Rep. Daniel S. Goldman

Maddy summaryThe PROTECT Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to share safety and data protection guidelines with government agencies and private organizations within a year of passing. These guidelines focus on how to securely handle personal information for law enforcement officers and employees, as well as steps they can take to stay safe. The law defines personal information broadly to include any data that can identify an individual, regardless of their citizenship status. This initiative aims to improve security practices across federal, state, local, and private sectors without changing existing legal requirements for data handling.

Maddy summaryThe PRICE Act requires third-party food delivery apps to stop using hidden pricing strategies that change delivery fees based on a customer's past order history or willingness to pay. Starting 90 days after enactment, these platforms must calculate delivery fees using a fixed formula based only on the order total and distance, while clearly displaying the base food price and the final total before checkout. The law also mandates that apps explain exactly what each delivery fee covers and whether it is refundable. The Federal Trade Commission is responsible for enforcing these rules, and state attorneys general have the authority to sue platforms that violate the act on behalf of their residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from using federal funds to create or expand new immigration detention facilities, including warehouses, tents, and modular structures. It directly affects immigration enforcement agencies by banning the construction, renovation, or operation of non-traditional detention centers and preventing the transfer of funds to such projects. The legislation requires any money previously allocated for these facilities to be redirected toward affordable healthcare and housing services instead. Effective immediately upon enactment, the ban applies to all existing federal funds and prevents the use of current budgets for establishing or operating alternative detention models.

Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act This bill creates a new income-driven repayment plan for student loans called the Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR) plan. The SOAR plan has similar provisions to, but further expands on, the Department of Education's (ED's) final rule published on July 10, 2023, that created the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. The SAVE plan was blocked by federal courts. The bill directs ED to carry out a SOAR plan program that complies with specified requirements. The bill allows all federal student loan types to be eligible for repayment under the SOAR plan, including Parent PLUS Loans and Federal Family Education Loans. Under the SOAR plan, a federal student loan borrower whose income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL) has $0 monthly payments. A borrower whose income is over 250% of the FPL pays 5% of their discretionary income on loans obtained for undergraduate study and 10% of their discretionary income for all other outstanding loans (e.g., loans obtained for graduate study). Additionally, under the SOAR plan, holders of eligible federal student loans (e.g., ED or private lenders) must apply 50% of the borrower's monthly payment toward outstanding principal. The other 50% must be applied in the following order: (1) accrued charges and collection costs on the loan, (2) outstanding interest, and (3) outstanding principal. ED must forgive any loan balance that remains outstanding after a specified maximum repayment period (e.g., 10 years or 15 years).

Maddy summaryThe Countering Russia's War on Faith Act requires the U.S. government to produce annual reports detailing how Russian forces in occupied Ukrainian territories are persecuting religious groups such as Christians, Jews, and Muslims. These reports must document specific actions like the destruction of religious sites, the detention of clergy, and efforts to force local faith communities to align with the Russian Orthodox Church. If the President certifies that specific individuals or entities are responsible for these violations, the law mandates imposing sanctions on them under existing U.S. regulations. The bill focuses on gathering factual information and enforcing penalties against those directly involved in religious persecution, without speculating on the broader geopolitical outcomes of these actions.

Maddy summaryHR 5543, the Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025, requires the U.S. State and Defense Departments to submit a report within 180 days of enactment. The report will assess emerging military, cyber, hybrid, and political threats to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, including the roles of Russia, Belarus, China, Iran, and other actors. It will also evaluate U.S. and NATO military presence in the region, opportunities for defense cooperation, and recommendations to strengthen deterrence, cybersecurity, and democratic resilience in the Baltic countries. This bill directly affects U.S. foreign policy and defense planning regarding the Baltics, but does not create new programs or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Energy Consumer Protection Act of 2026, strengthens enforcement powers for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to protect consumers in the electricity and natural gas markets. It allows FERC to ban companies or individuals who violate reporting rules or engage in deceptive practices from buying or selling energy and related services. The legislation also adds specific penalties for knowingly submitting false information about natural gas prices or availability to federal agencies. These changes apply to utilities, energy traders, and other market participants regulated by FERC.

Maddy summaryThe SERVE Act extends various Veterans Affairs benefits to former military members who were discharged specifically due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. This legislation amends existing laws to include these individuals in access to hospital care, mental health counseling, burial in national cemeteries, post-9/11 education assistance, and VA housing loans. The bill also requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to notify affected service members about available benefits and mandates a report within 15 months detailing how many individuals have received these services.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that stable housing is a fundamental human right that keeps families together, regardless of immigration status. It condemns a past administration's proposal to ban mixed-immigration status families from receiving prorated federal housing assistance and calls on the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to withdraw any such rule. The resolution also urges Congress to increase funding for federal housing programs and calls for a Government Accountability Office report on the impact of such proposals on family separation and homelessness.

Maddy summaryThe Momnibus Act is a comprehensive legislative bill designed to improve maternal health outcomes across the United States by addressing social determinants of health, expanding access to care, and reducing disparities among pregnant and postpartum individuals. The bill establishes a federal task force to coordinate efforts between agencies and stakeholders to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and severe morbidity, while providing sustained funding to community-based organizations to address nonclinical factors like housing, nutrition, and transportation. Key provisions include extending WIC eligibility to 24 months postpartum, creating grants to grow and diversify the perinatal workforce, implementing respectful maternity care training for all healthcare employees, and establishing compliance programs to track and address bias in maternity care settings. The legislation also includes specific measures for incarcerated mothers, veterans, and vulnerable populations affected by climate change, alongside funding for maternal mental health services and technology-enabled care models to expand access in underserved areas.