Rep. Brittany Pettersen

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a commission to study whether the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia should be transferred to the Smithsonian Institution. The commission, composed of 8 members appointed by congressional leaders with expertise in Jewish American history and museum administration, will examine the museum's collections, financial status, governance, and feasibility of transfer within two years. The commission must submit a report detailing findings, a fundraising plan, and legislative recommendations for any potential transfer. The bill does not transfer the museum but creates a process to evaluate the possibility.

Maddy summaryHR 7438 directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including 100,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins will be sold to the public at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively), with all surcharge revenue paid to FWC2026 US, Inc. for U.S. soccer programs. These funds must support soccer initiatives, particularly in underserved communities and youth development, as specified in the bill. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued during 2026, with no net cost to the U.S. government.

Maddy summaryHR 7525, the Special District Grant Accessibility Act, requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidance within 180 days clarifying how federal agencies recognize "special districts" as eligible recipients of federal grants. Special districts - state-created local entities like water districts or fire protection authorities that perform specific government functions - would directly benefit by gaining clearer pathways to access federal funding. Agencies must implement this guidance within one year and report on compliance to Congress within two years. The bill focuses on standardizing agency procedures, not creating new programs or altering grant eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryThe Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2024 creates a federal program to restore ecosystems damaged by disasters like wildfires, insect infestations, or severe storms. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to identify affected federal lands and tribal forests annually, prioritize restoration projects, and fund them through competitive grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements with tribes, states, and local governments. The law mandates regular reporting to Congress on project progress, seedling availability, and gaps in restoration efforts. It directly affects federal land management agencies, tribal communities, and states managing lands impacted by unplanned disturbances.

Maddy summaryHR 6751 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Roberto Clemente, a Hall of Fame baseball player and humanitarian, including 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins must feature Clemente's image and inscriptions like "Roberto Clemente" and "2027," with all sales including a surcharge ($5-$35 per coin) paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation. The foundation, which supports youth sports, education, and disaster relief programs, will use these funds for its mission, while the U.S. Treasury must recover all production costs. The coins will be sold exclusively in 2027, with no net cost to the government.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act to explicitly include substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder treatment in federal disaster relief funding. It expands access to addiction services for disaster survivors by requiring that mental health and counseling assistance programs funded under the Act cover these specific needs. Key provisions revise existing language to add "substance use disorder" and "alcohol use disorder" throughout the law, ensuring these services are directly eligible for disaster-related funding. The bill also mandates a federal report within 180 days to update application forms and guidance documents to reflect these changes, ensuring implementation aligns with the new provisions.

Maddy summaryThe Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act (HR 807) directs the U.S. Treasury to mint three types of commemorative coins honoring working dogs' service: $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar coins with specific weight and composition requirements. Each coin will carry a surcharge ($35 for $5 coins, $10 for $1 coins, $5 for half-dollars) that will be paid directly to America's VetDogs to support their programs providing service dogs for veterans, the disabled, and others. The coins will be issued in 2027 with designs reflecting working dogs' roles in military, detection, therapy, and assistance work. The legislation specifies that all surcharge revenue must fund America's VetDogs' operations without creating new government programs. This is a commemorative measure focused on honoring working dogs' contributions through coin sales, with all surcharge funds going to a specific nonprofit organization.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $75 million in federal funding (2025-2029) to expand innovative housing construction. It directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to award grants to states, which will then provide subgrants to small construction companies (under 500 employees) using industrialized methods like modular, panelized, or 3D-printed housing. Key provisions include incentives of up to $6,000 per unit (higher for affordable/energy-efficient units) and a $50,000 fixed incentive if projects include at least 10% affordable housing. The bill directly affects small housing developers and aims to reduce construction costs and time while increasing affordable housing options.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires major banking regulators (Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC, CFPB, and NCUA) to assess their current technology systems and procurement processes within 180 days. It mandates a detailed report to Congress every five years covering hardware/software used, challenges in acquiring new technology, workforce capabilities for tech development, data-sharing practices, and plans for future tech upgrades. The goal is to address outdated systems causing delays in monitoring banks, inaccurate data, cybersecurity risks, and difficulties in identifying financial risks or illegal activity. The bill focuses on improving regulators' ability to effectively supervise financial institutions using modern technology.

Maddy summaryThe VA Employee Fairness Act of 2024 modifies collective bargaining rules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). It removes existing subsections (b), (c), and (d) from the law governing VHA employee bargaining and renumbers the remaining provision. This change streamlines the collective bargaining framework but does not alter the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authorities over incentive pay and expedited hiring. The bill directly affects VHA employees by changing how their collective bargaining rights are structured under federal law. The law remains neutral, focusing solely on procedural adjustments to the existing bargaining framework.