Rep. Hillary J. Scholten

Maddy summaryThis bill replaces "Columbus Day" with "Indigenous Peoples’ Day" as the official federal holiday observed on the second Monday in October. It directly affects federal government operations and all federal documents, rules, or laws that previously referenced "Columbus Day" by automatically updating those references to "Indigenous Peoples’ Day" upon enactment. The key mechanism is a simple amendment to federal law (5 U.S.C. § 6103(a)) to change the holiday name and a provision ensuring all existing federal references to Columbus Day are legally treated as referring to Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead. This is a procedural change to federal holidays and references, not a new policy or program.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 to create a new provision allowing the Secretary of the Army Corps of Engineers to partner with water and irrigation districts in designated areas. Specifically, it authorizes the Secretary to enter agreements with these districts for the use or sale of new technologies developed through a demonstration program, aimed at speeding up the removal of harmful algal blooms. The key mechanism focuses on facilitating the deployment of innovative solutions to address algal blooms in targeted regions. This directly affects water management districts operating in areas identified as high-priority for bloom mitigation under the existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill would grant federal recognition to the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians of Michigan, a tribe that has been awaiting formal recognition since filing a petition in 2000. The legislation affirms the tribe's status as a federally recognized tribe, making it eligible for all federal services and benefits (like healthcare, education, and housing programs) without requiring reservation land or specific residence locations. It also directs the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land in specific Michigan counties (Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana) for the tribe in trust status, and requires the tribe to establish a membership roll within 18 months. The bill addresses decades of delayed recognition, ensuring the tribe gains access to resources and rights it has been denied since its petition was filed.

Maddy summaryThe Student Loan Refinancing and Recalculation Act establishes a program allowing eligible borrowers to refinance existing Federal Direct and FFEL loans. Borrowers with loans first disbursed or applications received before July 1, 2024, can apply to have their loans reissued with a new interest rate calculated as the 10-year Treasury note yield plus 1 percent. The bill also eliminates origination fees for future Federal Direct Loans and prevents interest capitalization on certain loans, meaning borrowers won't pay interest on unpaid interest. This program aims to provide relief by potentially lowering interest rates while maintaining original repayment terms for eligible borrowers. The refinancing program will expire on a date determined by the bill's provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies to mandate that auto manufacturers bidding on vehicle assembly contracts disclose detailed workforce information for each plant involved. Specifically, contractors must provide average and range of hourly wages, temporary worker counts, and any OSHA or National Labor Relations Act violations at each manufacturing location. It also requires written agency permission - and additional disclosures - if a contractor seeks to shift production to a new plant, with notification to affected labor unions. The law directly affects auto manufacturers competing for federal vehicle assembly contracts and aims to increase transparency around labor practices.

Maddy summaryThe Main Street Competes Act requires the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to annually report on how their antitrust enforcement actions address harms to small businesses from anticompetitive conduct. These reports must detail complaints from small businesses, investigations, and enforcement actions, broken down by violation type and industry. The Small Business Administration’s Chief Counsel then analyzes the data and submits a congressional report with evaluations and recommendations to promote competition and support small business growth. This bill focuses on increasing transparency and accountability in antitrust enforcement as it relates to small business concerns.

Maddy summaryThe Protect America's Children from Toxic Pesticides Act would require the Environmental Protection Agency to complete pesticide registration reviews within 15 years, with automatic suspension of pesticides that miss deadlines. It mandates the EPA to review pesticides banned in the European Union or Canada, with automatic cancellation if the ban is not found to be clearly erroneous. The bill would ban organophosphate pesticides, neonicotinoids, and paraquat, prohibit continued sale of suspended or canceled pesticides, and require full disclosure of inert ingredients on product labels. It also establishes new protections for farmworkers by requiring bilingual labels, mandating incident reporting, and imposing penalties for non-compliance. These changes would directly affect pesticide manufacturers, farmers, farmworkers, and communities seeking to protect public health and the environment.

Maddy summaryHR 4943, the Enabling Farmers to Benefit from Processing Nutrition Programs Act of 2023, simplifies how farmers and ranchers can join federal nutrition programs like SNAP, senior farmers' market programs, and WIC farmers' market initiatives. It requires the USDA to create either a single application for all programs or a system that automatically shares approved vendor information across programs, eliminating duplicate paperwork for farmers. The bill also mandates the use of standardized mobile technology, such as mobile apps or single-point equipment, to process benefits at farmers markets and direct-to-consumer sales. This directly benefits direct marketing farmers and ranchers by reducing administrative barriers to participating in these nutrition assistance programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Higher Education Act to require all U.S. colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid to create detailed anti-harassment policies covering physical, online, and institution-sponsored settings. It mandates policies prohibiting harassment based on race, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, religion, and other protected characteristics, including harassment via institutional email, computers, or electronic messaging. The bill also establishes a $50 million annual grant program to fund colleges developing prevention programs, victim support services, and training for students and staff on recognizing and addressing harassment. These policies and grants must comply with existing civil rights laws like Title IX but add specific requirements for reporting and prevention.

Maddy summaryThe Better CARE for Animals Act of 2023 amends the Animal Welfare Act to strengthen enforcement of animal welfare standards. It gives the Attorney General authority to bring civil cases for violations, including seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day per violation and injunctions to remove or relocate animals. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and Attorney General to coordinate through a new Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on repeat violators. These changes directly affect dealers, exhibitors, and enforcement agencies by expanding civil enforcement tools and clarifying jurisdiction over rule violations.