Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federally chartered National Center for the Advancement of Aviation to develop the U.S. aviation and aerospace workforce. The Center will provide grants for education and training programs, including scholarships, internships, and curriculum development for middle schools, high schools, and colleges focused on aviation careers. It will specifically support underrepresented groups and veterans transitioning to aviation careers while coordinating with government agencies to avoid duplicating existing programs. The Center must operate as a non-profit entity, maintain tax-exempt status, and submit annual reports to Congress on its activities.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 331) symbolically designates the week of April 24-28, 2023, as "National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week." It honors school support staff including counselors, social workers, psychologists, therapists, and nurses who provide critical academic, emotional, and behavioral support to students. The resolution recognizes their role in creating safe learning environments and improving student outcomes, but contains no binding policy changes or funding. As a non-binding resolution, it serves solely to raise awareness of these personnel’s contributions.

Performing Artist Tax Parity Act of 2023 This bill modifies the above-the-line tax deduction for the expenses of performing artists (including commissions paid to managers or agents) to provide for a phaseout of such deduction for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income exceeds $100,000 ($200,000 for joint return filers). The $100,000 phaseout threshold is adjusted for inflation annually for taxable years beginning after 2023.

Maddy summaryThe Flight Education Access Act increases federal student loan limits for students enrolled in eligible flight education programs, which prepare students for commercial pilot certification. It sets specific annual and aggregate loan limits based on a student's year of study (e.g., dependent students can borrow up to $111,000 total), and requires programs to meet a 70% completion rate after three years to maintain eligibility. The bill also creates a new $40 million annual grant program to support partnerships between educational institutions and aviation industry partners to diversify the pilot workforce and increase interest in aviation careers. It requires data collection on program completion rates and demographic information, with reports to Congress on the program's effectiveness.

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 summaryHR 2825, the Prison Libraries Act of 2023, establishes a federal grant program to fund library services in state and territorial correctional facilities. It directly affects incarcerated individuals by providing access to books, digital resources, educational programs, and staff support, with funds requiring states to submit detailed plans demonstrating need and measurable goals like improving literacy or job skills. Key provisions include funding for modern library infrastructure, hiring qualified librarians, and programming such as job training, digital literacy, restorative justice, and cultural activities - all while prohibiting use for food, general prison operations, or unrelated staff costs. The program authorizes $10 million annually for six years (2024-2029), prioritizing grants that align with library standards, prioritize post-secondary education, and show clear impact on reducing recidivism.

Ending Qualified Immunity Act This bill eliminates the defense of qualified immunity in certain civil actions for deprivation of rights. Qualified immunity is a judicially created doctrine that protects government officials from being held personally liable for constitutional violations. The bill provides that, under the statute allowing a civil action alleging deprivation of rights under color of state law, it shall not be a defense or immunity to any such action that (1) the defendant was acting in good faith or believed that his or her conduct was lawful at the time it was committed; (2) the rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution or federal laws were not clearly established at the time of their deprivation; or (3) the state of the law was such that the defendant could not reasonably have been expected to know whether his or her conduct was lawful.

Advancing Cutting Edge Agriculture Act or the ACE Agriculture Act This bill reauthorizes the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) and expands the program's environmental sustainability goals. (The program supports innovative research and development of technology, research tools, and products to address long-term and high-risk challenges related to food and agriculture.) The bill expands the program's goals to include water conservation and responding to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as resilience to (1) drought, (2) infectious diseases, and (3) plant and animal pathogens and pests. The bill also removes the current pilot program designation and requires the Department of Agriculture to establish and maintain an AGARDA staff.