Rep. Hillary J. Scholten

Maddy summaryThe Housing ACCESS Act requires the federal government to issue guidance within one year to help states connect Medicaid beneficiaries with housing services. It directs states to align eligibility processes, streamline service coordination between health and housing agencies, and track outcomes like housing stability - disaggregated by race. The bill also mandates a national study to set fair reimbursement rates for housing services, aiming to ensure living wages for providers and a 1:15 case manager-to-client ratio. States must report on progress within two years, with the guidance intended to simplify how health and housing providers access each other's systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. app stores, hosting services, and distributors from enabling foreign adversary-controlled applications (like TikTok, owned by ByteDance) to operate within U.S. borders. It requires companies to provide users with their data in a machine-readable format before a ban takes effect, and imposes civil penalties of up to $5,000 per affected user for violations. The law directly affects major app platforms, app stores, and internet hosting services, targeting applications owned by entities controlled by designated "foreign adversary" countries (e.g., China). It includes exemptions for companies that divest U.S. operations to non-adversary entities before the ban date.

Maddy summaryHR 7634, the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, prohibits plastic pellets and pre-production plastic materials from being discharged into water through wastewater, spills, or runoff from specific facilities. It directly affects plastic polymer production facilities, plastic molding and forming facilities, and any point source (like packaging or transport operations) handling plastic pellets. The bill requires the EPA to issue a final rule within 60 days of enactment banning these discharges and updating all relevant wastewater, stormwater, and performance standards in permits and regulations. This creates a legal requirement for facilities to prevent plastic pellet pollution in waterways, targeting a major source of ocean plastic pollution.

Maddy summaryHR 7629, the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2024, allocates $1.4 billion annually (2025-2029) to the U.S. Postal Service for high-security collection boxes and replacing physical universal mailbox keys with electronic versions, directly affecting USPS operations and letter carriers. It requires the Attorney General to appoint specialized prosecutors in each district to coordinate investigations and prosecutions of postal-related crimes, such as assaults on carriers or mail theft. The bill also mandates the U.S. Sentencing Commission to adjust guidelines so that assaults or robberies against postal employees are treated with the same severity as assaults against law enforcement officers. These provisions aim to enhance safety through infrastructure upgrades, improved prosecution, and stricter sentencing for crimes targeting postal workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the H-2B visa program to better align visa numbers with economic needs. It creates an exemption from numerical limits for rural and seasonal workers (defined as areas outside metropolitan statistical areas with seasonal population increases), requires employers to maintain worksite safety plans, and prohibits foreign labor recruiters from charging workers fees. The bill also increases penalties for violations, requires employers to report certain employment events within 3 business days, and establishes stricter eligibility criteria for countries participating in the H-2B program. These changes aim to improve program integrity while protecting both workers and employers.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) must comply with size standards to compete for certain government contracts under the Small Business Act. It ensures businesses certified as WOSBs before the law's enactment can continue competing until they notify authorities they no longer qualify or are determined to exceed size limits. The bill prevents disqualification of existing certified businesses during a transition period and specifies that no new formal size determinations are required for WOSB certification applications. It amends Section 8(m)(2)(E) of the Small Business Act to explicitly require size standard compliance for WOSB eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal interagency committee led by the Office of Science and Technology Policy to coordinate soil carbon research and monitoring across 11 agencies, including Agriculture, Energy, EPA, and NOAA. The committee must develop a strategic plan, create standardized measurement protocols, submit regular reports to Congress, and engage agricultural communities - especially historically underserved groups - in research design. It also creates working groups focused on monitoring standards, data management, research gaps, and community outreach. The bill authorizes $10 million in funding to implement these coordination efforts.

Maddy summaryHR 7478, the PROTECT Jewish Student and Faculty Act, amends the Higher Education Act to require colleges and universities receiving federal funds to take specific steps against antisemitism. The bill mandates that these institutions include the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism in all campus conduct documents and explicitly state that antisemitic conduct by students may lead to expulsion, while antisemitic conduct by employees may result in termination. This directly affects all institutions covered under the Higher Education Act by imposing new requirements for policy documentation and disciplinary consequences. The key mechanism is the mandatory inclusion of the IHRA definition and clear statements of penalties, aiming to standardize how institutions address antisemitism on campus.

Maddy summaryHR 7412, the Rural Housing Voucher Enhancement Act of 2024, aims to protect rural tenants who rely on USDA housing vouchers - primarily seniors and people with disabilities - from housing instability. The bill requires the USDA to provide clear, accessible notices (in preferred formats like large print or translation) to tenants when their property faces prepayment or loan maturity, explaining how to secure a voucher. It also mandates a 5-year strategic plan to identify at-risk properties, coordinate with landlords to maintain housing options, and track tenant outcomes. The law ensures tenants eligible for vouchers can access them without unnecessary delays, focusing on preventing homelessness when housing contracts end.

Maddy summaryHRES 966 is a symbolic resolution condemning alleged sexual violence committed by Hamas during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. It specifically references eyewitness accounts, forensic evidence, and Hamas fighters' admissions of ordering gang rape, sexual mutilation, and assault against Israeli civilians. The resolution calls for international condemnation of such acts as weapons of war, urges nations to criminalize sexual violence, and supports investigations into Hamas' actions. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect any individuals but formally expresses the House's position on the issue.