Rep. Derek Kilmer

Maddy summaryHR 676, the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2023, amends the 2009 Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act to improve collaboration on ocean acidification efforts. It requires the federal Advisory Board to establish ongoing input mechanisms with coastal stakeholders, fishery councils, indigenous knowledge groups, and non-Federal experts, and mandates two Indian Tribe representatives on the Board. The bill also updates definitions to specifically include "Indian Tribe" and strengthens coordination with Tribal organizations for vulnerability assessments and research planning. These changes directly affect coastal communities, fisheries, Tribal nations, and local governments managing ocean acidification impacts. The law focuses on integrating diverse stakeholder input into federal research and monitoring activities.

Maddy summaryHR 2765 designates 14 new wilderness areas totaling approximately 126,554 acres in Washington's Olympic National Forest, along with designating specific river segments as protected "wild," "scenic," or "recreational" rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The bill incorporates some lands into existing wilderness areas previously designated by the Washington State Wilderness Act of 1984, while establishing that these designations don't create buffer zones around wilderness areas and permit nonconforming uses outside wilderness boundaries. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to update management plans within 3-5 years, withdraws federal lands from mining and mineral leasing, and preserves existing rights and treaty rights of Native American tribes. The protected areas will be managed by the Department of Agriculture or Interior as specified in the bill.

Maddy summaryHR 3106, the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, creates a legal right for individuals whose realistic digital manipulations of intimate images (such as uncovered genitals, bodily fluids, or sexually explicit conduct) are disclosed without consent. It allows victims to sue for civil damages, including up to $150,000 in liquidated damages, actual harm, or punitive penalties, and seek court orders to stop further disclosure. The bill specifically protects identifiable individuals (not just public figures) and covers images created or altered using digital manipulation, excluding cases involving law enforcement, public interest, or good-faith disclosures. Criminal penalties up to 10 years may apply for malicious disclosure with intent to harass or cause harm. This directly affects anyone whose intimate images are deepfaked without permission, providing new legal recourse against perpetrators.

Behavioral Health Crisis Care Centers Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program for states, Indian tribes, territories, and localities to support one-stop crisis facilities. These are facilities that provide behavioral health, substance use disorder, recovery, and related support services at a single location, as well as coordinate with other services available in the community.

Maddy summaryHR 3059, the Resilient Airports Act, updates federal definitions to improve funding for airport resilience after disasters. It specifically defines "critical airport infrastructure" as runways, taxiways, and aprons needed for commercial operations or general aviation airports designated as emergency staging areas (like Federal Incident Support Bases). The bill also expands "natural disaster" to explicitly include events like hurricanes, wildfires, and floods. These changes ensure airports can quickly resume operations under visual flight rules after disasters by clarifying which infrastructure qualifies for improvement funding. The bill directly affects airports, particularly smaller general aviation facilities used for emergency response coordination.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE Banking Act of 2023 would protect banks and financial institutions that provide services to state-legal marijuana businesses and hemp-related businesses by preventing federal regulators from taking adverse actions against them solely for serving these businesses. It clarifies that income from state-legal marijuana businesses can be considered for mortgage applications, and requires regulators to update guidance on suspicious activity reports related to these businesses. The bill does not require financial institutions to serve these businesses, but ensures they won't face penalties for doing so. It extends similar protections to hemp-related businesses, which have faced banking challenges despite being federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill.

Maddy summaryHR 3009, the Military Suicide Prevention in the 21st Century Act, requires the Secretary of Defense to launch a two-year pilot program pre-loading the Virtual Hope Box app (a military behavioral health tool) and pre-programming the National Suicide Hotline and Veterans Crisis Line numbers into smartphones and other smart devices issued to service members. This directly affects active-duty military personnel who receive such devices from the Department of Defense. The pilot program mandates training on these resources during existing suicide awareness education and requires a final report with expansion recommendations. The bill focuses on making critical mental health tools immediately accessible on service-issued devices during crises.

Maddy summaryHR 3011 establishes a 15-member task force within the Department of Defense to review and assess mental health services for active-duty military members, reservists, and their families. The task force, requiring half DOD personnel (including service surgeons and family members) and half external experts (like VA and SAMHSA staff), must submit a report within 12 months detailing improvements needed in areas like access to care, telehealth, reducing stigma, and transitioning care to veterans' services. The report will include specific recommendations for legislative or administrative changes, followed by annual progress reports to Congress over five years on implementing those recommendations. This bill creates a review mechanism but does not directly change existing mental health programs or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects living organ donors from insurance discrimination by prohibiting life, disability, and long-term care insurers from denying coverage, raising premiums, or altering policy terms solely because someone donated an organ while alive. It also updates the Family and Medical Leave Act to include recovery from organ donation surgery as a qualifying health condition, allowing donors to take protected leave for this purpose. Additionally, the bill requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to update public educational materials about living donation benefits, risks, and insurance protections within six months of enactment. These changes directly affect living organ donors, insurers, employers, and healthcare systems by ensuring fair access to insurance and workplace leave.

Maddy summaryHR 2955, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, establishes a Federal Work Group to improve data collection and best practices for youth in residential programs (like therapeutic schools, treatment centers, and group homes). The Work Group, composed of federal agency representatives and diverse stakeholders, must develop national data standards, create risk assessment tools, and issue biennial reports with recommendations to enhance safety, reduce restraints, and expand community-based alternatives. It directly affects youth with mental health, substance use, or disability needs placed in these facilities, as well as agencies overseeing them. The bill also mandates a National Academies study to examine funding, oversight, and barriers to community care. These mechanisms aim to standardize data tracking and promote less restrictive, trauma-informed care for youth in residential programs.