for Supreme Court justices. It requires the Judicial Conference to create a binding code of conduct within one year and mandates the appointment of an Ethics Investigations Counsel to receive public complaints, investigate potential violations, and issue annual public reports. The bill also requires justices to publicly disclose their reasons for recusing themselves or denying recusal motions in cases. These provisions directly affect Supreme Court justices by creating a formal process for handling ethics concerns and increasing transparency around their conduct.