Rep. Brad Sherman

Maddy summaryThe Momnibus Act is a comprehensive legislative bill designed to improve maternal health outcomes across the United States by addressing social determinants of health, expanding access to care, and reducing disparities among pregnant and postpartum individuals. The bill establishes a federal task force to coordinate efforts between agencies and stakeholders to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and severe morbidity, while providing sustained funding to community-based organizations to address nonclinical factors like housing, nutrition, and transportation. Key provisions include extending WIC eligibility to 24 months postpartum, creating grants to grow and diversify the perinatal workforce, implementing respectful maternity care training for all healthcare employees, and establishing compliance programs to track and address bias in maternity care settings. The legislation also includes specific measures for incarcerated mothers, veterans, and vulnerable populations affected by climate change, alongside funding for maternal mental health services and technology-enabled care models to expand access in underserved areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the U.S. Secret Service's authority to investigate money laundering and cybercrime by explicitly adding these offenses to their existing mandate. It extends the period for sharing financial data with law enforcement from 5 to 10 years under FinCEN rules and increases reporting requirements for international financial institutions from 6 to 10 years. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on law enforcement's ability to identify and stop money laundering in cybercrime within one year of enactment. These changes directly affect federal law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and cybersecurity investigators by strengthening investigative tools and data access.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses support for recognizing April as National Language Access Month to highlight the importance of language services for individuals with limited English proficiency. It directly affects millions of Americans who speak languages other than English at home and rely on translation and interpretation services to access public services. The bill does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness about existing federal requirements for language access in areas like healthcare, employment, and voting. It encourages federal agencies, state and local governments, and community organizations to promote awareness of language access rights and resources during the designated month.

Maddy summaryHRES 971 is a non-binding resolution condemning China's economic and military actions against Japan following Japanese officials' comments about Taiwan. It specifically addresses China's travel advisory (causing $1.2 billion in tourism losses), a ban on Japanese seafood imports, and military drills near Japanese territory. The resolution reaffirms U.S. support for the U.S.-Japan alliance under their mutual security treaty and calls on China to cease coercion. It emphasizes U.S. commitment to upholding a "free and open Indo-Pacific" based on international law. This resolution directly affects Japan's economy and security, with no new legal obligations but serving as a formal U.S. policy statement.

Maddy summaryHR 7669, the "Rejecting the Erasure of Afghan Women and Girls Act," requires the U.S. Secretary of State to submit a report within 180 days of enactment. The report must detail Taliban-imposed restrictions on Afghan women and girls since August 2021 and determine whether these restrictions constitute crimes against humanity, torture under the Convention against Torture, or gross human rights violations under U.S. law. This bill directly addresses the situation of Afghan women and girls under Taliban rule by mandating a formal U.S. government assessment of those restrictions. The legislation focuses on establishing a factual basis for potential policy responses through this required report.

Maddy summaryHR 7675, the Securing Partner Supply Chains Act, establishes a 3-year U.S. initiative to help allied and partner countries strengthen their screening of foreign investments for national security risks. The initiative, led by the Secretary of State, will provide technical assistance, training, and advisory services to partner countries - defined as those with U.S. trade or defense agreements - to improve their ability to assess risks to critical infrastructure, sensitive technology, and supply chains. It requires annual reports to Congress detailing the assistance provided, partner countries' progress, and emerging security risks. The bill does not directly affect U.S. citizens or businesses but focuses on building international capacity to address shared security concerns through cooperation.

Maddy summaryHR 7653, the Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act, requires the U.S. Secretary of State to develop two new strategies to strengthen international cooperation on biodefense, biosecurity, and biotechnology. The bill mandates a NATO Biodefense Strategy to improve alliance coordination on biological threat response and a broader International Cooperation Strategy to enhance partnerships with U.S. allies and major non-NATO partners on export controls for dual-use biotech items and adherence to safety standards. These strategies must identify gaps in current efforts, recommend improvements, and assess coordination with U.S. agencies, with reports due to Congress within 270 days of enactment. The bill directly affects U.S. diplomatic engagement with NATO and allied nations on biological threat preparedness, focusing on policy development, capabilities, and enforcement of the Biological Weapons Convention.

Maddy summaryThe SHADOW Act creates a new State Department Coordinator to lead U.S. efforts against hybrid warfare threats from China and Russia, particularly in Europe. The Coordinator will assess threats like cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, coordinate with NATO allies and partners (including Japan and Australia), and help protect critical infrastructure sectors. The bill requires the Coordinator to submit a strategy within 60 days and annual reports for three years detailing threat assessments and coordination progress. It also mandates a specific report within 180 days identifying Chinese entities supporting Russia’s defense industry.

Maddy summaryHR 6428 requires the Secretary of State to submit regular reports on U.S. and Chinese educational exchange programs. Specifically, it mandates that within 180 days of enactment and every five years thereafter, the State Department must report on participation in U.S. programs like Fulbright, the Mandela Washington Fellowship, and the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange, including detailed metrics such as participant demographics, changes in perceptions of the U.S., and program funding. The report must also track Chinese exchange program participation by country and analyze how both nations' programs affect U.S. strategic interests. This bill directly affects the State Department (which must compile and submit the reports) and Congress (which receives the reports for oversight). The requirement applies to specific U.S. exchange programs funded by the Department of State, focusing on measurable outcomes rather than altering program operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. foreign aid agencies (like USAID) to increase direct funding to local organizations in recipient countries, including local nonprofits, governments, and private businesses. It mandates specific changes to simplify access for these partners, such as allowing applications in local languages, reducing complex accounting requirements, and permitting limited local-only contracts for certain projects. Agencies must also report annually on progress, including how much aid went directly to local partners and how they are enabling local leadership in program design and management. The goal is to shift aid delivery toward locally led development and humanitarian response, making assistance more efficient and sustainable by prioritizing community-driven solutions.