Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson

Maddy summaryHRES 720 is a symbolic resolution expressing congressional support for designating September 2025 as "African Diaspora Heritage Month." It does not create legal requirements or allocate funding but encourages public observation through ceremonies and programs. The resolution highlights the African diaspora’s economic contributions (e.g., $24 billion in federal taxes in 2021), cultural diversity, and historical significance to U.S. society. It urges local governments to recognize the month and affirms that the diaspora’s contributions enrich American history and national identity. This is a non-binding gesture focused on recognition, not policy change.

Maddy summaryHR 5401, the Pay Our Troops Act of 2026, ensures military personnel, civilian Defense workers, and supporting contractors receive pay during government funding gaps in fiscal year 2026. It appropriates emergency funds for active-duty service members, reserves, and their supporting personnel (including Coast Guard staff under DHS) if regular appropriations aren't enacted by the end of the fiscal year. The bill provides necessary pay and allowances during any period when full-year funding is unavailable, covering both active service and support roles. Funding expires when regular appropriations are passed, a funding resolution is enacted, or January 1, 2027, whichever comes first. This is a procedural measure to prevent pay delays for military and support staff during fiscal year 2026 funding lapses.

Maddy summaryThe FAMILY Act would establish a national paid family and medical leave insurance program that provides wage replacement benefits for workers needing time off for caregiving or medical reasons. It defines "qualified caregiving" to include caring for a family member with a serious health condition, personal medical needs, or recovery from violence (including domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking). Benefits would be calculated based on earnings, with a minimum monthly benefit of $580 and maximum of $4,000, administered by a new Office of Paid Family and Medical Leave within the Social Security Administration. Eligible individuals would need to have worked for at least 8 quarters in the previous year and file an application with required documentation, while existing state paid leave programs would continue to operate alongside this federal program.

Maddy summaryThe George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2025 would establish a National Police Misconduct Registry to track officer complaints, disciplinary actions, and misconduct records across all law enforcement agencies. It would require law enforcement agencies to implement body-worn camera programs with specific recording and retention policies, ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants in drug cases, and reform qualified immunity to make it easier to hold officers accountable for misconduct. The bill mandates comprehensive data collection on use of force incidents, requiring agencies to report detailed information about stops, searches, and force used, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, and other demographics. These provisions would directly affect all Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies that receive federal grant funding, with requirements for policy changes, training, and data reporting.

Maddy summaryThe National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2025 would establish a government-owned bank to finance infrastructure projects across the United States, aiming to address a $3.69 trillion financing gap identified by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The bank would provide loans up to $5 trillion for transportation, energy, environmental, and community development projects, with specific criteria focused on economic growth, environmental benefits, and serving disadvantaged communities. It would be governed by a 25-member Board of Directors with diverse regional and expertise qualifications, and would operate with tax exemptions and capital requirements to ensure financial stability. The bill also establishes regional economic accelerator planning groups to coordinate infrastructure development and create a pipeline of projects for the bank to finance.

Maddy summaryHRES 704 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House's opposition to the proposed "Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction Model" (WISeR) for traditional Medicare. It opposes expanding prior authorization requirements for Medicare services by 30% - requiring doctors to seek approval before treatment - using private companies with a history of incorrect denials and AI tools reported to have high error rates. The resolution states this would undermine beneficiary access to timely care, citing data showing prior authorization causes physician burnout and that Medicare Advantage denials are overturned 81.7% of the time. It urges CMS to terminate the model but does not change existing law.

Maddy summaryHR 5309, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, authorizes a posthumous Congressional gold medal for Constance Baker Motley, a pioneering civil rights attorney and judge. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to strike the medal with her image and name, to be presented to her son, Joel W. Motley III, and her niece, Constance Royster. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates at cost to cover expenses, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint fund. This is a commemorative measure with no substantive policy changes, honoring Motley’s legacy as the first African-American woman appointed to a federal judgeship.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a corporate tax penalty on large companies where CEO pay exceeds 50 times the average worker's pay. Specifically, corporations with a pay ratio above 50:1 face a tax rate increase of 0.5% to 5% (depending on how high the ratio is), effective for taxable years starting after 2025. It applies only to corporations with average annual revenue of at least $100 million over the prior three years, exempting smaller businesses. The penalty is calculated using a 5-year average of compensation data from SEC filings, and the Treasury will issue rules to prevent avoidance tactics like shifting to contractor workforces.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. President to identify Pakistani officials responsible for undermining democracy and human rights within 180 days of enactment, then impose Global Magnitsky sanctions on them. It targets senior government, military, or security officials found to have committed gross human rights violations or interfered with democratic processes, such as during Pakistan’s 2024 elections or through constitutional changes. Sanctions would include asset freezes and travel bans, with exceptions for humanitarian aid, UN obligations, and national security activities. The bill expires on September 30, 2030, and aims to pressure Pakistan to uphold democratic norms, human rights, and judicial independence.

Maddy summaryHR 5226, the Deceptive Downsizing Prohibition Act of 2025, bans manufacturers from selling consumer products (like food) in smaller sizes using packaging designed for larger versions without clear disclosure. It directly affects manufacturers of consumer products by requiring them to prominently display both the previous larger size and current reduced size on the product packaging. The key mechanism is a "safe harbor" provision: manufacturers avoid penalties if they clearly show the size change on the main packaging panel with conspicuous, easy-to-understand text. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will enforce this as part of its authority over deceptive practices under existing law.