Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón

Maddy summaryHR 1082, the Military Sexual Trauma Retirement Equity Act, amends U.S. Code provisions to expand retirement benefits for military personnel and survivors affected by military sexual trauma. It replaces all references to "combat-related" with "trauma-related" in disability retirement eligibility, specifically including military sexual trauma as a qualifying condition under the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' determination. This change directly affects retired service members with trauma-related disabilities from military sexual trauma and their survivors, allowing them to access special retirement compensation previously limited to combat-related injuries. The bill makes a technical definitional adjustment to ensure these veterans receive equitable treatment under existing retirement benefit programs.

Maddy summaryHR 1088, the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to honor Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress (1968) and the first Black candidate for a major party's presidential nomination (1972). The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike a gold medal featuring Chisholm's image, which will be presented by Congress and then permanently displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to the public to cover production costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint fund. This bill commemorates Chisholm's legacy and achievements without creating new laws or affecting any current policies.

Maddy summaryHR 949, the Insular Area Medicaid Parity Act, removes federal funding caps on Medicaid for U.S. territories, directly affecting Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. The bill amends the Social Security Act to eliminate the existing limit on federal Medicaid funding for these territories, allowing them to receive full federal matching funds like states. This change takes effect for fiscal year 2023, ending the previous restriction that required territories to fund a portion of their Medicaid costs themselves. The policy change ensures these territories can access the same level of federal Medicaid support as states.

Maddy summaryThe HELP Copays Act (HR 830) changes how health insurance plans calculate patient cost-sharing. It requires that payments made by third parties (like pharmacies, charities, or discount programs) toward medical costs count toward a patient's deductible, copay, or out-of-pocket limit. This directly affects insured individuals who receive financial assistance, discounts, or product vouchers for healthcare expenses. The law ensures these external payments reduce the patient's actual out-of-pocket costs more quickly, aligning with existing Affordable Care Act and Public Health Service Act requirements.

This bill repeals the limitation on the amount of distilled spirits excise taxes covered over (paid) to the treasuries of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Maddy summaryThe EAGLES Act of 2023 reauthorizes and expands the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) to prevent targeted violence, particularly in schools. It directs the NTAC to provide training, research, and consultation on threat assessment to schools, law enforcement, and mental health professionals, with a focus on early intervention for concerning behaviors. The bill allocates $10 million annually (2024-2028) for these efforts, requiring the Center to develop state-specific training plans and report on outcomes like the number of schools trained. It directly affects school districts, educators, and community safety agencies by standardizing evidence-based prevention programs, avoiding criminal justice involvement for at-risk youth.

Resiliency Enhancement Act of 2023 This bill extends the provision of disaster assistance for critical services to solid waste management, stormwater management, public housing, transportation infrastructure, and medical care. Such assistance is also extended to any major disaster in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands subsequent to Hurricane Irma or Hurricane Maria on or before September 30, 2022.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act to allow Puerto Rico to transition from its current block grant nutrition assistance program to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), aligning it with how states like Hawaii and Guam operate. Puerto Rico must submit a transition plan to the U.S. Department of Agriculture within 60 days, which the agency must review and approve within 180 days. The bill extends Puerto Rico’s existing block grant funding for up to five years or until the transition is complete, whichever comes first, and requires annual progress reports to Congress. This change directly affects Puerto Rico residents currently receiving nutrition assistance under the block grant, potentially providing them with benefits consistent with the SNAP program.

Maddy summaryHR 987 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Golda Meir, Israel's first female Prime Minister, and the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Israel relations. It specifies three coin types: $5 gold coins (max 50,000), $1 silver coins (max 400,000), and half-dollar clad coins (max 750,000), with detailed weight and composition requirements. All coins will include Golda Meir's image, her name, and commemorative inscriptions, and will be sold during 2026. A surcharge ($35 for $5 coins, $10 for $1 coins, $5 for half-dollars) will be paid to the American Friends of Kiryat Sanz Laniado Hospital Inc. to support its hospital operations.

This bill makes Puerto Rico eligible to issue commercial driver's licenses. It also directs the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to work with Puerto Rico on obtaining full compliance with commercial driver's license requirements.