Rep. Delia C. Ramirez

Maddy summaryHR 4719, the Freedom to Move Act, would create $5 billion in federal grants to help cities, counties, and transit agencies make public transportation free and improve service quality. Local governments applying for these grants must demonstrate how they will redesign bus routes to prioritize low-income and minority neighborhoods, eliminate criminal penalties for fare evasion, and address transit gaps in underserved communities. The grants cover lost fare revenue and fund specific improvements like safer bus stops, dedicated bus lanes, and better service frequency. This directly affects transit agencies and riders in communities currently lacking reliable, affordable transportation options.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prohibit the detention of pregnant women, lactating women, and postpartum mothers (within one year of childbirth) in immigration custody, requiring their immediate release except in rare circumstances involving public safety threats. It bans the use of physical restraints on these individuals during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery, with only extremely limited exceptions. The bill mandates that facilities provide comprehensive reproductive health care including prenatal care, labor and delivery services, postpartum care, and access to abortion services. It requires facilities to maintain medical records, obtain informed consent for medical procedures, and conduct weekly reviews of any detained individuals under exceptional circumstances. The bill also establishes reporting requirements for facilities and creates transparency through public reporting of detention practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to recognize college athletes as employees eligible for collective bargaining rights. It directly affects athletes receiving athletic scholarships (grant-in-aid) who perform services for their institution, including those at public and private universities. Key provisions establish that athletes meeting specific criteria (receiving compensation for athletic participation) are employees, allow multiemployer bargaining units across athletic conferences, and prohibit waivers of these rights in scholarship agreements. The bill explicitly states it will not change tax treatment of athletic compensation or affect eligibility for federal financial aid.

Maddy summaryHR 4696 amends Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to update eligibility for a registry program that provides a pathway to legal status for long-term residents. It changes the requirement from entering the U.S. before January 1, 1972, to entering at least 7 years before the application date. This adjustment bases eligibility on a rolling 7-year window instead of a fixed historical cutoff, allowing more recent long-term residents to qualify. The bill directly affects individuals who entered the U.S. after 1972 but maintained continuous residence for at least seven years prior to applying.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits companies from using automated systems to set prices or wages based on surveillance data about consumers or workers. It bans "surveillance-based price setting" (personalized pricing based on consumer tracking) and "surveillance-based wage setting" (using personal data to determine worker pay), with limited exceptions for standard discounts like student or senior citizen rates when properly disclosed. Companies must publish clear procedures about how their automated systems work, including how data is used and how consumers/workers can challenge inaccuracies. The Federal Trade Commission and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will enforce the law, and individuals can file lawsuits to challenge violations. The bill also prohibits pre-dispute arbitration agreements that would prevent class action lawsuits.

Maddy summaryThe End Solitary Confinement Act would prohibit most solitary confinement in federal prisons and detention centers, requiring all incarcerated people to have at least 14 hours daily of out-of-cell group interaction in shared spaces. It establishes strict limits on when solitary confinement can be used (only for brief counts, emergencies as a last resort, or medical isolation), with specific protections for vulnerable populations including youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, pregnant people, and LGBTQ+ individuals. The bill creates a community monitoring body to oversee implementation, requires detailed reporting on confinement practices, and provides incentives for states to adopt similar standards through funding adjustments. It also includes due process protections for placement in restrictive housing and prohibits punitive practices like limiting access to services or confiscating personal property.

Maddy summaryThe RAP Act of 2025 amends federal evidence rules to generally prohibit the use of a defendant's creative or artistic expression (such as music, poetry, or visual art) as evidence in criminal or civil trials. It directly affects defendants whose artistic works might otherwise be presented against them, making such evidence inadmissible unless the government proves specific conditions by "clear and convincing evidence." These conditions require showing the expression was intended literally, directly relates to the specific facts of the case, is uniquely relevant, and has distinct probative value not available through other admissible evidence. If admitted under the exception, courts must redact the evidence and provide special jury instructions. The law aims to protect artistic expression from being misused in legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryThe End Polluter Welfare Act of 2025 eliminates federal subsidies for fossil fuel production by repealing tax incentives, increasing royalty rates, and prohibiting federal funding for fossil fuel projects. It directly affects oil, gas, and coal companies by terminating tax credits like the enhanced oil recovery credit (Section 43), ending special tax treatments for fossil fuel activities, and increasing offshore royalty rates to 18 3/4 percent. The bill prohibits U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and Export-Import Bank funding for fossil fuel projects, ends interest payments on royalty overpayments, and terminates tax provisions allowing accelerated depreciation for fossil fuel infrastructure. These changes apply to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment date, with specific provisions targeting coal, petroleum, and natural gas production.

Maddy summaryH.J. Res. 108 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove legal immunity for federal officials, including the President, from criminal prosecution for actions taken while performing official duties. It would prohibit the President from granting pardons to themselves and eliminate the defense that "official authority" excuses violations of federal or state law (with limited exceptions for certain congressional actions). If ratified, this amendment would require Congress to pass implementing laws to enforce these changes. The proposal is currently in the House Judiciary Committee and requires approval by three-fourths of state legislatures to become part of the Constitution.

Maddy summaryHR 1522, the Federal Retirement Fairness Act, changes federal retirement rules to include temporary employees' service after January 1, 1988, in retirement benefit calculations. It directly affects temporary federal employees (including U.S. Postal Service workers) and Members of Congress who served after that date. The bill removes a previous cutoff date in retirement law, allowing their temporary service to count toward retirement eligibility. This means eligible temporary workers can now have their full service period considered when calculating retirement benefits.