Rep. Tom Cole

Maddy summaryHR 5073, titled the "Promoting Domestic Energy Production Act," is a tax code amendment affecting oil and gas companies. It changes how businesses calculate adjusted financial statement income by removing specific deductions related to intangible drilling and development costs from their financial reports. The bill requires companies to disregard depreciation and depletion expenses taken into account on their financial statements for these costs when computing taxable income. This applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2022, directly impacting oil and gas producers who use these accounting methods. The bill does not create new energy policies but alters tax accounting rules for the industry.

Maddy summaryHR 4832, the Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act of 2023, changes how funding is allocated for key Native American programs. It requires that starting in fiscal year 2024, new budget authority for specific accounts under the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, and Indian Health Service must be made available immediately for the current fiscal year *and* include advance funding for the next fiscal year. The bill mandates annual reports by July 31 each year, including workload estimates and resource sufficiency assessments developed with tribal consultation. This affects tribal programs funded through accounts like Operation of Indian Programs, Contract Support Costs, and Indian Health Services, aiming to improve budget planning predictability.

Maddy summaryHRES 624 is a non-binding resolution recognizing Gibraltar's right to self-determination regarding its status as a British Overseas Territory. It highlights that Gibraltarians have consistently voted (99.6% in 1967, 98.48% in 2002) to remain under UK sovereignty and notes U.S. military reliance on Gibraltar's facilities since 1801, including during WWII and the 2011 Libya operation. The resolution states the House honors Gibraltar's security contributions and affirms that Gibraltarians' views must be central to any future discussions about its status. It does not change U.S. policy or impose new obligations, merely expressing the House's position.

Family Savings for Kids and Seniors Act This bill provides an annual inflation adjustment after 2023 to the $5,000 tax exclusion for employer-provided dependent care assistance.

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 authorizes the U.S. President to sell up to two nuclear-powered attack submarines (Virginia-class) from the U.S. Navy inventory to Australia over a 15-year period to support the AUKUS security partnership. It requires Australia to cover all costs, including repairs performed at U.S. shipyards, and mandates detailed certifications to Congress on national security impacts, U.S. industrial capacity, and Australia's ability to operate the submarines. The bill also requires annual reports for 15 years on submarine transfers, defense service exports, and production schedules. This directly affects Australia's naval capabilities and U.S.-Australia defense cooperation under the AUKUS framework.

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 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 4157, the "Not Just a Number Act," requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to produce annual reports on veteran suicide rates and their connection to VA healthcare and benefits. The reports must break down suicide rates by age, gender, and race, and examine how engagement with VA services (like Vet Centers, healthcare enrollment, benefits claims, and housing loans) correlates with suicide trends. The bill also mandates a VA toolkit for state/local coroners to improve veteran suicide death reporting, and a study on creating a dedicated VA suicide prevention office. These measures aim to standardize data collection and identify effective prevention strategies, directly affecting VA operations, congressional oversight, and veteran care systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Helen Keller National Center through fiscal years 2024-2028, extending funding for its existing services. It updates the definition of employment support to require "competitive integrated employment" (as defined in federal workforce law) instead of "vocational objectives," aligning the center's mission with current employment standards. The bill also adjusts outdated fiscal year references in funding sections and updates the center's organizational name from "Helen Keller Services for the Blind, Incorporated" to "Helen Keller Services." It directly affects the center's operations and the blind individuals it serves through vocational training and employment programs. The changes are administrative updates to maintain program continuity without creating new policies.