Rep. Shontel M. Brown

Maddy summaryThe Election Mail Act (HR 2987) establishes new requirements for handling mail-in ballots in federal elections to improve reliability and accessibility. It requires the Postal Service to process absentee ballots on the same day received, place postmarks indicating mailing dates on ballot envelopes, and treat election mail as first-class mail with free postage for completed ballots. The bill also mandates states to use intelligent mail barcodes on return envelopes, affix specific tags for ballot visibility, and adopt a uniform 7-day deadline for accepting mailed ballots postmarked on or before election day. These changes apply to federal elections, with most provisions taking effect for the 2024 election cycle. The bill includes additional provisions for the Postal Service to consult with Indian Tribes about voting barriers on tribal lands.

Maddy summaryThe Child Care for Working Families Act establishes a federal entitlement program providing subsidized child care for working families with children under age 6 who are not yet in kindergarten. It creates a sliding fee scale where families at or below 85% of State median income pay no copayment, while higher-income families pay up to 7% of their income based on income thresholds. The bill requires states to develop quality rating systems for child care providers and ensures providers receive sufficient funding to meet quality standards, including wages equivalent to elementary educators. It prioritizes access for underserved populations including children with disabilities, infants and toddlers, children experiencing homelessness, and families in low-income communities. The program is funded with $20 billion for fiscal year 2024 and subsequent years through 2029.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 331) symbolically designates the week of April 24-28, 2023, as "National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week." It honors school support staff including counselors, social workers, psychologists, therapists, and nurses who provide critical academic, emotional, and behavioral support to students. The resolution recognizes their role in creating safe learning environments and improving student outcomes, but contains no binding policy changes or funding. As a non-binding resolution, it serves solely to raise awareness of these personnel’s contributions.

Raise the Age Act of 2023 This bill establishes new restrictions on the sale or transfer of certain semiautomatic firearms to individuals under 21 years of age. Specifically, this bill makes it unlawful for a licensed gun dealer, importer, manufacturer, or collector to sell or deliver a semiautomatic center-fire rifle or semiautomatic center-fire shotgun that has (or has the capacity to accept) an ammunition feeding device with a capacity of more than five rounds to an individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is under age 21. The prohibition does not apply if the individual under age 21 is a full-time law enforcement officer or active-duty member of the Armed Forces. The bill also requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation to report on the operation of its public access line, including a description of information sharing protocols and recommendations for improving such protocols.

Maddy summaryHR 2370, the Access to AEDs Act, authorizes $25 million in federal funding (2024-2028) to help public elementary and secondary schools improve access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and CPR training. The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to school districts and partners for developing AED programs, training staff and students, purchasing and maintaining AEDs, and creating cardiac emergency response plans. It specifically targets schools to address sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), which is a leading cause of death among student athletes and youth, with 90% of SCA victims dying without immediate CPR and defibrillation. The law requires grantees to report on their activities and establishes a clearinghouse to collect data on school AED access and costs.

Maddy summaryThe Child Labor Exploitation Accountability Act requires U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) contractors to annually disclose if they or their subcontractors faced serious labor violations - including child labor violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act - in the past three years. Contractors with such violations must report corrective steps, and those failing to address issues or repeating violations face a five-year ban from USDA contracts (including the year of listing and the next four years). The law mandates annual reports to Congress tracking the number of contractors on the ineligible list and the program's effectiveness. This policy directly affects agricultural businesses and suppliers contracting with the USDA, aiming to enforce labor compliance through financial consequences.

Maddy summaryHR 2825, the Prison Libraries Act of 2023, establishes a federal grant program to fund library services in state and territorial correctional facilities. It directly affects incarcerated individuals by providing access to books, digital resources, educational programs, and staff support, with funds requiring states to submit detailed plans demonstrating need and measurable goals like improving literacy or job skills. Key provisions include funding for modern library infrastructure, hiring qualified librarians, and programming such as job training, digital literacy, restorative justice, and cultural activities - all while prohibiting use for food, general prison operations, or unrelated staff costs. The program authorizes $10 million annually for six years (2024-2029), prioritizing grants that align with library standards, prioritize post-secondary education, and show clear impact on reducing recidivism.

Maddy summaryThe Young Americans Financial Literacy Act would create federal grants to fund centers of excellence that develop and deliver research-based financial education programs for young people aged 8-24. These programs would teach essential money management skills like budgeting, saving, debt management, and financial decision-making, with a focus on accessibility through digital and traditional methods. The bill authorizes $27.5 million to $55 million annually (through 2025) for these centers, prioritizing programs serving at-risk youth, families, and communities facing financial challenges. Centers must use evidence-based approaches, address unique needs (e.g., student loans, predatory lending), and report annually to Congress on their outcomes.

Maddy summaryThe Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2023 establishes a new trust fund funded by increasing the corporate tax rate from 21% to 24.5% to support water infrastructure and affordability programs. It allocates funds to clean water programs (42%), safe drinking water funding (42.5%), household water wells (1%), colonias assistance (0.5%), Indian health services (3%), and water operator job training (0.5%). The bill requires the EPA to conduct a study and submit a report on water affordability, discrimination in water services, public participation in regionalization, and data collection related to service disconnections. It includes specific provisions for colonias, household water wells, and job training programs for water system operators to improve water access and equity.

Maddy summaryThe Healthy H2O Act establishes a federal grant program to help rural households and facilities improve drinking water quality by covering costs for point-of-use or point-of-entry water treatment systems, filter replacements, and related services. It directly assists eligible end users in rural areas - including homeowners, renters, child-care facilities, and small residential property owners - who have tested water containing health contaminants like lead, arsenic, or PFAS, while prioritizing private well users and limiting assistance to households with income below 150% of the median nonmetropolitan household income. Grants can fund certified treatment systems, installation by qualified professionals, maintenance, and water quality testing, administered by the Department of Agriculture with $10 million annually from 2024-2028. The program requires annual reports to Congress on progress, barriers to safe water access, and trends in treatment technology use to inform future improvements.