Rep. Eric Sorensen

Maddy summaryHR 3213, the Rural Education Investment Act, creates grants to establish teaching residency programs in rural school districts. It defines "rural local educational agencies" as schools meeting criteria under existing federal programs (Small, Rural School Achievement or Rural and Low-Income School Programs). The bill requires that a minimum percentage of grant funds - based on the proportion of K-12 students in rural areas - must be awarded to partnerships involving these rural schools. This directly affects rural school districts and their higher education partners seeking to train and retain teachers.

Maddy summaryHR 3238, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023, updates the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program to increase the availability of affordable housing across the United States. The bill makes several key changes including increasing state funding formulas, modifying tenant eligibility rules to better serve vulnerable populations (such as domestic violence victims and students), and expanding credit eligibility for projects in rural and Native American communities. Specific provisions raise the credit for properties serving extremely low-income households, clarify rules around tenant income increases, and require housing providers to protect victims of domestic violence. The bill also updates terminology from "low-income" to "affordable" throughout the tax code and enhances program transparency through data sharing requirements. These changes aim to make the LIHTC program more effective at creating and preserving affordable housing units for low-income households nationwide.

Maddy summaryThe Beagle Brigade Act of 2023 establishes a National Detector Dog Training Center to train dogs and handlers for detecting foreign pests and diseases threatening U.S. agriculture and natural resources. The Center will collaborate with agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection and state agriculture departments to safeguard farms and ecosystems. It requires annual funding for operations and mandates a congressional report within one year detailing pest threats, Center effectiveness, and recommendations for improving detection capabilities. The law directly affects agricultural protection efforts by enhancing canine-based prevention of invasive species.

Maddy summaryThe Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act adjusts pay for Bureau of Prisons employees currently assigned to the "Rest of U.S." pay locality. It directs that if an employee's worksite is within 200 miles of another pay locality, they will be paid according to the nearest locality with the highest pay rate - replacing the lower "Rest of U.S." rate. This applies to correctional officers and other Bureau of Prisons staff, but excludes employees whose worksite is more than 200 miles from any other locality. The change takes effect 180 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThe Invest to Protect Act of 2023 establishes a federal grant program for local law enforcement agencies with fewer than 200 officers (including counties, municipalities, and tribal governments) to fund training and support services. Grants cover de-escalation training, mental health resources, evidence-based safety training (such as handling domestic violence or mental health crises), and recruitment/retention incentives like signing bonuses, retention bonuses (up to 20% of salary), and stipends for graduate education in mental health or social work. The bill requires a streamlined grant application process (under two hours), public disclosure of bonus amounts, and annual audits to prevent misuse of funds.

Maddy summaryThe HELPER Act of 2023 creates a new FHA mortgage insurance program specifically for first responders and K-12 teachers. It allows eligible first-time homebuyers in these professions to secure mortgages with 100% financing (no down payment required) for purchasing or repairing a primary residence. To qualify, applicants must be employed as law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, or K-12 teachers, have completed housing counseling, and meet specific employment history requirements (e.g., 4 years in the role or disability-related release). The program authorizes $660,000 for fiscal year 2024 and $160,000 annually through 2030, with authority expiring after 5 years.

Maddy summaryHRES 376 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' view that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) must maintain door-to-door delivery for all residential and business customers. It cites concerns that ending this service would disproportionately affect elderly and disabled individuals who rely on secure, convenient mail access for essential items like medications. The resolution notes that voluntary shifts to centralized pickup in 2013 affected only 0.8% of businesses, highlighting dependence on in-person delivery for security and revenue. It urges USPS to avoid reducing door delivery or requiring customers to pay for it.

Stop The Overuse of Petitions and Get Affordable Medicines to Enter Soon Act of 2023 or the STOP GAMES Act of 2023 This bill specifies factors that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)must use in determining if a petition is submitted with the primary purpose of delaying the approval of a pending new or generic drug application. (Current law allows third parties, including interested parties, to file petitions asking the FDA to take various actions, such as to consider certain issues pertaining to an application for market approval for a drug; current law also allows the FDA to deny a petition that is submitted with the primary purpose of delaying approval of an application.) The factors include (1) whether the petitioner filed serial petitions raising issues that could have been known to the petitioner when an earlier petition was filed, and (2) whether the petition has any data or information to support its scientific positions. If the FDA finds that delay is the primary purpose of the petition, it must refer the matter to the Federal Trade Commission. A party filing a petition must do so within 60 days of when the party first learned of the information on which the petition is based.

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.

Rebuilding Rural Roads Act This bill modifies the definition of rural area that is used for the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program. For the purposes of the program, the bill defines rural area as an area outside an urbanized area that has a population of over 20,000. (Current law requires a rural area to be outside of an urbanized area with a population of over 200,000.) The grant program supports projects that improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas to increase connectivity, improve the safety and reliability of the movement of people and freight, generate regional economic growth, and improve quality of life. Eligible applicants for the grant program include states, regional transportation planning organizations, local governments, and tribal governments.