Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson

Maddy summaryHRES 384 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing Cinco de Mayo's cultural and historical significance. It commemorates Mexico's 1862 victory at the Battle of Puebla against French forces, highlighting its role in Mexico's fight for independence and freedom. The resolution encourages U.S. citizens to observe Cinco de Mayo through ceremonies and activities, acknowledging its importance to Mexican and Mexican-American communities. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no legal effect or policy changes.

Maddy summaryHR 3178, the Save Healthcare Workers Act, creates a new federal crime for assaulting hospital staff while they are performing their duties, with penalties including fines and up to 10 years in prison (up to 20 years for aggravated cases involving weapons or injuries). The bill directly affects hospital employees - including nurses, doctors, and support staff - across all covered facilities (such as emergency rooms, long-term care centers, and children’s hospitals) by criminalizing violence that disrupts patient care. It also establishes a $25 million annual grant program (2025-2034) to help hospitals implement safety measures like staff de-escalation training, security technology, and coordination with local law enforcement. These provisions aim to address workplace violence in healthcare settings, which the bill cites as a growing problem affecting service delivery and staff retention.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands OSHA safety protections to cover public employees, including teachers, police, and sanitation workers, who were previously excluded from federal workplace safety regulations. It directly affects state and local government workers by amending the Occupational Safety and Health Act to explicitly include "the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State" under OSHA coverage. The key mechanism is a technical amendment to the law’s definition of covered employees, ensuring public service workers fall under the same safety standards as private-sector employees. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment for most workplaces, with a 36-month delay for state/local governments without existing OSHA plans.

Maddy summary# Summary of the SHIPS for America Act This comprehensive legislation focuses on strengthening the U.S. maritime industry, shipbuilding capacity, and maritime workforce to enhance national security and economic competitiveness. ## Key Areas of Focus 1. **Shipbuilding & Maritime Infrastructure** - Establishes a United States Center for Maritime Innovation to accelerate adoption of commercial technologies - Creates a National Shipbuilding Research Program - Requires an annual survey of anticipated commercial vessel construction - Includes provisions for streamlined environmental reviews of maritime infrastructure 2. **Workforce Development** - Establishes the United States Merchant Marine Career Retention Program to maintain mariner qualifications - Creates Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education - Implements military-to-maritime transition programs - Establishes a Maritime Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee 3. **Education & Training** - Expands educational assistance for merchant mariners - Creates eligibility for Naval Postgraduate School for merchant mariners - Establishes maritime education programs from K-12 through higher education - Provides for international exchanges for mariners and naval architects 4. **National Security & Strategic Readiness** - Requires reports on National Defense Reserve Fleet utilization - Includes measures to de-risk the maritime sector from Chinese influence - Enhances shipbuilding capacity for national security needs - Establishes programs to ensure sufficient mariner workforce for national defense 5. **Funding Mechanisms** - Authorizes appropriations from the Maritime Security Trust Fund - Includes funding for workforce programs, education, and shipbuilding initiatives - Establishes specific funding levels for various programs over multiple fiscal years The legislation aims to create a sustainable domestic maritime industrial base that supports both commercial shipping and national defense requirements, with a particular emphasis on developing and retaining a skilled U.S. maritime workforce.

Maddy summaryThe HAVEN Act (HR 3133) makes several key changes to federal housing assistance programs. It reduces the percentage used to calculate rental payments from 30% to 20% for several housing programs, increasing assistance for recipients. The bill expands the Housing Choice Voucher Program by adding 500,000 vouchers in 2026 and increasing by 500,000 each year through 2029. It also creates housing navigation grants to help families find housing, expands anti-discrimination protections to include "lawful source of income," and requires zip code-based fair market rents for housing vouchers starting in 2026.

Maddy summaryHR 3112, the Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025, strengthens enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act by requiring dealers and exhibitors to hold valid licenses for animal sales or transport (Section 4). It expands enforcement authority by allowing the Attorney General to sue violators for up to $10,000 per day, seize animals, and seek injunctions (Section 20), while clarifying that courts can address violations of related rules and regulations. The bill directly affects animal dealers, exhibitors, the USDA, and the Department of Justice, creating clearer pathways for holding violators accountable. Key provisions include updating definitions, broadening inspection powers to cover all regulations, and directing penalty funds toward temporary animal care costs during legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryHR 3128, the Improving Diaper Affordability Act of 2025, makes diapers eligible as qualified medical expenses under tax-advantaged health accounts (like HSAs and health flexible spending arrangements) and prohibits states or localities from imposing sales taxes on diaper purchases. This directly affects families with young children - particularly low-income households, where 46% report struggling to afford diapers - who currently spend hundreds annually on diapers. The bill changes existing tax rules so families can use pre-tax dollars from health savings accounts to cover diaper costs, and bans sales taxes on diaper purchases starting in 2025. It does not create new government assistance programs but adjusts tax treatment to reduce out-of-pocket costs for diapers.

Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 This bill makes it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon (SAW) or large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD). The prohibition does not apply to a firearm that is (1) manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action, except for certain shotguns; (2) permanently inoperable; (3) an antique; (4) only capable of firing rimfire ammunition; or (5) a rifle or shotgun specifically identified by make and model. The bill also exempts from the prohibition the following, with respect to a SAW or LCAFD: importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession related to certain law enforcement efforts, or authorized tests or experiments; importation, sale, transfer, or possession related to securing nuclear materials; and possession by a retired law enforcement officer. The bill permits continued possession, sale, or transfer of a grandfathered SAW, which must be securely stored. A licensed gun dealer must conduct a background check prior to the sale or transfer of a grandfathered SAW between private parties. The bill permits continued possession of, but prohibits sale or transfer of, a grandfathered LCAFD. Newly manufactured LCAFDs must display serial number identification. Newly manufactured SAWs and LCAFDs must display the date of manufacture. The bill also allows a state or local government to use Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds to compensate individuals who surrender a SAW or LCAFD under a buy-back program.

Maddy summaryHR 3124 establishes a National Science Foundation grant program to increase participation of women, underrepresented minorities (including Black, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander, and Asian subgroups), LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities in STEM fields. The bill authorizes $15 million annually for grants to organizations that implement activities like mentoring programs, STEM internships, online workshops, and outreach to K-12 students. These grants specifically target efforts to improve recruitment, retention, and workforce representation for groups facing documented underrepresentation in STEM education and careers. The program directly affects educational institutions, nonprofits, and community organizations working to support these underrepresented groups through evidence-based initiatives.

Maddy summaryThe Equality Act (HR 15) amends federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, and jury service. It expands existing protections under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by adding sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics under sex discrimination prohibitions. The bill clarifies that discrimination against LGBTQ people is a form of sex discrimination, consistent with the Supreme Court's Bostock decision, and adds specific definitions for gender identity and sexual orientation. This legislation directly affects businesses, employers, housing providers, financial institutions, and government entities that serve the public. The bill creates a more comprehensive legal framework to address discrimination that LGBTQ people face in multiple aspects of daily life.