Rep. Frederica S. Wilson

Maddy summaryThe Young Americans Financial Literacy Act would create federal grants to fund centers of excellence that develop and deliver research-based financial education programs for young people aged 8-24. These programs would teach essential money management skills like budgeting, saving, debt management, and financial decision-making, with a focus on accessibility through digital and traditional methods. The bill authorizes $27.5 million to $55 million annually (through 2025) for these centers, prioritizing programs serving at-risk youth, families, and communities facing financial challenges. Centers must use evidence-based approaches, address unique needs (e.g., student loans, predatory lending), and report annually to Congress on their outcomes.

Maddy summaryThe Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2023 establishes a new trust fund funded by increasing the corporate tax rate from 21% to 24.5% to support water infrastructure and affordability programs. It allocates funds to clean water programs (42%), safe drinking water funding (42.5%), household water wells (1%), colonias assistance (0.5%), Indian health services (3%), and water operator job training (0.5%). The bill requires the EPA to conduct a study and submit a report on water affordability, discrimination in water services, public participation in regionalization, and data collection related to service disconnections. It includes specific provisions for colonias, household water wells, and job training programs for water system operators to improve water access and equity.

This bill expresses the sense of Congress that (1) medication abortion is appropriately approved and regulated under federal law, and (2) federal law preempts any in-person dispensing requirements or telehealth restrictions with respect to medication abortion under state law.

This resolution condemns the deliberate gas attacks on schoolgirls in Iran (up to 7,000 schoolgirls were poisoned in at least 290 attacks, according to human rights groups) and Iran's suppression of individuals participating in demonstrations. The resolution also urges the United States to initiate a formal process for an independent investigation and to work with the United Nations in investigating the gas attacks on schoolgirls in Iran.

This resolution urges (1) the President to issue a proclamation recognizing Earth Day; and (2) governments and people to continue building upon the Paris Agreement and other efforts to ensure that future generations inherit a livable, sustainable, and ecologically rich planet.

Maddy summaryHR 2785, the REEF Act, amends a 2020 law to change when certain payments from the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Account take effect. It retroactively applies changes to these payments as if they had been in place before the national emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic ended. This directly affects railroad workers who receive unemployment benefits through this account, ensuring they receive payments under the revised timing. The bill's key change is making the effective date of these payment rules apply retroactively from before the pandemic emergency period.

Maddy summaryThe Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act establishes new standards for Department of Homeland Security detention facilities, requiring them to meet or exceed the American Bar Association's Civil Immigration Detention Standards. The bill mandates annual, unannounced inspections by the DHS Inspector General, public reporting on facility compliance, and a phased-out timeline for private detention facilities (phasing out by 3 years after enactment). It prohibits solitary confinement for all detainees, requires community-based alternatives to detention for vulnerable individuals, and mandates detailed public reporting on facility conditions, staffing, and detainee demographics. The legislation directly affects all immigrants held in DHS custody, including children, vulnerable persons, and primary caregivers, with specific protections for these groups in detention procedures.

Maddy summaryHRES 269 is a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 30, 2023. It recognizes the federal government's duty to develop and implement a Transgender Bill of Rights to protect transgender and nonbinary people. The resolution outlines key provisions, including ensuring access to gender-affirming medical care, ending discrimination in employment and housing, and improving legal recognition of gender identity on government documents. It also calls for addressing systemic barriers in education, safety, and economic security faced by transgender and nonbinary individuals.

Women in Aviation Advisory Board Act This bill establishes a Federal Advisory Committee on Women in Aviation. The committee must advise the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration on matters related to the education, training, mentorship, outreach, recruitment, and retention of women in the aviation industry. Membership in the committee must include representatives from aviation-related manufacturers, commercial air carriers, general aviation operators, unmanned aircraft systems operators, airports, aviation training and maintenance providers, labor organizations, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations within the aviation industry.

Maddy summaryHR 2725, the "Do No Harm Act," amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to clarify that RFRA does not apply when federal laws protect against discrimination or promote equal opportunity. It specifically exempts protections under the Civil Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, workplace benefits like leave, child labor safeguards, and healthcare access from RFRA challenges. The bill also clarifies that RFRA does not block private lawsuits between individuals, applying only to cases involving government entities. This amendment ensures that existing federal civil rights and workplace protections remain enforceable under RFRA.