Rep. Frederica S. Wilson

Extending WIC for New Moms Act This bill amends the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to extend the eligibility periods for breastfeeding and postpartum women. Specifically, a state program may elect to certify a breastfeeding woman for up to 24 months (currently 1 year) postpartum. The bill also expands the eligibility period for postpartum women to up to 24 months after termination of pregnancy (currently 6 months). The Department of Agriculture must submit a report to Congress evaluating the effect of these changes to the program on (1) maternal and infant health outcomes, (2) breastfeeding rates, and (3) qualitative evaluations of family experiences under WIC.

Maddy summaryThis bill would eliminate interest on all existing and future Federal student loans starting in 2026, directly affecting current borrowers and future students. It requires the Department of Education to automatically modify eligible Federal Direct loans to stop interest accrual and allows borrowers to refinance other Federal loans into zero-interest consolidation loans without origination fees. The legislation also creates a new Education Affordability Trust Fund that would use loan repayments to fund these interest-free loans and potentially provide additional Pell Grants, while establishing a six-member board to oversee investments in government bonds.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office of Small Farms within the USDA's farm production and conservation mission area to better serve small agricultural operations. It defines "small farm, ranch, or forest operation" as those under 180 acres or with less than $350,000 annual income, directly affecting these operators. Key provisions include creating a Director to coordinate USDA programs, reviewing barriers to participation, developing new initiatives (including $25,000 grants for repairs, land access, or conservation), and requiring State coordinators in each state to improve local program delivery. The bill authorizes $15 million annually for the Office's administration and $10 million for grants/technical assistance from 2027-2031, with annual reports to Congress on progress.

Maddy summaryHR 7522, the Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2026, removes work requirements from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It directly affects approximately 6.1 million SNAP recipients currently subject to these requirements, including people with health issues, Black Americans disproportionately impacted by such rules, families with children, and individuals experiencing homelessness. The bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 by striking subsection (o) and related provisions that mandate work requirements for SNAP eligibility. This change would eliminate a barrier that studies show reduces participation without reducing poverty and increases administrative burdens. The bill does not create new benefits but removes an existing eligibility requirement affecting vulnerable populations.

Maddy summaryHR 7464, the TEMP Act, requires the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to research and develop index-based insurance for specific crops (like tomatoes, citrus, and strawberries) against frost or cold weather damage. This research must evaluate risk management tools and aim to create policies covering either production or revenue loss from such events. The Corporation must report its findings and recommendations to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment. The bill directly affects farmers growing these frost-vulnerable crops by initiating a process to potentially expand their insurance options.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal task force to address maternal health disparities by coordinating efforts across multiple government agencies and community stakeholders to reduce preventable maternal deaths and serious health complications. The task force will include representatives from various departments such as Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation, along with community leaders, patients, and healthcare providers focused on maternal health. Additionally, the bill authorizes $100 million over five years to provide grants to community organizations for addressing social determinants of maternal health including housing, transportation, nutrition, employment, and environmental conditions. These grants prioritize areas with high rates of maternal mortality and poverty, and recipients must submit annual reports on their activities and outcomes. The legislation defines key terms such as maternal mortality and social determinants of maternal health to guide implementation and reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Energy Bills Relief Act aims to lower household energy costs and accelerate the development of low-cost, clean energy by modifying federal tax credits, expanding weatherization programs, and streamlining permitting processes. Key provisions include restoring tax incentives for renewable energy projects, increasing funding for low-income heating assistance, and requiring federal agencies to treat wind, solar, and storage projects with the same procedural fairness as oil and gas projects. The bill also establishes new incentives for upgrading the electricity grid, such as tax credits for transmission lines and grants for wildfire prevention measures, while creating mechanisms to ensure utilities serve public interests and protect consumers from price volatility.

Maddy summaryThe Feeding Families Not Fear Act of 2026 reverses specific provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 by restoring funding and benefits that were previously cut. It directly affects low-income families and individuals who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by reinstating benefits that were reduced under earlier legislation. The bill achieves this by repealing two sections that increased funding for immigration and customs enforcement and another section that modified SNAP benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. By removing these changes, the legislation returns SNAP provisions to their previous state as if the 2025 law had not been enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to cover abortion care, counseling, and related medication as part of standard hospital and medical services for eligible veterans and certain dependents. It amends VA healthcare law to explicitly include these services under existing coverage for veterans qualifying under section 1703 and dependents eligible under section 1781(a). The policy directly affects veterans and their dependents enrolled in VA healthcare programs by expanding covered benefits to include abortion-related care. This is a concrete policy change to VA healthcare benefits, not a broader abortion law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses support for designating the third week of March as National CACFP Week to raise awareness of the Child and Adult Care Food Program. The bill directly affects childcare centers, family daycare homes, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and adult daycare centers that provide meals to children and adults. It acknowledges the program's role in improving health outcomes and reducing costs for care providers while urging continued funding and administrative support for the initiative.