Rep. Robert Menendez

Maddy summaryHR 10370, the Sarah Katz Caffeine Safety Act, requires chain restaurants with 20+ locations to label menu items containing at least 150mg of caffeine per serving with "High caffeine" prominently on menus. It also mandates that packaged foods and dietary supplements with over 10mg of caffeine must display the exact milligram count, specify if caffeine is natural or added, and include a daily limit advisory (400mg for adults). The bill directs the FDA to study caffeine's effects on vulnerable groups like children and pregnant individuals, and to review caffeine safety in food. Additionally, it requires a public education campaign on caffeine risks and a GAO study on marketing practices targeting youth. These provisions directly affect restaurants, food manufacturers, and supplement producers by imposing new disclosure requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 7438 directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including 100,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins will be sold to the public at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively), with all surcharge revenue paid to FWC2026 US, Inc. for U.S. soccer programs. These funds must support soccer initiatives, particularly in underserved communities and youth development, as specified in the bill. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued during 2026, with no net cost to the U.S. government.

Maddy summaryHR 6229, the DHS Special Events Program and Support Act, creates a new program within the Department of Homeland Security to assess security threats at pre-planned special events not already designated as National Special Security Events. It allows state, local, tribal, and territorial officials to voluntarily request a security rating for events, which could lead to DHS providing direct security and situational awareness support. The program uses a risk-based approach considering factors like event size, attendance of officials, venue, and credible threats, with expedited reassessment options. DHS must report annually on the program’s usage and support provided, and conduct research on technologies for mass gathering security. This directly affects event organizers seeking federal security assistance for non-NSS events.

Maddy summaryThe Community Parks Revitalization Act authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide grants and secured loans to local governments for improving urban parks and recreational facilities. It establishes three grant types: rehabilitation grants for physical improvements to parks, innovation grants for programs targeting veterans/military families and at-risk youth, and recovery action grants for planning local park system improvements. Local governments must submit detailed recovery plans, meet matching requirements (3/7 of grant amount for most grants), and prioritize projects addressing recreation deficiencies for minority and low-income residents. The bill also authorizes secured loans with specific terms (max 49% of project costs, 35-year maturity) for larger infrastructure projects requiring creditworthiness and dedicated revenue sources.

Maddy summaryHR 6751 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Roberto Clemente, a Hall of Fame baseball player and humanitarian, including 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins must feature Clemente's image and inscriptions like "Roberto Clemente" and "2027," with all sales including a surcharge ($5-$35 per coin) paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation. The foundation, which supports youth sports, education, and disaster relief programs, will use these funds for its mission, while the U.S. Treasury must recover all production costs. The coins will be sold exclusively in 2027, with no net cost to the government.

Maddy summaryHR 9997 designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River, New Jersey, as the "Leonard G. 'Bud' Lomell, Jr. VA Clinic." This ceremonial bill names the facility after Second Lieutenant Leonard G. Lomell, Jr., a D-Day hero who led a critical mission at Pointe-du-Hoc during World War II and later served his community in Toms River. The bill has no policy provisions - it simply changes the clinic's official name for recognition purposes. The naming honors Lomell's military service, post-war civic contributions, and connection to the Toms River area.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges Ukraine to reverse its 2022 suspension of adoptions by foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens. It specifically asks Ukraine to review its decision and resume such adoptions, prioritizing cases where U.S. prospective parents had already completed Ukrainian adoption requirements before the suspension or where children were part of pre-existing Ukrainian hosting programs. The resolution does not change U.S. law but formally requests Ukraine address mutual concerns to protect children's best interests. It directly affects U.S. families seeking to adopt Ukrainian children and Ukraine's adoption policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 9528) is a ceremonial renaming resolution. It redesignates two specific park features at Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park: the Great Falls Scenic Overlook Trail Bridge and Overlook Park, to honor Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. The bill updates all official references in government documents, maps, and records to reflect these new names. It has no policy impact beyond commemorating the congressman with permanent naming changes.

Maddy summaryHRES 1555 is a symbolic House resolution condemning the spread of false claims and malicious rumors about disaster response efforts, which have led to credible threats against FEMA personnel and disrupted aid for survivors. It specifically references incidents after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, including a pause in North Carolina door-to-door assistance due to safety threats and antisemitic targeting of officials. The resolution formally condemns those spreading disinformation for political gain and commits Congress to supporting FEMA’s efforts to combat misinformation and promote accurate recovery information. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but expresses congressional support for protecting disaster response workers and ensuring survivors receive timely aid.

Maddy summaryHRES 1537 is a non-binding House resolution condemning Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, including 7 Americans still held captive. It calls on Hamas to immediately surrender, cease attacks, and release all hostages unconditionally, while reaffirming Israel's right to self-defense. The resolution also urges international organizations to condemn Hamas' actions and address the global surge in antisemitism following the attacks. As a symbolic statement, it does not create new laws or alter policy but expresses congressional position. The bill specifically references the ongoing captivity of seven U.S. citizens: Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judith Weinstein Haggai, Omer Neutra, and Keith Siegel.