Rep. April McClain Delaney

Maddy summaryHR 5309, the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, authorizes a posthumous Congressional gold medal for Constance Baker Motley, a pioneering civil rights attorney and judge. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to strike the medal with her image and name, to be presented to her son, Joel W. Motley III, and her niece, Constance Royster. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates at cost to cover expenses, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint fund. This is a commemorative measure with no substantive policy changes, honoring Motley’s legacy as the first African-American woman appointed to a federal judgeship.

Maddy summaryThe FLAME Act requires the U.S. Fire Administration to provide Congress 60 days' notice before canceling 25% or more of the National Academy’s annual courses, including details on affected departments and justifications. It mandates notifying enrolled firefighters and fire chiefs at least 45 days before cancellations, with reimbursement for fire departments’ travel and staffing costs (like overtime) unless cancellations are due to "good cause" (e.g., facility closures or national emergencies). The bill also directs a GAO study by March 2026 to analyze how large-scale cancellations impact fire department readiness, interoperability, and the Academy’s role in training. This directly affects fire departments nationwide that send personnel to the Academy for in-person or virtual training.

Maddy summaryHR 5278, the Affordable Inhalers and Nebulizers Act of 2025, limits out-of-pocket costs for patients using prescription inhalers and nebulizers to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The bill requires private health insurance plans, Medicare Part B and Part D, and new payment programs to cover these products with no deductible and a maximum cost of $15 per 30-day supply. It directly affects patients with asthma or COPD who rely on covered inhalers, nebulizers, and related equipment like spacers. The law applies to all specified inhaler products (including medications and administration equipment) and takes effect for plan years beginning January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. President to identify Pakistani officials responsible for undermining democracy and human rights within 180 days of enactment, then impose Global Magnitsky sanctions on them. It targets senior government, military, or security officials found to have committed gross human rights violations or interfered with democratic processes, such as during Pakistan’s 2024 elections or through constitutional changes. Sanctions would include asset freezes and travel bans, with exceptions for humanitarian aid, UN obligations, and national security activities. The bill expires on September 30, 2030, and aims to pressure Pakistan to uphold democratic norms, human rights, and judicial independence.

Maddy summary# Summary of the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 This comprehensive legislation reauthorizes and modernizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) weather and climate programs through 2030, with several key focuses: ## Core Program Reauthorizations - **Commercial Data Program** ($100M annually): Establishes a formal program to acquire weather/environmental data from private sector entities, including standards, prioritization, and data assimilation practices - **Commercial Data Pilot Program** (15% of Commercial Data Program funds): Tests and evaluates private sector data for use in NOAA operations - **Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System**: Requires transition to cloud-based operations by 2030 to enable more flexible workforce ## Hazard Communication Improvements - **Hazardous Weather Risk Communication Program**: Focuses on simplifying and improving communication of weather hazards through social, behavioral, and risk science research - **Post-Storm Surveys**: Requires systematic surveys after significant weather events, with emphasis on vulnerable populations - **NOAA Weather Radio Modernization**: Expands coverage, enhances reliability, and transitions to internet protocol-based communications ## Operational Modernization - **National Weather Service Workforce**: Includes hiring assessments, health/morale evaluations, and designation of service hydrologists - **Aviation Weather Program**: Enhances turbulence forecasting, data acquisition, and coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration - **Data Management**: Establishes consistent data standards, infrastructure, and sharing practices across NOAA ## Specialized Programs - **Atmospheric Rivers Forecast Improvement Program**: Focuses on improving forecasts of atmospheric rivers that impact the western U.S. - **Coastal Flooding and Storm Surge Program**: Improves coastal inundation forecasting and warning systems - **National Integrated Drought Information System**: Enhances drought monitoring and forecasting capabilities - **National Mesonet Program**: Expands environmental observation networks across the U.S., with 15% of funds for financial assistance to state/local entities - **National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network**: Supports soil moisture monitoring for agricultural and drought management - **Precipitation Forecast Improvement Program**: Aims to improve precipitation forecasting across all timescales ## Funding The bill authorizes significant funding across these programs, with annual appropriations ranging from $10M to $70M depending on the program, for fiscal years 2026-2030. The legislation represents a major effort to modernize NOAA's infrastructure, improve weather communication to the public, and better integrate commercial data sources while maintaining NOAA's leadership in weather and climate science.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Social Security Act to remove a payment limitation for certain Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers. Specifically, it strikes a provision (subparagraph (C) of Section 1915(c)(11)) that restricted how states could fund these waivers under Medicaid. The change directly affects state Medicaid programs that use HCBS waivers to provide home and community care for people with disabilities or elderly individuals. By removing this restriction, states gain more flexibility in allocating Medicaid funds for these services, without altering eligibility or service requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects farmers and ranchers who apply for or receive loans or payments through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) by restricting how their personal information is shared. It prohibits FSA employees from disclosing borrower details to certain government employees (like special government employees or staff detailed to FSA under specific rules), except for anonymized statistics or with the borrower's voluntary consent. Violations could result in fines up to $10,000 or imprisonment. The law directly affects agricultural borrowers by strengthening privacy safeguards around their financial data in FSA programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading certain investments, including stocks, commodities, and derivatives (referred to as "covered investments"). It requires affected individuals to divest these investments within 90-180 days, with specific exemptions for Treasury bonds, diversified mutual funds, small business interests, and family trusts meeting strict conditions. Violations incur penalties of 10% of the investment's value plus disgorgement of profits, paid directly to the U.S. Treasury. The law applies to all covered individuals during federal service, with exceptions for investments acquired through inheritance or occupational trading (e.g., a spouse’s finance job).

Maddy summaryThis bill permits military retirees and veterans receiving 100% disability compensation (under 38 U.S.C. §1114) to contribute a portion of their retired pay or disability benefits to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). It applies only to individuals who already held a TSP account before separating from service. The bill requires the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, with Defense and Veterans Affairs, to issue implementing regulations within 180 days of enactment. This creates a new pathway for these veterans to grow retirement savings using their existing benefit payments.

Maddy summaryHR 4966 prohibits grocery stores from selling items at "grossly excessive prices," defined as 120% or more above the average market price over the previous six months (with exceptions for unavoidable cost increases like supply chain issues). It bans using facial recognition or personal data to set different prices for individual customers (e.g., adjusting prices based on shopping history) and requires clear signage if facial recognition is used. Stores over 10,000 square feet must replace electronic shelf labels with physical price tags. The Federal Trade Commission enforces these rules, allowing consumers to seek $3,000 per violation or actual damages, with penalties for willful violations.