Rep. Ritchie Torres

Maddy summaryHR 922, the Period PROUD Act of 2025, allocates $1.9 billion annually (2025-2028) through the Social Services Block Grant Program, with $200 million specifically dedicated each year (2026-2029) to provide free menstrual products to low-income menstruating individuals. It requires states to distribute these funds to eligible nonprofits with experience in community distribution of basic needs, integrating the program with existing services like SNAP, Medicaid, and WIC. The bill mandates that funds supplement, not replace, other existing programs, prohibits limiting where products can be distributed, and caps administrative costs at 9% of allocated funds. States must report annually and an evaluation of the program’s effectiveness will be completed by 2031.

Health Care Workforce Innovation Act of 2025 This bill establishes the Health Care Workforce Innovation Program within the Health Resources and Services Administration to provide grants to federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and post-secondary vocational programs for developing education and training for allied health professionals (e.g., professionals providing clinical or non-clinical support services, community health workers, and health education specialists). Specifically, grant recipients must use the funds to carry out innovative, community-based programs to train allied health professionals, with a focus on supporting rural and underserved areas. Grant recipients may use the funds to launch or expand health care professional partnerships (e.g., between a grant recipient and a school), establish apprenticeship or other career programs, or invest in training equipment, among other activities.

Maddy summaryHR 964, the Rosa Parks Day Act, would designate Rosa Parks Day as a legal public holiday for federal employees and institutions. The bill amends Title 5 of the U.S. Code to add "Rosa Parks Day" to the list of recognized federal holidays, following Thanksgiving Day. This change would establish a new annual observance on the day designated by the President, requiring federal offices to close and employees to receive paid time off. The bill directly affects federal operations and employees, creating a new standard for federal holiday observance.

Maddy summaryThe Noncontiguous Shipping Reasonable Rate Act of 2024 establishes a new standard for determining reasonable shipping rates in domestic ocean trade between noncontiguous U.S. states, such as Hawaii or Alaska and the contiguous United States. It defines a reasonable rate as one falling within 10 percent of a comparable international ocean rate index recognized by the Federal Maritime Commission. This change directly affects shipping companies operating these routes and the Federal Maritime Commission, which will use this metric to evaluate rate reasonableness. The bill does not create new regulations but provides a specific, measurable benchmark for assessing rates in this specific shipping context.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an exemption allowing foreign-registered freight vessels (over 1,000 gross tons, foreign-built, with U.S. crew) to transport goods between U.S. territories (like Hawaii or Alaska) and the mainland without complying with standard U.S. coastwise trade rules. It requires these vessels to hold a U.S. Coast Guard certificate of documentation and meet specific registration criteria. The bill also mandates that all vessels - U.S. or foreign - operating in U.S. coastwise trade must follow minimum U.S. labor and environmental standards. This directly affects foreign shipping companies seeking to serve U.S. territory routes while maintaining compliance with U.S. regulations.

Maddy summaryHR 665, the Noncontiguous Shipping Competition Act, modifies U.S. coastwise shipping laws to allow certain noncontiguous trade routes (like Hawaii to California) to operate without the usual requirement that only U.S.-built, U.S.-owned vessels serve those routes. It exempts such shipping unless at least three separate vessel operators (not under common ownership) each transport at least 20% of the goods on the route. This directly affects shipping companies operating on noncontiguous routes and the existing coastwise-qualified vessel operators who must meet these specific volume and ownership conditions to maintain their exclusive right. The bill creates a clearer pathway for new competition on these routes by establishing objective criteria for when the coastwise law applies.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates disaster assistance rules to clarify eligibility for specific housing types affected by disasters. It defines "residential common interest communities" (including condos, housing co-ops, and manufactured home communities) and requires the President to issue rules allowing debris removal from these properties when a state determines it threatens safety or recovery. It also expands repair funding eligibility for essential shared areas (like roofs, elevators, and utilities) in these communities, provided residents document their share of costs. The changes apply to disasters declared after the bill's enactment, directly affecting residents of these housing types who seek federal disaster aid.

Stop Antiabortion Disinformation Act or the SAD Act This bill prohibits deceptive advertising for reproductive health services. Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful for a person (i.e., individual, partnership, corporation, association, or organization) to deceptively advertise the reproductive health services they offer, including by misrepresenting that the person (1) offers or provides contraception or abortion services (or referrals for such contraception or abortion services), or (2) employs or offers access to licensed medical personnel. The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission. In addition to any other penalty, violations are subject to a civil penalty that may not exceed the greater of $100,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) or 50% of the revenue earned during the preceding 12-month period by the ultimate parent entity of the person who violated the bill.

Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025 This bill increases certain payment adjustments under the Medicare physician fee schedule for services furnished between April 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 4 is a symbolic resolution expressing Congress's support for tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies (like mutual aid organizations). It recognizes these groups, which have over 7 million members nationwide, as historically and currently providing critical community benefits - including life/health insurance, charitable work, and volunteer services - valued at over $3.8 billion annually. The resolution affirms that their tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code remains beneficial and should continue to be promoted. This is a non-binding expression of congressional sentiment, not a policy change.