Rep. Steven Horsford

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new salary thresholds for white-collar workers to qualify for overtime pay, starting at $45,000 annually in 2023 and increasing to $75,000 by 2026. It requires automatic annual adjustments based on the 55th percentile of full-time salaried workers' earnings, as tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bill also limits non-exempt duties to no more than 20% of a worker's time. These changes would make more salaried employees eligible for overtime pay, reversing a long-term decline in coverage.

Maddy summaryHR 1139, the GUARD VA Benefits Act, amends federal law to strengthen penalties for individuals or organizations charging veterans unauthorized fees when helping with VA benefit claims. It directly affects veterans seeking assistance with VA claims and the representatives (like advocates or attorneys) who might charge them fees. The bill adds a new provision making it a violation to solicit, charge, or receive any fee for preparing, presenting, or prosecuting VA claims, punishable by fines under Title 18. This change specifically targets unauthorized fee-charging while excluding fees covered under existing exceptions in sections 5904 or 1984 of the law.

This resolution encourages the African Union (AU) and its member countries to prioritize economic and political reforms that uphold human rights, combat corruption, create an enabling climate for private sector investment, and promote transparent and accountable governance. The resolution also calls on the U.S. President and Secretary of State to carry out initiatives that bolster trade, elevate diplomatic engagement, combat food insecurity, and promote peace in Africa. (AU is a multilateral organization consisting of 55 member states of the African continent.)

Maddy summaryHR 1831 would award Billie Jean King a Congressional Gold Medal to honor her lifelong advocacy for equal rights in sports and society. The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal and have it presented by congressional leaders, recognizing her pivotal role in advancing women's equality through tennis (including founding the Women’s Tennis Association and securing equal prize money) and her broader impact on society through initiatives like Title IX advocacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores access to VA housing loans and educational benefits for Black World War II veterans who were denied GI Bill benefits due to racial discrimination, as well as for their living spouses, children, grandchildren, or direct descendants. It defines eligibility by requiring applicants to certify that their veteran relative was denied GI Bill benefits on racial grounds, with a five-year application window starting from the bill's enactment date. The VA must process these applications within 90 days and report to Congress on the number of recipients and total benefit value within one year. This addresses historical discrimination by creating new pathways to benefits for affected individuals and their families.

Maddy summaryThe Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2023 establishes a new office within the Department of Justice to coordinate federal efforts on gun violence prevention. The office, led by a Director appointed by the Attorney General, will evaluate existing programs, identify data gaps, and make evidence-based policy recommendations to Congress and the President. It will work with an advisory council including DOJ officials and external members like gun violence survivors, community service providers, and public health experts. The office must produce an annual report to Congress on gun violence trends and policy recommendations, and the bill authorizes funding to support these activities.

Maddy summaryHR 1723, the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act of 2023, amends the Foreign Assistance Act to remove restrictions on using U.S. foreign aid funds for abortion services. It explicitly allows U.S. foreign assistance programs to fund comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion services, training, and equipment. This change directly affects U.S. international health programs and recipient countries, enabling them to integrate safe abortion care into broader reproductive health services. The bill aims to align U.S. policy with global health guidelines by making abortion services a standard part of reproductive health care funded through foreign assistance.

Maddy summaryThe Food Deserts Act creates a federal grant program to help establish grocery stores in underserved communities by funding state revolving funds. States receive capitalization grants (up to $150 million for FY2022) to provide low-interest loans to grocery stores that meet specific criteria, such as selling unprocessed, affordable healthy foods and matching 20% of the loan with non-federal funds. Priority is given to stores hiring local workers, offering nutrition education, sourcing from local farms, and having established supply chains. The program directly supports grocery store operators in areas with limited access to fresh food, aiming to improve community health outcomes through increased access to nutritious options.

Discriminatory Gaming Tax Repeal Act of 2023 This bill repeals the excise tax on wagering. The term wager includes bets on a sporting event or contest that is conducted for profit and a lottery conducted for profit.

Maddy summaryHR 1619 requires schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to provide fluid milk substitutes (like soy or almond milk) upon request by a student or their parent/guardian. The bill removes the previous requirement that substitutions needed a medical authority's written statement for most dietary needs, instead allowing requests based on the student's or parent's request alone. It aligns the definition of acceptable substitutes with current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This change directly affects students with dietary restrictions, making it simpler for schools to accommodate their needs without extra medical documentation.