Rep. Kweisi Mfume

Maddy summaryThe Sustaining Our Democracy Act establishes a federal program providing funding to states for election administration improvements, increased voter access, and protection of election workers. States must submit detailed plans for using funds to upgrade voting equipment, expand early and mail voting options, secure election infrastructure, and address disparities in voting access for underserved communities. The bill prohibits states from using funds for activities that restrict voting access or suppress participation, and creates an Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation to administer the program. Funded through a $2.5 billion Trust Fund for fiscal years 2026-2035, this legislation directly affects all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories receiving federal election funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a barrier preventing most low-income students from accessing SNAP benefits. It amends the Food and Nutrition Act to explicitly allow students enrolled at least half-time in recognized higher education programs to qualify for SNAP, reversing a prior exclusion. The key change eliminates the previous requirement that students meet specific exceptions (now deleted) and adds a new eligibility category under Section 3(m)(5). This directly affects low-income undergraduate and graduate students at colleges and training programs who were previously ineligible. The changes take effect January 2, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $50 million annually for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct research on firearms safety and gun violence prevention, beginning in fiscal year 2026 through 2031. The funding is in addition to existing CDC appropriations and would support studies under the Public Health Service Act. It does not create new regulations or directly affect individuals, but aims to expand research into causes and prevention strategies for gun violence. The bill focuses solely on enabling CDC research, without proposing policy changes or restrictions.

Fix Our Flooded Basements Act of 2025 This bill expands the disaster assistance provided to individuals and households for repairs to and property in flood-damaged basements. It also expands eligibility and coverage for certain group flood insurance. Under current law, the Individual Assistance (IA) program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) limits home repair assistance for flood-damaged basements to damage affecting the safety, sanitation, or functionality of the home (e.g., structural damage, hazardous conditions). The bill allows home repair assistance for disaster-caused mold, mildew, and moisture damage in basements regardless of whether the damage affects safety, sanitation, or functionality. Additionally, flood-damaged basements are eligible for home repair assistance even when the basement is not required for occupying the dwelling. Also, currently, IA assistance for flood-damaged personal property in basements is limited to washers, dryers, and property essential for occupying the dwelling. The bill expands IA personal property assistance to more broadly cover property damaged by disaster-caused flooding in basements. The scope of such assistance must at least equal the coverage for such damage by a standard policy under the National Flood Insurance Program (e.g., covering air conditioning units and freezers in basements).  Additionally, FEMA must expand the eligibility and coverage of the group flood insurance it provides to IA recipients, including increasing the maximum coverage and expanding coverage for basements. The bill also excludes from the maximum for IA housing assistance expenses for (1) hazard mitigation measures in flood-damaged basements, and (2) premiums for group flood insurance policies.

Maddy summaryHR 4732, the Orphanage Trafficking Prevention and Protection Act, amends the definition of "severe forms of trafficking" under U.S. law to explicitly include the recruitment, transportation, or exploitation of children in residential care facilities (like orphanages, group homes, or boarding schools) for profit or exploitation. This change directly affects vulnerable children globally who are placed in such facilities, often falsely labeled as orphans, and are at high risk of trafficking for labor, sexual exploitation, or adoption fraud. The bill clarifies that using fraud, coercion, or exploitation against these children constitutes severe trafficking under existing law, strengthening legal tools to prosecute perpetrators and protect victims. It does not create new programs but ensures current anti-trafficking frameworks apply to this specific abuse pattern identified in U.S. government reports.

Maddy summaryHR 4702, the National Fire Academy Reporting Act, requires the National Fire Academy Administrator to submit an annual report to Congress by November 30 each year. The report must detail specific data about courses, programs, and funding from the previous fiscal year, including the number of fire departments and personnel (categorized as career or volunteer) that attended, the total courses offered and cancelled, and how funds were distributed to state/local training programs and student participants. This bill does not change funding levels or program requirements but mandates standardized reporting to Congress. The requirement begins after the bill's enactment, with the first report due November 30 of the first full year following enactment.

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 summaryThis bill prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurers from denying coverage, canceling policies, or increasing premiums based solely on a person's status as a living organ donor. It directly protects living organ donors by preventing insurance discrimination unrelated to actual health risks. The bill also requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to update public educational materials about organ donation benefits, risks, and insurance impacts within six months of enactment. These materials will include information on the new insurance protections established by the bill. The law relies on state insurance regulators for enforcement of the insurance provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and federal employee leave rules to clarify that recovery from organ donation surgery qualifies as a "serious health condition." It directly affects private-sector workers covered by the FMLA and federal civil service employees. The key change adds "including recovery from surgery related to organ donation" to the definitions of serious health conditions in both the FMLA and federal leave statutes. This ensures eligible employees can use their existing family and medical leave benefits to recover after donating an organ, without requiring new leave entitlements.

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.