Rep. Bennie G. Thompson

Maddy summaryThe Books Save Lives Act requires public libraries and schools receiving federal funding to maintain diverse book collections that include works by and about members of underrepresented communities. It mandates that covered schools employ trained librarians and establishes that excluding books with a disparate impact on underrepresented groups serves as initial evidence of discrimination under existing civil rights laws. Additionally, the bill directs the Comptroller General to produce a report within 180 days on how recent book ban campaigns have affected underrepresented communities. The legislation defines underrepresented communities to include racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, religious minorities, and people with disabilities.

Love Lives On Act of 2025 This bill extends entitlement for various benefit programs and services for surviving spouses of deceased members of the Armed Forces or veterans. The bill provides that the remarriage of a surviving spouse must not bar the furnishing of dependency and indemnity compensation or special pension benefits to such spouse. Additionally, the Department of Defense may not terminate the payment of an annuity for a surviving spouse under the Survivor Benefit Plan solely because the surviving spouse remarries. The bill also expands the definition of a dependent under TRICARE to include a remarried widow or widower whose subsequent marriage has ended due to death, divorce, or annulment.

Extending WIC for New Moms Act This bill amends the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to extend the eligibility periods for breastfeeding and postpartum women. Specifically, a state program may elect to certify a breastfeeding woman for up to 24 months (currently 1 year) postpartum. The bill also expands the eligibility period for postpartum women to up to 24 months after termination of pregnancy (currently 6 months). The Department of Agriculture must submit a report to Congress evaluating the effect of these changes to the program on (1) maternal and infant health outcomes, (2) breastfeeding rates, and (3) qualitative evaluations of family experiences under WIC.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the use of federal funds for immigration enforcement on public transit and at transit hubs during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It directly affects the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice by prohibiting civil immigration enforcement activities in metropolitan areas hosting World Cup matches or fan festivals from June 11, 2026, through July 19, 2026. The restriction applies except in cases of exigent circumstances, which include imminent threats of death or violence, national security risks, immediate arrest of dangerous individuals, or the need to prevent destruction of evidence. The law defines these exceptions to allow enforcement when there is an immediate risk to public safety or national security.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of federal funds by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to conduct civil immigration enforcement activities within one mile of any 2026 FIFA World Cup match or Fan Festival. The restriction applies to all civil immigration enforcement actions under existing immigration laws, with limited exceptions for urgent situations such as imminent threats to life, national security, public safety, or the destruction of evidence. The legislation would directly affect immigration enforcement operations in the areas surrounding World Cup venues and fan events, ensuring that routine civil immigration enforcement does not occur in these designated zones.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of specific federal Homeland Security grant funds for civil immigration enforcement activities during a defined period from June 11 to July 19, 2026. It directly affects state and local entities receiving funds under the State Homeland Security Grant program, restricting them from participating in Section 287(g) programs or conducting civil immigration enforcement during the covered time period. The law allows exceptions only for urgent situations involving imminent threats to life, national security, public safety, or evidence preservation. The legislation is titled the "Protect World Cup Attendees Act," indicating its purpose is to safeguard attendees of the 2026 World Cup event.

Maddy summaryThe Energy Bills Relief Act aims to lower household energy costs and accelerate the development of low-cost, clean energy by modifying federal tax credits, expanding weatherization programs, and streamlining permitting processes. Key provisions include restoring tax incentives for renewable energy projects, increasing funding for low-income heating assistance, and requiring federal agencies to treat wind, solar, and storage projects with the same procedural fairness as oil and gas projects. The bill also establishes new incentives for upgrading the electricity grid, such as tax credits for transmission lines and grants for wildfire prevention measures, while creating mechanisms to ensure utilities serve public interests and protect consumers from price volatility.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to cover abortion care, counseling, and related medication as part of standard hospital and medical services for eligible veterans and certain dependents. It amends VA healthcare law to explicitly include these services under existing coverage for veterans qualifying under section 1703 and dependents eligible under section 1781(a). The policy directly affects veterans and their dependents enrolled in VA healthcare programs by expanding covered benefits to include abortion-related care. This is a concrete policy change to VA healthcare benefits, not a broader abortion law.

Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act or the GUARD VA Benefits Act This bill imposes fines on individuals for soliciting, contracting for, charging, or receiving any unauthorized fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. The attempted commission of such offenses is also punishable by fine.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts H-1B visa holders working in healthcare from a presidential restriction that requires a $100,000 payment for entry into the United States. It directly affects foreign medical professionals and healthcare workers who hold H-1B nonimmigrant visas. The legislation removes the additional fee requirement for these workers while limiting any fees that may be charged to the standard amount already established under immigration law. The bill defines healthcare workers using the existing definition from the Affordable Care Act and was introduced in the 119th Congress in March 2026.