Rep. Dina Titus

Maddy summaryHR 9647, the President Jimmy Carter Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes Congress to award a single gold medal to former President Jimmy Carter in recognition of his service. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the medal, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. It does not create new policies or affect any government programs or individuals beyond this ceremonial honor. The medal is intended to commemorate Carter's presidency, humanitarian work through the Carter Center, and his Nobel Peace Prize. This is a procedural bill with no substantive legislative impact.

Maddy summaryThe Artsakh Revenue Recovery Act of 2024 would establish a U.S. fund to compensate Armenians displaced from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) after Azerbaijan's military assault in September 2023. It requires the U.S. government to seize Azerbaijani sovereign assets held in the United States if Azerbaijan fails to compensate displaced Armenians for lost revenue from businesses, property, and employment. The bill creates a claims process through which displaced Armenians can submit claims for compensation for revenue lost since September 2023, with the fund paying claims if Azerbaijan does not compensate within 90 days. The Artsakh Revenue Recovery Fund would operate for up to one year after a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is signed or until all claims are paid.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin and place it in the U.S. Capitol. The committee must secure the statue within two years of the bill's enactment and install it in a public-accessible location by January 1, 2026, for viewing during Capitol Visitor Center guided tours. It is a procedural measure with no policy changes or direct impact on constituents or legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Medicaid and CHIP rules to let eligible out-of-state healthcare providers enroll without extra state screening. It applies to providers already in Medicare or their home state program, with low fraud risk, serving children under 21 with complex medical conditions. Providers would receive 5 years of enrollment under this streamlined process, eliminating state-level barriers. The change directly affects children seeking specialized care across state lines and the providers who serve them.

Maddy summaryThe Apex Area Technical Corrections Act (HR 1504) amends the 1989 Apex Project, Nevada Land Transfer and Authorization Act to update its legal framework for land transfers in Southern Nevada. It adds the City of North Las Vegas and the Apex Industrial Park Owners Association as authorized recipients for land transfers (replacing Clark County as the sole recipient), and exempts certain mineral sales on the Apex Site from competitive bidding requirements. The bill also requires environmental compliance for all land transfers under the Act, aligning with federal environmental laws. These changes directly affect the City of North Las Vegas - a predominantly minority community that has faced economic hardship - and the private stakeholders managing the Apex Industrial Park.

Maddy summaryThe TIPS Act repeals the lower minimum wage for tipped workers, requiring employers to pay the standard federal minimum wage (instead of a reduced rate that relied on tip credits) and mandating that all tips go directly to employees - except for allowed tip pooling among staff who regularly receive tips. It also creates a new tax deduction for qualified tips received in traditional tipped occupations (like food service, hospitality, and custodial work), limited to individuals with adjusted gross income under $112,500. This deduction applies to both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers, with reporting requirements for tips via employer statements. The bill modifies tax forms to accommodate this change, effective for tax years starting after December 2024.

Maddy summaryThe Thermal Runaway Reduction Act (HR 9588) requires the U.S. Transportation Secretary to update safety testing standards for lithium-ion batteries during transport and mandate that most batteries be shipped at no more than 30% charge capacity. This directly affects battery manufacturers, shippers, and transportation companies handling lithium-ion batteries under UN 3536 transport regulations. Key provisions include revising UN safety tests to better withstand transport impacts and requiring batteries (except small cells) to be offered for transport at ≤30% charge, with exceptions only for approved higher-charge shipments. The law aims to reduce the risk of thermal runaway - dangerous overheating - in battery transport accidents.

Maddy summaryThe Flight Refund Fairness Act would require airlines to provide refunds for cancelled or significantly delayed flights. It adds a provision exempting small business ticket agents (such as small travel agencies) from this refund requirement. This means small travel agencies selling airline tickets would not have to follow the same refund rules as airlines or larger agencies. The bill's key mechanism is creating a small business exemption to reduce regulatory burden in the travel sector.

Maddy summaryHRES 1443 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for universal access to high-quality, affordable child care and early education for all young children and families. It highlights that current child care costs consume 14% of middle-income families' income (vs. a recommended 7%) and that 50% of U.S. families live in areas with insufficient child care options ("child care deserts"). The resolution calls for future legislation to ensure no family pays more than 7% of income for care, expand access during non-traditional hours, guarantee workforce pay parity with K-12 educators, and fund infrastructure upgrades. It does not create new programs but urges the House to prioritize comprehensive child care reform.

Maddy summaryHRES 1448 is a non-binding House resolution stating that the House believes every person has the right to emergency health care, including abortion care, during medical emergencies. It specifically addresses concerns that abortion restrictions force medical providers to choose between treating patients in life-threatening situations or risking criminal charges. The resolution highlights that such restrictions disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, people of color, immigrants, low-income individuals, and LGBTQI+ patients. It does not change existing laws but expresses congressional support for ensuring access to emergency care without legal barriers. The resolution was introduced by multiple House members and referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee.