Rep. Lauren Underwood

Maddy summaryHR 4769, the PFAS Alternatives Act, funds research and training to develop PFAS-free turnout gear for firefighters. It authorizes $25 million annually (2024-2028) for grants to eligible organizations to research, develop, and test next-generation gear without per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are linked to firefighter cancer risks. The bill requires partnerships with firefighting organizations to ensure research translates into practical training and gear care guidance, including decontamination protocols. It also allocates $2 million yearly for training programs on proper gear use and maintenance, aiming to reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals during fire operations.

Maddy summaryHR 4812, the Food for Thought Act of 2023, provides federal grants to eligible colleges and universities to offer free on-campus meals to low-income students. The bill targets institutions with high Pell Grant enrollment (at least 30% of undergrads), prioritizing community colleges, minority-serving institutions, and those in areas with high need. Participating schools must provide 1-10 free meals weekly to students facing food insecurity, with priority given to those with greatest financial need, and must report on student outcomes like retention and graduation rates. Grants cover meal costs, campus food pantries, and SNAP enrollment support, with funds allocated for 5 years and requiring detailed reporting on program impact.

Maddy summaryHR 2733, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Training Act of 2023, requires new VA employees hired after the bill's enactment to complete mandatory training about the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The training, developed by the OIG, covers the OIG's role, how to report fraud/waste/abuse confidentially, protections against retaliation for reporting, and ways to collaborate with the OIG to improve VA services. Employees must complete this training within one year of starting their VA job, and the training must be separate from existing VA ethics training. The bill ensures VA employees can access this training through the agency's talent management system and receive regular OIG updates on reporting procedures.

Maddy summaryH.J.Res. 25 would remove the 1979 deadline for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which was originally proposed in 1972. This bill directly affects states that ratified the ERA after the deadline (such as Nevada, Illinois, and Virginia in 2017-2018) by making their ratifications legally valid. The key provision states that the ERA is valid as part of the Constitution if ratified by three-fourths of states, regardless of the original deadline. The bill does not create new rights but aims to finalize the constitutional amendment process by eliminating the time limit.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 1282 (Major Richard Star Act), expands benefits for certain military retirees by allowing them to receive both veterans' disability compensation and military retirement pay simultaneously. It specifically affects combat-related disabled retirees under Chapter 61 of the military retirement system who have fewer than 20 years of service. The key change removes the automatic reduction of military retirement pay when these retirees also receive disability compensation, as amended in Section 1413a(b)(3) of Title 10. Technical updates to the law’s structure and effective date (starting after enactment) complete the provisions.

Maddy summaryHJRES 82 is a non-binding resolution stating that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) has been validly ratified by the required 38 states (including Virginia's 2020 ratification) and should be certified as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It directs the Archivist of the United States to fulfill their statutory duty under Title 1, U.S. Code, to certify and publish the ERA without delay. The resolution argues Article V of the Constitution has no ratification deadline, citing precedents like the 27th Amendment. It does not change the Constitution itself but urges the Archivist to complete the certification process. The bill affects the Archivist’s office, requiring them to act on the ERA’s ratification status.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $30 million annually (2024-2028) for the National Institutes of Health to expand research on uterine fibroids, including studies on racial disparities (noting Black women are 80% likely to develop fibroids by menopause versus 70% of White women). It also requires the creation of a Medicaid database to track treatment services for fibroids and mandates a congressional report on related costs and coverage. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to develop public education materials about fibroid symptoms, treatment options (including non-hysterectomy care), and racial prevalence differences. It directly affects women with fibroids - particularly those from racial minority groups - and aims to improve data collection and awareness around a condition causing significant health burdens and healthcare costs.

Maddy summaryThe DISCLOSE Act of 2023 would increase transparency in political spending by requiring organizations making campaign-related disbursements over $10,000 to disclose the names and addresses of their major donors, including the top five funders for political communications. It would close loopholes allowing foreign nationals to secretly fund election activities through corporations or other entities by expanding the definition of prohibited foreign contributions. The bill would mandate "stand by every ad" disclosure requirements for political communications across all media, including audio, video, and internet ads, requiring clear identification of funders. It would also require reporting of disbursements related to Federal judicial nominations, which currently aren't subject to disclosure requirements. These provisions would apply to corporations, labor organizations, and certain nonprofits that engage in political activity.

Maddy summaryHRES 574 is a commemorative resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives to honor the victims and survivors of the July 4, 2022, mass shooting at Highland Park, Illinois' Independence Day Parade. It specifically remembers the seven people killed - Katie Goldstein, Irina McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Stephen Strauss, Jacquelyn Sundheim, Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, and Eduardo Uvaldo - and acknowledges the over 40 injured. The resolution expresses the House’s solidarity with Highland Park residents, emergency responders, and all affected by the tragedy, and supports the community’s healing process one year after the attack. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal effect or policy changes - it solely serves as a symbolic gesture of remembrance.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits defendants in federal criminal cases from using a victim's LGBTQ+ identity (sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression) as a legal excuse for violence or to reduce sentences - a practice known as the "LGBTQ+ panic defense." It specifically bans arguments that a "nonviolent sexual advance or perception" of the victim's identity justified the crime, while allowing evidence of the defendant's past trauma under standard evidence rules. The law directly affects federal criminal trials where defendants attempt to justify violence against LGBTQ+ victims using prejudice-based excuses. It also requires the Attorney General to report annually on federal prosecutions involving bias-motivated crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals.