Rep. Jim Costa

Maddy summaryThe Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025 strengthens workers' organizing rights by making it an unfair labor practice for employers to threaten permanent replacement of striking workers, discriminate against workers who support unions, or require employees to attend employer campaigns unrelated to their job duties. It expands the definition of "employee" to make it harder for companies to classify workers as independent contractors and requires employers to post notices about workers' rights in conspicuous locations. The bill establishes a new electronic voting system for union elections, creates a 90-day bargaining period before mediation can be requested, and increases penalties for violations of labor laws. These changes are intended to make it easier for workers to form unions and negotiate better wages and working conditions.

Maddy summaryHRES 188 is a resolution affirming the President's constitutional duty to comply with court orders, as established by landmark cases like *Marbury v. Madison* and *Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer*. It specifically calls on President Trump and his administration to adhere to recent court rulings blocking executive actions, such as those related to citizenship eligibility, federal funding freezes, and access to government payment systems. The resolution serves as a formal statement of the House's position on the separation of powers without creating new legal requirements or altering existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the State Department to review restrictions on U.S. citizens traveling to North Korea, particularly focusing on humanitarian visits for Americans with relatives there (estimated at 100,000 people). It requires the Secretary of State to submit a report within 180 days detailing how the U.S. will pursue a formal end to the Korean War through diplomatic negotiations with North and South Korea. The bill also mandates a separate report outlining a clear roadmap for achieving a binding peace agreement, including necessary negotiation steps and key stakeholders. These provisions aim to address the ongoing state of war, which the bill states prevents formal U.S.-North Korea relations and family reunifications.

Maddy summaryHR 1827, the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act, increases tax benefits for families with child care needs and employers providing child care. It raises the employer child care credit from 25% to 50% of expenses with a maximum credit of $500,000 (up from $150,000), and creates a new household and dependent care credit allowing families to claim up to 50% of eligible child care expenses, with the credit amount reduced as income increases, up to $8,000 for multiple children. The bill directly affects working parents with children under 13 or dependents needing care, as well as employers offering child care benefits. Key provisions include expanded credit amounts, new definitions for qualifying care, and special rules for small businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new tax provision (Section 139J) to the Internal Revenue Code, excluding interest income from certain rural and agricultural loans from taxable income for qualifying lenders. It directly affects banks, insurance companies, and farm credit entities that provide loans secured by rural or agricultural property (including qualifying single-family homes in rural areas), while excluding loans to foreign adversary entities (like those linked to China, Russia, or Iran). The law requires lenders to report on how this tax exclusion impacts loan interest rates, with a Treasury report due to Congress within five years. The policy change aims to reduce lenders' tax burden on these specific loans, potentially lowering costs for borrowers in rural communities.

Maddy summaryHRES 181 is a symbolic resolution recognizing Black History Month by highlighting the historical and ongoing contributions of Black labor to the U.S. economy and society. It commemorates Black labor from slavery through modern times, including agricultural work, unionization efforts (like A. Philip Randolph’s Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters), and contemporary issues like the racial wage gap (where Black workers earned $878 weekly vs. $1,059 for others in 2023). The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges these contributions to raise public awareness. It is sponsored by 70+ House members and aligns with the 2025 Black History Month theme focused on "African Americans and Labor." As a commemorative resolution, it has no direct effect on individuals or legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill permanently removes the expiration date for employer payments toward employee student loans under tax-exempt educational assistance programs. It amends the tax code to eliminate the previous deadline of January 1, 2026, making the tax exclusion for such payments permanent. The change directly affects employers offering student loan repayment benefits as part of their compensation packages, allowing them to continue providing this tax-advantaged benefit without future expiration. The key provision simply extends an existing tax exclusion indefinitely, with no new requirements or funding changes.

Maddy summaryHR 1787 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring baseball legend Roberto Clemente, including $5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar coins, with specific specifications for weight, size, and metal content. The bill requires the coins to feature Clemente's image and commemorative inscriptions, and mandates a surcharge ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollar) paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation for its educational, youth sports, and disaster relief programs. All coins must be minted in 2027, sold at face value plus surcharge and production costs, and will be legal tender. The bill focuses solely on the coin program, not broader policy changes.

Safe Schools Improvement Act This bill requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment of elementary and secondary school students. In particular, these policies must prohibit bullying and harassment based on race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex. Sex includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics (including intersex traits). Further, LEAs must provide (1) students, parents, and educational professionals with annual notice of the conduct prohibited in their disciplinary policies; (2) students and parents with grievance procedures that target such conduct; and (3) the public with annual data on the incidence and frequency of that conduct at the school and LEA level. The Department of Education must conduct and report on an independent biennial evaluation of programs and policies to combat bullying and harassment in elementary and secondary schools. The National Center for Education Statistics must collect state data to determine the incidence and frequency of the conduct prohibited by LEA disciplinary policies.

Maddy summaryHR 620, the FARM Act, expands the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review foreign investments in U.S. agriculture. It requires CFIUS to assess transactions where foreign entities gain control of U.S. agricultural businesses (including those using agricultural products defined under 7 U.S.C. 451) and adds agricultural supply chains to the list of critical infrastructure and critical technologies. The bill mandates annual reports from the Secretary of Agriculture and the Comptroller General to Congress, detailing foreign investments in U.S. agriculture, potential threats to supply chains, and espionage risks targeting agricultural research or data. This directly affects foreign investors seeking to acquire U.S. agricultural assets and reshapes CFIUS review processes for the sector.