Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón

Medical Manufacturing, Economic Development, and Sustainability Act of 2023 or the MMEDS Act of 2023 This bill provides incentives for relocating medical manufacturing facilities in the United States and for manufacturing medical products (i.e., drugs and devices) in economically distressed zones. Specifically, the bill allows a income tax credit for 40% of the sum of wages paid in a medical manufacturing economically distressed zone, employee fringe benefit expenses, and depreciation and amortization allowances with respect to qualified medical manufacturing facility property, and a credit for economically distressed zone products and services acquired by domestic medical manufacturers. The bill increases the credit rate for minority businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the export or sale of petroleum products drawn from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to specific countries and entities, including China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and any nation under U.S. sanctions. It also bans exports to entities owned or controlled by these countries or the Chinese Communist Party. The Secretary of Energy must enforce this ban, though they may issue a national security waiver for specific exports. The bill requires the Secretary to issue implementing rules within 60 days of enactment. It directly affects the Secretary of Energy, oil exporters seeking to use the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and the listed countries/entities.

Puerto Rico Film, Television, and Theatre Production Act of 2023 This bill extends the expensing provisions for film, television, and theater productions to productions in Puerto Rico. (Expensing permits the write-off of property costs in the current taxable year rather than amortizing such costs over a period of years.)

Puerto Rico Insurance Excise Tax Exemption Act of 2023 This bill exempts from the foreign insurer excise tax certain insurance policies, indemnity bonds, annuity contracts, or reinsurance policies issued by partnerships or corporations created or organized under the laws of a U.S. territory or possession. The exemption applies unless any of the covered hazards, risks, losses, or liabilities are also covered by a reinsurance policy issued by a foreign insurer or reinsurer other than the partnership or corporation.

This bill removes conditions on the designation of Puerto Rico as a qualified opportunity zone. In general, a qualified opportunity zone is an economically-distressed community where new investment may be eligible for preferential tax treatment.

Maddy summaryThe TRICARE Equality Act (HR 254) requires the Defense Secretary to treat Puerto Rico similarly to the 50 states for TRICARE Prime service area designations, expand travel benefits for eligible military beneficiaries there, and coordinate health information sharing with Puerto Rico's health department. It mandates a congressional report on implementation within 180 days and includes a sunset provision ending these changes if Puerto Rico becomes a U.S. state. The bill directly affects military personnel, veterans, and their families residing in Puerto Rico by aligning their TRICARE access with standard state benefits. These provisions aim to address historical disparities in military health care administration for Puerto Rico.

Earned Income Tax Credit Equity for Puerto Rico Act of 2021 This bill makes residents of Puerto Rico eligible for the federal earned income tax credit.

Hazard Eligibility and Local Projects Act This act makes an entity seeking assistance under a hazard mitigation assistance program eligible to receive such assistance for certain projects already in progress. Specifically, this act covers a project that is an acquisition and demolition project for which an entity began implementation, including planning or construction, before or after requesting assistance for the project under a hazard mitigation assistance program; and qualifies for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must have determined that the project qualifies for a categorical exclusion, is compliant with applicable floodplain management and protection of wetland regulations and criteria, and does not require consultation under any other environmental or historic preservation law or regulation or involve any extraordinary circumstances. FEMA must report to Congress, within 180 days of enactment and annually thereafter for three years, on use of the authority under this act. Such authority terminates three years after enactment.

Maddy summaryHRES 641 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the 75th anniversary of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD). It celebrates NACD's history as a locally led conservation organization with 3,000 districts across all 50 states and territories, which works with landowners and governments to manage natural resources. The resolution describes NACD's mission of promoting voluntary, incentive-driven conservation programs at the local level. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or funding, but formally honors NACD's role in conservation efforts.

Maddy summaryThe Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act of 2022 establishes a federal grant program administered by the Secretary of Commerce to fund organizations rescuing and rehabilitating stranded sea turtles. It directly affects coastal rescue groups, research institutions, and conservation organizations working in designated "stranding regions" along U.S. coasts. The program provides grants up to $150,000 annually per recipient (with a 25% non-Federal cost share requirement) to cover turtle care, data collection for scientific research, and related facility costs. Funding of $5 million per year (2023-2028) must be distributed equitably based on historical stranding events, turtle population sizes, and conservation needs of endangered species. All grant details will be publicly published to ensure transparency.