Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman

Maddy summaryThe Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2025 would expand unemployment insurance eligibility to workers unable to work due to labor disputes, including strikes or lockouts. It sets a 14-day waiting period (or earlier if replacements are hired, a lockout starts, or the dispute ends) before benefits begin, treating these workers as "unemployed" under federal law. The bill also removes the standard requirement for these workers to actively seek other employment to qualify for benefits. This directly affects workers involved in labor disputes, such as those on strike or unable to work due to employer lockouts.

Maddy summaryThis bill names the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River, New Jersey, as the "Leonard G. 'Bud' Lomell VA Clinic." It directly affects the existing clinic facility by changing its official name to honor World War II veteran Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell. The key provision updates all federal references to the clinic - including laws, regulations, maps, and documents - to reflect this new designation after the bill's enactment. The change is purely administrative and does not alter the clinic's services or operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans to cover HIV prevention services - including PrEP and PEP drugs, related lab tests, counseling, and monitoring - without cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) or prior approval. It applies to private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid/CHIP, and federal employee health plans, directly affecting people who use HIV prevention medications. Key provisions mandate 100% coverage for FDA-approved HIV prevention drugs, eliminate cost-sharing for these services, and prohibit insurers from requiring preauthorization for them. The bill defines covered services to include all necessary components of HIV prevention care as outlined in current public health guidelines.

Maddy summaryHR 5126, the HIV Prevention Now Act, appropriates $2.165 billion for the CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention for fiscal year 2026. This funding is in addition to existing CDC appropriations and must be used exclusively by that specific center for its programs, with no transfer to other entities. The bill directly affects the CDC's public health operations by providing dedicated resources for prevention and treatment programs targeting HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs, and tuberculosis. It does not create new policies or alter eligibility but ensures sustained funding for existing prevention efforts at the federal level.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to issue photo identification cards meeting REAL ID standards to U.S. citizen prisoners being released from federal custody within 180 days of enactment. The card is valid for 18 months and must be accepted by states for state ID purposes (through negotiated agreements) and by federal programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food assistance, and housing programs. It directly affects federal prisoners upon release, states (through required negotiations), and federal agencies that provide services requiring ID. The law mandates annual reports to Congress on state agreement progress but does not change existing prerelease planning procedures.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the House's symbolic support for designating August 25-31, 2025, as "Black Breastfeeding Week." It highlights systemic barriers Black mothers face in breastfeeding, such as inadequate workplace support and racial health disparities, while referencing statistics showing lower breastfeeding rates and higher infant mortality among Black communities. The resolution urges Congress to address these inequities through policies like paid parental leave and better workplace accommodations for breastfeeding. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but aims to raise awareness about racial disparities in maternal and infant health.

Maddy summaryHR 5048, the "Don’t STEAL Act," amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to ensure workers receive the highest wage promised in their contracts or collective bargaining agreements, whichever exceeds federal or state minimum wage requirements. It directly affects employees engaged in commerce or working for businesses involved in commerce, requiring employers to pay at least the higher of their agreed-upon wage or the legal minimum. The bill establishes criminal penalties for willful wage theft exceeding $1,000 (up to 5 years in prison) and civil penalties for all unpaid wages, with fines funding the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division enforcement efforts. These changes apply to violations occurring 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HJRES 115) terminates a presidential emergency declaration made on August 11, 2025, which claimed a "crime emergency" in Washington, D.C. It directly affects the District of Columbia by ending federal restrictions that prevented D.C. from using $1 billion in locally-raised funds for public safety, law enforcement, fire services, and schools. The resolution cites that the emergency declaration was legally flawed - section 740 of the DC Home Rule Act does not permit federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department - and notes that D.C. violent crime has reached a 30-year low. The bill formally ends the emergency under the DC Home Rule Act, restoring D.C.'s authority over its own budget and public safety resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the expiration date for a provision allowing certain vehicles to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes without meeting standard occupancy requirements. Specifically, it amends federal law to change the deadline from September 30, 2025, to September 30, 2031. The change directly affects drivers and vehicle operators who currently qualify for this exemption under existing rules. It is a procedural reauthorization, not a policy change, maintaining the current HOV lane exemption rules for an additional six years.

Maddy summaryHR 4966 prohibits grocery stores from selling items at "grossly excessive prices," defined as 120% or more above the average market price over the previous six months (with exceptions for unavoidable cost increases like supply chain issues). It bans using facial recognition or personal data to set different prices for individual customers (e.g., adjusting prices based on shopping history) and requires clear signage if facial recognition is used. Stores over 10,000 square feet must replace electronic shelf labels with physical price tags. The Federal Trade Commission enforces these rules, allowing consumers to seek $3,000 per violation or actual damages, with penalties for willful violations.