Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

Maddy summaryHR 3925 establishes a federal grant program to fund youth fishing projects in coastal and Great Lakes areas. The bill authorizes $2 million annually (2024-2028) for grants to eligible entities like nonprofits, schools, state/local governments, or Tribal organizations to cover equipment, transportation, licenses, and educational components for youth. Priority is given to projects serving underserved communities, defined as groups facing systemic barriers due to race, disability, poverty, or inequality. Recipients must report annually on grant usage and participant numbers to Congress.

Maddy summaryHRES 967 would amend House rules to allow Members who have recently given birth to vote by proxy for up to six weeks after childbirth. Specifically, a new rule permits a Member to designate another Member as their proxy during this period to cast votes on their behalf. The proxy cannot be used to count the Member's presence for quorum purposes in the House or its committees. This change directly affects female Members during their postpartum leave, with no other proxy voting allowed under the amendment.

Maddy summaryHR 6973 reauthorizes the COPS on the Beat grant program for fiscal years 2025-2034, with new provisions to support diverse hiring and better compensation for officers in rural communities. The bill provides increased federal funding (up to 90% in the first year, decreasing to 75% over four years) for jurisdictions with median household incomes below 80% of the national average. It sets a $75,000 cap on hiring costs per officer and limits compensation to 80% of the national median household income for qualifying rural areas. The legislation also requires the GAO to report on law enforcement workforce diversity and pay relative to local costs of living in 2029 and 2034. This bill directly affects local law enforcement agencies seeking federal grants to hire and retain officers, particularly in rural communities with lower median incomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill would create a new annual budget process requiring Congress to produce a single comprehensive budget act that includes all federal spending and revenue, rather than the current fragmented system where appropriations bills and direct spending/revenue policies are handled separately. It sets specific deadlines: Congress must adopt a budget resolution by April 15, committees must submit direct spending and revenue line items by May 15, and the House must report the full budget act by June 10. The bill repeals the current reconciliation process and requires committees to submit their spending and revenue proposals for inclusion in the annual budget. This reform aims to make Congress more involved in fiscal decision-making, improve program coordination, and better control deficits and debt. It would directly affect all congressional committees and the budget process for all federal spending and revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes a fee program for harvesting botanical products (like mushrooms, flowers, and roots) on National Forest System lands. It requires the U.S. Forest Service to charge fees based on fair market value to cover management costs, while strictly limiting harvests to sustainable levels. Personal use of small amounts for home consumption is exempt from fees. Collected funds must be returned to the specific forest units where fees were collected to support inventory, sustainability monitoring, and restoration activities.

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 allocates $7 billion in funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) during fiscal year 2024. The ACP provides subsidies to low-income households to help cover the cost of internet service and connected devices like laptops or tablets. This funding ensures the program can continue supporting eligible households throughout the year, with the money remaining available until fully spent. The bill extends existing program funding without changing eligibility criteria or service requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 6838, the CTE Awareness Act, requires the U.S. Department of Education to publish detailed information about career and technical education (CTE) programs on its website within 60 days of enactment. This includes program costs, average completion times, and post-graduation employment rates, as well as state-specific opportunities and funding under the Perkins Act. The bill also mandates adding a one-page summary of this CTE information to the FAFSA application, alongside an acknowledgment box for applicants. These changes directly affect students applying for federal financial aid by ensuring they receive clear, upfront information about CTE pathways as a viable alternative to traditional four-year degrees. The law aims to improve transparency about CTE options without altering existing program structures or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHR 3229, the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act, amends the Federal Election Campaign Act to prohibit foreign nationals from contributing to or donating to state or local ballot initiatives and referendums. This bill directly affects foreign individuals or entities seeking to influence state or local voting measures through financial contributions. The key provision expands an existing ban on foreign contributions in elections by explicitly including ballot initiatives and referendums in the definition of prohibited activities. The amendment applies to contributions made on or after the law's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes and extends funding for programs addressing substance use disorders and opioid addiction, including residential treatment for pregnant and postpartum women, first responder training, and community recovery initiatives. It increases funding levels for these programs, adds xylazine to Schedule III of controlled substances, and requires a study on remote monitoring for patients prescribed opioids. The bill also expands Medicaid coverage requirements for medication-assisted treatment and mandates reporting on mental health condition data alongside substance use disorder data, directly affecting individuals with substance use disorders, healthcare providers, and state and tribal governments.

Maddy summaryHR 6722, the Fair Wage Act of 2023, replaces the fixed federal minimum wage with a location-based rate adjusted for local cost of living. It sets the minimum wage as 40% of the national average hourly wage (increasing to 50% over five years) multiplied by a regional cost-of-living factor, creating different rates for metropolitan areas and rural regions. The bill also establishes a new minimum cash wage for tipped workers at 30% of the local minimum wage and sets a lower minimum for workers under 18 at two-thirds of the local rate. This bill directly affects all employers and low-wage workers across the U.S., with rates varying by geographic location based on regional economic data.