Rep. Derek Kilmer

Maddy summaryThe ReConnecting Rural America Act of 2023 provides federal funding through grants, loans, and combinations of both to build broadband infrastructure in rural areas. It requires projects to provide at least 100 Mbps downstream and 100 Mbps upstream service, with priority given to areas where at least 90% of households lack such service. The bill authorizes $650 million annually from 2024-2028 for this program, targeting rural communities that currently lack adequate broadband access, while requiring cost-sharing of up to 25% and technical assistance for applicants. Eligible entities include state/local governments, tribes, cooperatives, and corporations, but not individuals or general partnerships. The program will expire on September 30, 2028.

Maddy summaryHRES 645 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing August as "Chicano Heritage Month" to celebrate the contributions of Mexican Americans to U.S. history. It highlights historical figures like labor leaders Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, landmark court cases (e.g., *Mendez v. Westminster* ending school segregation), and cultural impacts such as Selena's influence on music. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment by the House to honor this heritage. It encourages the public and institutions to observe the month with events celebrating Mexican American contributions.

Maddy summaryHR 5217, the Refuge From Cruel Trapping Act, prohibits the possession or use of body-gripping traps (devices that kill or severely injure wildlife) within National Wildlife Refuges. It directly affects individuals and entities using such traps in refuges, with key exceptions allowing federal agencies to use them for controlling invasive species or protecting endangered species, Alaska refuge operations, and tribal subsistence hunting. Violations carry penalties including civil fines up to $500 per trap, up to 180 days in jail, and forfeiture of the trap and captured wildlife. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to issue implementing regulations within 120 days, though enforcement begins 120 days after enactment regardless of regulations.

Maddy summaryThe ACES Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund a National Academies study examining cancer rates among active-duty military aircrew members (including pilots and navigators in fixed-wing aircraft). The study will identify potential military-related exposures linked to specific cancers - such as lung, prostate, melanoma, and others - and analyze existing VA, Defense, and CDC health data. It requires the National Academies to report findings to Congress on cancer prevalence and mortality among these service members. This bill focuses on gathering scientific data to inform future policy, not on immediate benefits or changes.

Maddy summaryThe 21st Century Federal Writers’ Project Act establishes a Department of Labor grant program to fund unemployed or underemployed writers, journalists, and media professionals to document contemporary American society through written and visual projects. Eligible recipients include nonprofit organizations, newsrooms, libraries, and communications labor groups, with grants requiring geographic diversity (including rural and Tribal lands) and preference for those in writing/journalism occupations. The program allocates $60 million for fiscal year 2024, mandates public repositories of completed works at the Library of Congress, and requires annual reporting on diversity, project outcomes, and fund usage. It directly affects individuals in the writing/journalism field and aims to address declining local news coverage by creating new documentation of current American experiences.

Maddy summaryHR 4249, the VET PFAS Act, provides healthcare benefits to veterans and their families exposed to PFAS chemicals at military bases. Veterans who served at contaminated bases (including through water sources) and developed specific conditions like testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, or pregnancy-induced hypertension become eligible for VA healthcare without needing medical proof of cause. Family members who lived at these bases or were in utero during such residence also qualify for covered conditions. The bill creates a "presumption of service connection" for these illnesses, meaning the VA assumes PFAS exposure caused the condition. It requires annual VA reports tracking beneficiaries, denials, and conditions treated.

Maddy summaryHR 5113, the REACH Our Tribes Act, requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish an annual consultation process with Tribal Governments on budget requests and program reauthorizations (like farm bills), including 30 days' notice before meetings and public reports summarizing discussions and responses. It also mandates USDA to publicly report on funding provided to Tribal entities through its programs and improve outreach for underutilized programs. Additionally, the bill creates an interagency task force to streamline application requirements for economic development programs and a public online repository listing all federal economic development programs available to tribes. These provisions directly affect Tribal Governments and Tribal entities (including tribes, tribal organizations, and businesses) by enhancing their input in budget decisions and improving access to federal resources.

Maddy summaryHJRES 84 designates August 20 as "Slavery Remembrance Day" to commemorate the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in what is now Virginia on August 20, 1619. The resolution urges the President to issue an annual proclamation encouraging Americans to observe the day with ceremonies and activities reflecting on slavery's history. It specifically honors 21 Black Congress members from the Reconstruction Era as honorary cosponsors and calls for acknowledging the enduring impacts of slavery. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect any group beyond establishing an annual observance.

Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood Act or the SEAS Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase support for aquaculture grants and assistance. (Aquaculture is the controlled breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, and sea vegetables.) Specifically, the bill directs USDA to give aquaculture producers the same consideration as animal agriculture producers in awarding grants or other assistance. Further, USDA must ensure adequate and fair funding levels for aquaculture producers under USDA programs. USDA must also provide its staff with specific education and trainings on aquaculture.  USDA must submit to Congress (1) an annual report that includes information on USDA seafood and aquaculture purchases and grants, and (2) a report on USDA's role in supporting aquaculture and the seafood industry. USDA must make competitive grants (e.g., to regional aquaculture centers or nonprofit organizations) to develop next generation technology to reduce pollution and fuel usage in the seafood and aquaculture industries. Further, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative program grants must address methods of increasing the survival rate and adaptability of shellfish, including resistance to heat, disease, salinity, and acidification. In addition, the federal crop insurance program (FCIP) must research and develop a policy to insure aquaculture products and the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (the agency that finances FCIP operations) must establish a policy to insure aquaculture products.

Maddy summary# Summary of the "Protecting Our Democracy Act" This comprehensive legislation aims to strengthen democratic processes, increase government transparency, and prevent foreign interference in elections. Key provisions include: ## Ethics and Transparency - **Ethics Pledge**: Requires all appointees to sign an ethics pledge committing to: - Ban on gifts from registered lobbyists - 2-year revolving door ban (prohibiting participation in matters related to former employers) - Golden parachute ban (no special payments from former employers) - Commitment to decision-making based on public interest - **Tax Transparency**: Requires presidential and vice presidential candidates to disclose 10 years of tax returns, with sitting presidents submitting returns within 30 days of enactment ## Campaign Finance and Foreign Interference - **Foreign Contact Reporting**: Requires political committees to report any contact with "covered foreign nationals" within 1 week - **Enhanced Penalties**: Criminal penalties of up to $1 million and 5 years in prison for violations - **Online Advertising Rules** ("Honest Ads Act"): - Requires clear disclosure of who paid for political ads online - Mandates machine-readable public databases of political ads - Requires visible sponsor identification that remains when ads are shared - Defines "qualified political advertisements" to include various online formats ## Preventing Patronage Systems - Limits exceptions to competitive service for federal positions - Restricts transferring positions between competitive and excepted service - Requires employee consent for position transfers ## Use of Federal Property - Prohibits holding national political conventions on federal property - Requires publicly available visitor records at White House and other official locations (with privacy exceptions) The legislation establishes detailed definitions, reporting requirements, and enforcement mechanisms across multiple agencies, with the goal of increasing transparency, preventing foreign interference, and ensuring ethical conduct in government service.