Rep. Greg Landsman

Maddy summaryThe Keeping All Students Safe Act prohibits the use of unlawful seclusion and restraint in schools receiving federal funding, including physical restraint that restricts breathing or blood flow, chemical restraint not prescribed for medical treatment, and mechanical restraint. The bill requires schools to use less restrictive interventions first, mandates that staff using physical restraint be trained and certified through State-approved programs, and requires immediate parent notification after any restraint incident. States must develop plans to monitor compliance, collect and report data on restraint incidents (disaggregated by race, disability status, and school type), and implement positive behavioral interventions. The bill provides $40 million annually for five years to support states in implementing these requirements and improving school climate through evidence-based approaches.

Maddy summaryThe Safer Schools Act of 2025 establishes a 5-year federal pilot program providing grants to public schools for security risk assessments and physical security upgrades. Public schools that have experienced violent incidents involving multiple people are prioritized for both types of grants. Schools receiving assessment grants must first identify vulnerabilities, while improvement grants fund specific security measures like panic alarms linked to local police, with federal funds covering up to 50% of costs. The program allocates $600 million total ($100M-$300M annually), requiring schools to submit financial reports and post-implementation safety surveys, with annual congressional reports tracking outcomes.

Maddy summaryHR 6499, the Assessing Safety Tools for Parents and Minors Act, directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to review how technology companies promote online safety for minors under 17. The FTC must examine industry efforts like parental controls, age-appropriate content labels, and privacy settings to assess their effectiveness in reducing online harms, consulting with parents, experts, and industry. Within 6 months of enactment, the FTC must begin this review and submit a report to Congress within 3 years, including recommendations for improving online safety. The bill does not create new regulations but requires the FTC to evaluate existing industry practices and provide findings to lawmakers. This review directly affects the FTC and technology companies by mandating their participation in assessing current safety tools.

Maddy summaryThe Kids Internet Safety Partnership Act establishes a new program within the Commerce Department to improve online safety for children under 18. The program will work with parents, educators, online platforms, and experts to identify risks and benefits of digital services for minors, then develop practical safety guidelines. Within two years, it will publish a detailed guide for platforms on implementing features like age verification, parental controls, and design changes that reduce addictive elements (e.g., endless scrolling). The program will also release regular reports tracking how well platforms adopt these safety measures. The initiative will end after five years.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases federal student loan limits for graduate and professional students. Starting July 1, 2026, it sets a $50,000 annual limit and a $200,000 total aggregate limit (beyond undergraduate borrowing) for unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford loans. These changes directly affect graduate and professional students pursuing advanced degrees who rely on federal loans for education costs. The provisions aim to provide higher borrowing capacity for these students' educational expenses under the Higher Education Act.

Maddy summaryHR 6575, the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act, extends enhanced premium tax credits for health insurance through 2026, directly benefiting millions of lower and middle-income Americans purchasing coverage through the ACA marketplace. The bill modifies income thresholds for premium subsidies, creating new income tiers that maintain or increase financial assistance for households earning up to 1,000% of the poverty level. It includes provisions to prevent fraud in health insurance exchanges by imposing civil penalties on agents and brokers who provide false information, and requires transparency in pharmacy benefit manager contracts to improve drug pricing accountability. The legislation also extends the annual open enrollment period for health insurance exchanges for the 2026 plan year, allowing more time for people to enroll or change coverage.

Maddy summaryHR 6597, the LET’S Protect Workers Act, increases civil penalties for employers violating key labor laws to strengthen worker protections. It raises fines for child labor violations to up to $700,000 per incident causing death or serious injury, and doubles penalties for repeated wage/hour violations (up to $50,000 per violation). The bill also significantly boosts OSHA penalties (e.g., up to $800,000 for serious violations), adds new retaliation penalties for mine safety violations (up to $200,000 for repeat offenses), and clarifies that recordkeeping violations continue until corrected. These changes apply to employers across sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, and mining, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, and Mine Safety Act.

Maddy summaryThe Expanding Cybersecurity Workforce Act of 2025 establishes a new program under CISA to promote cybersecurity careers to underrepresented groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, people with disabilities, older adults (40+), and those from low-income or nontraditional educational backgrounds (like community colleges or HBCUs). The program requires CISA to tailor outreach to regional needs, partner with schools, unions, and community organizations, and report annually on workforce impact. It authorizes $20 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2031 to support these efforts, aiming to diversify the cybersecurity workforce through targeted recruitment and training.

Maddy summaryHR 6406, the Parental Workforce Training Act, provides federal grants to local workforce boards to help parents cover childcare costs while participating in job training programs. It directly affects parents with dependent children who are enrolled in employment and training activities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The bill authorizes $10 million in funding to award competitive grants, allowing local boards to provide direct childcare subsidies to eligible individuals through their chosen providers (as long as they meet state/local quality standards). Local boards must report on participant enrollment and program completion rates within one year of grant implementation. This is a concrete policy change establishing a new childcare support mechanism within existing workforce programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill streamlines the process for broadband providers to install facilities in public rights-of-way near rail corridors and on railroad property. It requires providers to notify railroads when placing facilities in intersecting areas (with specific details) and to submit formal applications for railroad rights-of-way, including engineering plans and safety details. Railroads can only deny applications for safety reasons (like infrastructure damage or passenger risk) and must charge providers only for actual safety-related costs. Disputes over approvals or fees are resolved by the FCC within 90 days, with railroads and providers required to follow safety standards and industry guidelines. The law aims to balance broadband expansion with railroad safety and operational needs.