Rep. John Garamendi

Maddy summaryHR 3397, the Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act, establishes a new Center of Expertise in Indo-Pacific Maritime Governance within the Coast Guard to provide education, training, and research on maritime governance best practices, particularly focused on building partner capacity in the Indo-Pacific region. The bill requires the Coast Guard Commandant to submit annual plans (by December 31) and budget displays (by February 15) to specific congressional committees detailing Pacific operations, resource needs, and projected demand for Coast Guard engagement. It also mandates three additional reports within specific timeframes: feasibility of a standing Indo-Pacific maritime group, a plan for forward operating bases, and an assessment of Coast Guard attaché staffing in the region. These provisions aim to enhance coordination with the State and Defense Departments and improve the Coast Guard’s operational planning and resource allocation in the Pacific.

Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a grant program to support operating projects for public transportation and related service improvements, particularly in underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty. Specifically, the bill requires DOT to allocate funding under the program for urbanized areas, states, and Indian tribes that are recipients of funds under either the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) Urbanized Area Formula Funding program or Formula Grants for Rural Areas program. Eligible recipients may use funding for operating costs associated with projects that improve public transportation service for transit-dependent populations and support increased transit ridership (e.g., service expansion, information technology enhancements, and workforce development). DOT must apportion the funding so that recipients receive funds that are proportional to their share of operating costs. The bill also provides for an increased federal cost share for operating assistance for projects or programs carried out in areas of persistent poverty or underserved communities. DOT must set up a multimodal access measurement interface for public agencies to aid transit agencies in determining and reporting on access to jobs and essential services. A grant recipient must (1) report specific information to the FTA for inclusion in the National Transit Database, and (2) survey transit riders and non-riding residents regarding transit service improvements. Further, the bill expands the purposes of the public transportation programs to include supporting public transportation's role in combating climate change through growing/retaining transit ridership.

Maddy summaryHRES 410 is a non-binding House resolution requiring President Trump to comply with the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause regarding a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet gift from Qatar’s royal family. It directs the President to immediately submit all plans for the aircraft to Congress and obtain explicit congressional consent before accepting it, as required by the Constitution. The resolution cites historical precedent where all prior presidents sought Congress’s approval for foreign gifts, including items like medals, horses, and the Statue of Liberty. It emphasizes that accepting the jet without consent would violate the Constitution and pose national security risks. The bill focuses solely on procedural compliance, not the merits of the gift itself.

Maddy summaryHR 3368, the "Born in the USA Act of 2025," prohibits federal funding for Executive Order 14160 (which aimed to restrict birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S.). The bill directly affects federal agencies that might implement the executive order by blocking their use of funds for that purpose. Its key provision is a funding ban targeting the executive order and any similar future policies, without changing citizenship law. The bill does not alter birthright citizenship rights but prevents federal resources from being used to enforce the controversial executive order. It is a procedural measure focused on funding, not a substantive policy change to citizenship rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes State insurance commissioners voting members of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), replacing their previous nonvoting status. It requires the President to appoint a commissioner recommended by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), with a 15-day deadline for the NAIC to provide a list. The bill also establishes a temporary transition period until the new appointee is confirmed, during which current rules apply. This directly affects state insurance commissioners and changes how the FSOC makes decisions on financial stability matters. The key change is granting state-level insurance regulators a formal voting role in federal financial oversight.

Maddy summaryHR 3367, the "Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act of 2025," requires school food service workers in public schools to receive mandatory training during paid working hours. The bill mandates that training must be offered in-person when appropriate, include hands-on practice, and cost workers nothing. If training occurs outside regular hours, workers must be paid at their regular rate (including overtime), consulted about scheduling, and protected from penalties for not attending. This law amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and does not override existing state or local labor laws governing employer-employee relationships.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to prohibit children under 18 from having direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves on farms. It directly affects minors who might work on tobacco farms and tobacco farm employers who currently allow such employment. The key change adds tobacco farming to the list of occupations where children under 18 cannot work, closing a loophole that previously permitted this activity. This update explicitly excludes tobacco-related agriculture from exceptions allowing minors in certain farm jobs under federal law.

Maddy summaryHR 3277, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act, requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to cover medically necessary outpatient and inpatient treatments for congenital anomalies or birth defects primarily affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. This includes reconstructive procedures, dental/orthodontic support during treatment, and follow-up care, but excludes purely cosmetic surgery not tied to a medical diagnosis. Cost-sharing (like copays) for these services must not be stricter than for other medical benefits. The law takes effect for plan years beginning January 1, 2026, and mandates insurers to provide notice about this coverage to beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Higher Education Act to clarify eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). It corrects a technical wording error in the law that previously required borrowers to be *currently employed* in public service at the time of application. The change specifies that borrowers only need to have *completed* 10 years (120 payments) of qualifying public service employment to qualify. This directly affects federal student loan borrowers working in government or nonprofit roles who were previously disqualified due to the outdated wording. The amendment removes a barrier preventing eligible borrowers from receiving loan forgiveness they earned.

Maddy summaryHR 3243, the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2025, bans the provision of paid conversion therapy aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, and prohibits advertising such therapy as effective, safe, or without risk. It directly affects LGBTQ+ individuals and their families who might be targeted by these practices, as professionals have determined conversion therapy is ineffective and harmful. The law treats violations as deceptive acts under consumer protection laws, empowering the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to enforce it through civil actions. It explicitly excludes legitimate gender transition support and non-discriminatory counseling from the ban.