Rep. Adriano Espaillat

Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 This bill provides back pay to employees of federal contractors who lost pay due to a lapse in appropriations (i.e., government shutdown) in FY2026. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations for federal agencies that are subject to a lapse in appropriations in FY2026 to adjust the price of contracts to compensate federal contractors for providing back pay to employees who were affected by the lapse in appropriations.  The agencies must adjust the price of any contract for which the contractor stopped, suspended, delayed, or interrupted all or part of the work under the contract due to the lapse in appropriations. The price adjustment must compensate the contractor for reasonable costs incurred to (1) compensate employees who were furloughed or laid off, were not working, or experienced a reduction of hours or compensation due to the lapse in appropriations; or (2) restore paid leave taken by employees during the lapse in appropriations if the contractor required or permitted employees to use paid leave as a result of the lapse in appropriations. The maximum amount of weekly compensation of an employee for which an adjustment may be made under this bill may not exceed the lesser of (1) the employee's actual weekly compensation, or (2) $1,442 (or a lesser amount pro-rated for an employee who works less than 40 hours per week). The bill also requires the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to submit a report to Congress on the adjustments made under this bill.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 240 Main Street in Northport, New York, as the "Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Bruckenthal Post Office Building".

Maddy summaryHR 5655, the "No Shame at School Act of 2025," requires schools to eliminate stigma around unpaid meal fees for students. It mandates that school districts automatically certify eligible students for free/reduced meals (replacing "may" with "shall"), prohibits physical segregation or public identification of students with unpaid fees (like special tokens or name lists), and bans withholding grades or activities due to meal debt. The bill also prevents schools from using debt collectors for meal fees and requires adjustments to past meal claims when eligibility is later confirmed. This directly affects schools, local educational agencies, and students from households with outstanding meal fees.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 47 Echo Avenue in Miller Place, New York, as the "Christopher Pendergast Post Office Building".

Maddy summaryHRES 766 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. It commends the Center’s work in preserving African and Black cultural history, supporting generations of scholars and artists, and serving as a community hub since its founding. The resolution celebrates the Center’s role as a leading institution for Black history and its impact on American cultural heritage, without creating new laws or affecting any policies. As a commemorative resolution (not a bill with policy changes), it has no direct legal impact on constituents or government operations.

Maddy summaryHRES 772 is a symbolic House resolution expressing support for National Public Lands Day (observed September 27, 2025). It encourages U.S. citizens to visit public lands on this fee-free day, recognizing their cultural, spiritual, and economic value. The resolution cites existing statistics on public lands' economic contributions (e.g., $252 billion in economic output from Bureau of Land Management lands in 2024) but does not create new policies or alter fees. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding effect and serves only to promote awareness of existing public land access.

Maddy summaryHR 5572, the Help FEDS Act, ensures federal employees who must work during government shutdowns (but aren't paid due to the shutdown) can access unemployment benefits through their state's program. The bill requires states to allow these "excepted" employees to apply for and receive unemployment compensation during fiscal years 2026-2027, while also mandating repayment if they later receive pay under a separate federal provision. The federal government will reimburse states 100% of the unemployment benefits paid to these employees plus related administrative costs, funded from the Unemployment Trust Fund. This directly affects federal workers performing emergency work during shutdowns and state unemployment systems managing these claims.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 170 Main Street in Westhampton Beach, New York, as the "Jolly 51 Memorial Post Office Building".

Maddy summaryHRES 764 is a symbolic House resolution recognizing persistent disparities in mental health access and treatment for Black youth. It cites alarming statistics, including a 149% rise in suicide rates among Black adolescents (2007-2023) and higher rates of suicide attempts among Black high school students. The resolution calls on the current administration to continue previous efforts addressing these disparities, incorporate recommendations from the Congressional Black Caucus’s "Ring the Alarm" report, and protect the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as an independent agency. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but serves as a formal acknowledgment of the crisis and a request for policy continuity.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 758) recognizes Peter Westbrook's legacy in fencing and the work of the Peter Westbrook Foundation. It highlights how the Foundation provides free fencing instruction, academic support, and life skills to underserved youth in New York City - serving 85% Black or Latino youth, 49% girls, and 77% from low-income families. The resolution notes the Foundation's proven outcomes: 100% high school graduation, 95% college attendance, and 17 alumni who competed in the Olympics, including Lauren Scruggs, the first Black U.S. woman to win an individual Olympic fencing medal.