Rep. Mark DeSaulnier

Maddy summaryThe Stop Campus Hazing Act requires colleges and universities to publicly report hazing incidents involving student organizations. It defines hazing as intentional acts causing physical or psychological harm during initiation or membership in student groups, including activities like forced substance consumption, sleep deprivation, or sexual acts. Institutions must include hazing statistics in annual security reports and publish a "Campus Hazing Transparency Report" on their websites by July 1, 2025, detailing findings about organizations violating hazing policies. The reports must include organization names, violation descriptions, and key dates while excluding personally identifiable student information. This applies to all colleges participating in federal student aid programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 1097 (Everett Alvarez, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023), authorizes the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Everett Alvarez, Jr., in recognition of his service as a U.S. Navy pilot and Vietnam War prisoner of war. It directly honors Alvarez, who was the first U.S. pilot shot down in the Vietnam War, spent over 8.5 years in captivity, and later served in the Peace Corps and Veterans Administration. The bill’s key mechanism is directing the U.S. Mint to strike a gold medal bearing his name and image, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. It does not create new policies or affect any group beyond the honoree.

Maddy summaryThe Transparency in Coverage Act (HR 4507) requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to provide clear, accessible pricing information to the public and plan participants. It mandates disclosures about cost-sharing, in-network rates, denied claims, and other financial details in plain language, with information available online by January 10, 2025. The bill also requires publishing rate and payment information in machine-readable formats, with real-time access through APIs beginning January 1, 2026. This applies to most employers with group health plans, aiming to help people understand healthcare costs before receiving care. The legislation includes specific transparency requirements for pharmacy benefit managers regarding drug pricing, rebates, and spending data.

Maddy summaryHR 10480, the Local Gun Violence Reduction Act, requires the CDC to create a searchable federal database where state and local governments (like cities, counties, and towns) can submit information about their gun violence prevention laws and their effectiveness. Specifically, jurisdictions must provide data on law enactment dates, jurisdiction size, and pre- and post-enactment gun violence rates to demonstrate success. The database will be accessible to all local governments, with the CDC reporting annually to Congress on participation, common law topics, and successful policies. The bill allocates $1.5 million for fiscal year 2025 and $1 million annually thereafter to fund this initiative.

Maddy summaryHR 10481, the Federal Law Enforcement and Public Protection Act, requires federal law enforcement agencies to establish safe storage rules for service firearms when not in use. It mandates officers use approved safety devices like smart locks or safes (not storing weapons in personal vehicles except for limited exceptions), report lost or stolen firearms to federal and local agencies, and undergo training on safe handling. The bill directly affects all federal law enforcement officers and personnel who carry service weapons, requiring agencies to provide equipment, written safety materials about home firearm risks, and enforce discipline for violations. These provisions aim to reduce accidental access or loss of service firearms through standardized safety protocols.

Maddy summaryThe SERVICE Act reduces the required number of qualifying monthly payments for Public Service Loan Forgiveness from 120 to 96. It expands what counts as a qualifying payment to include certain periods of deferment (like military service, medical treatment, or Peace Corps work) and forbearance, and creates a "buyback" process allowing borrowers to pay to count months of public service employment without making qualifying payments. The bill also adds an online portal for borrowers to track their progress toward loan forgiveness, clarifies treatment of independent contractors as public service workers, and improves the reconsideration process for denied applications. This directly affects borrowers with Federal Direct Loans who work in public service jobs, including those who may have missed payments due to circumstances like military service, medical treatment, or other qualifying deferments. The changes aim to make loan forgiveness more accessible by simplifying the process and expanding eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires major airlines to create and regularly update plans aimed at preventing flight delays and cancellations during disruptions like severe weather, staffing shortages, or cybersecurity threats. The plans must detail how airlines will maintain operations, protect staff and technology systems (including crew scheduling), and address known vulnerabilities. Airlines must submit these plans to the Transportation Secretary within one year of the law taking effect, with safeguards for confidential business information. A government audit will assess the plans' effectiveness three years after implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends funding for the National Landslide Preparedness Act through 2028, replacing the previous 2021-2024 authorization period. It directly affects existing federal landslide preparedness programs by continuing their current funding structure without new requirements. The key change is simply updating the program's authorization period in two specific sections of the law (sections 3(h) and 5(e)). The bill does not create new policies or alter how landslide preparedness activities are conducted.

Maddy summaryHRES 1617 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' view that the federal government should dramatically expand and strengthen the care economy. It calls for federal investments to address systemic gaps in care infrastructure, including universal access to affordable childcare, elder care, paid family leave, and mental health services, while prioritizing higher wages and union protections for care workers - particularly women of color and immigrants. The resolution emphasizes repairing historical inequities rooted in exclusion from labor protections and connecting care infrastructure to broader goals like climate justice and economic equity. It does not create new law but urges future legislation to adopt these principles as a foundation for policy. The resolution directly affects millions of care workers, families relying on care services, and communities facing systemic barriers to care access.

Maddy summaryHR 9774, the Health Care Affordability Act of 2024, would expand premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act for households earning between 150% and 400% of the federal poverty level. It modifies the sliding scale calculation to reduce the percentage of monthly insurance premiums these households must pay, with the lowest out-of-pocket costs for those near 400% of poverty. This directly affects individuals and families purchasing health insurance through marketplace plans who qualify for these tax credits. The changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.