Rep. Derek Kilmer

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Veterans Affairs Secretary to expand or modify an existing national cemetery (under National Cemetery Administration control) before Arlington National Cemetery reaches capacity, ensuring it provides full military honors using the same standards and eligibility criteria that applied to Arlington as of March 31, 2023. It directly affects veterans and their families seeking burial with full military honors at national cemeteries nationwide. The bill also mandates a joint report within one year to Congress on expanding cemetery capacity and assessing whether interment criteria should recognize exceptional service, including impacts on women, non-combat veterans, and other groups. The key mechanism is preserving current military honors standards at alternative cemeteries to prevent Arlington's capacity limits from disrupting existing burial practices.

Maddy summaryHR 1139, the GUARD VA Benefits Act, amends federal law to strengthen penalties for individuals or organizations charging veterans unauthorized fees when helping with VA benefit claims. It directly affects veterans seeking assistance with VA claims and the representatives (like advocates or attorneys) who might charge them fees. The bill adds a new provision making it a violation to solicit, charge, or receive any fee for preparing, presenting, or prosecuting VA claims, punishable by fines under Title 18. This change specifically targets unauthorized fee-charging while excluding fees covered under existing exceptions in sections 5904 or 1984 of the law.

Investing in Our Communities Act This bill reinstates the exclusion from gross income for interest on certain bonds issued to advance the refunding of a prior bond issue. The exclusion was repealed for bonds issued after 2017.

Maddy summary# Summary of the Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023 This comprehensive legislation aims to enhance agricultural sustainability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease food waste across the food system. Key provisions include: 1. **Conservation Programs**: - Expanded Conservation Reserve Program with increased acreage limits through 2028 - New Grassland 30 pilot program for 30-year conservation contracts - Conservation of Private Grazing Land program focused on advanced grazing management - Alternative Manure Management Program to reduce methane emissions from livestock operations 2. **Renewable Energy**: - Enhanced Rural Energy For America Program with carbon accounting requirements - New agrivoltaic systems research and demonstration program - Continued support for the AgSTAR program (anaerobic digestion) 3. **Food Waste Reduction**: - Standardized quality date labeling ("BEST If Used By") and discard date labeling ("USE By") - Amendments to the Federal Food Donation Act requiring donation of excess food - School food waste reduction grant program for local educational agencies - Grants for composting and anaerobic digestion food waste-to-energy projects 4. **Additional Key Provisions**: - Composting recognized as a conservation practice - Technical assistance programs for sustainable agriculture - Support for beginning, socially disadvantaged, and small-scale farmers - Funding commitments for multiple programs through fiscal year 2028 The legislation emphasizes climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental protection, food system resilience, and equitable support for diverse farm operations while reducing food waste across the supply chain.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how U.S. foreign aid is provided to international health organizations. It prevents U.S. agencies from denying aid to foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) solely because they offer health services (like counseling or referrals) using their own funds, as long as those services follow local laws. It also stops applying stricter rules about how foreign NGOs can use their own funds for advocacy compared to U.S. NGOs receiving similar aid. The bill directly affects foreign health-focused NGOs that rely on U.S. foreign assistance funding.

This resolution expresses support for the designation of Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. It also honors and recognizes the contributions of veterans who served in Vietnam.

Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act of 2023 This bill increases the rehabilitation tax credit and modifies certain requirements for the credit. The bill increases the rate of the credit for qualified rehabilitation expenditures in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020, and before January 1, 2028, after which the rate reverts to 20%. The bill increases the rate of the credit to 30% for certain small projects whose qualified rehabilitation expenditures do not exceed $2.5 million. The bill also expands the types of buildings eligible for rehabilitation by decreasing the rehabilitation threshold from 100% to 50% of project expenses. It also eliminates the basis adjustment requirement for the credit and modifies rules relating to tax-exempt use property eligible for the credit.

Maddy summaryHR 1777 establishes a $50 million annual fund (2024-2028) for collaborative defense research between the U.S. and Israel in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, directed energy, and automation. The bill directly supports U.S. and Israeli military forces by enabling joint development of new warfare capabilities to address current and future defense challenges. Key provisions include authorizing $50 million per year for collaborative projects, building on existing U.S.-Israel defense partnerships like counter-tunnel and counter-drone systems. This funding aims to strengthen bilateral defense innovation without altering existing military aid structures.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 28 is a symbolic resolution expressing Congress's view that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies - organizations providing life, health, and accident benefits to members - have long delivered critical community support. It states these societies, with about 7 million members nationwide, generate significant annual value through charitable work and volunteer activities (estimated at over $3.8 billion yearly). The resolution affirms that their tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(8) of the tax code is essential for sustaining their volunteer-driven model and relieving pressure on government safety programs. As a non-binding expression of congressional sentiment, it does not alter existing laws or create new obligations.

Maddy summaryThe BNA Fairness Act (HR 1732) changes federal tax rules to exclude the basic needs allowance from taxable income for active-duty military members. This specifically affects service members who receive the basic needs allowance under 37 U.S.C. §402b, making this benefit fully tax-free. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to add the allowance as a qualified military benefit under Section 134(b). The change applies to tax years beginning after the bill's enactment date, providing immediate tax relief for affected service members.