Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy

Maddy summaryHR 4596, the McCarran-Walter Technical Corrections Act, amends Section 289 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to update eligibility criteria for certain Indigenous people under U.S. immigration law. It replaces an outdated requirement of "50% blood quantum" with two new categories: members or eligible members of federally recognized U.S. tribes, or individuals with Canadian Indian status under the Indian Act or membership in a Canadian First Nation. The bill clarifies that people admitted under these updated criteria will automatically receive "lawfully admitted for permanent residence" status. This technical correction directly affects Indigenous people from U.S. tribes and Canadian First Nations seeking U.S. immigration benefits.

Maddy summaryHR 4140, the Burma GAP Act, requires the U.S. to prioritize accountability for genocide and crimes against humanity committed against Rohingya in Myanmar. It establishes a U.S. Special Representative for Burma to coordinate international sanctions, support Rohingya protection efforts, and advance transitional justice, with specific funding authorizations of $5 million annually for atrocity investigations and $4 million for evidence collection. The bill directs the State Department to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh through humanitarian aid, gender-based violence prevention, education, and legal assistance, while promoting durable solutions like safe repatriation and citizenship rights. It mandates annual reports to Congress on U.S. efforts to address atrocity risks, document crimes, and advance accountability, directly affecting Rohingya communities, the Burmese military junta, and U.S. foreign assistance programs.

Maddy summaryHR 1522, the Federal Retirement Fairness Act, changes federal retirement rules to include temporary employees' service after January 1, 1988, in retirement benefit calculations. It directly affects temporary federal employees (including U.S. Postal Service workers) and Members of Congress who served after that date. The bill removes a previous cutoff date in retirement law, allowing their temporary service to count toward retirement eligibility. This means eligible temporary workers can now have their full service period considered when calculating retirement benefits.

Maddy summaryHR 4482, the Stop NOAA Closures Act, imposes a temporary moratorium on closing, suspending, or limiting access to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) facilities, effective until a report is submitted to Congress by January 21, 2029. The bill requires NOAA and the General Services Administration to submit detailed reports to specific congressional committees before any future facility closure, suspension, lease termination, or consolidation - outlining cost-benefit analyses, service impacts, and justification. Exceptions apply only for emergencies posing immediate threats to personnel safety. This bill directly affects NOAA's facility management decisions and mandates congressional oversight for future closures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all federal agencies to set specific equity goals in their strategic and performance plans, mandating at least one goal or 20% of total goals focused on improving services for underserved communities and individuals. It establishes an "Agency Equity Advisory Team" with 10+ agency roles (including civil rights, data, and human capital leaders) and creates an "Equity Subcommittee" to coordinate across agencies on equitable practices. The bill also updates data officer responsibilities to prioritize equitable data collection, use, and sharing, including collaboration with community groups and state/local governments. It directly affects all federal agencies and aims to reshape how government services are delivered to populations systematically excluded from economic, social, and civic opportunities.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal and state governments from restricting access to FDA-approved medicines. It guarantees individuals the right to obtain these medicines without coercion and allows healthcare providers (like doctors and pharmacists) to prescribe or refer for them. The law blocks governments from implementing rules that single out or hinder the sale, provision, or use of FDA-approved drugs, such as bans on specific medicines or barriers to patient access. It does not affect the FDA's drug approval process or existing health insurance coverage requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes federal worker heat protection standards to prevent heat-related illness and injury. It requires employers to provide a workplace free from heat stress hazards, including access to cool water, scheduled rest breaks, shaded cooling areas, and training on heat illness symptoms. The Secretary of Labor must create these standards within one year, incorporating evidence-based practices like engineering controls (e.g., ventilation), administrative measures (e.g., adjusted schedules), and employer-paid personal protective equipment. The law directly affects all employers in high-heat work environments - such as construction, agriculture, and manufacturing - and strengthens whistleblower protections for workers reporting safety violations.

Maddy summaryHR 4453 would amend federal law to add Parkinson's disease to the list of illnesses automatically considered work-related for firefighters. Specifically, it inserts "Parkinson's disease" into Section 8143b(b) of Title 5, U.S. Code, which determines which conditions qualify for disability benefits under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. This change directly affects firefighters who develop Parkinson's disease during their fire protection duties, making it easier for them to qualify for federal disability compensation without needing to prove direct causation. The bill modifies existing code language to include this condition among other work-related illnesses already covered for firefighter benefits.

Maddy summaryThe Cool Corridors Act of 2025 expands the existing Healthy Streets program to fund tree planting, shade structures, and green infrastructure along transportation corridors - like bus stops, transit hubs, and school zones - to reduce heat exposure. It directly affects communities facing extreme heat and limited tree canopy (especially low-income or historically underserved areas), as well as state/local transit agencies, schools, and environmental groups. Key provisions include requiring projects to prioritize heat-vulnerable regions, mandate annual reporting on temperature reduction and equity outcomes, and ensure tree planting doesn’t obstruct traffic safety. The bill also extends program funding through 2030 and mandates coordination with agencies like the EPA and Forest Service.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to significantly increase federal research funding for uterine fibroids ($30 million annually from 2026-2030), expand coordination of NIH research, and establish a Medicaid data system to track treatment access and costs. It mandates public education on fibroid symptoms, prevalence (especially among Black women, who face higher risk and severity), and non-hysterectomy treatment options. The bill also requires disseminating evidence-based provider resources on managing fibroids while preserving fertility. These provisions directly affect the estimated 26 million U.S. women with fibroids - particularly women of color - and aim to address the current lack of research and treatment data.