Rep. Hillary J. Scholten

Maddy summaryHR 3507, the "Yes In My Backyard Act," requires local governments receiving certain federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to report on their progress toward adopting specific housing-friendly land use policies. It directly affects cities and counties that administer CDBG funds by mandating they submit plans tracking 22+ policy changes, such as allowing duplexes in single-family zones, reducing parking requirements, or streamlining permits. The bill does not require local governments to adopt these policies but requires them to document their current status and plans for implementation. This reporting mechanism aims to identify barriers to affordable housing without binding local governments to specific actions. The requirement applies to CDBG recipients starting one year after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 9405, the Foreign Adversary Investment Prohibition Act, prohibits current Members of Congress (Senators and Representatives) from engaging in certain financial transactions with entities tied to specific foreign adversaries, including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela under Maduro. It defines prohibited transactions broadly to include gifts, loans, investments in securities or commodities, and similar financial dealings. Violations can result in civil penalties of up to $15,000 per offense, enforced by the Attorney General through civil action. The law directly affects Members of Congress by restricting their financial interactions with entities linked to designated countries during their service.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to include new data on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in its regular energy reports, such as the Petroleum Supply Monthly. The data must cover feedstock sources (by state, U.S. total, and foreign countries), production volumes, and imports, while defining SAF as fuel meeting environmental standards (at least 50% lower lifecycle emissions than jet fuel) and not derived from palm oil or petroleum. The EIA must collect this information using reliable statistical methods without double-counting. This provides transparency on the SAF industry but does not change production rules or regulations.

Maddy summaryThe Safer Skies Act of 2024 requires certain smaller airlines to adopt the federal security screening program currently used by larger carriers. Specifically, it mandates that airlines operating passenger planes with more than 9 seats (that do not use TSA checkpoints, offer individual seats in advance with public schedules) must comply with the Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program within 360 days of enactment. The Transportation Security Administration must revise its rules to enforce this new requirement. This directly affects regional carriers that currently skip standard airport security screenings but serve passengers under these specific operational conditions. The bill extends existing security standards to cover these previously exempt airlines without creating new security protocols.

Maddy summaryThis bill names a U.S. Postal Service facility at 24837 Goddard Road in Taylor, Michigan, as the "Technical Sergeant E. Huston James Memorial Post Office Building" to honor a military veteran. It updates all official references (laws, maps, documents) to the location to reflect this new name. The bill has no policy or funding impact - it solely commemorates Technical Sergeant E. Huston James.

Maddy summaryThe Federal Prison Oversight Act establishes a new inspections regime for federal prisons, requiring the Justice Department's Inspector General to conduct regular assessments of Bureau of Prisons facilities. These inspections will evaluate conditions of confinement, medical care, staffing levels, safety protocols, and policies related to visitation and programming. The bill also creates a new Ombudsman position within the Department of Justice to receive and address complaints from incarcerated people, their families, and staff about health, safety, and rights concerns. The Inspector General must submit public reports with recommendations, and the Bureau must respond with corrective action plans within 60 days. The law includes protections against retaliation for those filing complaints and requires the Bureau to provide multiple confidential channels for submitting complaints.

Maddy summaryHR 9099 establishes the Federal Food Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee all U.S. food safety and regulatory activities previously handled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This new agency directly affects food facilities (like factories and warehouses), consumers, and public health by transferring FDA's food-related enforcement, inspections, and research functions to the Federal Food Administration. Key provisions include implementing risk-based inspections (annual for high-risk facilities, every 6 months for infant formula manufacturers), requiring follow-up compliance checks after violations, and creating science-based standards for food safety. The bill renames the FDA's drug-focused division as the Federal Drug Administration while shifting all food safety responsibilities to the new Federal Food Administration, effective 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 9104, the Access to Birth Control Act, requires pharmacies that normally stock contraception to provide birth control or related medications without delay if in stock, or immediately offer alternatives like referrals to other pharmacies or expedited orders if unavailable. It prohibits pharmacists from intimidating customers, misrepresenting availability, breaching confidentiality, or refusing to fill valid prescriptions for birth control. Pharmacies violating these rules face civil penalties up to $1,000 per day or private lawsuits. The law specifically applies to pharmacies that routinely carry contraception and excludes cases where a valid prescription is missing or payment cannot be made. It aims to address documented refusals to dispense birth control, particularly following the Dobbs decision.

Maddy summaryHR 9005, the Teacher, Principal, and Leader Residency Access Act, amends the Higher Education Act to allow Federal Work-Study funds to support paid residency programs for aspiring teachers, principals, and school leaders. The bill enables schools to use these funds for compensation during residency training and travel, prioritizing students eligible for Federal Pell Grants. It defines a "residency program" as a structured, year-long apprenticeship where participants work alongside mentor educators while completing coursework in teaching or leadership skills, culminating in full state certification. This directly affects school districts facing teacher shortages, especially in high-need subjects and schools serving low-income or minority students, by expanding access to a proven model that increases educator retention. The policy change focuses on funding mechanisms rather than outcomes, making residency participation financially feasible for participants and institutions.

Maddy summaryHRES 1355 is a non-binding resolution supporting the designation of July 10 as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day. It honors lineworkers who maintain electrical infrastructure under hazardous conditions, including during disasters, and commemorates Henry Miller, the first president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who died on July 10, 1896, while troubleshooting an electrical outage. The resolution encourages public recognition of these workers' contributions but does not create new laws or policies.