Rep. Maxine Waters

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Program within the Fulbright exchange system to honor civil rights leader John Lewis and advance U.S. foreign policy through global civil rights education. It creates a new fellowship for U.S. early- to mid-career professionals, selecting at least 25 annually for 10-month programs to conduct research or intern with approved organizations in countries participating in Fulbright exchanges. Fellows must complete a work plan, attend an orientation in Washington, DC, and present findings at an annual summit, with the State Department covering costs for travel, lodging, and expenses. The program requires annual reports on participant demographics and program effectiveness, and expires seven years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Equality Act (HR 15) would amend federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations, housing, employment, credit, and jury service. It amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics under existing sex discrimination provisions. The bill would require businesses, housing providers, employers, and government entities to provide equal access and services without regard to a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. It includes specific definitions for gender identity and sexual orientation to clarify protections across all covered areas. The law would apply to all entities covered by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including those receiving federal funding.

Maddy summaryHR 4209, the Incentivizing Safe and Sound Banking Act, prohibits senior executives at large banks from selling securities they received as compensation if the bank faces regulatory issues. It directly affects senior executives at bank holding companies, bank subsidiaries, or banks with over $50 billion in assets that receive a poor regulatory rating (3-5) or fail to resolve issues noted by regulators within a deadline. The bill automatically blocks such stock sales until the bank fixes the problem to the regulator's satisfaction. This provision aims to align executive compensation with bank stability by preventing sales during periods of regulatory concern. The law amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to implement these restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large standalone banks (those without a parent bank holding company) to follow the same enhanced supervision and prudential standards as bank holding companies with similar asset sizes. It amends the Financial Stability Act of 2010 to close a regulatory gap where these standalone banks previously faced fewer oversight requirements. The key mechanism mandates that banks with total consolidated assets comparable to covered bank holding companies must undergo identical stress testing, capital planning, and risk management processes. This directly affects large, independent banks that operate without a parent financial holding company but have significant assets.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires financial regulators to reclaim compensation from bank executives and directors whose negligence caused a bank's failure. It allows the FDIC to claw back salaries, bonuses, and other compensation received in the two years before the bank failed (with no time limit for fraud), and imposes fines of up to $25,000 per day for negligent conduct. Executives found responsible for a bank's failure may also face orders prohibiting them from working in any insured bank. The law directly affects executives and directors of failed institutions like Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank. It amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Dodd-Frank Act to strengthen accountability mechanisms without limiting existing regulatory powers.

Maddy summaryHR 4121, the Right to Contraception Act, establishes a federal statutory right for individuals to access contraceptives and contraception services without government restriction or coercion, directly affecting all people seeking reproductive care and health care providers. The bill prohibits state or federal laws that limit access to contraceptives (defined broadly to include devices, drugs, and fertility methods), prevent individuals from obtaining or using them, or allow providers to refuse services based on personal beliefs. It preempts conflicting state laws, requires any restrictions to be justified by "clear and convincing evidence" of advancing access with no less restrictive alternative, and allows private lawsuits to challenge violations. The Act applies nationwide to all health care providers and individuals, protecting access regardless of factors like race, income, or location.

Maddy summaryHR 4194, the Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equity Act, requires the Federal Reserve System to actively address racial disparities in employment, income, wealth, and access to credit across all its core functions. It adds a new duty (Section 2C) for the Fed to minimize racial disparities in monetary policy, bank regulation, payment systems, Community Reinvestment Act implementation, fair lending enforcement, and community development. The bill also mandates new congressional reports (Section 3) requiring the Fed to detail trends in unemployment, income, and employment rates by race, ethnicity, gender, and education level, alongside its specific plans to reduce these disparities. This legislation directly affects the Federal Reserve's operations and reporting, not individual citizens or businesses.

Maddy summaryHR 4184 repeals legal protections for gun manufacturers and sellers under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. It allows victims of gun violence to use gun trace data from the ATF's Firearms Trace System in civil court cases. This data, previously protected from discovery, can now be subpoenaed, admitted as evidence, and relied upon in lawsuits against gun sellers or manufacturers. The bill directly affects victims seeking legal recourse and gun industry defendants in civil litigation.

Maddy summaryThe Small Business Financing Disclosure Act of 2023 requires lenders to clearly disclose the true cost of business loans and financing to small businesses before they agree to borrow. It mandates specific, plain-language disclosures including the annual percentage rate (APR), total finance charges, payment amounts, term length, and prepayment costs - ensuring small businesses can compare options without hidden fees. The bill also prohibits lenders from charging extra fees when refinancing a loan without providing a tangible benefit to the small business. These rules apply to business financing under $2.5 million used for business purposes (not personal), with implementation requiring new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules within two years and full effect three years after enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 4166, the Support UNFPA Funding Act, authorizes annual U.S. funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) over five years. It directly supports UNFPA’s global programs serving women and girls in over 150 countries, particularly focusing on reducing preventable maternal deaths, expanding access to contraception, ending gender-based violence, and addressing harmful practices like female genital mutilation and child marriage. The bill specifically directs funding toward UNFPA’s core work in developing nations, humanitarian crises (such as in Ukraine and Yemen), and rebuilding health systems post-pandemic, without altering UNFPA’s existing operations or policies.