Rep. Steven Horsford

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a previous exclusion that prevented temporary federal employees (including U.S. Postal Service staff and Members of Congress) from counting service after January 1, 1988, toward their retirement benefits. It allows these workers to have their post-1988 temporary service counted toward retirement eligibility if they pay a deposit to the retirement system. The change applies to anyone employed by the federal government on or after the bill's enactment date. The Office of Personnel Management must notify affected employees and create rules to implement this change.

Maddy summaryHR 5895 amends the Higher Education Act to allow historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to use existing grant funds for specific arts-related activities. The bill adds new provisions enabling HBCUs to provide financial assistance to arts students, establish arts outreach programs, offer wraparound student services (like mentorship and career advising), maintain Black art collections, and create paid arts internships through partnerships. This directly affects HBCUs by expanding how they can allocate current funding to strengthen their arts programs and support Black artists. The key mechanism is modifying Section 323 of the Higher Education Act to include these new uses, with optional partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts.

Maddy summaryHR 5682, the A Chance To Serve Act, expands benefits for Peace Corps volunteers and AmeriCorps participants. It extends non-competitive hiring eligibility to three years for both groups, ensures regular stipend payments (including during government shutdowns), and provides one year of health coverage post-service. The bill doubles the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, increases living allowances to 200% of the poverty line, and suspends interest on federal student loans during service for both programs. It also removes barriers for refugees, asylees, and lawful permanent residents in national service programs and exempts certain benefits from federal taxation.

Maddy summaryThe 21st Century Skills Act creates a new skills training grant program to help adults and dislocated workers access job training and supportive services. It provides funding based on household income ($10,000 for low-income individuals, $8,000 for moderate-income, and $6,000 for higher-income) to cover training costs, child care, transportation, and other necessary expenses. The bill establishes a CareerOneStop website portal to help eligible individuals find and compare training programs, and requires training providers to meet performance standards. It also limits training program costs to 110% of average community college tuition in the local area and prioritizes individuals receiving public assistance or who are basic skills deficient.

Maddy summaryThis bill replaces "Columbus Day" with "Indigenous Peoples’ Day" as the official federal holiday observed on the second Monday in October. It directly affects federal government operations and all federal documents, rules, or laws that previously referenced "Columbus Day" by automatically updating those references to "Indigenous Peoples’ Day" upon enactment. The key mechanism is a simple amendment to federal law (5 U.S.C. § 6103(a)) to change the holiday name and a provision ensuring all existing federal references to Columbus Day are legally treated as referring to Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead. This is a procedural change to federal holidays and references, not a new policy or program.

Maddy summaryThe Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act creates a 30% federal tax credit for companies building or significantly upgrading electric transmission lines that meet specific resilience and capacity standards. It directly affects utility companies and transmission developers investing in new lines (crossing at least two states or 150 miles long) or modifications that increase existing line capacity by 500 megawatts or more. To qualify, projects must use advanced conductors or superconducting technology, transmit at minimum voltage levels (100 kV for new lines, 345 kV for others), and serve purposes like disaster resilience or grid reliability. The credit applies to property placed in service after December 31, 2023, and expires for projects starting after 2033.

Maddy summaryHR 5758 would reimburse federal employees, District of Columbia workers, and federal contractors for out-of-pocket costs (like loan payments or credit card fees) incurred during government shutdowns. It requires the Treasury to pay these costs as soon as possible after a shutdown ends, with applicants submitting documentation within one year. States that cover federal programs during shutdowns lasting 14 days or more would also receive reimbursement for those expenses. The bill establishes a Reserve Fund in the Treasury to cover future reimbursement costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents federal regulators from requiring banks, credit unions, and trust companies to treat custody assets (like digital assets held for clients) as liabilities on their financial statements or to hold extra capital against them. It specifically stops institutions from recognizing liabilities for digital asset services they don’t own, unless those liabilities exceed related expenses. The law applies broadly to depository institutions but includes an exception: commingled cash held for third parties must still be listed as a liability. Key provisions aim to clarify accounting rules for digital assets, reducing regulatory complexity for financial institutions managing client custody. It directly affects banks, credit unions, and trust companies handling digital assets or custody services.

Maddy summaryThe WIC for Kids Act expands eligibility for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) by adding new qualifying pathways. It allows children to qualify if they live in households where someone receives Head Start, Indian reservation food assistance, or Puerto Rico/Northern Mariana Islands nutrition block grants, and streamlines documentation by permitting states to use existing records. The bill extends certification periods for children from one to two years and automatically enrolls infants born to current WIC participants. This directly affects low-income families with children who qualify for related assistance programs but previously faced barriers to WIC access.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Higher Education Act to require all U.S. colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid to create detailed anti-harassment policies covering physical, online, and institution-sponsored settings. It mandates policies prohibiting harassment based on race, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, religion, and other protected characteristics, including harassment via institutional email, computers, or electronic messaging. The bill also establishes a $50 million annual grant program to fund colleges developing prevention programs, victim support services, and training for students and staff on recognizing and addressing harassment. These policies and grants must comply with existing civil rights laws like Title IX but add specific requirements for reporting and prevention.