Rep. Lauren Underwood

Equal COLA Act This bill applies a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for annuities paid under the Federal Employees Retirement System that is equal to the increase in inflation, regardless of the amount of the increase. Specifically, for any year in which the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased over the previous year, the COLA amount shall be increased by the change in the CPI from the previous year.  Current law applies an adjustment equal to the change in CPI only if the change is 2% or less. If the change is between 2% and 3%, the adjustment is limited to 2%. If the change is more than 3%, the adjustment is limited to 1% less than the change.

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 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 summaryHR 3593, the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025, reauthorizes and expands federal funding for nursing education programs to address workforce shortages. It directly affects nursing schools, nurse practitioner, nurse-midwifery, nurse anesthesia, and clinical nurse specialist programs by expanding grant eligibility to include these specific training pathways. Key provisions include increasing annual funding from $137 million to $184 million (2026-2030), requiring schools to use funds for simulation/technology resources and faculty/student expansion, and adding clinical partnerships with healthcare facilities. The bill also updates terminology and adds protections for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in nursing education settings.

Maddy summaryHR 5056, the Teachers Are Leaders Act of 2025, creates a federal grant program to support teachers in high-need schools who maintain classroom roles while taking on leadership responsibilities. The bill provides funding for eligible school district-university partnerships to offer teachers one year of professional development leading to a teacher leadership credential, plus up to two additional years of support. This includes training in areas like curriculum development, peer coaching, and cultural competencies, with selection criteria requiring at least three years of teaching experience and certification. Grants cover 50% of stipends in the first two years and 33% in the third year, and teachers may repay credential costs if they leave the program early. The program directly affects classroom teachers in high-need schools and aims to improve student achievement through data-driven instructional practices.

Maddy summaryHRES 638 designates the week of August 3-9, 2025, as "National Farmers Market Week" to recognize the role of farmers markets in U.S. communities. The resolution highlights that farmers markets generated $1.7 billion in farmer income in 2020, grew from 1,755 to 8,771 nationwide between 1994 and 2019, and support local economies, sustainable farming, and food access. It does not create new laws or funding but formally supports the designation and acknowledges how these markets connect urban and rural communities while aiding farmers and consumers. This commemorative resolution directly affects farmers markets, their operators, and communities that rely on them for economic and social engagement.

Maddy summaryHR 4901, the WWII Nurses Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor Army and Navy nurses who served during World War II. The bill recognizes their critical service under combat conditions, including field hospital care in 6 continents, internment as prisoners of war, and contributions to saving lives (with fewer than 4% of treated soldiers dying from wounds). The medal, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be displayed at specific military museums and historical sites like the National World War II Museum, as directed by Congress. Bronze duplicates may be sold to cover costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Department of State to include specific, detailed reporting on reproductive rights in its Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. It mandates descriptions of each country's policies regarding access to contraception, abortion services, and comprehensive reproductive health care, alongside data on pregnancy-related deaths, discrimination against women and LGBTQI+ individuals, and disparities based on race, disability, or other factors. The bill also directs the State Department to consult with civil society organizations and health experts to ensure thorough reporting on these issues. This change aims to align U.S. reporting with international human rights standards and address past omissions of reproductive rights from these reports.

Maddy summaryThe LOAN Act would significantly reform federal student loan programs by doubling Federal Pell Grants for eligible students (from $5,000 to $14,000 over several years), eliminating origination fees on new federal loans, and creating two new repayment plans: a fixed repayment plan and an Income-Driven Repayment Plan. It would automatically enroll borrowers who are delinquent or rehabilitating defaulted loans into income-driven repayment plans, eliminate interest capitalization (preventing interest from being added to the principal balance), and streamline Public Service Loan Forgiveness requirements. The bill would also provide refinancing options for existing federal student loans and private student loans with interest rates capped at 5%. These changes would directly affect millions of current and future student loan borrowers and Pell Grant recipients across the United States.

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts health insurance subsidies by modifying the premium tax credit structure under the Internal Revenue Code. It replaces previous income thresholds with a sliding-scale formula, increasing subsidies for households earning between 150% and 400% of the federal poverty level - reducing their required premium payments as income rises within these tiers. The changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, directly affecting middle-income individuals and families purchasing coverage through health insurance marketplaces. It also repeals specific provisions from a prior reconciliation law related to health care.