Rep. Alma S. Adams

Maddy summaryHRES 920 is a ceremonial resolution celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) on November 29, 2025. It recognizes IDEA’s historical impact - establishing the right to free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment for children with disabilities - and notes how it transformed access to education after over 1 million children were previously excluded from schools. The resolution does not create new policy or funding; it solely commemorates IDEA’s legacy, honors the students and families it has served, and acknowledges educators and advocates who advanced its implementation. This is a symbolic gesture with no direct effect on current law or services.

Maddy summaryHRES 856 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' view that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should use its existing contingency funds and interchange authority to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for November 2025. The resolution cites that the USDA holds over $5 billion in contingency funds set aside for emergencies and has legal authority under the Department of Agriculture Organic Act to transfer funds between nutrition programs to maintain SNAP benefits. This would directly support approximately 42 million people relying on SNAP, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans, preventing disruption during a potential funding gap. The resolution does not create new law but urges the administration to use existing resources to ensure continued food assistance.

Maddy summaryHR 5716, the FARM SAFE Act, ensures that USDA employees administering key agricultural disaster programs cannot be furloughed or laid off during government shutdowns. It directly affects USDA staff working on programs like crop insurance, livestock aid, and other federal disaster assistance authorized under the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 and the Agricultural Act of 2014. The bill requires these employees to be treated as "excepted" under federal law during funding gaps, guaranteeing program continuity without requiring new appropriations. This provides immediate stability for farmers relying on disaster relief during federal budget disruptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program providing development loans to beginning farmers and ranchers for long-term capital investments that benefit their operations for more than one year, such as equipment, soil health improvements, or business setup. Loans are capped at $100,000 with interest rates of 0-3% and repayment terms of 3-10 years, requiring borrowers to complete training on farm management, bookkeeping, and risk planning. The program aims to address current limitations where beginning farmers face under-investment due to existing annual operating loans. The Secretary of Agriculture must evaluate the pilot and report biennially to Congress on its outcomes.

Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 This bill expands the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) authority with respect to research on rare pediatric diseases, including by permitting the FDA to take enforcement action against drug sponsors that fail to satisfy pediatric study requirements and by reauthorizing programs that support pediatric research.  Specifically, the bill modifies requirements relating to molecularly targeted pediatric cancer investigations to permit research on new drugs in combination with active ingredients that have already been approved, provided certain conditions are met; permits the FDA to take enforcement action against drug sponsors that fail to comply with pediatric study requirements, if such sponsors demonstrated a lack of due diligence in satisfying the requirement; renews the FDA’s authority to award priority review vouchers to sponsors of new products intended to treat rare pediatric diseases through September 30, 2029; and reauthorizes through FY2027 certain funding for the National Institutes of Health to support priority pediatric research.  The bill also provides statutory authority for the FDA’s interpretation of the orphan drug exclusivity period. The bill specifies, consistent with FDA regulations, that the seven-year market exclusivity period for drugs for rare diseases or conditions (i.e., orphan drugs) prohibits the approval of the same drug for the same approved use or indication with respect to the disease or condition. (In Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Becerra , a court rejected the FDA’s interpretation and held that orphan drug exclusivity extends to all uses or indications for the disease or condition.)

Maddy summaryHRES 909 is a House resolution affirming that immigrant justice and reproductive justice are interconnected and must be addressed together. It calls on the Department of Homeland Security to reinstate protections for pregnant individuals in detention, eliminate the 5-year bar restricting immigrants’ access to federal health programs like Medicaid, and implement transparent oversight of reproductive health care in detention facilities. The resolution also urges Congress to remove barriers to health care access for immigrants and requires federal agencies to report on policies affecting reproductive health care for detained individuals. This resolution directly affects policies toward immigrants in detention, particularly regarding access to abortion, prenatal care, and mental health services, but does not create new laws.

Maddy summaryHRES 899 is a symbolic House resolution recognizing the Transgender Day of Remembrance and memorializing transgender people killed by violence in 2024-2025. It directly affects transgender individuals, particularly transgender women of color, by acknowledging the epidemic of violence against them - citing 27 U.S. victims (including names like Rick Alastor Newman and Kyla Jane Walker) and 241 global cases in 2025. The resolution’s key provisions include formally recognizing the violence epidemic, memorializing specific lives lost, and affirming the need for solutions to protect transgender people. It does not create new laws but expresses congressional support for addressing systemic violence and discrimination faced by transgender communities.

Maddy summaryHR 6181, the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act, prohibits child welfare agencies receiving federal funds from discriminating against children, youth, or prospective foster/adoptive parents based on religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), or marital status. It directly affects LGBTQ youth in foster care - overrepresented at 30% of the system - who face higher risks of trauma, group home placements, and suicide attempts compared to non-LGBTQ peers. Key provisions require agencies to collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity, establish a National Resource Center for LGBTQ youth support, provide cultural competency training, and eliminate discriminatory practices. The law aims to improve safety, permanency, and placement stability by expanding access to family-based care and ensuring equitable services for all children in the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Medicare pays doctors and healthcare providers after 2025. It replaces the current two-part payment system with a single annual update based on the Medicare Economic Index (MEI), which tracks costs providers face. Starting in 2026, the payment rate for physician services will automatically adjust each year using the MEI, rather than separate calculations. This directly affects doctors, clinics, and other Medicare providers who receive payments under the physician fee schedule.

Maddy summaryThe Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2025 modifies mortgage insurance premiums for first-time homebuyers who complete approved financial literacy counseling programs. It requires that such counseling be completed before signing a mortgage application or sales agreement. The bill reduces the mortgage insurance premium by 25 basis points (0.25%) below the standard rate established by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. This change directly affects first-time homebuyers who participate in qualifying housing counseling programs.