Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to significantly increase federal research funding for uterine fibroids ($30 million annually from 2026-2030), expand coordination of NIH research, and establish a Medicaid data system to track treatment access and costs. It mandates public education on fibroid symptoms, prevalence (especially among Black women, who face higher risk and severity), and non-hysterectomy treatment options. The bill also requires disseminating evidence-based provider resources on managing fibroids while preserving fertility. These provisions directly affect the estimated 26 million U.S. women with fibroids - particularly women of color - and aim to address the current lack of research and treatment data.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 4372) requires the Department of Defense to shorten reporting timelines for cost overruns on major defense acquisition programs, cutting the deadline from "when a report is submitted" to 30 days after the report is issued. It adds new rules for designating "end items" costing over $500 million each as separate subprograms for reporting, mandates including full life-cycle operations/support costs in reports, and creates stricter termination rules for programs with repeated cost breaches. Specifically, programs exceeding cost thresholds twice must be terminated within 90 days of reassessment, and all breach reports must be posted publicly on a DoD website. The bill directly affects DoD acquisition programs over $500 million, aiming to improve transparency and congressional oversight of defense spending.

Maddy summaryHRES 575 is a symbolic resolution designating July 10th as "Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day." It honors lineworkers who face significant risks daily - working at heights near live wires and responding to disasters like hurricanes and wildfires. The resolution specifically references Henry Miller, an early leader of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who died on July 10, 1896, while troubleshooting an outage. It encourages the public to recognize these workers' contributions but does not create new laws or allocate funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the FDA's Office of Food Chemical Safety to reassess the safety of at least 10 food additives or related substances every three years starting in 2026. It specifically prioritizes substances like titanium dioxide, red dye 40, BHA, BHT, and sodium nitrite for initial review. If reassessments find substances unsafe, the FDA must update regulations, revoke approvals, or require new pre-market notifications. The law affects food manufacturers by mandating regular safety reviews of additives already in use, with results made public through FDA notices.

Maddy summaryThe Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025 creates a federal grant program to help high-need schools hire and retain mental health professionals like counselors, psychologists, and social workers. It targets schools in the top 15% of need (based on student poverty or counts) that lack required staff ratios, such as one counselor per 250 students. Grants fund recruitment incentives (e.g., student loan repayment), retention programs, and evidence-based mental health services, with recipients required to contribute 25% of costs from non-federal funds. Schools must report annually on staff numbers, student-to-staff ratios, and retention rates to track progress toward improved mental health access.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the requirement for federal firearm licensees (FFLs) to report multiple firearm sales. It modifies existing law to require reporting on all firearms, not just handguns (pistols or revolvers), when a single transaction involves two or more firearms. This change directly affects FFLs who sell multiple firearms at once, such as in dealer-to-dealer transfers or large retail sales. The key mechanism is updating the legal definition in the statute to include every type of firearm, streamlining the reporting process under current federal law.

Maddy summaryHR 4265, the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act of 2025, would provide $350 million annually (2026-2030) in federal grants to cover travel and logistical costs for people seeking abortion care in states with bans or severe restrictions. The bill directly affects individuals who must travel across state lines for abortion services, particularly those facing systemic barriers like Black, Indigenous, and low-income people. Grants can cover round-trip travel, lodging, childcare, meals, translation, and lost wages, but cannot fund the abortion procedure itself. Eligible recipients are community-based abortion funds meeting specific criteria, with priority given to organizations serving those impacted by state abortion bans.

Maddy summaryHRES 558 is a symbolic House resolution commemorating the July 4, 2022, Highland Park, Illinois, Independence Day Parade shooting. It honors the seven victims - Katie Goldstein, Irina McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Stephen Strauss, Jacquelyn Sundheim, Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, and Eduardo Uvaldo - who were killed, and supports the over 40 survivors and the Highland Park community. The resolution expresses the House's remembrance of the tragedy, acknowledges the community's healing efforts, and reaffirms commitment to reducing gun violence. As a commemorative resolution, it contains no new policies or funding provisions.

Maddy summaryHRES 550 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing June 2025 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. It formally encourages all U.S. citizens to celebrate Pride Month to learn about LGBTQIA+ history, including the Stonewall Inn and Compton's Cafeteria uprisings. The resolution affirms that LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights and emphasizes the ongoing struggle for equality. It has no legal effect but serves as a symbolic statement of support for the LGBTQIA+ community and its history.

Maddy summaryHR 4244 prohibits Medicaid from covering conversion therapy, defined as any paid practice attempting to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. This applies to all Medicaid enrollees and providers starting in the first quarter after the law takes effect. The bill explicitly excludes supportive services like gender transition assistance or counseling focused on acceptance and coping. It directly affects Medicaid-funded healthcare providers who offer conversion therapy and enrollees who might otherwise access such services through Medicaid.