Rep. Donald Norcross

Maddy summaryHR 6751 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Roberto Clemente, a Hall of Fame baseball player and humanitarian, including 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins must feature Clemente's image and inscriptions like "Roberto Clemente" and "2027," with all sales including a surcharge ($5-$35 per coin) paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation. The foundation, which supports youth sports, education, and disaster relief programs, will use these funds for its mission, while the U.S. Treasury must recover all production costs. The coins will be sold exclusively in 2027, with no net cost to the government.

Maddy summaryHR 9997 designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River, New Jersey, as the "Leonard G. 'Bud' Lomell, Jr. VA Clinic." This ceremonial bill names the facility after Second Lieutenant Leonard G. Lomell, Jr., a D-Day hero who led a critical mission at Pointe-du-Hoc during World War II and later served his community in Toms River. The bill has no policy provisions - it simply changes the clinic's official name for recognition purposes. The naming honors Lomell's military service, post-war civic contributions, and connection to the Toms River area.

Maddy summaryThe Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act (HR 807) directs the U.S. Treasury to mint three types of commemorative coins honoring working dogs' service: $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar coins with specific weight and composition requirements. Each coin will carry a surcharge ($35 for $5 coins, $10 for $1 coins, $5 for half-dollars) that will be paid directly to America's VetDogs to support their programs providing service dogs for veterans, the disabled, and others. The coins will be issued in 2027 with designs reflecting working dogs' roles in military, detection, therapy, and assistance work. The legislation specifies that all surcharge revenue must fund America's VetDogs' operations without creating new government programs. This is a commemorative measure focused on honoring working dogs' contributions through coin sales, with all surcharge funds going to a specific nonprofit organization.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges Ukraine to reverse its 2022 suspension of adoptions by foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens. It specifically asks Ukraine to review its decision and resume such adoptions, prioritizing cases where U.S. prospective parents had already completed Ukrainian adoption requirements before the suspension or where children were part of pre-existing Ukrainian hosting programs. The resolution does not change U.S. law but formally requests Ukraine address mutual concerns to protect children's best interests. It directly affects U.S. families seeking to adopt Ukrainian children and Ukraine's adoption policies.

Maddy summaryThe Engage the Pacific Act establishes a new U.S. government committee to coordinate engagement with civil society organizations (like community groups, media, and environmental groups) across Pacific Island nations (including Fiji, Samoa, and Palau). It creates two key programs: the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program ($4 million annually) to strengthen independent journalism and counter disinformation, and the Pacific Islands TRADES Program ($10 million annually) to fund workforce training in sectors like tourism and fisheries. The bill requires reports from the State Department and USAID on American Spaces facilities, strategic communications, and how U.S. efforts align with Pacific priorities. These provisions directly affect U.S. agencies, Pacific Island civil society groups, and the delivery of U.S. foreign assistance in the region.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 9528) is a ceremonial renaming resolution. It redesignates two specific park features at Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park: the Great Falls Scenic Overlook Trail Bridge and Overlook Park, to honor Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. The bill updates all official references in government documents, maps, and records to reflect these new names. It has no policy impact beyond commemorating the congressman with permanent naming changes.

Maddy summaryHRES 1566 is a symbolic House resolution honoring all U.S. veterans on Veterans Day 2024. It recognizes the service and sacrifice of the estimated 15.8 million veterans living in the U.S. as of 2023, including those who served in conflicts from World War II to post-9/11. The resolution calls on the American public to observe Veterans Day to acknowledge veterans' role in preserving national freedom. As a non-binding resolution, it has no direct policy impact but formally expresses congressional recognition of veterans' contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how disability benefits are treated for homeless disabled veterans seeking housing assistance. It excludes certain disability payments (under Chapter 11 or 15 of Title 38, U.S. Code) from income calculations when determining eligibility for HUD-assisted housing programs, including the supported housing program under Section 8(o)(19) and housing on Department property. Specifically, it ensures these benefits are not counted toward income for housing eligibility, though they still count for "adjusted income" definitions. The bill directly affects disabled veterans applying for HUD housing assistance who receive these specific disability benefits. It makes a concrete change to income calculation rules without altering benefit amounts or creating new funding.

Maddy summaryThe VA Employee Fairness Act of 2024 modifies collective bargaining rules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). It removes existing subsections (b), (c), and (d) from the law governing VHA employee bargaining and renumbers the remaining provision. This change streamlines the collective bargaining framework but does not alter the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authorities over incentive pay and expedited hiring. The bill directly affects VHA employees by changing how their collective bargaining rights are structured under federal law. The law remains neutral, focusing solely on procedural adjustments to the existing bargaining framework.

Maddy summaryHR 9983, the Save Our Ships Act, establishes a new $5 million annual grant program under the Department of the Interior to preserve historic military vessels. The program provides competitive grants to museums, memorials, and other public sites displaying decommissioned military ships (like those operated by the Navy, Coast Guard, or Maritime Commission) for physical repairs, environmental hazard mitigation, and education programs about maritime careers. Eligible recipients include state/local governments and nonprofit organizations managing these sites, with funds specifically targeting the upkeep of vessels and workforce development in shipbuilding. This bill directly supports the long-term preservation of these vessels for public education and historical access.