Rep. Derek Kilmer

Maddy summaryHR 3768, the Midwives for MOMS Act of 2023, provides federal grants to support midwifery education and increase access to midwifery services. It allocates $15 million annually (2024-2028) for accredited midwifery schools to directly support students, expand programs, and train clinical instructors, with 50% of funds dedicated to student support. The bill also authorizes $20 million annually for nurse-midwifery programs in nursing schools, prioritizing students who will work in underserved health professional shortage areas and increasing racial/ethnic minority representation. These provisions directly affect midwifery students, educational institutions, and communities with limited access to maternity care, aiming to expand the midwifery workforce through targeted funding.

Maddy summaryHR 3326, the HAVENS Act, establishes a 6-year pilot program to address veteran homelessness by funding five communities of tiny homes (240 sq ft for individuals, 340 sq ft for families) paired with supportive services. The program provides grants to nonprofits or local governments to build these villages, which must include energy-efficient design, community centers, and services like job training, addiction counseling, and case management. It directly affects homeless veterans (estimated at 37,252 in 2020), aiming to help them achieve stable housing and self-sufficiency through structured support. The program requires grantees to report on outcomes like housing retention and employment, with $20 million allocated for fiscal years 2023-2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a barrier for college students seeking food assistance by amending the SNAP program rules. It directly affects students enrolled at least half-time in recognized colleges or training programs, who were previously automatically ineligible unless they met separate requirements. The key change eliminates the prior restriction (in section 6(e)) that barred most higher education students from SNAP, allowing them to qualify under the new provision in section 3(m)(5)(F). The changes take effect January 2, 2024.

Maddy summaryThe Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2023 amends the Food and Nutrition Act to update how SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are calculated. It replaces the "thrifty food plan" with a "low-cost food plan" based on a specific 4-person family diet, requiring the government to reevaluate this plan by 2029 and every 5 years after. The bill also updates medical expense deductions, eliminates time limits on benefits, and allows Puerto Rico to join SNAP with specific transition requirements. These changes directly affect SNAP recipients, particularly in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Alaska, by adjusting benefit calculations to better reflect current food costs.

Maddy summaryHRES 455 is a symbolic House resolution expressing support for Black service members who died protecting the U.S. during military conflicts while facing racism in the Armed Forces and systemic inequities. It acknowledges their historical contributions and struggles, citing examples from the Revolutionary War through the Global War on Terror. The resolution has no legislative effect - it solely affirms recognition on Memorial Day without proposing policy changes or requiring action. As a non-binding resolution, it directly affects public acknowledgment of this group but does not alter military policies or address systemic issues.

Maddy summaryThe HERO Act creates a national data system to track suicides among public safety officers (including police, firefighters, and EMTs) and requires annual reports broken down by age, gender, occupation, and status (volunteer, career, etc.). It establishes grants for peer-led mental health support programs within fire departments and EMS agencies, where trained fellow responders provide confidential counseling. The bill also mandates development of educational resources for mental health professionals on first responder-specific stressors and evidence-based PTSD treatment strategies. All data collection and reporting include strict privacy protections to prevent misuse of information for denying survivor benefits.

Maddy summaryHR 3713 creates federal grants to fund comprehensive school-based mental health programs for students in grades K-12, including those in Bureau of Indian Education schools. It requires partnerships between schools and community mental health providers to deliver trauma-informed, culturally appropriate services addressing suicide risk, grief, violence, and trauma exposure. The bill authorizes $300 million annually (2024-2027) for these programs, mandating privacy protections under HIPAA and FERPA, and requires annual reporting on program effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThe Cady Housh and Gemesha Thomas Student Suicide Prevention Act of 2023 requires states to establish a policy mandating annual suicide prevention training for school staff and high school students (grades 9-12). The training must be evidence-based, cover recognizing suicide warning signs, appropriate responses, and referrals to mental health services, while including cultural competency. It allocates $48 million in federal funds, with at least 15% dedicated to supporting this training program, and requires states to collaborate with mental health experts. The bill directly affects school staff and high school students in states that adopt the policy and receive federal funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit for expenses related to "qualified access technology for the blind" under the Internal Revenue Code. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $2,000 per year (adjusted for inflation) for costs paid for hardware, software, or IT that converts visual information into formats usable by blind individuals, covering the taxpayer, their spouse, or a dependent who is blind. The credit is limited to $2,000 over any three consecutive tax years per blind individual and expires after 2028. It directly affects blind individuals and their families who purchase qualifying assistive technology. The credit cannot be claimed for expenses already covered by other tax deductions or credits.

Maddy summaryThe Sailor Standard of Care Act of 2023 requires the Navy to improve mental health support for service members designated for "limited duty" (temporarily restricted from full duties due to medical needs). It mandates quarterly mental health screenings for these members, additional medical staff in units with over 15 such personnel, and a framework for centralized care coordination during their limited duty period. The bill also directs the Navy to study multiple suicides within units, report on TRICARE mental health provider credentialing timelines and reimbursement rates, and establish a dashboard tracking quality-of-life program usage. These provisions directly affect active-duty Navy members in limited duty status and aim to address systemic gaps in mental health care access and response.