Rep. Sharice Davids

Maddy summaryHR 4083, the Marshall “Major” Taylor Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor cyclist Marshall Walter "Major" Taylor (1878-1932), recognizing his pioneering achievements as a Black athlete who broke racial barriers in professional cycling during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal with his name and image, to be presented to Taylor’s great-granddaughter, Karen Donovan. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs, classifying all medals as national commemorative items under U.S. law. This is a ceremonial bill with no policy changes, solely focused on commemorating Taylor’s legacy.

Maddy summaryHR 4029 increases federal Medicaid funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) by raising the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) by 10 points for eligible states during 2026-2027, capping at 95%. It directly affects states that submit approved applications and their Medicaid beneficiaries receiving HCBS, requiring funds to boost pay for home health workers (including hazard pay and paid leave), reduce waiting lists, and support family caregivers. States must use funds to supplement, not replace, existing state spending, improve worker retention, and expand services for those on waiting lists or relocated from homes to institutions. All states must report outcomes by December 2029, including service access metrics and workforce improvements.

Maddy summaryThe Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act of 2025 establishes five regional centers to strengthen cybersecurity for the agriculture sector, directly benefiting farmers, food producers, and supply chain businesses. Funded with $25 million annually from 2026-2030, the centers will research and develop sector-specific tools like threat-monitoring systems, intrusion detection, and secure network protocols. They will create testing environments for cybersecurity solutions, conduct training for agricultural workers, and coordinate with industry partners to address digital threats. This program aims to improve the sector’s resilience against cyberattacks without advocating for specific policy outcomes.

Maddy summaryHR 4011, the Community Paramedicine Act of 2025, creates a federal grant program to fund community paramedicine programs in rural areas. It provides grants to eligible entities - such as emergency medical services agencies, local governments, or Tribal organizations - to hire personnel, purchase equipment, cover training costs, and conduct outreach. The bill specifically reserves 15% of annual funding for programs serving Tribal communities and limits grants to $750,000 per entity (or $1.5 million for joint applications) over a maximum 5-year period. These programs aim to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits by using specially trained paramedics to address health issues and improve access to primary care for underserved populations.

Maddy summaryHR 3957 amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act to directly authorize Indian Tribal Governments to request fire management assistance from the President, rather than requiring them to go through state governments. The bill allows tribal leaders (Chief Executives) to submit requests directly to the President for fire-related disaster aid, which would be processed through FEMA. It also requires the President to update federal regulations within one year, clarifying that tribes can receive aid directly or through state requests, while mandating government-to-government consultation with tribes during rulemaking. This change ensures tribal governments have a clear, direct pathway to access federal fire management resources during emergencies.

Maddy summaryHR 3946, the FIGHT Act of 2025, amends the Animal Welfare Act to specifically prohibit gambling on animal fighting events and restrict the interstate transport of roosters used in such ventures. It defines "rooster" as male chickens over six months old and makes it unlawful to sponsor, exhibit, attend (for those under 16), or gamble on animal fighting events - whether in-person or broadcast. The bill creates a civil enforcement mechanism allowing any person to file a lawsuit to stop violations after providing 60 days' notice to authorities, with potential fines up to $5,000 per violation. It also establishes seizure of property used to facilitate violations and clarifies that state laws on animal fighting remain in effect unless directly conflicting with federal provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires colleges receiving federal work-study funds to notify eligible students about potential eligibility for the SNAP food assistance program. It specifically targets students participating in federal work-study or receiving Pell Grants, mandating that institutions send email notifications with state-specific SNAP eligibility details and a document confirming their work-study status to overcome a key ineligibility barrier. The notifications, developed jointly by the Education and Agriculture Departments, include application contacts and guidance for schools on identifying eligible students. The policy change directly enables more college students to access nutrition assistance by clarifying their SNAP eligibility through institutional outreach.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act to allow federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations to directly manage the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) through self-determination contracts or self-governance agreements. It requires tribes to purchase domestically produced food that maintains similar nutritional value and package size to current FDPIR offerings, while respecting foods of Tribal significance. The Secretary must consult tribes on participation processes and submit annual reports to Congress on program activities. The bill also terminates a prior demonstration program and ensures tribal agreements follow the Indian Self-Determination Act’s rules, with interpretations favoring tribal interests. This directly affects tribal communities managing their own food distribution systems on reservations.

Maddy summaryThe PHARA Act of 2025 requires the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to immediately release all required funding for existing research grants and rapidly pay pending reimbursements. It prohibits NIH from terminating active research grants (entered after the bill's enactment) solely due to shifting agency priorities or program goals, and mandates new termination clauses requiring 90 days' written notice and attempts to amend terms before ending agreements. This directly affects researchers and institutions receiving NIH grants, ensuring funding continuity for ongoing projects. The bill aims to prevent abrupt halts in scientific research by restructuring grant termination processes.

Maddy summaryHR 3931, the Kids on the Go Act of 2025, requires states to appoint a "Safe routes to school coordinator" for transportation projects. If a state hires such a coordinator, the federal government will cover 95% of eligible project costs under the relevant transportation program (previously a lower percentage). This bill directly affects state transportation agencies and school districts receiving federal funds for safe routes to school initiatives. The key change is the increased federal funding rate tied to the coordinator position, aiming to improve student safety during school commutes. The bill does not mandate hiring but offers a significant funding incentive for states that choose to implement this role.