Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson

Maddy summaryHR 8231, the James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded to actor James Earl Jones in recognition of his distinguished career in theater and film, and his role in advancing inclusion and equal opportunities for people of all backgrounds in the entertainment industry. The Treasury will strike the medal with an image and inscription of Jones, and may produce and sell bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint's public enterprise fund. This bill serves as a ceremonial honor with no new legal requirements or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThe Wounded Warrior Workforce Enhancement Act creates federal grants to expand training programs for orthotics and prosthetics specialists. It provides $1-1.5 million per grant to eligible colleges to establish or grow master's programs, with priority given to institutions partnering with VA or military medical facilities. Covered veterans (those with limb loss or mobility impairments) receive admission and financial aid preference in these programs. A separate $5 million grant funds a Center of Excellence to research and improve orthotics/prosthetics education for veterans, service members, and civilians. The bill authorizes $15 million for program grants and $5 million for the Center in fiscal year 2025.

Maddy summaryThe CROWN Act of 2024 prohibits discrimination based on hair texture or style commonly associated with race or national origin, such as braids, locs, cornrows, twists, or afros. It directly affects individuals - particularly people of African descent - who face workplace, school, housing, or public accommodation discrimination due to natural or protective hairstyles. The bill expands existing federal civil rights laws (like Title VI, the Fair Housing Act, and Title VII) to explicitly include hair-based discrimination, requiring compliance in federally funded programs, housing, employment, and public spaces. It clarifies that grooming policies targeting these hairstyles violate anti-discrimination protections without creating new legal standards.

Maddy summaryHR 8167, the Wounded Warrior Research Enhancement Act, authorizes $30 million in fiscal year 2025 funding to improve limb replacement devices and care for military personnel, veterans, and civilians who have experienced combat-related amputations, traumatic brain injuries, or other serious physical injuries. The bill directs the Defense and Veterans Affairs Secretaries to award competitive, peer-reviewed research grants focused on preventing amputations, determining optimal treatment timing, developing better materials and technologies, and addressing aging-related challenges with prosthetics. These grants aim to enhance clinical care and quality of life for individuals with limb loss by advancing evidence-based solutions. The law requires annual reports to Congress detailing research progress and priorities.

Maddy summaryHRES 1171 is a non-binding resolution recognizing the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, where an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and others were killed. It expresses the House’s regret for U.S. and international inaction during the genocide, reaffirms U.S. commitment to genocide prevention under the 1948 Convention, and joins Rwanda and global communities in mourning victims. The resolution has no direct policy impact or effect on specific groups, as it is purely commemorative. It was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 26, 2024, by Representatives Omar, Jackson, Norton, Carson, and McGovern.

Maddy summaryHR 8099, the CRED Act, requires the Federal Housing Finance Agency to analyze whether mortgage companies should use two credit reports/scores instead of three when processing home loans. This analysis would evaluate potential cost savings for borrowers, changes in loan access, and impacts on lenders, servicers, and credit reporting agencies. The bill mandates publishing this analysis for 90 days of public comment before any new requirement could take effect. It directly affects home loan applicants, mortgage lenders, and the three major credit bureaus. The law does not change current practices but sets a process for future evaluation.

Maddy summaryHR 8061, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024, ensures stable funding for the Crime Victims Fund by directing certain False Claims Act collections into it from 2024 through 2029. Specifically, it adds a provision requiring that amounts collected under the False Claims Act (excluding whistleblower rewards and government reimbursement for damages) be deposited into the fund during this period. This directly affects crime victims who rely on the fund for services like counseling and emergency aid, as it prevents potential shortfalls in funding. The bill makes a concrete policy change by redirecting specific federal civil penalties into the fund, rather than altering the fund's existing purposes or eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal grant program to expand digital skills training for workers in in-demand industries. It directly affects states, workforce systems, and individuals with barriers to employment - particularly those with low digital literacy (high school diploma or less, low earnings, or limited English proficiency). States receive funding based on population metrics to support digital skills training through subgrants to local providers, prioritizing workers with employment barriers. The program requires detailed reporting on outcomes, including disaggregated data by demographics, and mandates public sharing of results. It aims to build "digitally resilient" systems and individuals by aligning training with industry needs and existing state digital equity plans.

Maddy summaryHR 3303, the Maternal Health for Veterans Act, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to annually report on maternity care coordination programs and maternal health outcomes for veterans receiving care through VA facilities or VA-contracted providers. The bill mandates the VA to collect data on maternal outcomes - including disparities affecting high-risk demographic groups - and submit recommendations to Congress by September 2028. It authorizes $15 million annually (2024-2028) for VA maternity care coordination programs, supplementing existing funding without reducing current resources. The law directly affects veterans using VA maternity services, aiming to improve care through data-driven strategies.

Maddy summaryHR 1083, the Caring for Survivors Act of 2023, increases financial support for surviving spouses of veterans. It amends Title 38 to raise dependency and indemnity compensation from a fixed $1,154 to 55% of the monthly compensation rate under section 1114(j), effective six months after enactment. The bill also modifies eligibility for survivors of veterans who died before 1993, ensuring they receive the greater of their current benefit or the new calculation. Additionally, it reduces the required continuous service rating period for survivors from 10 years to five years when a veteran was totally disabled at death. These changes directly affect surviving spouses, particularly those with veterans who died prior to 1993.