Rep. Julia Brownley

Maddy summaryEthan's Law requires gun owners to store firearms securely in homes where minors live or where residents are legally prohibited from owning guns. It makes it unlawful to leave firearms unsecured if a minor or ineligible person could access them, with fines of $500 per violation and harsher penalties if injury or death occurs. The bill creates a federal grant program to help states implement similar secure storage laws and treats unsafe storage as negligence in legal cases. It directly affects households with children or residents who cannot legally possess firearms, aiming to reduce accidental shootings and unauthorized access.

Maddy summaryHRES 159 is a symbolic resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' support for designating February 24-28, 2025, as "Public Schools Week." It does not create new laws or allocate funds but aims to highlight the importance of public schools in communities. The resolution cites reasons such as public schools serving 90% of U.S. students, fostering critical thinking, and requiring equitable funding - though these are context, not policy changes. It directly affects public schools and their communities by raising awareness of their role in education. As a non-binding resolution, it has no direct impact on school operations or funding.

New Era of Preventing End-Stage Kidney Disease Act This bill establishes regional centers of excellence, postgraduate fellowships, and training for health professionals relating to the diagnosis and treatment of rare kidney disease. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct various studies on rare kidney disease. Specifically, it authorizes the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to award funding to public and private nonprofit entities for establishing regional centers of excellence that will increase public awareness, conduct research, and develop resources for diagnosing and treating rare kidney diseases. A center may receive such funding for up to five years, unless extended by the institute.  The bill also requires health professions schools receiving a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Centers of Excellence program to award fellowships for training on preventing, diagnosing, and treating rare kidney disease in disproportionately impacted populations. Also, the bill expands the priorities of HRSA’s Primary Care Training and Enhancement program to include training for health care workers to care for individuals with kidney disease. Additionally, HHS must conduct several studies and report to Congress on topics such as treating rare kidney disease in disproportionately affected populations, eliminating the need for dialysis or kidney transplants, and increasing public awareness of rare kidney disease.

Dentist and Optometric Care Access Act of 2025 or the DOC Access Act of 20 25 This bill prohibits private health insurance plans from setting rates for items and services, except for dental cleanings, provided by a doctor of optometry, of dental surgery, or of dental medicine (or an employer of such a doctor) for which the plan does not pay a substantial amount. Additionally, an agreement between a plan and such a doctor for limited scope dental or vision benefits may last longer than two years only with the prior acceptance of the doctor for each term extension. Plans also may not restrict such a doctor's choice of laboratories or suppliers. Such doctors may elect to waive the application of the payment amount and choice of laboratories provisions of this bill. The bill does not supersede state laws regarding health insurers and dental or vision benefit plans.

Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2025 This bill provides continuing appropriations to the Coast Guard for pay and benefits when there is a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse. Under the bill, a  Coast Guard-specific funding lapse occurs when (1) a bill providing appropriations for the Coast Guard for a fiscal year has not been enacted before the beginning of that fiscal year, and no joint resolution providing continuing appropriations for the Coast Guard is in effect; and (2) a bill providing appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for the fiscal year has been enacted before the beginning of the fiscal year, or a joint resolution providing continuing appropriation for DOD is in effect.  If a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse occurs, the bill provides appropriations to the Coast Guard for pay and allowances for military members of the Coast Guard who perform active service or inactive-duty training; pay and benefits for certain civilian employees and contract employees; the payment of a death gratuity; payments for travel related to funerals, the dignified transfer of remains, and unit memorial services; and the temporary continuation of the basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Coast Guard dying on active duty. The bill generally provides the appropriations to the Coast Guard until the earlier of the enactment of specified Coast Guard appropriations legislation, the termination of the availability of appropriations for DOD, or two weeks after the beginning of the Coast Guard-specific funding lapse.

Maddy summaryHR 1502 authorizes the creation of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the volunteers and communities (primarily from Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas) who supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the medal, which will be presented to the individuals who contributed to the canteen’s operations and then permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a commemorative measure recognizing historical service, not a policy change affecting current laws or programs.

Maddy summaryHR 1484 requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to commission the National Academies of Sciences to convene experts and issue a report on the health impacts of air traffic noise and pollution within 30 days of the bill's enactment. The report will summarize current scientific knowledge on these health effects and must be submitted to the FAA, Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, and specific congressional committees. This bill creates a new study requirement but does not change existing regulations or funding; it solely mandates the collection of expert consensus on the health impacts of aviation noise and emissions.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects certain public safety workers - like police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel - from job loss or punishment for expressing personal opinions about work-related issues. It allows covered employees to sue employers if they face adverse actions (like termination) for speaking out on topics such as working conditions, safety equipment, pay, policies, or even political/religious views. However, the protection does not cover speech made while on duty, threats of violence, discrimination, disclosure of confidential personal information, or calls to withhold essential services. The law explicitly states it doesn’t override existing civil rights laws like 42 U.S.C. 1983.

Maddy summaryHR 1410 expands access to mental health care for 9/11 responders and survivors by allowing licensed mental health providers (not just physicians) to conduct initial health evaluations and certifications under the World Trade Center Health Program. It adjusts the program’s funding formula to account for changing enrollment numbers by linking annual funding to the previous year’s enrollment ratio, and clarifies that deceased individuals are excluded from enrollment counts. The bill also extends the timeframe for adding new health conditions to the program’s list and requires a 2028 report assessing long-term funding needs through 2090. These changes aim to streamline eligibility, improve care access, and ensure sustainable funding for the program.

Goldie's Act This bill expands enforcement provisions under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to document and record detailed descriptions of violations of the act observed during inspections and investigations. USDA must provide a copy of all records documenting violations to state, local, and municipal animal control or law enforcement officials within 24 hours of such inspections or investigations. Inspections must be held at least once a year of each research facility, the premises of each animal dealer, and each exhibitor of animals. If violations are found during inspections, then USDA must conduct any necessary follow-up inspections until all the violations are corrected. Inspectors must confiscate or destroy in a humane manner animals found to be suffering physical or psychological harm as a result of failure to comply with the AWA. Violators are subject to civil penalties as outlined in the bill.