Rep. Andrea Salinas

Maddy summaryHR 5660, the Pay Our Military Act, ensures military personnel and support staff receive pay during a government funding gap in fiscal year 2026. It appropriates funds from the Treasury to cover pay and allowances for active-duty troops, reservists, Department of Defense civilian employees, and contractors supporting military operations, if Congress hasn’t passed regular funding by then. The funding remains available until either regular appropriations are enacted or January 1, 2027, whichever comes first. This is a temporary measure to prevent disruptions in military pay during budget negotiations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires NASA and NOAA to establish civilian space cooperation with Taiwan within 90 days of enactment, focusing on satellite programs, weather technology, and personnel exchanges. It mandates that these efforts comply with the Taiwan Relations Act and U.S. export rules while protecting U.S. intellectual property and economic interests. The agencies must submit annual reports to Congress detailing cooperation activities, challenges, and progress for five years after enactment. The bill directly affects U.S. space agencies and Taiwan’s space agency, facilitating non-military space collaboration. It does not alter existing U.S. policy toward Taiwan but creates a formal mechanism for expanded technical engagement.

Maddy summaryHR 5655, the "No Shame at School Act of 2025," requires schools to eliminate stigma around unpaid meal fees for students. It mandates that school districts automatically certify eligible students for free/reduced meals (replacing "may" with "shall"), prohibits physical segregation or public identification of students with unpaid fees (like special tokens or name lists), and bans withholding grades or activities due to meal debt. The bill also prevents schools from using debt collectors for meal fees and requires adjustments to past meal claims when eligibility is later confirmed. This directly affects schools, local educational agencies, and students from households with outstanding meal fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals longstanding restrictions on federal funding for gun violence research that have been in place since 1996. It establishes a National Gun Violence Research Program coordinated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, authorizing $200 million over six years ($200,000 annually from 2026-2031) to fund research across multiple agencies including the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, and National Institute of Justice. The bill requires sharing of gun trace data with researchers and creates an interagency working group and advisory committee to guide the research program. This legislation focuses on enabling research into the causes and prevention of gun violence without making changes to gun laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 770) is a symbolic statement expressing the House's support for "Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Day" observed on September 25. It directly affirms the House's commitment to military sexual trauma (MST) survivors - impacting both women and men in the military - by highlighting the need to reduce stigma and improve support systems. The resolution encourages the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs to expand access to MST-related services and promote transparency in handling cases, but it does not create new laws or funding. As a non-binding resolution, it serves only to formally acknowledge the issue and encourage existing agencies to prioritize survivor care.

Maddy summaryHR 5604, the National Guard Proper Use Act, prohibits military and National Guard personnel from being ordered to enforce federal immigration laws. It adds new sections to military law (Title 10 for active forces and Title 32 for the National Guard), explicitly stating members cannot be directed to perform duties related to immigration enforcement. This directly affects military commanders who might attempt to assign such tasks and ensures National Guard members remain focused on their core missions, not civilian immigration enforcement. The bill references the Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C. §1385), a longstanding law that limits military involvement in domestic law enforcement. It clarifies existing legal boundaries without creating new programs or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents federal agencies from terminating employees during a government shutdown caused by a lapse in discretionary funding. It prohibits removals of civil service employees at any agency affected by a funding gap, and if an employee is wrongfully removed, they can return to their job with back pay once funding resumes. The law directly protects all federal employees covered by the civil service system during shutdowns. It applies automatically to any funding lapse, requiring automatic reinstatement without needing separate legal action.

Maddy summaryThe Emergency Responder Protection Act (HR 5603) prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from conducting immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of protected emergency response locations - such as hospitals, shelters, disaster relief sites, or evacuation routes - except in clear cases of immediate danger to life or national security. It requires officers to consult supervisors in real-time if circumstances are unclear, mandates detailed annual reports to Congress on any enforcement near these sites, and creates penalties for violations, including barring evidence from removal proceedings. The law specifically exempts rare, premeditated arrests of terrorism suspects or individuals posing extraordinary public safety threats, with prior written approval. This directly affects ICE and CBP officers, requiring them to adjust operations near active emergency scenes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 757) is a symbolic gesture by the U.S. House of Representatives to support designating September 22, 2025, as "National Hispanic Nurses Day" and to formally recognize the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) as the leading organization representing Hispanic nurses. It does not create new laws or policies but expresses official congressional support for honoring Hispanic nurses' contributions to healthcare equity and cultural competence. The resolution acknowledges NAHN's role since 1975 in advancing health outcomes for Hispanic communities and reducing disparities. As a non-binding resolution, it has no direct legal effect but aims to raise public awareness of Hispanic nurses' work.

Maddy summaryThe Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025 would establish a federal grant program to fund school-based mental health services for students in grades K-12, particularly those experiencing trauma, grief, suicide risk, or violence. It directly affects schools (including Bureau of Indian Education schools), students, and community mental health providers through partnerships that must include school districts and local mental health entities. Key provisions require services to be culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, and integrated with positive behavioral supports, with grants capped at $2 million per award for 5 years (renewable) and funded at $300 million annually for 2027-2028. Recipients must report annually on program outcomes, ensure equitable access across urban and rural areas, and comply with privacy laws like HIPAA and FERPA.