Rep. Matt Cartwright

Maddy summaryHR 7056, the Access to Family Building Act, establishes federal rights for individuals to access assisted reproductive technology (ART) like IVF without unreasonable restrictions, directly affecting patients seeking fertility treatments and health care providers offering ART services. The bill prohibits states from imposing limitations on ART that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures, fail to advance safety, or unduly restrict access, while allowing health and safety regulations that are necessary and least restrictive. It creates federal enforcement mechanisms, including lawsuits by the Attorney General or affected individuals to challenge violating state laws, and preempts conflicting state regulations. The bill explicitly preserves state authority over health/safety regulations and does not alter existing state insurance coverage laws for ART.

Maddy summaryThe PREPARE Act of 2023 establishes an Interagency Council composed of senior officials from 25 federal agencies to coordinate extreme weather resilience efforts across the government. The law requires each federal agency to develop and update comprehensive extreme weather plans that integrate climate considerations into agency operations, with plans submitted annually to the Office of Management and Budget. The Council will create a public website to share resources, best practices, and progress updates, and will issue annual reports to Congress detailing implementation and effectiveness. This legislation directly affects all federal agencies by mandating they incorporate extreme weather planning into their operations and budgeting processes. The Act aims to improve government coordination on climate resilience without creating new regulatory requirements or duplicating existing federal programs.

Maddy summaryThe Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act establishes a new federal grant program to improve public transportation service. It provides funding to urban areas, states, and Indian tribes to cover up to 50% of public transit operating costs (up to 80% in persistent poverty areas and 100% for Indian tribes), with requirements to report on service frequency, access to jobs, and conduct community surveys. The program mandates that a majority of funds must benefit underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty, defined as census tracts with high poverty rates or minority populations. Recipients must maintain their transit funding levels and report on improvements in access to essential services. The bill authorizes $20 billion annually for fiscal years 2024-2027.

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 allocates $7 billion in funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) during fiscal year 2024. The ACP provides subsidies to low-income households to help cover the cost of internet service and connected devices like laptops or tablets. This funding ensures the program can continue supporting eligible households throughout the year, with the money remaining available until fully spent. The bill extends existing program funding without changing eligibility criteria or service requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires corporations to disclose political spending over $250 to shareholders in regular reports, including dates, amounts, and candidate or organization details. It also limits 501(c)(4) social welfare groups to spending no more than 10% of total expenditures (or $10 million, whichever is lower) on political activities. Corporations must file this information with the Federal Election Commission and post a link to it online within 24 hours. The rules apply to shareholder reports filed after a 90-day grace period and to taxable years beginning after enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 6888, the Clean Energy Workforce Act, provides $100 million in federal grants to develop clean energy job training programs. It directly affects local schools, career technical education centers, colleges, and industry partners by funding: (1) new or expanded training programs in clean energy fields (like renewable energy and climate adaptation), designed to be shared with other schools and accessible to diverse students; and (2) upgrades to school facilities to use renewable energy and improve energy efficiency. Grants require partnerships between educational institutions, industry representatives, and community groups to create replicable training that prepares students for jobs in growing clean energy sectors. The bill focuses on concrete workforce development, not environmental outcomes.

Maddy summaryHR 6524, the Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion Act, creates a new federal apprenticeship program to address the cybersecurity workforce shortage by training individuals for cybersecurity roles within federal agencies. The program partners with community colleges, career and technical schools, and other educational institutions to provide training aligned with federal cybersecurity needs. It also establishes a pilot program specifically for veterans and military members transitioning to civilian life, offering cybersecurity training with portable credentials that can be used across the job market. The bill requires coordination with multiple federal agencies and includes reporting requirements to assess program effectiveness and track participant employment outcomes.

Maddy summaryHR 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023, allows schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer whole milk as an option during lunch. It amends the school lunch law to explicitly permit schools to serve flavored and unflavored whole milk alongside reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free milk choices for students. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to adjust meal regulations to account for saturated fat from whole milk, ensuring it doesn't count against meal fat limits. This change directly affects participating schools and the students who receive school lunches, expanding their milk beverage options.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the Biden administration to facilitate the safe, timely, and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. It specifically calls for expanding aid convoys, opening additional border crossings, providing fuel to aid organizations, establishing safe shelters, and renewing humanitarian pauses to address the severe crisis. The resolution directly affects civilians in Gaza, where infrastructure damage, contaminated water, and shortages of medical supplies have created a dire humanitarian situation. It does not create new laws but expresses Congress's position on improving aid access.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. federal agencies to prioritize native plants over non-native plants in landscape projects at federal facilities (like government buildings, military bases, and national parks). It mandates agencies to consider environmental benefits - such as supporting pollinators, reducing water use, and preventing soil erosion - when making planting decisions. Agencies must update design standards within 270 days and include these requirements in all relevant contracts. The Council on Environmental Quality will provide implementation guidance and publish biennial reports on native plant usage across federal projects.