Rep. Terri A. Sewell

Maddy summaryThe Civics Learning Act of 2026 amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to expand federal funding and support for civics education in K-12 schools. The bill directs the Department of Education to distribute $70 million in grants to schools, with at least 60 percent reserved for elementary and middle schools and a preference for programs that include hands-on civic engagement, constitutional history, and civil rights education. It also requires grant recipients to submit annual reports detailing how they meet civics education goals and ensures geographic diversity in funding distribution across urban, suburban, and rural areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program to help vulnerable mothers and babies in areas with high climate-related health risks, such as extreme heat and air pollution. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to award up to $105 million over four years to community groups, healthcare providers, and local organizations for initiatives that provide cooling resources, health education, and support services. The program prioritizes areas with high rates of maternal and infant health disparities and requires grantees to address racial and ethnic inequities. Additionally, the bill creates a research consortium at the National Institutes of Health to study climate impacts on birth outcomes and funds training programs for health profession schools to better prepare providers for these risks.

Maddy summaryHRES 1196 is a House Resolution that formally designates April as "Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month." The resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for the goals and ideals of this month, affirming a national commitment to educating the public on disease prevention and commending advancements in multi-cancer early detection efforts.

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 establishes the Interagency Advisory Commission on Advancing Restorative Justice in Elementary and Secondary Education, affecting elementary and secondary schools, their personnel, and students, particularly students of color. The Commission is tasked with developing guidelines for tracking restorative practices and creating official definitions for "restorative justice" and "restorative practices" for the Department of Education. It will also develop and distribute training materials to school personnel aimed at reducing bias, enhancing cultural competency, and improving responses to student behavior. Furthermore, the Commission will work to increase school staff's ability to provide culturally competent mental health support and recommend ideal school psychologist and counselor-to-student ratios for federally funded schools. The Commission will submit annual reports on its progress and a final report with its comprehensive findings and recommendations.

Maddy summaryThe Poll Worker Tax Cut Act (H.R. 8342) proposes to reduce the federal income tax burden for individuals who serve as temporary poll workers during elections. It amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude compensation received by poll workers from their gross income for federal income tax purposes. However, this exclusion would not apply to employment taxes, meaning poll worker compensation would still be subject to taxes like Social Security and Medicare. These changes would take effect for compensation received after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCONRES 40) directs the President to remove U.S. military forces from hostilities with Iran, as required by the War Powers Resolution. It applies directly to U.S. Armed Forces deployed in conflict with Iran, except for forces needed to defend the U.S. or allies from imminent attack. The bill mandates removal unless the President complies with War Powers Resolution reporting requirements for self-defense actions, without needing new congressional authorization. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new law but compels executive action under existing legal framework.

Maddy summaryHR 6001, the Veterans with ALS Reporting Act, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress on ALS incidence and care for veterans. Within one year of enactment, the VA must submit a report assessing ALS rates among veterans, describing current support services, identifying gaps in care, and proposing strategies for risk reduction and clinical trial access. The VA must also track ALS prevalence using the CDC’s registry and submit updated reports every three years. This bill focuses on gathering data to inform future policy, directly affecting veterans with ALS and VA/CDC operations.

Maddy summaryThe Tech to Save Moms Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals by increasing access to technology-enabled care. It allows states to adopt and use telehealth tools under Medicaid for screening, monitoring, and managing health complications during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum. The bill also establishes two grant programs: one to fund technology-enabled collaborative learning models for training maternal healthcare providers, especially in underserved areas, and another to increase access to digital tools that reduce maternal health disparities. Finally, it directs the National Academies to study the use of technology and patient monitoring devices in maternity care, focusing on racial and ethnic biases.

Maddy summaryThe Supporting VA Families Act grants unpaid parental leave to Department of Veterans Affairs employees. This provision allows employees to take four weeks of unpaid leave within a 12-month period for the birth of a child or for adoption and foster care placements. The leave is designed to supplement existing leave policies rather than replace them, ensuring employees can balance family needs with their work responsibilities. The act defines eligible employees and children according to existing federal definitions found in Title 5 of the United States Code.