Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new salary thresholds for white-collar workers to qualify for overtime pay, starting at $45,000 annually in 2023 and increasing to $75,000 by 2026. It requires automatic annual adjustments based on the 55th percentile of full-time salaried workers' earnings, as tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bill also limits non-exempt duties to no more than 20% of a worker's time. These changes would make more salaried employees eligible for overtime pay, reversing a long-term decline in coverage.

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.

Maddy summaryHRES 262 is a non-binding House resolution supporting the integration of climate change education into K-12 school curricula across the U.S. It urges the Department of Education to collaborate with states and schools to develop science-based climate education standards, promote equitable access for all students, and address climate-induced mental health impacts on youth. The resolution encourages schools to adopt place-based, solution-oriented teaching methods and supports developing vocational programs for renewable energy careers. It does not mandate curriculum changes or allocate funding but calls for research on climate education's impact and collaboration with educators and scientists.

This resolution encourages the African Union (AU) and its member countries to prioritize economic and political reforms that uphold human rights, combat corruption, create an enabling climate for private sector investment, and promote transparent and accountable governance. The resolution also calls on the U.S. President and Secretary of State to carry out initiatives that bolster trade, elevate diplomatic engagement, combat food insecurity, and promote peace in Africa. (AU is a multilateral organization consisting of 55 member states of the African continent.)

Maddy summaryHR 1831 would award Billie Jean King a Congressional Gold Medal to honor her lifelong advocacy for equal rights in sports and society. The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal and have it presented by congressional leaders, recognizing her pivotal role in advancing women's equality through tennis (including founding the Women’s Tennis Association and securing equal prize money) and her broader impact on society through initiatives like Title IX advocacy.

Maddy summaryThe SAFEGUARD Act of 2023 restricts U.S. arms sales to countries committing genocide or war crimes. It prohibits defense exports to countries with credible evidence of such violations, with exceptions only if the government has punished perpetrators, prevented recurrence, and provided compensation. The bill requires recipient countries to agree not to use U.S. weapons to violate human rights, mandates end-use monitoring to ensure proper weapon use, and enhances congressional oversight for arms sales to countries with serious human rights concerns. These changes apply to all defense articles and services sold, exported, or transferred by the United States.

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.

Transparency in Government Contracts Act This bill expands the Small Business Administration's (SBA) reporting requirements to include certain disaggregated demographic data about federal contracts (and subcontracts to the extent practicable) awarded to small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The SBA also must include whether such a small business participates in the 8(a) business development program.

Maddy summaryHR 1716, the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act, requires U.S. airlines to annually report detailed information about heavy maintenance work performed outside the U.S. on their aircraft, including locations, work descriptions, and any safety issues identified after maintenance. It prohibits U.S. airlines from entering new contracts for such maintenance with repair stations in countries classified by the FAA as "Category 2" due to safety deficiencies. The bill also mandates that mechanics and supervisors at foreign repair stations performing heavy maintenance on U.S. aircraft must hold appropriate FAA certifications. Additionally, it establishes a working group with international aviation authorities to review and recommend improvements for overseeing foreign repair stations.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores access to VA housing loans and educational benefits for Black World War II veterans who were denied GI Bill benefits due to racial discrimination, as well as for their living spouses, children, grandchildren, or direct descendants. It defines eligibility by requiring applicants to certify that their veteran relative was denied GI Bill benefits on racial grounds, with a five-year application window starting from the bill's enactment date. The VA must process these applications within 90 days and report to Congress on the number of recipients and total benefit value within one year. This addresses historical discrimination by creating new pathways to benefits for affected individuals and their families.