Rep. Susan Wild

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the authority to review and approve drugs pursuant to its own expertise, and that recent court decisions blocking the FDA's approval of mifepristone (which is used in medication abortion) violate congressional intent with respect to the FDA's authority.

Women in Aviation Advisory Board Act This bill establishes a Federal Advisory Committee on Women in Aviation. The committee must advise the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration on matters related to the education, training, mentorship, outreach, recruitment, and retention of women in the aviation industry. Membership in the committee must include representatives from aviation-related manufacturers, commercial air carriers, general aviation operators, unmanned aircraft systems operators, airports, aviation training and maintenance providers, labor organizations, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations within the aviation industry.

Maddy summaryHR 2725, the "Do No Harm Act," amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to clarify that RFRA does not apply when federal laws protect against discrimination or promote equal opportunity. It specifically exempts protections under the Civil Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, workplace benefits like leave, child labor safeguards, and healthcare access from RFRA challenges. The bill also clarifies that RFRA does not block private lawsuits between individuals, applying only to cases involving government entities. This amendment ensures that existing federal civil rights and workplace protections remain enforceable under RFRA.

Maddy summaryThe Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2023 strengthens the Americans with Disabilities Act's requirement that individuals with disabilities receive long-term services and supports in community settings rather than institutions. It defines "community-based" services to include specific housing options where individuals with disabilities can live independently with maximum control over their lives, including access to integrated housing, employment, and community participation. The bill requires states to develop transition plans to move people from institutional settings to community-based services within 12 years, with measurable annual targets for reducing institutionalization. It establishes enforcement mechanisms through the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services to ensure compliance with these requirements.

Return to Prudent Banking Act of 2023 This bill generally separates the activities of commercial banks and investment banks. Specifically, the bill prohibits an insured depository institution from affiliating with any person or firm engaged principally in, among other things, issuing or selling stocks, bonds, notes, or other securities. Officers, directors and employees of securities firms are prohibited from simultaneously serving as an officer, director, or employee of a depository institution, except in specified circumstances. No entity issuing or selling stocks, bonds, or other securities may engage in the business of receiving deposits, which includes the establishment and maintenance of transaction accounts. The bill declares that Congress ratifies the interpretation by the Supreme Court in Investment Company Institute v. Camp (ICI) of specified statutory language regarding permissible activities of banks and securities firms. It further declares that the reasoning of the Court in that case shall continue to apply to the limitations placed upon security affiliations as enacted by this bill. No federal banking agency or federal court shall issue an interpretation regarding such security affiliations that is narrower than that of the Court in ICI.

Maddy summaryHR 2693, the Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2023, ensures Coast Guard members, civilian staff, and qualifying contractors receive pay and benefits during specific funding gaps. It requires Congress to appropriate funds for Coast Guard personnel pay, allowances, and key benefits (like death gratuities and housing allowances) if a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse occurs - when Coast Guard funding isn’t approved before a fiscal year starts but Department of Defense funding is. The bill mandates these payments continue until a full appropriation is enacted or for up to two weeks after the lapse begins, with costs charged to future appropriations. This addresses a gap in funding continuity for Coast Guard personnel during government shutdowns affecting only the Coast Guard.

Maddy summaryThe Puppy Protection Act of 2023 sets new standards for businesses that sell dogs (dealers), directly affecting pet stores and breeders operating under the Animal Welfare Act. It requires specific housing with space allowances based on dog size (e.g., 12-30 square feet per dog), temperature control (45-85°F), clean food twice daily, and daily exercise or socialization with humans/dogs for at least 30 minutes. The bill also mandates annual veterinary exams including dental care, strict breeding limits (e.g., age restrictions, maximum 2 litters in 18 months), and efforts to place retired breeding dogs in homes instead of selling them to other breeders. Regulations must be finalized within 18 months of enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act of 2023 requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to issue guidance within one year on covering pelvic health services (like pelvic floor exams and physical therapy) during the postpartum period under Medicaid and CHIP programs. This guidance will include best practices for payment models, financing options, and standardized terminology to improve access for postpartum women. It also mandates a GAO study on coverage gaps for postpartum services and funds a new CDC-led education campaign to train healthcare providers and inform postpartum women about pelvic health care. The bill directly affects postpartum women enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, aiming to standardize and expand access to these specific health services.

Maddy summaryThe Panama Canal Zone Veterans Act of 2023 creates a presumption that veterans who served in the Panama Canal Zone between 1958 and 1999 (or until the last military member left) and developed specific illnesses are automatically eligible for VA benefits without needing to prove a direct link between their service and the condition. It lists 16 illnesses, including prostate cancer, lung cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and several other cancers, as qualifying for this presumption due to presumed exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange during service. The VA will use regulations based on medical evidence to determine which illnesses qualify under this provision. This change directly affects veterans who served in the Panama Canal Zone during the covered period and later developed one of the listed conditions.

Freedom to Decide Act This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress to (1) affirm that federal law authorizes the distribution of medication abortion, including by mail, as stated in a 2022 Department of Justice memorandum; and (2) condemn restrictions on the access and coverage of reproductive health care, including medication abortion.