Rep. Gerald E. Connolly

Targeting Resources for Equitable Access to Treatment for Long COVID Act or the TREAT Long COVID Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants to create or expand the capacity of clinics that treat patients with persistent, long-term symptoms following recovery from acute COVID-19 (i.e., Long COVID) and associated conditions. Eligible recipients include federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, urban Indian health centers, and state and local health departments.

National Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Clearinghouse Act of 2023 This bill establishes a clearinghouse for information (e.g., best practices and research) about concussions and traumatic brain injuries for medical professionals, patients, and other stakeholders. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must maintain the clearinghouse.

Maddy summaryThe PAST Act of 2023 amends the Horse Protection Act to ban specific devices used to cause pain (soring) in horses at shows, particularly affecting Tennessee Walking Horses, Racking Horses, and Spotted Saddle Horses. It defines prohibited "action devices" (like boots or chains causing friction) and requires licensed, conflict-free inspectors at events to enforce rules. The bill increases penalties for violations to up to $5,000 fines or 3 years in jail, and mandates longer disqualifications for repeat offenses (180 days → 1 year → 3 years). Horse show organizers, exhibitors, and participants must comply with these new inspection and penalty requirements.

Maddy summaryHRES 390 is a resolution recognizing May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. It formally honors the historical contributions of AANHPI communities to the United States, highlighting their diverse cultural impact and achievements across U.S. history. The resolution emphasizes celebrating these contributions while acknowledging ongoing challenges, such as anti-Asian hate crimes, and references key milestones like the 125th anniversary of *United States v. Wong Kim Ark*. As a symbolic recognition resolution, it does not create new policies or affect specific groups through legislation.

This resolution reaffirms the central role of local frontline health workforces in achieving global health objectives. The resolution also urges greater global attention and support for local frontline health workers.

Maddy summaryHR 3222, the "Cameras in the Courtroom Act," requires the Supreme Court to permit television coverage during all open sessions unless a majority of justices vote that coverage would violate due process rights in a specific case. This bill directly affects Supreme Court proceedings by establishing a default rule for public broadcasting, with a narrow exception for individual cases. The key provision amends Title 28 of the U.S. Code to mandate this coverage policy, replacing the current practice where the Court has discretion over media access. The change applies only to open sessions, not closed proceedings, and does not alter the Court's authority to restrict coverage in exceptional circumstances.

Maddy summaryHR 3238, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023, updates the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program to increase the availability of affordable housing across the United States. The bill makes several key changes including increasing state funding formulas, modifying tenant eligibility rules to better serve vulnerable populations (such as domestic violence victims and students), and expanding credit eligibility for projects in rural and Native American communities. Specific provisions raise the credit for properties serving extremely low-income households, clarify rules around tenant income increases, and require housing providers to protect victims of domestic violence. The bill also updates terminology from "low-income" to "affordable" throughout the tax code and enhances program transparency through data sharing requirements. These changes aim to make the LIHTC program more effective at creating and preserving affordable housing units for low-income households nationwide.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. public schools to include Asian Pacific American history in all K-12 American history and civics education. It amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to mandate that curriculum standards, teacher training, and national assessments explicitly cover this history as part of American history. The policy directly affects students and teachers nationwide by changing how history is taught in public schools. The key mechanism is requiring specific curriculum updates to address gaps in current Eurocentric teaching, ensuring students learn about APA contributions, experiences, and challenges as integral to U.S. history.

Maddy summaryHR 2689, the Trust in Government Act of 2023, requires federal agencies to modernize service delivery by creating online tools and reducing paperwork for citizens. It directly affects the public interacting with agencies, mandating specific changes like fully online passport renewals (State Department), expanded IRS electronic filing options (Treasury), centralized online permitting (Interior), simplified SNAP/WIC enrollment (Agriculture), and Social Security document uploads (HHS). Key provisions eliminate physical document requirements where possible, introduce telehealth for workers' compensation (Labor), and establish a single digital platform for veterans' services (VA). Agencies must certify compliance to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) within 180 days, with quarterly reports to Congress on progress. The law aims to improve public perception of government interactions by making services more efficient and accessible.

Maddy summaryHRES 371 is a symbolic resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for Public Service Recognition Week (May 7-13, 2023). It commends federal, state, and local government employees, as well as uniformed services members, for their contributions to public welfare - highlighting roles like veterans' care, disaster response, and infrastructure security. The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes; it solely serves to honor public servants through words of appreciation. As a procedural resolution, it does not impose new requirements or alter existing laws.