Rep. John Joyce

Maddy summaryHRES 376 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' view that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) must maintain door-to-door delivery for all residential and business customers. It cites concerns that ending this service would disproportionately affect elderly and disabled individuals who rely on secure, convenient mail access for essential items like medications. The resolution notes that voluntary shifts to centralized pickup in 2013 affected only 0.8% of businesses, highlighting dependence on in-person delivery for security and revenue. It urges USPS to avoid reducing door delivery or requiring customers to pay for it.

Maddy summaryHR 2808, the Arnold Daniel Palmer Commemorative Coin Act, authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce three commemorative coins in 2029 honoring golfer Arnold Palmer: $5 gold coins (50,000 max), $1 silver coins (400,000 max), and half-dollar clad coins (750,000 max). The bill requires coin designs to feature Palmer's image and includes surcharges ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollar) that fund the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation. All surcharge revenue must support the Foundation's work in youth health, character development through golf, and nature wellness programs. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued in 2029, with all funds covering minting costs before surcharges are directed to the Foundation.

Maddy summaryHR 2559, the Strengthening Community Care Act of 2023, extends funding deadlines for two key healthcare programs. It amends the Affordable Care Act to extend the authorization period for Community Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps from 2023 to 2028. This change directly affects these programs, ensuring their continued operation and funding stability through 2028. The bill makes no changes to program eligibility or services, only prolonging the existing funding authorization period.

Maddy summaryThe SPARC Act creates a federal loan repayment program to address specialty care shortages in rural areas. It provides up to $250,000 in repayment for specialty medicine physicians (like cardiologists or surgeons) and non-physician providers (such as nurse practitioners in specialty roles) who commit to six years of full-time work in designated rural communities facing provider shortages. Participants must agree to repay eligible education loans (including federal student loans) while serving in these areas, with strict rules preventing double-benefits from other loan forgiveness programs. The program requires annual reporting on participant locations and impact, aiming to improve access to specialty care in underserved rural regions.

Maddy summaryHR 2743 prohibits large financial institutions (over $100 billion in assets) from denying banking services to lawful businesses based on subjective political reasons, industry type, or reputational concerns. It requires these institutions to use objective, risk-based assessments for service decisions and provide written justifications for denials. The law applies to banks, credit unions, and payment networks, with civil penalties for violations including fines up to $10,000 per incident. It specifically ensures businesses operating legally under federal law receive fair access to financial services without discrimination. The bill mandates that denials be based on documented risk factors, not political bias or category-based exclusion.

American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2023 This bill eliminates the five-year amortization requirement for research and experimental expenditures, thus allowing continued expensing of such expenditures in the taxable years in which they are incurred.

Maddy summaryHJRES 27 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a federal rule that redefined which waterways fall under the Clean Water Act's protections. It targets a rule submitted by the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on January 18, 2023, which aimed to revise the "Waters of the United States" definition. The resolution would formally disapprove this rule under a specific federal procedure (Chapter 8 of Title 5), preventing it from taking effect. This would directly affect how federal agencies regulate pollution and development near water bodies, including wetlands and smaller streams.

Maddy summaryHR 2678, the Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act, prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading most stocks, commodities, and derivatives (defined as "covered investments"). The bill requires existing investments to be divested or placed in qualified blind trusts within 120 days, with exemptions for diversified funds, government bonds, and certain small business investments. It establishes civil penalties of $500 per violation or 10% of the investment value for noncompliance and mandates online public disclosure of financial information to increase transparency. The law applies to congressional staff beginning January 31, 2023, for new terms of service.

Maddy summaryHR 2584, the SAVE Act, creates a new federal criminal offense for assaulting or intimidating hospital employees while they're performing their duties, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, with enhanced penalties for using weapons, causing injury, or during public emergencies. The bill authorizes $25 million annually in federal grants to hospitals for violence prevention programs, including staff training, security technologies like panic buttons and video surveillance, and coordination with law enforcement. It defines "hospital" broadly to include various medical facilities such as long-term care hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and critical access hospitals. The legislation directly affects hospital workers and medical facilities by establishing federal criminal penalties for violence against employees and providing funding to improve workplace safety. The law aims to address the rising problem of workplace violence against healthcare workers, which the bill states has increased since 2011.

Maddy summaryHR 2630, the Safe Step Act, requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to establish a clear, transparent process for patients or their doctors to request exceptions to medication step therapy protocols. These protocols typically force patients to try cheaper drugs first before covering more expensive alternatives. The bill mandates that plans must approve exceptions when prior treatments failed, delay would cause serious harm, a treatment is unsafe, or a patient is stable on a previously approved drug, with strict 72-hour (or 24-hour in emergencies) decision timelines. It also requires plans to publish the exception process online and limit documentation requests to only necessary medical information. This law directly affects health insurers, employers offering health plans, and patients using step therapy for prescription drugs.