Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

Maddy summaryHR 2768, the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act, establishes a VA grant program to fund peer-to-peer mental health support for veterans. It provides up to $250,000 per grant to eligible nonprofits, veteran service organizations, or state/local Tribal agencies to create programs where veterans serve as peer specialists offering 24/7 nonclinical support. The program requires adherence to VA-developed standards for volunteer training and service delivery, while prohibiting the collection of veterans' personally identifying information. The bill authorizes $25 million over three years to implement this initiative, directly benefiting veterans seeking accessible mental health assistance through peer networks.

Maddy summaryHR 1774, the VA Emergency Transportation Act, expands VA benefits to cover emergency transportation for veterans. It amends existing law to replace "emergency treatment" with "emergency services" throughout, explicitly including ambulance or air ambulance transport as covered services. This means veterans needing emergency transport to or from a medical facility (to receive treatment) can now have those costs reimbursed by the VA. The bill directly affects veterans who require urgent medical transport, clarifying that such transportation is part of their covered VA benefits.

Maddy summaryHR 1639 establishes a 5-year pilot program at five VA medical centers to implement the Zero Suicide Institute's curriculum, aiming to improve suicide care for veterans. The program requires participating sites to train staff on standardized suicide screening, assessment, treatment protocols, and safety planning over ten weeks, with one site specifically serving rural veterans. It mandates annual reporting to Congress on staff training completion, policy alignment with the Institute's standards, and comparisons of suicide-related outcomes (like screening rates and hospitalizations) between pilot sites and other VA facilities. This directly affects veterans receiving care at the selected VA medical centers by changing how suicide risk is managed within their treatment.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 1282 (Major Richard Star Act), expands benefits for certain military retirees by allowing them to receive both veterans' disability compensation and military retirement pay simultaneously. It specifically affects combat-related disabled retirees under Chapter 61 of the military retirement system who have fewer than 20 years of service. The key change removes the automatic reduction of military retirement pay when these retirees also receive disability compensation, as amended in Section 1413a(b)(3) of Title 10. Technical updates to the law’s structure and effective date (starting after enactment) complete the provisions.

Maddy summaryHRES 580 is a symbolic resolution expressing the House's support for designating "Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day." It honors lineworkers who work in hazardous conditions (such as at heights near live wires) and respond to disasters like hurricanes and wildfires, while recognizing their contributions and the legacy of Henry Miller, an early electrical worker who died on the job. The resolution has no legal effect - it solely encourages public recognition and reflection on these workers' service.

Maddy summaryThe Afghan Adjustment Act creates a pathway for certain Afghans who directly supported U.S. missions in Afghanistan during the 20-year U.S. military presence to adjust to lawful permanent resident status (green card holders). It specifically targets Afghans who worked with U.S. forces or agencies, including military personnel, security personnel, and their families, who received "Chief of Mission approval" for special immigrant status. Key provisions include new vetting requirements (in-person interviews and biometric screening), exemption from immigration numerical limits, $20 million annually for implementation, and a task force to develop resettlement strategies. The bill also establishes a new category of special immigrant visas for at-risk Afghan allies and sets a two-year application deadline after guidance is published.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures children in foster care who are placed in specialized treatment facilities (QRTPs) maintain continuous Medicaid coverage without interruption. It requires states to keep Medicaid payments active for these children as long as they remain in foster care under state responsibility and the state is receiving federal foster care payments. The policy change applies to medical assistance starting October 1, 2023, preventing coverage gaps during transitions to these facilities. The bill directly affects foster children in QRTPs and their state child welfare agencies.

Child Care Investment Act of 2023 This bill increases the employer-provided child care tax credit, the amount excludable from gross income for dependent care flexible spending accounts, and makes the household and dependent care tax credit refundable. Among other provisions, the bill increases the rate of the employer-provided child care tax credit from 25% to 50% and increases the maximum credit amount from $150,000 to $500,000. It also increases (1) the pre-tax deduction for dependent care flexible spending accounts from $5,000 to $10,000, plus an additional $2,000 for each eligible dependent; and (2) the rate of the household and dependent care tax credit and makes such credit refundable.

Maddy summaryThe DISCLOSE Act of 2023 would increase transparency in political spending by requiring organizations making campaign-related disbursements over $10,000 to disclose the names and addresses of their major donors, including the top five funders for political communications. It would close loopholes allowing foreign nationals to secretly fund election activities through corporations or other entities by expanding the definition of prohibited foreign contributions. The bill would mandate "stand by every ad" disclosure requirements for political communications across all media, including audio, video, and internet ads, requiring clear identification of funders. It would also require reporting of disbursements related to Federal judicial nominations, which currently aren't subject to disclosure requirements. These provisions would apply to corporations, labor organizations, and certain nonprofits that engage in political activity.

Maddy summaryThe IDEA Full Funding Act (HR 4519) mandates specific annual increases in federal funding for special education programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It requires Congress to appropriate increasing amounts each fiscal year - from $5.87 billion for 2024 up to $55.53 billion for 2033 - to reach 40% of the national average per-pupil expenditure for public schools by 2033. This directly affects all public school districts serving students with disabilities, as federal IDEA funding supports their special education services. The bill sets fixed dollar amounts or percentage targets (whichever is greater) for each fiscal year, aiming to gradually close the long-standing gap between promised and actual federal funding. It does not alter eligibility for services but mandates higher, phased funding levels to meet the 40% target.