Rep. Frederica S. Wilson

Maddy summaryThe Fairness for Farm Workers Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to end the long-standing exemption that allows agricultural workers to be denied overtime pay. The bill introduces a phased schedule requiring employers to pay farm workers time-and-a-half for hours worked beyond a set threshold, which gradually decreases from 55 hours in 2027 to the standard 40 hours by 2030. Small farms with 25 or fewer employees are given a three-year delay, reaching full compliance by 2033. Additionally, the legislation removes several other exemptions that currently allow agricultural employers to bypass federal wage and hour protections.

Maddy summaryThe Launching with Healthcare Act extends the period during which young adults must be covered under their parents' health insurance plans from age 26 to age 31. This change directly affects individuals up to age 31 and the employers or insurers providing these family coverage plans. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to implement this new age limit, with the provision taking effect for plan years that begin after December 31, 2026.

Maddy summaryThe Equal Pay for Equal Work Act establishes a new National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force composed of representatives from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and the Office of Personnel Management. The task force is charged with coordinating these agencies to close gaps in enforcement and improve public education regarding equal pay laws. Its specific duties include investigating challenges related to pay inequity, advancing recommendations to address those issues, and creating action plans to implement the proposed solutions.

Maddy summaryThe No Homeless Detention Centers Act prohibits recipients of federal housing funds from forcing homeless individuals to live in government facilities or requiring them to perform labor in exchange for shelter. The bill also bans local and state authorities from punishing people for engaging in basic life-sustaining activities, such as sleeping or resting, on public property. These restrictions apply to actions taken by law enforcement officers or private contractors acting under federal authority. By tying these prohibitions to federal funding, the legislation aims to prevent the use of criminal penalties or involuntary confinement to address homelessness.

Maddy summaryThe SIMPLE Act requires the Department of Education to automatically enroll borrowers who are at least 75 days delinquent on federal student loans into the income-driven repayment plan that offers them the lowest monthly payment. To facilitate this, the bill authorizes the use of IRS tax return data to determine a borrower's income and family size without requiring additional action from the borrower, provided they have approved such disclosure or are applying for loan rehabilitation. The legislation also establishes specific notification procedures at 31 days of delinquency and mandates that borrowers rehabilitating defaulted loans be placed in the most favorable repayment plan after making their ninth required payment. These automatic enrollment provisions take effect on July 1, 2028, while changes allowing borrowers to switch between repayment plans become effective immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThe L'Ouverture Economic Development Plan for Haiti Act of 2025 creates a Haitian American Enterprise Fund to support economic development in Haiti through private sector investments. The fund will finance projects in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and infrastructure, with special focus on empowering women and youth, and aims to create jobs to reduce migration from Haiti. It authorizes $1 billion annually from 2026-2031 to support these initiatives, managed by a private nonprofit organization with oversight from a diverse board. The legislation emphasizes building sustainable economic opportunities within Haiti to meet the country's development needs while strengthening ties with the Haitian-American diaspora.

Maddy summaryThe High School Voter Empowerment Act of 2026 requires all public high schools in the United States to be designated as voter registration agencies under federal law. Schools must conduct at least one voter registration drive each academic year, with a specific goal of registering eligible students who are at least 17 years old and enrolled in American Government or Economics classes. To support these efforts, the Department of Education would establish a grant program that reimburses schools for the reasonable costs associated with running these drives. Additionally, state election officials may provide voting machines to schools upon request for use in student council elections.

Maddy summaryThe COMPASS Act amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to require schools to include specific information in individualized education programs for students with disabilities. It mandates that these plans must state the projected date when a student will complete their secondary education program. Additionally, the bill requires a statement confirming that the student will receive a certification of completion on that date, regardless of whether they are eligible for a regular high school diploma.

Maddy summaryThe Family Leave for Parental Involvement in Education Act amends the Family and Medical Leave Act to grant eligible private-sector employees up to 48 hours of unpaid leave per year to attend school conferences or activities for their children or grandchildren. This additional time is capped at 8 hours within any 30-day period and can be taken in intermittent blocks rather than all at once. Employers may require employees to use accrued paid vacation, personal, or sick leave instead of taking this unpaid time off. The bill also extends similar leave provisions to federal employees, allowing them to substitute accumulated annual or sick leave for the new parental involvement entitlements.

Maddy summaryHR 2555, the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act of 2025, protects students who join or form single-sex social organizations (like fraternities or sororities) at colleges. It prohibits colleges receiving federal funds from taking negative actions against these students or organizations solely because they limit membership to one sex - such as denying housing, financial aid, leadership roles, or recognition. The bill ensures students can join such groups without coercion and stops colleges from imposing unfair recruitment rules on single-sex organizations compared to others. It does not require colleges to recognize single-sex groups, allow organizations to set their own membership rules, or override Title IX protections.