Rep. Suzanne Bonamici

Maddy summaryHR 6486, the Supporting Community Lenders Act, creates a new Coordinator position within the Small Business Administration's Office of Capital Access. This Coordinator will focus on supporting community financial institutions (CFIs) - small banks and credit unions serving underserved communities - to improve their ability to provide capital to small businesses. Key duties include developing programs for CFIs, building partnerships with federal agencies like the FDIC and Treasury, running outreach and training, and submitting annual reports to Congress. The bill directly affects CFIs and small businesses in communities with limited banking access by establishing a dedicated federal role to strengthen their support.

Maddy summaryHR 6451, the Mental Health Justice Act of 2023, provides $250 million in federal grants to states, tribes, and localities to hire mental health professionals as first responders for specific emergencies. It directs these professionals to replace police in situations involving mental health crises, substance use, or intellectual/developmental disabilities - such as when a 911 caller describes a mental health emergency or a first responder identifies someone needing mental health support. The bill requires grantees to train responders in de-escalation techniques, link individuals to community-based services (not incarceration), and report on outcomes like reduced arrests or use of force. It also mandates data collection on demographics and prevents funneling people into institutional settings, with annual reports to Congress on program effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHRES 881 is a symbolic House resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. It honors the Act's role in preventing the extinction of species like the bald eagle and humpback whale, citing its success in protecting 99% of listed species. The resolution does not create new legal requirements or affect any specific group, as it serves solely as a ceremonial recognition of the Act's conservation achievements.

Maddy summaryHRES 886 is a non-binding House resolution supporting Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) by recognizing the epidemic of violence against transgender people and memorializing those lost in the year ending September 30, 2023. It specifically acknowledges the disproportionate impact of violence on transgender women of color, citing 33 documented deaths in the U.S. during that period (with estimates suggesting the actual number is higher due to underreporting). The resolution calls for Congress to prioritize studying and preventing such violence while affirming that all transgender people deserve dignity and respect. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funding but serves to raise awareness and honor victims.

Maddy summaryHRES 876 is a symbolic House resolution expressing support for a "whole child approach" to education, which focuses on students' academic, health, safety, and emotional needs. It recognizes that students benefit when they are challenged, supported, healthy, safe, and engaged in school. The resolution encourages parents, educators, and community members to promote this approach and asks federal agencies to explore coordination between education, health, and social services. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally acknowledges existing educational priorities.

Maddy summaryHR 6433, the PARA-EMT Act of 2023, creates a federal grant program to address critical shortages in emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. It authorizes $50 million annually (2024-2028) for grants to EMS agencies to fund recruitment, training, and retention programs - including initiatives for veterans, rural communities, and youth - while requiring 20% of grants to support rural agencies. The bill also establishes a separate $20 million annual grant program to help veterans with military EMS training meet civilian certification requirements and mandates a federal study on projected EMS workforce needs through 2032. These provisions directly affect EMS agencies, training programs, and veterans seeking civilian EMS careers.

Maddy summaryHRES 873 expresses the U.S. House of Representatives' support for designating November 2023 as "National Career Development Month." The resolution highlights the value of career development services in helping workers and students make informed career choices, strengthen the workforce, and reduce unemployment. It emphasizes that career professionals - such as counselors - are a vital resource for navigating job markets and global economic challenges. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but encourages public awareness and utilization of career development resources.

Maddy summaryThe Specialty CROP Act of 2023 requires the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative to annually submit a report to Congress analyzing foreign trade barriers affecting U.S. specialty crop exports (such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts). The report must identify specific foreign policies like tariffs, quotas, or sanitary measures that hinder exports, estimate their economic impact, assess relevant international agreements, and detail U.S. actions taken to address these barriers. It also mandates public comment before the report is prepared and requires the unclassified version to be made publicly available in machine-readable format. This bill directly affects U.S. specialty crop producers and exporters by creating a formal mechanism to track and address international trade obstacles.

Maddy summaryThis bill closes loopholes that allow domestic violence abusers to keep or buy firearms while under restraining orders. It requires courts to issue "firearm surrender orders" when domestic violence restraining orders are issued, mandating that abusers surrender all firearms within 24 hours. The law expands the definition of "intimate partner" to include dating partners and requires law enforcement to remove firearms if abusers don't comply. It also creates a federal grant program to help states implement these policies, directly affecting domestic violence survivors and abusers subject to restraining orders.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week beginning November 13, 2023, as "National Apprenticeship Week" through symbolic congressional support. It does not create new laws or programs but formally recognizes the value of registered apprenticeships in providing paid on-the-job training, industry credentials, and career pathways. The resolution highlights apprenticeships' role in developing skilled workers, supporting high-wage sectors like healthcare and green energy, and promoting diversity in training opportunities. It aims to increase public awareness of apprenticeships as an effective "earn-and-learn" model for workers and employers.