Rep. Shontel M. Brown

Maddy summaryHR 989 would turn Executive Order 11246 into law, requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to follow its equal employment nondiscrimination rules. This bill directly affects businesses working with the U.S. government by making these requirements legally binding. The key provision ensures the existing order has the full force of law, rather than being subject to executive changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands access to family and medical leave under the FMLA by reducing the required employment period from 12 months to 90 days for most workers. It also lowers the employer size threshold from "50 or more employees" to "1 or more employees," requiring nearly all employers to provide this leave. The changes specifically apply to private-sector workers, federal employees (covered under Title 5), and congressional staff, removing previous eligibility barriers. Key provisions include updating definitions in the FMLA and modifying federal employee leave rules to align with the 90-day requirement. This directly affects millions of workers who previously had to wait a full year for leave eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies corporate tax rules to prevent companies from avoiding US taxes by moving operations overseas. It targets tax breaks that companies currently use when they outsource work to foreign countries or reorganize as foreign entities (so-called "inverted corporations"). The bill requires companies to pay tax on foreign profits based on each country where they operate, limits tax deductions for interest by multinational corporations, and treats foreign corporations managed in the US as domestic for tax purposes. These changes aim to close loopholes that allow companies to reduce their US tax burden through foreign operations.

Maddy summaryHR 1007, the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025, clarifies how the Department of Education enforces Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to address discrimination against Jewish individuals. It requires the Department to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating complaints involving discrimination based on actual or perceived Jewish ancestry or ethnic characteristics. This affects Jewish students and communities in K-12 schools and colleges receiving federal funding, as it ensures antisemitism is assessed under existing civil rights protections. The bill does not create new laws but specifies that the IHRA definition - already used by the Department since 2018 - must be applied in Title VI enforcement cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal right to access contraception, protecting individuals' ability to obtain contraceptives and health care providers' ability to offer them without government interference. It prohibits states from banning or restricting contraceptive services, products, or information, including laws that force providers to deny care based on personal beliefs or limit access to specific methods. The law immediately overrides conflicting state regulations and ensures that contraception remains available regardless of factors like race, income, disability, or location. It applies to all individuals and providers, building on existing federal protections like the Affordable Care Act's coverage requirements.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 95) is a commemorative measure recognizing the Greensboro Four sit-in during Black History Month. It honors Joseph McNeil, Jibreel Khazan, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond for initiating the 1960 sit-in at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, which catalyzed the civil rights movement. The resolution specifically acknowledges their role as catalysts for student-led activism, the value of racial diversity, and the effectiveness of nonviolent protest, while encouraging states to include their history in school curricula. As a symbolic gesture with no binding policy changes, it directly affects public recognition of this historical event and its significance to civil rights education.

Maddy summaryHR 916, the Rosa Parks Commemorative Coin Act, authorizes the U.S. Treasury to mint and sell commemorative coins (gold $5, silver $1, and half-dollar) in honor of Rosa Parks, a pivotal civil rights leader whose 1955 bus protest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The coins, to be issued in 2029, will feature designs reflecting her legacy and be sold to the public at face value plus a fixed surcharge ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollar). All surcharge funds will be directed to the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development to support its youth development and civil rights education programs. The bill ensures the coins are legal tender, with the Treasury recovering all costs without net government expense.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the RAIL Act, establishes new safety requirements for rail carriers transporting hazardous materials. It requires rail carriers to provide advance notification and safety planning to emergency responders, implement stricter inspection protocols for railcars and locomotives, and increase civil penalties for safety violations. The bill also sets a 2030 deadline for phasing out older DOT-111 tank cars and mandates minimum 2-person crews for most freight trains. These provisions directly affect rail carriers operating trains with hazardous materials, particularly Class I railroads. The legislation aims to enhance rail safety through comprehensive regulatory updates and enforcement mechanisms.

National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act or the NO BAN Act This bill imposes limitations on the President's authority to suspend or restrict aliens from entering the United States. It also prohibits religious discrimination in various immigration-related decisions, such as whether to issue an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa, unless there is a statutory basis for such discrimination. The President may temporarily restrict the entry of any aliens or class of aliens after the Department of State determines that the restriction would address specific and credible facts that threaten U.S. interests such as public safety. The bill also imposes limitations on such restrictions, such as requiring the President, State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to (1) only issue a restriction when required to address a compelling government interest, and (2) narrowly tailor the suspension to use the least restrictive means to achieve such an interest. Before imposing a restriction, the State Department and DHS shall consult with Congress. The State Department and DHS shall report to Congress about the restriction within 48 hours of the restriction's imposition. If such a report is not made, the restriction shall immediately terminate. Individuals or entities present in the United States and unlawfully harmed by such a restriction may sue in federal court. The bill transfers the authority to suspend the entry of aliens traveling to the United States on a commercial airline that failed to comply with regulations related to detecting fraudulent travel documents from the Department of Justice to DHS.

This bill provides for the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to the Freedom Riders, in recognition of their contribution to civil rights by fighting for equality in interstate travel.