Rep. Jesús G. "Chuy" García

Maddy summaryThe Debt-Free College Act of 2026 establishes a state-federal partnership that provides federal grants to states to cover the unmet financial need of eligible students attending in-state public colleges, effectively making tuition debt-free for those who qualify. To participate, states must commit to capping tuition increases at inflation levels, maintaining their current level of funding for higher education, and implementing student success programs that support low-income and underserved populations. The bill also creates a separate five-year grant program for specific minority-serving institutions and tribal colleges to help them cover student costs, while simultaneously expanding federal financial aid eligibility to include "Dreamer students" who entered the United States as minors under certain conditions.

Maddy summaryThe Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act extends the protections of the Military Lending Act to all consumers, not just active-duty military members and their dependents. This change caps interest rates on most consumer credit products at 36 percent per year and restricts certain fees and terms for loans extended by creditors. The bill excludes specific types of credit from these limits, including residential mortgages, auto loans secured by the vehicle being purchased, and loans made by federal credit unions that comply with existing usury laws. State attorneys general and regulators are granted authority to enforce these new rules through civil actions, while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is required to issue implementing regulations within one year of enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Food for Thought Act of 2026 establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Agriculture to provide free meals and snacks to low-income college students at eligible institutions, including community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, and other minority-serving schools. To qualify, an institution must have at least 20 percent of its undergraduate students eligible for Federal Pell Grants, and grants are awarded for a maximum duration of two years with funds restricted to meal preparation, outreach, and limited equipment purchases. Recipients are required to prioritize students who receive Pell Grants or report food insecurity, while also evaluating institutional policies that may create barriers to enrollment and referring students to other federal benefit programs like SNAP. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 and mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture submit reports to Congress on the program's impact on student retention and completion rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require Medicare to cover early detection screening tests for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias starting January 1, 2028. It defines eligible tests as FDA-cleared genomic blood tests, blood product analyses, or equivalent medical imaging methods (like protein expression or whole genome sequencing) that detect pre-symptomatic or early-stage conditions. Medicare beneficiaries would receive this coverage without cost-sharing for these specific screenings. The bill amends Medicare coverage rules to explicitly include these tests under Section 1861(nnn) of the Social Security Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all new passenger vehicles manufactured for sale in the U.S. to include AM radio as standard equipment (not an optional add-on) by 2027-2028, depending on manufacturer size. It mandates that AM radio receivers must be easily accessible to drivers and allows compliance through digital AM broadcast technology. During a transition period, manufacturers must clearly label vehicles without AM radio but cannot charge extra for this feature. The bill also mandates a GAO study on AM radio's role in emergency alerts and includes a 10-year sunset provision for the rule. It preempts state laws regarding AM radio access in vehicles.

Maddy summaryH.J. Res. 216 proposes a constitutional amendment to eliminate the exception in the Thirteenth Amendment that currently permits slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. The resolution would amend the Constitution to explicitly state that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude may be imposed on anyone as a penalty for criminal conduct. This change would directly affect incarcerated individuals by prohibiting forced labor practices within the criminal justice system, while clarifying that voluntary work programs and community service alternatives remain permissible.

Maddy summaryThe Survivors' Rights Restitution Act of 2026 establishes a federal compensation program administered by the Attorney General for victims of sexual assault, abuse, trafficking, or exploitation involving Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as victims whose rights were violated by the federal government. Petitions are filed with the United States Court of Federal Claims and assigned to special adjudicators who must be mental health professionals or experts in victim services, civil rights law, or claims administration. The process is designed to be informal and less adversarial than standard litigation, with decisions required within 120 days and a minimum compensation award of $123,000. Compensation is funded by a dedicated Treasury account that accepts forfeited assets and voluntary contributions, and payments are exempt from federal income tax and means-tested benefit calculations.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 14855 South Van Dyke Road in Plainfield, Illinois, as the "Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. Post Office Building." It directly affects the postal facility and all official references to it. The key provision requires that any future law, document, or record referring to the location must use the new name. This is a purely procedural renaming with no funding, policy changes, or impact beyond official nomenclature.

Maddy summaryThis bill names a U.S. Postal Service facility at 1300 East Northwest Highway in Palatine, Illinois, as the "Bernie Bluestein Post Office Building." It updates all official references in federal laws, documents, and records to reflect this new name for the location. The change is purely administrative and affects how the building is identified in government materials. No new policies or funding are involved; it is a ceremonial designation.