Rep. Steve Cohen

Maddy summaryThe ACHE Act requires the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to study health impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining on communities near mining sites in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia. It temporarily halts all new federal permits for such mining until a health risk determination is made, while mandating ongoing pollution monitoring (water, air, soil) at existing sites with monthly public reporting. The bill directly affects coal mining companies operating in designated steep-slope regions of those four states. Key provisions include the health study, permit moratorium, and public monitoring requirements, which end once the health risk determination is published.

Maddy summaryHR 4985, the Expanding Medical Education Act, creates federal grants to help medical schools and osteopathic medicine programs open or expand campuses in areas without existing medical education options, especially in medically underserved communities. It prioritizes funding for schools in regions with no current medical schools or for minority-serving institutions in areas lacking such schools. Grants can be used to recruit students from underrepresented groups (including rural, low-income, and first-generation students), develop curricula focused on underserved care, build facilities, and hire faculty. Institutions must report annually on student demographics and program activities, with detailed congressional reports every five years tracking outcomes like workforce diversity and healthcare access in target areas.

Maddy summaryHR 4901, the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, aims to improve reproductive health care access for people with disabilities by addressing systemic barriers they face. The bill funds training for health care professionals on providing culturally competent care, creates initiatives to increase the number of health care providers with disabilities in reproductive health fields, and establishes a National Technical Assistance Center to help providers improve services. It allocates $10 million annually for these programs from fiscal years 2024 through 2028, with additional funding for a research study on effective reproductive health care approaches. The bill directly affects people with disabilities seeking reproductive health services, health care providers, and educational institutions training health care professionals.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal loan repayment program to help mental health professionals (like counselors, psychologists, and social workers) repay student loans. It directly affects individuals who have taken out education loans for mental health degrees and agree to work in underserved areas. Key provisions require participants to commit to 3-6 years of full-time service in designated mental health shortage areas or counties with high overdose death rates, with funding increased to $100 million annually for 2023-2032. The program expands eligibility to cover all mental health-related fields, including behavioral health roles.

Maddy summaryHR 4832, the Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act of 2023, changes how funding is allocated for key Native American programs. It requires that starting in fiscal year 2024, new budget authority for specific accounts under the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, and Indian Health Service must be made available immediately for the current fiscal year *and* include advance funding for the next fiscal year. The bill mandates annual reports by July 31 each year, including workload estimates and resource sufficiency assessments developed with tribal consultation. This affects tribal programs funded through accounts like Operation of Indian Programs, Contract Support Costs, and Indian Health Services, aiming to improve budget planning predictability.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, which helps SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participants buy fruits and vegetables. It raises annual funding from $100 million to $500 million for 2024-2025, $750 million for 2026-2027, and $1 billion annually starting in 2028. The program provides matching dollars - typically $1 for $1 - when SNAP recipients purchase eligible fruits and vegetables at participating stores. This directly affects low-income SNAP households by making fresh produce more affordable through expanded financial incentives.

Maddy summaryHR 4068, or "Canyon’s Law," bans the use of M-44 devices - cyanide-based predator control tools - on all public lands managed by federal agencies like the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Forest Service. The bill prohibits agencies from preparing, placing, or deploying these devices and requires all existing M-44s on public land to be removed within 30 days of enactment. It directly affects federal, state, and county agencies that previously used these devices to target wildlife like wolves and coyotes. The law aims to prevent accidental poisonings of people, pets, and non-target species (including endangered animals) by eliminating the use of this hazardous method on public lands.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal involvement in commercial greyhound racing, live lure training, and open field coursing by banning interstate activities related to these practices. It makes it unlawful to conduct betting on greyhound races (including remote gambling), use live animals as bait, or transport animals for these purposes. The law specifically targets the declining greyhound racing industry (now operating at only two tracks in West Virginia), banning federal facilitation of betting, live bait use, and interstate transport of animals for racing or training. It does not affect horse racing or state laws already prohibiting these activities in most states.

Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act This bill revises the licensing process of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for animal dealers and exhibitors to expand USDA's oversight and enforcement of animal welfare requirements. Dealers and exhibitors must apply to USDA for licenses or renewal licenses each year. In order to obtain the licenses or renewals, dealers and exhibitors must meet certain standards for the humane treatment of animals and pass inspections as specified by this bill. USDA may not issue or renew such licenses if the dealers or exhibitors have violated laws relating to animals or if the issuance of the licenses would facilitate the circumvention of state or local laws that prohibit the private ownership of certain animals. Further, USDA must suspend the licenses of dealers or exhibitors whose violations present a risk to animal welfare. USDA must revoke the licenses if the violations persist or if the licensees commit multiple violations. Dealers and exhibitors with suspended or revoked licenses may not be (1) granted another license, (2) granted another license through another person or entity, or (3) employed by another licensee to work with animals during the period of the suspension or revocation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal pilot program to help homeless individuals access SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. It authorizes $12.5 million annually (2024-2029) to fund grants for community organizations, homeless service providers, and public housing agencies to provide direct outreach, application assistance, transportation to SNAP offices, and staff training. The program specifically targets barriers like lack of documentation and awareness, focusing on helping homeless households enroll in SNAP by connecting them with existing resources. Grantees must report annually on outcomes, including the number of homeless individuals served and enrollment impacts. The pilot runs for up to 5 years, with funds supplementing (not replacing) existing state/local programs.