Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer

Maddy summaryHR 4498, the Jobs of the Future Act of 2023, requires the U.S. Department of Labor and the National Science Foundation to produce two reports analyzing how artificial intelligence impacts the U.S. workforce. The reports must identify data gaps, industries most affected by AI, vulnerable worker demographics (like specific age, gender, or economic groups), and needed skills for AI-related jobs. They will also propose methods to reskill workers, expand access to AI education, and support community colleges and minority-serving institutions. The bill does not fund programs or change laws but mandates this analysis to inform future workforce policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies tax credits for solar energy projects by excluding facilities located on prime or unique farmland from eligibility. Developers seeking the solar energy investment credit (Section 48) or clean electricity production credit (Section 45Y) cannot claim these credits if their project is on land classified as "prime farmland" or "unique farmland" under USDA definitions. The law adopts existing USDA land classifications (from 7 CFR Part 657) to define these terms for tax purposes. This directly affects solar developers planning projects on high-quality agricultural land, removing a key financial incentive for such developments.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames the U.S. Food for Peace program after Peter O'Brien and makes key changes to how agricultural aid is delivered. It prohibits using cash, food vouchers, or foreign-sourced food for aid (section 2d), requires that at least 50% of annual funds be used for procuring U.S. agricultural commodities (section 2b(5)), and mandates annual reports to Congress on fund usage (section 2b(6)). These changes directly affect U.S. farmers supplying aid and international recipients of food assistance. The bill focuses on strengthening domestic agricultural exports within the Food for Peace program while adding transparency requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 277 would require Congress to approve major federal regulations before they take effect. Major rules are defined as those with significant economic impact ($100 million+ annually), major cost increases for consumers or industries, or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, or innovation. Agencies must submit detailed information about these rules to Congress, including cost-benefit analyses, before they can take effect. Congress would have 70 session days to approve the rule with a joint resolution; if they don't act within that timeframe, the rule would not take effect. This would increase congressional oversight of federal regulations and require more detailed information about proposed rules before they become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled "______ Act of 2023" (with the blank title not specified in the text), is a procedural amendment to Section 317N of the Public Health Service Act. It updates the timeframe for monitoring and reporting on infections linked to illicit drug use and other risk factors, extending the period from fiscal years 2019-2023 to 2024-2028. The bill does not create new policies or directly affect specific groups; it only modifies an existing reporting requirement. As a procedural change to a public health monitoring provision, it has no substantive policy impact beyond extending the reporting window. The title placeholder indicates the bill's specific focus is missing from the provided text.

Maddy summaryThe American Dream and Promise Act of 2023 would create two pathways to permanent residency for certain immigrants. The "Dream Act" portion would provide conditional permanent resident status to individuals who entered the U.S. as children, have lived continuously in the U.S. since January 1, 2021, and meet educational requirements (such as completing high school, earning a degree, or enrolling in education programs). The "American Promise Act" portion would provide permanent residency to individuals eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) as of specific dates (January 1, 2017, or January 20, 2021). The bill includes provisions for background checks, fee exemptions for low-income applicants, and processes for removing conditional status after meeting specific criteria like completing higher education or earning income.

Maddy summaryHR 3099 establishes a new Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords within the State Department, directly affecting U.S. diplomatic efforts and coordination. The envoy, appointed by the President with Senate confirmation, will coordinate U.S. government activities to expand diplomatic, economic, and security ties between Israel and Muslim-majority countries, including encouraging nations without formal relations with Israel to establish them. Key duties include strengthening existing Accords partnerships, fostering regional cooperation on issues like trade and water security, and providing diplomatic support for Israel’s regional engagement. The envoy must submit annual reports to Congress detailing specific diplomatic efforts and progress with partner countries.

Maddy summaryThe Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act of 2023 requires federal highway and rail bridge projects receiving federal funding to use certified contractors trained in corrosion control. It mandates a corrosion management system covering surface prep, protective coatings, materials selection, and environmental protection, and requires contractors to employ personnel certified through qualified training programs. The bill also expands federal grant funding eligibility to include corrosion control work on rail bridges and directs the Transportation Secretary to study best practices for inspecting and repairing weathering steel bridges within 18 months. These changes directly affect contractors, state transportation departments, and local governments managing federally funded bridges.

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.

This resolution expresses support for keeping AM radios in cars. (Several car manufacturers announced plans to remove AM radio options from some or all of their models.)