Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson

Maddy summaryThe Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act of 2025 imposes a tax on major fossil fuel companies for historical carbon dioxide emissions exceeding 1 billion metric tons during 2000-2023, with payments due by September 2026. The tax revenue will fund a new Climate Fund that must be used for climate resilience, adaptation, and disaster response programs, with 40% specifically directed to environmental justice communities. The bill requires at least $15 billion annually for FEMA climate programs and $6 billion for Clean Air Act climate resilience grants. It explicitly states the fund does not affect existing legal claims against polluters for climate-related harms.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands 529 college savings account flexibility by allowing funds to cover costs for industry-recognized postsecondary credentials, not just traditional degrees. It defines "qualified expenses" to include tuition/fees for recognized credential programs (like certifications or apprenticeships), required testing fees, and continuing education needed to maintain credentials. To qualify, programs must meet specific criteria, such as appearing on state lists under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or being listed in VA or Defense directories. The change applies to 529 distributions made after the law's enactment, giving families more options to use these accounts for job-focused training.

Maddy summaryThe Department of Peacebuilding Act of 2025 would establish a new federal department within the executive branch dedicated to promoting peacebuilding, nonviolent conflict resolution, and violence prevention both domestically and internationally. The department would include seven specialized offices focused on peace education, domestic peacebuilding, international peacebuilding, technology for peace, arms control, research, and human rights. It would develop new policies to address violence in communities, create a Peace Academy for training peacebuilders, and establish grant programs for schools and community organizations to implement peacebuilding initiatives. The bill requires the department to consult with other federal agencies on matters related to conflict prevention and mandates that at least 85% of funds would support domestic peace programs. The department would also research and report on violence prevention metrics and develop peace education curricula for schools.

Maddy summaryHRES 119, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on February 6, 2025, declares racism a public health crisis. This non-binding resolution recognizes documented health disparities affecting racial and ethnic minorities - including higher infant mortality, chronic disease rates, and barriers to care - based on data from public health experts. It calls for coordinated government action to address systemic inequities but does not create new laws or allocate funding. The resolution aligns with existing CDC acknowledgment that racism meets public health crisis criteria.

Protecting Sensitive Locations Act This bill prohibits immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of a sensitive location except in exigent circumstances, such as the imminent risk of death, violence, or physical harm to any person. Sensitive locations include  health care facilities; schools and school bus stops; places that provide assistance for people such as children, pregnant women, and abuse victims; child care facilities; places that provide disaster or emergency services; places of worship; courthouses and lawyers’ offices; facilities used as polling places; certain labor union facilities; and public assistance offices. The prohibition shall apply to Department of Homeland Security officers and agents, as well as state employees pursuing immigration enforcement actions. If an enforcement action is carried out in violation of this prohibition (1) no information resulting from the action may be entered into the record in a resulting removal proceeding, and (2) the affected individual may move to immediately terminate such a proceeding. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall annually report to Congress about enforcement actions taken at sensitive locations in the preceding year.

Maddy summaryThe Scientific Integrity Act requires federal agencies that fund, conduct, or oversee scientific research to adopt policies preventing political interference in scientific work. These policies must prohibit suppressing, altering, or delaying the communication of scientific findings and ensure hiring and decisions are based on expertise - not politics. Agencies must appoint a Scientific Integrity Officer to enforce the policies, handle complaints, and submit annual reports to Congress and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The bill directly affects scientists and staff in covered agencies by safeguarding their ability to share research freely and maintain ethical standards in scientific communication.

Maddy summaryHRES 116 is a non-binding House resolution condemning pardons granted to individuals convicted of assaulting Capitol Police officers. It expresses the House's disapproval of such pardons but does not alter any laws or affect legal proceedings. The resolution has no legal force and serves only as a formal statement of disapproval by the sponsoring lawmakers. It directly addresses the pardons of specific individuals found guilty in criminal cases related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach.

Maddy summaryHR 989 would turn Executive Order 11246 into law, requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to follow its equal employment nondiscrimination rules. This bill directly affects businesses working with the U.S. government by making these requirements legally binding. The key provision ensures the existing order has the full force of law, rather than being subject to executive changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands access to family and medical leave under the FMLA by reducing the required employment period from 12 months to 90 days for most workers. It also lowers the employer size threshold from "50 or more employees" to "1 or more employees," requiring nearly all employers to provide this leave. The changes specifically apply to private-sector workers, federal employees (covered under Title 5), and congressional staff, removing previous eligibility barriers. Key provisions include updating definitions in the FMLA and modifying federal employee leave rules to align with the 90-day requirement. This directly affects millions of workers who previously had to wait a full year for leave eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies corporate tax rules to prevent companies from avoiding US taxes by moving operations overseas. It targets tax breaks that companies currently use when they outsource work to foreign countries or reorganize as foreign entities (so-called "inverted corporations"). The bill requires companies to pay tax on foreign profits based on each country where they operate, limits tax deductions for interest by multinational corporations, and treats foreign corporations managed in the US as domestic for tax purposes. These changes aim to close loopholes that allow companies to reduce their US tax burden through foreign operations.