Rep. Steve Cohen

Maddy summaryHR 4466 would rename the National School Lunch Program Act from "Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act" to "Jean E. Fairfax National School Lunch Act" to honor Jean E. Fairfax, a civil rights activist who advocated for equitable access to the program. The bill would update this name in the law and over 40 other federal statutes referencing the current title, but does not alter the program's operations, funding, or eligibility. It directly affects legal references in federal law without changing how the program serves students.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights are human rights and protected by the U.S. Constitution; (2) LGBTQIA+ Pride Month should be celebrated; and (3) all Americans should be treated equally regardless of sexual orientation, sex characteristics, or gender identity.

Maddy summaryHRES 561 is a non-binding House resolution opposing state laws that criminalize access to essential health care. It specifically condemns using criminal penalties against people for pregnancy outcomes (such as miscarriages), seeking abortion or contraception, or receiving gender-affirming care, and disapproves of punishing health care providers or supporters for facilitating such care. The resolution affirms that patients deserve access to reproductive and gender-affirming health services without fear of prosecution or discrimination. It emphasizes that criminalizing these health care decisions violates patient rights and ethical provider obligations, without creating new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 4422 (Global Respect Act) requires the President to publicly identify foreign officials responsible for violence, torture, or arbitrary detention against LGBTQI individuals and block their entry to the U.S., including revoking visas for them and their immediate families. It mandates annual reporting to Congress on the list of sanctioned individuals, the reasons for additions/removals, and efforts to coordinate with other countries on similar sanctions. The bill also updates U.S. human rights reporting requirements to explicitly include data on violence and discrimination against LGBTQI people worldwide. These measures aim to increase accountability for human rights violations against LGBTQI individuals without advocating for specific policy outcomes.

Maddy summaryHR 4343, the Organ Donation Clarification Act of 2023, amends the National Organ Transplant Act to permit limited noncash reimbursements for organ donors, such as medical costs, lost wages, travel expenses, and dependent care. It allows federal or state pilot programs to test these reimbursements under strict ethical oversight, aiming to increase donation rates without enabling financial incentives. The bill directly affects potential organ donors and transplant recipients by addressing financial barriers to donation, such as costs of medical care and lost income, while prohibiting cash payments or tradable benefits. These pilots must measure impacts on donation rates, donor demographics, and fairness in organ distribution, with reports to Congress after three years.

Maddy summaryHR 4340, the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2023, prohibits paid providers from offering conversion therapy - defined as any commercial service attempting to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity - and bans advertising that claims such therapy is effective or harmless. It directly affects therapists, counselors, or organizations offering paid conversion therapy services, including those advertising such services. Key provisions make it unlawful to provide, advertise, or facilitate paid conversion therapy, with enforcement led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under consumer protection laws and allowing states to pursue civil actions. The bill explicitly excludes supportive care for gender transition or identity exploration from its definition of prohibited therapy.

Maddy summaryHR 4329 establishes a new Title X Clinic Fund to expand federal support for family planning clinics. It allocates $512 million annually (2024-2033) for clinic grants/contracts and $50 million for clinic infrastructure (construction/renovation) under the Public Health Service Act. The bill requires all pregnancy counseling at funded clinics to be nondirective, providing patients with neutral, factual information about all options - including prenatal care, adoption, and pregnancy termination - without bias. This directly affects Title X clinics serving low-income patients and ensures funding cannot restrict providers based on unrelated factors.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding House resolution (HRES 562) expresses congressional concern over Russia's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. It declares this deployment a threat to Ukraine and NATO allies, stating that any use of tactical nuclear weapons by Russia, Belarus, or proxies - resulting in radioactive fallout on NATO territory - would trigger Article V of the NATO treaty, requiring a collective military response. The resolution urges the administration to coordinate with NATO partners on diplomatic and military measures to address the threat. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new law but formally states Congress's position on the issue.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program to provide food benefits during school closures (remote, hybrid, or closed for 5+ consecutive weekdays), not just summer months. It directly affects children in schools that close for extended periods, ensuring they receive meal support during these disruptions. Key provisions include increasing implementation grant funding to $50 million for state data systems and adding specific definitions for "school closure period" and "free rate" to clarify eligibility. The changes apply to calendar years 2024 and beyond, extending coverage beyond traditional summer breaks.

Saving Organs One Flight at a Time Act This bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to jointly issue regulations, as necessary, to enable air carriers to transport human organs for transplant above wing (i.e., in the cabin of an aircraft). Among other things, the regulations must include consideration of protocols for air control outages; a requirement that air carriers implement a protocol for a person to accompany organs to and from the aircraft and between connecting flights; and a standardized process for commercial air carriers to accept, handle, and manage organs in transit. The TSA and the FAA must also consult with the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network to identify metrics for the handling of organs and organ-related tissue by air carriers.