Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to create a new exception for farmers and ranchers seeking disaster program benefits. It allows individuals or entities where at least 75% of their average adjusted gross income comes from farming, ranching, silviculture, agritourism, direct-to-consumer sales, or related agriculture activities to qualify for payments. The exception removes income-based eligibility barriers for these qualifying agricultural producers under specific existing programs, including payments under the 2014 Agricultural Act (Subtitle E, Title I) and the 1996 Farm Bill (Section 196). This change directly affects farmers who meet the 75% income threshold but would otherwise be disqualified due to income limits.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe AG RESEARCH Act (S 2589) provides funding to modernize agricultural research facilities at schools of agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). It creates a competitive grant program to cover up to 100% of costs for construction, renovation, or equipment at schools of agriculture, requiring equitable distribution across geographic regions, institution types, and facility sizes while limiting any single state to 20% of funds. Additionally, it allocates $200 million annually (2023-2027) for direct payments to address deferred maintenance at ARS facilities, prioritizing the most critical structures based on a 2012 strategy. The bill is funded by mandatory annual transfers of $1 billion for schools of agriculture and $200 million for ARS, with no new appropriations required.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new federal grant program to support community organizations before they begin development projects. It authorizes grants for activities like community asset mapping, feasibility studies, technical training, and organizational capacity building - specifically targeting groups with limited resources. The program applies to eligible recipients under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, with provisions to waive certain requirements for low-capacity organizations. These grants aim to help communities prepare for economic development initiatives through foundational planning and support.
Maddy summaryThe Housing for All Act of 2023 addresses housing shortages and homelessness through significant funding increases for existing housing programs and new initiatives. It allocates $45 billion annually to the Housing Trust Fund, expands the housing choice voucher program by 1 million vouchers over four years, and creates new programs including safe parking initiatives and eviction protection grants. The bill also establishes a Commission on Racial Equity in Housing to examine and address racial disparities in housing and homelessness services. It directly affects low-income individuals, seniors, people with disabilities, and communities of color disproportionately impacted by housing instability. Key mechanisms include new funding streams for housing assistance, coordination between health and housing services, and requirements to prioritize vulnerable populations in program administration.
Maddy summaryThe Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2023 allocates $20 billion annually for fiscal years 2024-2028 to fund improvements to public school facilities nationwide. It provides grants to states, which then distribute funds to local school districts based on need, prioritizing schools serving high percentages of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. The bill requires projects to meet energy efficiency standards, address health and safety concerns (like lead in water or toxic substances), and use American-made materials when possible. It also includes specific provisions for repairing schools with foundations damaged by pyrrhotite, a mineral that causes concrete deterioration.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the definition of "rural" in the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to clarify which communities qualify for existing water infrastructure grants and loans. Specifically, it defines "rural" for water projects as areas with populations of 20,000 or fewer that need to fix drinking water systems failing to meet federal or state quality rules. The change directly affects small towns and unincorporated rural areas struggling with unsafe water. It does not create new funding but adjusts eligibility for current programs. This adjustment ensures resources target the smallest communities most impacted by water compliance issues.
Maddy summaryThe GusNIP Improvement Act of 2023 amends the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to expand access to healthy food for low-income individuals. It creates "Scaling grants" for organizations with proven success in running nutrition incentive programs, enabling them to expand operations to more retail settings like independent grocers, farmers markets, and food hubs. These grants require projects to last four years, spend at least $3 million annually, and dedicate 75% of funds to redeemed incentives. The bill also increases annual program funding to $150 million for fiscal years 2024-2028, up from $56 million in 2023.
Maddy summaryS 2565, the Language Access to Gun Violence Prevention Strategies Act of 2023, requires the U.S. Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to translate key gun violence prevention materials - including extreme risk protection orders and safe gun storage resources - into the 10 most common non-English languages in the U.S. (like Spanish, Mandarin, and Korean) and make them accessible to limited English proficient populations. The bill mandates that translated materials be reviewed by community-based organizations serving these language groups before release and prioritizes grant applications that include targeted outreach plans for limited English proficient communities. It also directs both departments to launch public awareness campaigns using culturally appropriate, in-language messaging about gun violence prevention strategies and safe firearm practices. This law directly affects federal agencies, community organizations, and non-English speaking individuals seeking access to gun safety resources.
Maddy summaryThe Agricultural Emergency Relief Act of 2023 establishes a new program to provide payments to farmers who suffer crop losses from qualifying disasters like droughts, wildfires, floods, or hurricanes. To qualify, farmers must apply to the USDA, prove a "qualified loss" (such as prevented planting or crop damage), and meet income thresholds based on their average adjusted gross farm income. Payments are calculated using either past insurance data or revenue from previous crop years, with limits: $125,000 for specialty crops (or $900,000 for higher-income farmers) and $250,000 for other crops. A key requirement is that farmers must purchase crop insurance for the next two years to receive a payment. The program is funded through fiscal years 2023-2028, with administrative costs capped at 1% of allocated funds.
Maddy summaryThe Better CARE for Animals Act of 2023 strengthens enforcement of the existing Animal Welfare Act by requiring dealers and exhibitors to maintain valid licenses for animal sales or transport. It expands enforcement authority for both the USDA and the Attorney General to pursue civil penalties (up to $10,000 per violation per day), seize animals in violation cases, and use penalty funds to cover temporary care costs for animals during legal proceedings. The bill also clarifies that enforcement applies to rules and regulations under the Act, and mandates a new coordination agreement between the USDA and DOJ to address repeat violators. These changes directly affect animal dealers, exhibitors, and federal enforcement agencies, improving accountability for animal welfare violations.