Rep. Lauren Underwood

Maddy summaryHRES 976 is a resolution recognizing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) for their 150+ year contributions to healthcare. It highlights CRNAs as essential providers of anesthesia and pain management, especially in rural areas and military/veterans' healthcare settings, where they administer over 50 million anesthetics annually. The resolution encourages public and professional recognition of CRNAs during National CRNA Week (January 21-27, 2024) and urges stakeholders to utilize CRNAs' full potential. As a non-binding commemorative resolution, it does not create new policies or directly affect healthcare delivery.

Maddy summaryHR 7056, the Access to Family Building Act, establishes federal rights for individuals to access assisted reproductive technology (ART) like IVF without unreasonable restrictions, directly affecting patients seeking fertility treatments and health care providers offering ART services. The bill prohibits states from imposing limitations on ART that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures, fail to advance safety, or unduly restrict access, while allowing health and safety regulations that are necessary and least restrictive. It creates federal enforcement mechanisms, including lawsuits by the Attorney General or affected individuals to challenge violating state laws, and preempts conflicting state regulations. The bill explicitly preserves state authority over health/safety regulations and does not alter existing state insurance coverage laws for ART.

Maddy summaryThe Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act of 2024 creates a new federal grant program to address nursing faculty shortages. It authorizes $28.5 million annually (2024-2028) to help nursing schools supplement faculty salaries, covering the gap between clinical nurse pay and teaching salaries. Schools must submit detailed salary data and plans to sustain higher pay after the 3-year grant period. The program prioritizes schools in high-need areas, serving vulnerable populations, or recruiting underrepresented faculty, with a report required to Congress after 3 years.

Maddy summaryThe Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act of 2023 establishes a new USDA office to provide technical assistance for urban and innovative agricultural operations, including rooftop farms, hydroponics, and community gardens. It authorizes competitive grants with mandatory annual funding starting at $15 million in 2024 (rising to $50 million by 2028) to support projects improving fresh food access in underserved areas, prioritizing microgrants for individual urban farmers and initiatives serving disadvantaged communities. The bill requires the USDA to collect and report data on urban farming locations, demographics, and production methods like vertical farming and aquaponics. These provisions directly affect urban farmers, community organizations, and local governments working to expand food production in cities.

Maddy summaryHRES 967 would amend House rules to allow Members who have recently given birth to vote by proxy for up to six weeks after childbirth. Specifically, a new rule permits a Member to designate another Member as their proxy during this period to cast votes on their behalf. The proxy cannot be used to count the Member's presence for quorum purposes in the House or its committees. This change directly affects female Members during their postpartum leave, with no other proxy voting allowed under the amendment.

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 allocates $7 billion in funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) during fiscal year 2024. The ACP provides subsidies to low-income households to help cover the cost of internet service and connected devices like laptops or tablets. This funding ensures the program can continue supporting eligible households throughout the year, with the money remaining available until fully spent. The bill extends existing program funding without changing eligibility criteria or service requirements.

Maddy summaryHRES 942 is a symbolic House resolution honoring Wadee Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian Muslim-American boy murdered in a hate crime in Illinois on October 16, 2023. The resolution recognizes that Wadee was stabbed 26 times by a perpetrator who yelled "All Muslims should die" and consumed anti-Muslim rhetoric, and it condemns hate crimes targeting Palestinian, Muslim, and other minority identities. It affirms that elected officials and media should avoid dehumanizing language, upholds freedom of speech, and declares the U.S. has "zero tolerance" for Islamophobia, antisemitism, anti-Palestinian discrimination, and hate crimes. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally honors Wadee’s life and addresses the broader issue of hate-driven violence against minority communities.

Maddy summaryThe INFANTS Act of 2023 requires manufacturers of infant and toddler food (for children up to 24 months) to test their products quarterly for harmful contaminants like lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. Companies must create written sampling plans, maintain detailed records for at least two years, and use internationally accredited labs for testing. The bill also adds new rules for environmental monitoring to prevent pathogens like Cronobacter in powdered infant formula and mandates that manufacturers report positive test results within 24 hours. These requirements apply to all manufacturers of infant and toddler food and take effect 180 days after the FDA issues guidance on sampling plans.

Maddy summaryHR 6830, the "Books Save Lives Act," requires covered schools (elementary/secondary schools receiving federal funds) and public libraries receiving federal assistance to maintain staffed libraries with diverse book collections. These collections must include books written by, illustrated by, or about individuals from underrepresented communities - defined as racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, religious minorities, or people with disabilities. The bill states that excluding such "covered books" could be used as evidence of discrimination under civil rights laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It also mandates a report on the impact of book-banning campaigns on these communities within 180 days of enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Brittany Clardy Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Act establishes a new Office within the Department of Justice to address the disproportionate rates of missing and murdered Black women and girls in the U.S. The Office will collect and analyze data on these cases - including case resolution times, Amber Alert usage, and trafficking links - and create a public dashboard for tracking. It also creates a grant program for community organizations to provide culturally appropriate prevention services, law enforcement training, and victim support. The Office must submit biennial reports to Congress with findings and recommendations to improve the criminal justice response to these cases. This bill directly affects Black women and girls facing violence, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations providing related services.