Rep. Joseph D. Morelle

Maddy summaryThe Break the Cycle of Violence Act establishes federal grants to fund community-based violence intervention programs in areas disproportionately affected by gun violence, particularly communities of color. It authorizes $300 million for 2024, increasing to $700 million annually through 2031, for evidence-informed strategies including trauma-responsive care, violence interruption, and economic opportunities for opportunity youth (ages 16-25 not in school or employment). The bill requires grantees to implement culturally competent services targeting individuals at high risk of violence or victimization, with a focus on reducing gun violence without contributing to mass incarceration. It creates a National Community Violence Response Center to coordinate data collection, research, and best practices for community violence prevention. The legislation also includes provisions for job training and workforce development programs through the Department of Labor to connect opportunity youth with in-demand occupations.

Maddy summaryHR 4986, the Student Loan Interest Elimination Act, would eliminate interest accrual on most existing Federal student loans starting July 1, 2024, without requiring borrower action, while allowing borrowers to opt out if desired. The bill would also enable refinancing of non-Federal direct loans into Federal Direct Consolidation Loans with no interest, no origination fees, and preservation of previous loan forgiveness benefits. New loans made on or after July 1, 2024, would have interest rates based on borrower income relative to area median income (0-4%), and the bill terminates interest-subsidized loans after June 30, 2024. The bill establishes an Education Affordability Trust Fund, financed by loan repayments, to support these changes and fund additional Pell Grants and college affordability programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new federal requirements for employers to prevent heat-related illness and injury among workers. It mandates that employers provide safe work environments by implementing specific measures, including access to cool water, scheduled rest breaks in shaded areas, employer-paid cooling equipment, and training for employees and supervisors on recognizing heat illness symptoms. The Secretary of Labor must create these standards within one year, requiring employers in high-heat occupations (like construction, agriculture, and outdoor labor) to adopt engineering controls, administrative schedules, and health protocols. Key provisions include ensuring hydration, rest, and language-accessible training, while preserving existing safety protections and allowing for updates as scientific evidence evolves.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Higher Education Act to provide Pell Grant flexibility for students with disabilities. It allows students whose institution determines a reduced course load is appropriate (due to a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act) to count that reduced load (or 5 credits, whichever is greater) as full-time enrollment for calculating their Pell Grant amount. The change applies only to the grant calculation itself, not to semester eligibility rules. This directly affects qualifying students with disabilities enrolled in postsecondary education who require part-time schedules due to their disability.

Maddy summaryHR 4942 extends and modifies the Conrad State 30 program, which allows states to sponsor foreign medical graduates to work in medically underserved areas in exchange for a commitment to practice for three years. The bill directly affects foreign medical graduates seeking to work in the U.S., states that sponsor them, and health facilities in underserved communities. Key provisions include creating mechanisms for physicians to change employers or states if they face issues with their current employment, adding requirements for employment agreements (including prohibitions on non-compete clauses), and establishing exceptions to the three-year work requirement under certain circumstances. The bill also creates a process for states to recapture waiver slots when physicians leave their employment and requires annual reporting on the program's usage. These changes aim to improve physician retention in underserved areas by providing more flexibility and protections for foreign medical graduates.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins marking the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary in 2025. It authorizes three coin types: $5 gold coins (max 50,000), $1 silver coins (max 400,000), and half-dollar coins (max 750,000), with surcharges of $35, $10, and $5 respectively. The surcharge proceeds will fund the Marine Corps Heritage Center's educational programs, with no net cost to taxpayers as the Treasury must recover all minting costs through the surcharges. The coins can only be issued during 2025, and the Treasury must ensure all costs are covered before distributing funds to the Heritage Foundation.

Maddy summaryHR 984, the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act, authorizes $50 million annually (2024-2028) for grants to states and tribes to improve outreach to veterans and their families. The bill provides funding to hire more county/Tribal veterans service officers, expand existing outreach programs, and ensure equitable access to benefits for vulnerable groups like American Indian veterans, elderly veterans, and women veterans. States and tribes must submit detailed plans, track how quickly veterans receive benefits, and report annually on progress toward outcome measures set by the Veterans Affairs Secretary. Grants must supplement, not replace, existing state/local funding and prioritize areas with critical officer shortages or high veteran suicide rates.

Maddy summaryHR 4893, the Scientific Integrity Act, requires federal agencies that fund, conduct, or oversee scientific research to adopt policies preventing political interference in science. The bill mandates these agencies to prohibit suppression or distortion of research findings, establish Scientific Integrity Officers to enforce policies, and implement training and reporting systems. It directly affects scientists and engineers employed by or contracted with covered agencies (like the EPA or NIH), ensuring their work remains free from political pressure. Key mechanisms include annual public reporting on misconduct complaints, whistleblower protections, and requiring scientific conclusions to be based on evidence, not ideology.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for business loans at credit unions to include veterans. It amends the Federal Credit Union Act to define "member business loan" as including loans made to veterans, using the standard definition of "veteran" from Title 38 of U.S. Code. Credit unions offering these loans will now be able to serve veteran business owners under the same terms as other qualifying borrowers. The policy change directly affects veterans seeking business financing and credit unions providing such loans.

Maddy summaryHR 4889, the Raise the Wage Act of 2023, would gradually increase the federal minimum wage for most workers to $15.50 per hour by 2027, with specific annual targets: $9.50 starting in 2023, rising to $11.00 after one year, $12.50 after two years, and $15.50 after four years. It would also phase out the separate lower minimum wage for tipped employees (starting at $6.00/hour) by aligning their pay with the regular minimum wage by 2028, while requiring employers to let workers keep all tips. The bill includes similar phased increases for workers under 20 and transitions toward fairer wages for workers with disabilities under special certificates, which would sunset after 2028. Future annual increases after 2028 would tie the minimum wage to the median hourly wage of all workers.