Rep. Marcus J. Molinaro

Maddy summaryHR 4021, the Fair and Open Skies Act, amends U.S. aviation law to require that the Department of Transportation consider labor standards when reviewing international air transport agreements. Specifically, it adds "preventing the undermining of labor standards" as a mandatory factor in the public interest test for approving such agreements under 49 U.S.C. § 40101. This change directly affects international airlines seeking to operate flights to or from the U.S. and the DOT, which must now evaluate whether proposed agreements could weaken U.S. labor protections. The bill updates existing provisions by replacing outdated language about "agreements with the United States Government" and explicitly including labor standards in the evaluation criteria.

Maddy summaryThe Drone Safety and Efficiency Act (HR 3983) streamlines the Federal Aviation Administration's process for approving drone operation waivers under current rules. It requires the FAA to use risk-based reviews, standardize applications to avoid vague questions, and leverage past waiver data with analytics - while considering whether operators control property access for safety. The bill mandates public posting of waiver terms (with privacy safeguards) and allows faster approvals for similar past waivers, plus expedited modifications for existing waivers. This directly affects drone operators (like delivery services or survey companies) by reducing application complexity and improving regulatory predictability.

Maddy summaryHR 3879, the Supporting Families through Addiction Act of 2023, provides federal grants to nonprofit organizations that support families with members struggling with substance use disorder. The bill authorizes $5 million annually (2024-2028) to fund community-based family support services, including education, stigma reduction, and connecting families to treatment resources. Grants cover up to 85% of costs and require organizations to be led by experts, including families with lived experience. This directly affects families navigating addiction in their households by expanding access to evidence-based support programs and improving provider knowledge about family impacts.

Maddy summaryThe Spent Fuel Prioritization Act of 2023 amends federal law to change how the U.S. government prioritizes accepting spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste for disposal or storage. It requires the Secretary to prioritize waste based on four specific factors: whether the reactor is decommissioned, the population size of the reactor's area, the earthquake hazard level of the area, and national security risks related to continued on-site storage. This directly affects nuclear power plant operators and communities near reactors, particularly those with decommissioned plants, large populations, high earthquake risk, or significant security concerns. The bill establishes a clear, factor-based system for determining acceptance order, with highest priority given to decommissioned reactors and areas facing the most severe risks.

Maddy summaryHR 3907 increases annual funding for U.S.-Israel development cooperation from $2 million to $4 million, extending support through 2026 instead of 2023. It requires USAID to report within 180 days on expanding projects to include multilateral partnerships with Arab countries, particularly in Africa, and assesses the need for additional resources. The bill directly affects USAID, Israel's MASHAV agency, and developing nations in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America where joint projects focus on water, agriculture, education, and health. Key provisions adjust funding levels and mandate a formal review of expanding cooperative development efforts. The legislation aims to strengthen existing U.S.-Israel collaboration on global development initiatives.

Maddy summaryHR 3872, the School Safety Drill Research Act of 2023, directs the U.S. Department of Education to fund a study by the National Academies on the mental health impacts of school lockdown and active shooter drills in elementary and secondary schools. The study must assess psychological effects on students and staff, compare different drill types (like active shooter simulations vs. full-scale lockdowns), and analyze impacts on specific groups including younger students, those with disabilities, and students with trauma histories. It also requires identifying best practices for accommodating diverse needs during drills and providing mental health support. The National Academies must submit a public report to Congress within 18 months, with $1 million authorized for the study. The bill focuses solely on research, not on changing school drill requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 3828 designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 80 Prospect Street in Avon, New York, as the "Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz Memorial Post Office Building." This bill directly affects the physical location of that post office and all official references to it. The key provision updates all federal documents, maps, and records to use the new memorial name instead of the address. As a naming resolution, it has no policy impact beyond commemoration and does not alter postal services or operations.

Maddy summaryHR 1541, the Small Business Workforce Pipeline Act of 2023, requires Small Business Development Centers to provide small businesses with information and assistance on establishing workforce programs. It directly affects small business concerns by directing them to resources from the Department of Labor and other federal agencies about work-based learning, registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeship programs, and job training. The bill adds a new provision (subparagraph W) mandating this outreach, referencing existing federal laws like the Carl D. Perkins Act and the National Apprenticeship Act. This is a concrete policy change focused on improving access to workforce development resources for small businesses.

VA Canine Reporting Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to report on the average time it took to provide a veteran with a service or guide dog in the prior year. The report must also include legislative recommendations to reduce such wait time.

Maddy summaryHR 3792 extends U.S. security funding for Israel through 2028 (Section 3) and expands energy cooperation to include advanced nuclear technologies and carbon capture (Section 5). It requires annual reports on regional security partnerships involving Israel (Section 6) and ensures countries in the Abraham Accords can access U.S. development programs (Section 8). The bill also mandates reports on diplomatic efforts against ICC investigations targeting the U.S. and Israel (Section 10) and encourages people-to-people programs to strengthen the Abraham Accords (Sections 7, 9). These provisions directly affect Israel’s diplomatic engagement, security partnerships, and economic cooperation in the Middle East.