Rep. Julia Brownley

Maddy summaryHR 4084, the Access to Birth Control Act, requires pharmacies that stock contraception to provide it without delay when requested by a customer. If a requested method is out of stock, pharmacies must immediately offer referrals to nearby pharmacies or expedite an order. The bill prohibits pharmacists from intimidating customers, misrepresenting availability, breaching confidentiality, or refusing to fill valid prescriptions for contraception. It directly affects pharmacies nationwide, addressing reported refusals to provide birth control - particularly after the *Dobbs* decision - and ensures access to FDA-approved contraceptive methods without cost-sharing barriers.

Maddy summaryThe Autism Family Caregivers Act of 2025 creates a 5-year pilot program funding grants to community organizations for free, evidence-based skills training for family caregivers of children (ages 0-9) with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays. The program requires training in communication, social engagement, daily living skills, and caregiver self-care strategies, with emphasis on cultural competence and coordination with local health, education, and community services. Grants must support at least 25 organizations across 15+ states, using $10 million annually (2026-2030), and mandate stakeholder committees including caregivers and local providers. It directly affects families caring for young children with these conditions by expanding access to structured support, while requiring programs to supplement - rather than replace - existing Medicaid, education, or insurance-covered services.

Maddy summaryHRES 523 is a symbolic resolution designating June 21, 2025, as National ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day. It does not create new laws but encourages parents and guardians to ask two specific questions before children visit other homes: "Is there a gun in your house?" and "Is it locked and unloaded?" The resolution directly supports families and aims to promote secure gun storage practices, referencing the ASK Campaign administered by the Brady Campaign since 2000. It cites statistics about child firearm injuries to highlight the campaign's focus on preventing accidental harm through simple, proactive conversations.

Maddy summaryThe Increasing Behavioral Health Treatment Act removes a Medicaid exclusion that previously blocked coverage for behavioral health services for individuals under 65 in psychiatric hospitals (also called "institutions for mental diseases"). It requires states to submit detailed plans to the federal government outlining how they will expand outpatient and community-based care for people transitioning from these facilities, including improved crisis services like mobile units and observation centers. States must also report annually on costs, patient outcomes, and the types of outpatient treatment provided after discharge, with specific requirements for coordinating care between health providers and first responders. This policy change directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries under 65 in psychiatric hospitals and state Medicaid programs, aiming to shift care toward less restrictive community settings.

Maddy summaryHR 3963, the Public Inspectors for Safe Infrastructure Act, requires state and local transportation agencies to use government workers (not private consultants) for inspecting highway construction projects funded under federal law. This applies to projects covered by Section 112(b) of Title 23, including design-build and 2-phase contracts. Agencies may temporarily use private consultants only if they lack sufficient staff, but such contracts are limited to 12 months and must be justified annually in public reports submitted to the federal government. The bill aims to ensure inspections are conducted by public employees with direct accountability, rather than external contractors.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 37 is a non-binding congressional resolution urging the President to establish a U.S. Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation. The resolution does not create the commission itself but calls for its formation to acknowledge historical racial injustices (like discriminatory housing policies, the Chinese Exclusion Act, and forced Native American boarding schools) and catalyze efforts to eliminate racial inequities. The commission would focus on dismantling the "belief in a hierarchy of human value" and advancing racial healing, complementing ongoing efforts like H.R. 40 (the reparations study bill). It directly affects federal leadership (via the President) and aims to guide national policy, though it has no legal force.

Maddy summaryThe MARCH for Military Servicemembers Act (HR 3969) repeals Section 1093 of title 10, United States Code, which currently prohibits the use of Department of Defense funds and facilities for abortion care. This change would directly affect military servicemembers by enabling them to access abortion services through military healthcare systems, removing a longstanding funding barrier. The key provision eliminates the specific restriction, allowing the Department of Defense to provide or fund such care as part of standard military health services. The bill focuses on removing a legal constraint, not mandating specific services or outcomes.

Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2025 This bill deems an individual receiving outpatient observation services in a hospital as an inpatient for purposes of satisfying the three-day inpatient hospital-stay requirement with respect to Medicare coverage of skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. (Generally, individuals must have been an inpatient at a hospital for at least three days in order to qualify for SNF services. An individual's time spent under observation at a hospital for purposes of determining whether the individual should be admitted does not count towards this requirement.)

Maddy summaryHR 3948, the Offshore Pipeline Safety Act, requires owners of offshore oil and gas pipelines to conduct third-party inspections every two years and install continuous leak detection systems. It mandates a study comparing environmental risks of leaving pipelines decommissioned in place versus removing them, with findings due within 18 months. The bill also creates an annual fee ($1,000-$10,000 per mile depending on water depth) to fund pipeline removal if owners go bankrupt, and requires ongoing monitoring of decommissioned pipelines. These provisions directly affect pipeline operators on the Outer Continental Shelf, focusing on safety, environmental protection, and financial responsibility.

Maddy summaryThe Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act (HR 3971) would establish key labor protections for domestic workers, including nannies, housekeepers, and caregivers who work in private homes. The bill requires written agreements for workers employed 8+ hours per week, provides earned sick days (1 hour for every 30 hours worked), mandates fair scheduling practices with 72-hour notice for schedule changes, and extends overtime protections to live-in domestic employees. It also prohibits unfair wage deductions, guarantees meal and rest breaks, and ensures privacy protections including no monitoring in private living spaces. The bill directly affects approximately 2.2 million domestic workers across the U.S., who are disproportionately women of color and immigrants. Enforcement would be handled by the Department of Labor through new complaint resolution mechanisms and oversight.