Rep. Laura Gillen

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 summaryThe SUPPLY Act establishes a federal program to insure second loans (additional financing) for building accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on single-family properties. This insurance, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, covers up to 30% of a standard one-unit home loan amount or 100% of the property value after construction (with potential increases based on 50% of projected rental income). Homeowners seeking to add ADUs - such as backyard cottages, converted basements, or detached units - can use this insurance to secure financing, with a government premium of up to 1% annually. The bill also requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase and securitize these insured loans, potentially expanding access to ADU financing.

Maddy summaryHR 4480, the Improving Disaster Assistance for Veterans Act, creates a dedicated "Veterans Advocate" position within FEMA. This advocate would specifically ensure veterans' needs are addressed during disaster declarations and emergency responses, serving as the main contact between FEMA and veterans' organizations. The bill requires the advocate to participate in declaration processes, identify veteran recruitment opportunities within FEMA, and conduct other activities to improve veterans' access to disaster assistance. The legislation does not expand existing disaster assistance funding or eligibility but aims to improve how current programs serve veterans.

Maddy summaryThe TUTOR Act creates a federal tax credit for certified K-12 teachers who provide academic tutoring outside school hours. Teachers qualify if they work at a preschool, elementary, or secondary school (meeting state certification), provide at least 150 hours of tutoring in math, reading, writing, or science during non-school time, and meet other defined criteria. The credit starts at $500, with a supplemental amount (capped at $500) based on hours exceeding 150, calculated as a ratio of excess hours to 50. The credit expires after 2032, and the Treasury must annually report on credit claims and tutoring hours to Congress.

Maddy summaryThe SMART Act requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to study how its hazard mitigation programs - like flood barriers or building retrofits - save money by reducing disaster damage. It mandates an analysis of cost savings, community preparedness, insurance impacts, and infrastructure protection, using data from federal, state, and academic sources. FEMA must submit an initial report within 18 months and annual updates, making findings publicly available online in clear, accessible formats. This directly affects FEMA's program oversight and transparency, with no new funding or regulations created by the bill.

Maddy summaryHR 4470, the *Removing Burdens From Organ Donation Act*, requires hospitals to electronically notify organ procurement agencies when a potential donor is deceased or near death, with remote access to updated electronic health records (EHRs). This applies to most hospitals starting two years after the law's enactment, but allows exemptions for rural hospitals lacking reliable internet, those hit by cyberattacks, or disaster-affected facilities. The bill mandates federal guidance for hospitals and EHR companies on implementation, plus annual reports on exemptions and a GAO study on costs, rural challenges, and transplant outcomes. It directly affects hospitals, organ procurement agencies, and EHR providers by streamlining donor notification processes.

Maddy summary# Summary of "Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream Act" This comprehensive immigration bill proposes multiple pathways to legal status and permanent residency for undocumented immigrants while creating new employment and workforce development programs. ## Key Provisions: 1. **Dignity Program (Subtitle III)**: - Creates a 7-year program for eligible undocumented immigrants requiring $7,000 in restitution payments to an H-1B fund - Provides deferred action on removal, work authorization, and travel privileges - Requires participants to maintain employment/education, pay taxes, and comply with all laws - Upon completion, participants receive "Dignity Status" valid for 7 years with renewal options 2. **Workforce Development (Division C)**: - Directs restitution payments to fund apprenticeships and work-based learning programs - Establishes industry partnerships to support small- and medium-sized businesses - Focuses on "in-demand industry sectors" with targeted training programs - Requires 12 months of post-employment support services for participants 3. **Family Reunification (Section 3111-3115)**: - Expands discretionary authority for family-based relief - Creates new "family purpose" nonimmigrant visa category (90-day limit) - Modernizes military naturalization for service members - Includes protections for children affected by visa backlogs 4. **Backlog Reduction (Section 3201-3203)**: - Creates premium processing for long-pending cases ($20,000 fee) - Increases per-country caps from 7% to 15% - Protects children from "aging out" of family-based visas 5. **Student and Worker Visas (Section 3301-3305)**: - Modernizes student visa categories with "dual intent" provisions - Recognizes doctoral STEM graduates as "extraordinary ability" - Streamlines visa processing through a new Immigration Agency Coordinator The bill aims to balance immigration reform with workforce development, creating a pathway to legal status while directing funds toward American workers through apprenticeships and training programs in high-demand fields.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 2-year pilot program to create or strengthen state-based nursing workforce centers, funded with $1.5 million annually for 2026-2027. It requires states to match federal funds at a 1:4 ratio (e.g., $1 state funding for every $4 federal) and directs centers to analyze nursing data, address shortages, and develop retention strategies for nurses across all practice settings. Centers must report annually on initiatives like workforce planning, scholarship programs, and efforts to improve rural recruitment, with the goal of reducing nursing shortages and improving geographic distribution. The program targets state agencies, nursing boards, schools of nursing, and community organizations working directly with nursing workforce data and education.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends a special hiring authority for passport processing staff from a 3-year to a 5-year period under existing law. It directly affects the U.S. Department of State's passport offices by allowing them to hire more staff faster to address processing backlogs. The key mechanism is amending Section 6101 of the Department of State Authorization Act of 2023 to lengthen the timeframe for using this expedited hiring process. This change provides more time for passport offices to staff up without needing annual reauthorization.

Maddy summaryHR 4382 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics/Paralympics and 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics/Paralympics. It specifies gold, silver, and half-dollar coin designs with defined mintage limits (e.g., up to 100,000 $5 gold coins for each event), all bearing inscriptions like "2028" or "2034" and standard coin features. A surcharge ($5-$50 per coin) is added to sales, with all funds directed to the respective Olympic committees to support event hosting and legacy programs like youth sports. The bill ensures no net cost to the government by requiring surcharge revenues to cover all design, production, and marketing expenses before funds are disbursed.