Rep. Doris O. Matsui

Maddy summaryH.J. Res. 193 proposes a constitutional amendment to eliminate legal immunity for federal officials, including the President, from criminal prosecution for actions taken while performing official duties. It also prohibits the President from granting a pardon to themselves. The amendment would apply to all federal officers (such as the President, Vice President, and members of Congress) except for Congress members acting in their legislative role as defined in the Constitution. If ratified by 38 states, this change would become part of the U.S. Constitution, requiring no further congressional action.

Maddy summaryHR 9104, the Access to Birth Control Act, requires pharmacies that normally stock contraception to provide birth control or related medications without delay if in stock, or immediately offer alternatives like referrals to other pharmacies or expedited orders if unavailable. It prohibits pharmacists from intimidating customers, misrepresenting availability, breaching confidentiality, or refusing to fill valid prescriptions for birth control. Pharmacies violating these rules face civil penalties up to $1,000 per day or private lawsuits. The law specifically applies to pharmacies that routinely carry contraception and excludes cases where a valid prescription is missing or payment cannot be made. It aims to address documented refusals to dispense birth control, particularly following the Dobbs decision.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require states to include local distribution systems (electric infrastructure at 35 kilovolts or lower owned by utilities) in their energy security plans. It mandates states to identify specific hazards like weather threats, human error, physical attacks, and cybersecurity risks to these systems. States must also develop response methods, including public-private partnerships, new financing models, and secure energy technologies, to address identified vulnerabilities. The bill directly affects state energy planning processes and electric utilities operating local distribution systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the National and Community Service Act to allow DACA recipients to qualify for AmeriCorps programs. It directly affects undocumented immigrants who received deferred action under the 2012 DACA policy, including those who would otherwise be ineligible due to immigration status. The key change adds DACA recipients to the list of eligible participants by modifying the existing eligibility criteria in the law. The policy takes effect upon enactment, applying only to educational awards disbursed after that date.

Maddy summaryHR 3299, the DIGITAL Applications Act, requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to create online portals for processing Form 299 applications. These applications are permits needed for telecommunications companies to place equipment on public lands or National Forest System lands. The bill mandates that departments establish these portals within one year of enactment, publish links to them online, and notify the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. It streamlines an existing administrative process but does not change the requirements for obtaining land access permits.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 2365, Public Law 118-66) directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the National Parkinson’s Project. It requires HHS to create and update a coordinated national plan for preventing, diagnosing, treating, and researching Parkinson’s disease and related disorders (including multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy), while coordinating federal research and care efforts across agencies like the NIH, CDC, and VA. The law mandates annual progress assessments, an advisory council with patient advocates and diverse experts, and annual reports to Congress on federal Parkinson’s programs and recommendations for improvement. It affects federal agencies managing Parkinson’s-related programs and aims to improve care coordination and research efficiency for patients and caregivers, with the law sunsetting in 2035.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal framework for "extreme risk protection orders" (ERPOs) that temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a risk of harming themselves or others. Family members or law enforcement officers can petition a federal court for a temporary order (up to 14 days) based on probable cause, followed by a hearing within 72 hours to determine if a longer-term order (up to 180 days) is warranted. The bill requires clear and convincing evidence of risk at the hearing and mandates respondents to surrender firearms to law enforcement within 48 hours. It also includes provisions for reporting, training law enforcement on ERPOs, and a federal grant program to support state ERPO implementation, without preempting state laws.

Maddy summaryThis resolution, introduced around World Refugee Day, expresses congressional support for U.S. efforts to protect refugees and displaced persons globally and within the United States. It highlights that over 117 million people are displaced worldwide, references the U.S. resettling 60,000 refugees in fiscal year 2024, and calls on federal agencies to maintain the Refugee Admissions Program, uphold asylum protections, and support host countries. The resolution does not create new laws but reaffirms existing commitments to refugee resettlement, safety, and integration through current programs.

Maddy summaryThe Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024 would double Federal Pell Grants, increasing the maximum award to $10,000 for the 2025-2026 academic year with annual inflation adjustments, and make Pell Grants a fully mandatory program rather than requiring annual appropriations. It would expand eligibility for students with negative student aid indexes (those with the lowest expected family contributions), provide Pell Grant eligibility for "Dreamer" students protected under DACA, and restore eligibility for students who previously lost it due to academic progress issues. The bill would also increase the total semesters of Pell Grant eligibility from 12 to 18. These changes would directly affect millions of undergraduate students, particularly students of color who currently rely on Pell Grants, with 3 in 5 African American students and half of Latino students depending on these grants. The bill would take effect for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Maddy summaryHRES 1298 is a symbolic resolution designating the second Friday of June as "National Service and Conservation Corps Day." It recognizes over 150 Service and Conservation Corps programs that provide education, workforce training, and community service opportunities to approximately 22,000 young adults and post-9/11 veterans annually. The resolution urges citizens to acknowledge these corps' contributions and supports their continuation under existing law, without creating new funding or policy changes. It is purely commemorative, highlighting the corps' work in conservation, disaster response, and community projects like park maintenance and climate resilience efforts.