Rep. Mike Gallagher

Maddy summaryThe College Transparency Act requires the National Center for Education Statistics to develop a secure, privacy-protected system that collects and organizes student-level data from colleges and universities. The system will track enrollment patterns, progression, completion rates, costs, financial aid, and post-graduation outcomes, with data disaggregated by characteristics like race, gender, program of study, and credential level. Colleges participating in federal financial aid programs must submit this data, while the system will provide the public with customizable summary information to help students and families make informed college decisions. The bill includes strict privacy protections, prohibiting collection of sensitive data like health information or exact addresses, and requires data minimization to only what's necessary for the system's purposes.

Maddy summaryThe Student Empowerment and Financial Literacy Act (HR 2943) creates a federal grant program to fund innovative financial literacy education in elementary and secondary schools. It provides competitive grants to eligible entities - like schools, community groups, or financial institutions - to develop programs teaching personal finance topics (e.g., budgeting, credit, student loans, saving) that improve student awareness and teacher training. Grants last up to 3 years, with renewal possible for successful programs, and prioritize projects serving underbanked communities, diverse geographic areas, and students with varying needs. The program aims to expand voluntary financial literacy resources for K-12 students nationwide.

Maddy summaryThe Drone Act of 2023 strengthens federal criminal penalties for dangerous drone misuse by expanding existing laws. It specifically targets: weaponizing drones with firearms or explosives (penalties up to 20 years), using drones to transport contraband into prisons or across borders, operating drones near aircraft in restricted airspace (addressing safety risks like 875 airport sightings in 2020), and interfering with law enforcement or emergency operations. The law applies to anyone knowingly violating these rules, including those using drones for criminal activities like border smuggling or prison contraband delivery. Penalties range from fines and up to 5 years imprisonment for lesser offenses to 20 years for causing serious harm or death.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federally chartered National Center for the Advancement of Aviation to develop the U.S. aviation and aerospace workforce. The Center will provide grants for education and training programs, including scholarships, internships, and curriculum development for middle schools, high schools, and colleges focused on aviation careers. It will specifically support underrepresented groups and veterans transitioning to aviation careers while coordinating with government agencies to avoid duplicating existing programs. The Center must operate as a non-profit entity, maintain tax-exempt status, and submit annual reports to Congress on its activities.

This bill prohibits the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) from implementing their January 2023-announced changes to the single-family pricing framework for fees on purchase, rate-term refinance, and cash-out refinance loans. The changes revise the fee charts that provide percentage adjustments based on a borrower's credit score and other factors.

This joint resolution nullifies a Department of Labor final rule entitled Adverse Effect Wage Rate Methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in Non-Range Occupations in the United States and published on February 28, 2023. This rule makes changes to the methodology used to set adverse effect wage rates for H-2A workers (temporary agricultural workers), including by using Bureau of Labor Statistics wage surveys in certain instances. (Generally, the minimum wage for an H-2A worker is the highest of the adverse effect wage rate, the applicable minimum wage, the prevailing wage for that occupation in that area, or any agreed-upon collective bargaining wage.)

Maddy summaryHR 2849 creates a tax credit for U.S. manufacturers producing rare earth magnets. The credit offers $20 per kilogram for magnets made with domestically sourced materials, or $30 per kilogram if at least 90% of the rare earth components are produced in the U.S. The credit phases out over time, reducing to 70% in 2033, 35% in 2034-2035, and ending after 2035. To qualify, manufacturers must not use materials from non-allied foreign nations and must produce magnets as part of their regular business operations.

Maddy summaryThe Healthy H2O Act establishes a federal grant program to help rural households and facilities improve drinking water quality by covering costs for point-of-use or point-of-entry water treatment systems, filter replacements, and related services. It directly assists eligible end users in rural areas - including homeowners, renters, child-care facilities, and small residential property owners - who have tested water containing health contaminants like lead, arsenic, or PFAS, while prioritizing private well users and limiting assistance to households with income below 150% of the median nonmetropolitan household income. Grants can fund certified treatment systems, installation by qualified professionals, maintenance, and water quality testing, administered by the Department of Agriculture with $10 million annually from 2024-2028. The program requires annual reports to Congress on progress, barriers to safe water access, and trends in treatment technology use to inform future improvements.

Maddy summaryHR 2756, the Taiwan Cybersecurity Resiliency Act of 2023, requires the U.S. Secretary of Defense to seek expanded military cybersecurity cooperation with Taiwan's government within 180 days of enactment. The bill directs the Department of Defense to work with Taiwan on defending military networks and systems, eradicating cyber threats, using U.S. cybersecurity technology, and conducting joint training exercises. It also mandates a congressional briefing detailing the feasibility of this cooperation, potential challenges, and resources needed. The bill directly affects U.S. military commands (Cyber Command, Indo-Pacific Command) and the Government of Taiwan, focusing solely on establishing a framework for dialogue and reporting, without creating new funding or binding commitments.

Maddy summaryThe Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2023 strengthens the Americans with Disabilities Act's requirement that individuals with disabilities receive long-term services and supports in community settings rather than institutions. It defines "community-based" services to include specific housing options where individuals with disabilities can live independently with maximum control over their lives, including access to integrated housing, employment, and community participation. The bill requires states to develop transition plans to move people from institutional settings to community-based services within 12 years, with measurable annual targets for reducing institutionalization. It establishes enforcement mechanisms through the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services to ensure compliance with these requirements.