Rep. Chrissy Houlahan

Maddy summaryHR 1259, the Global Demining Protection Act, requires the U.S. Secretary of State to immediately resume all Department of State programs focused on clearing landmines, unexploded ordnance, and destroying small arms. It mandates issuing a waiver under existing authority to restart these activities without delay after the bill becomes law. This bill directly affects U.S. foreign aid programs administered by the State Department that support global demining efforts, ensuring their immediate continuation. The key mechanism is the mandatory waiver to override any current restrictions on these specific demining activities.

Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act This bill creates and expands federal grant programs within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to increase capacity to provide emergency obstetric health services in rural areas or areas without practitioners or facilities specializing in obstetric services.  Specifically, HRSA must establish a program for providing grants to certain hospitals or consortiums that include hospitals in rural areas or areas with maternal health care professional shortages for training, developing a workforce, and purchasing equipment relating to obstetric emergencies. In addition, the bill requires HRSA’s Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health Capacity program to provide grants for training on emergency obstetric services for practitioners in rural health care facilities without dedicated obstetric units. HRSA must also establish a pilot program to provide grants to government entities for developing or improving telehealth access programs to support urgent maternal health care in rural facilities without a dedicated obstetric unit.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 123) is a symbolic gesture by the U.S. House of Representatives congratulating the Philadelphia Eagles football team on their victory in Super Bowl LIX. It directly recognizes the team's achievement, citing specific game details like Jalen Hurts' performance and the team's journey. The resolution contains no new laws or policy changes - it merely expresses congressional appreciation through two formal statements of congratulations. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not affect any laws, regulations, or individuals beyond acknowledging the team's win.

Maddy summaryHR 1196 prohibits using federal funds to eliminate the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as an independent agency, as defined by law. It requires the Secretary of State to certify annual compliance with this restriction to the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees. The bill directly affects USAID's operational status and U.S. foreign aid programs by preventing congressional or executive actions that would dismantle or merge the agency, maintaining its role in U.S. international development efforts.

Maddy summaryThe PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends federal research funding for preterm birth prevention and care through fiscal years 2025-2029, replacing the prior 2019-2023 period. It requires the HHS Secretary to establish an interagency working group within 18 months and mandates a National Academies study on preterm birth costs, risk factors, and prevention strategies. The study must assess neonatal intensive care costs, long-term family expenses, and opportunities for early detection and support. It also analyzes targeted research for at-risk pregnancies, state program best practices, and precision medicine approaches starting in pregnancy. This bill directly affects preterm infants, their families, and federal health agencies through these research and coordination mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts access to Treasury payment systems (including the Bureau of the Fiscal Service) to only Treasury employees with a "fully successful" performance rating and at least one year of civil service, or contractors/outsiders with security clearances, required privacy/cybersecurity training, ethics agreements, and no conflicts of interest. It treats non-government users accessing these systems as government employees for ethics rules and defines specific actions (like stopping payments) as "personal and substantial participation" in government matters. The Treasury Inspector General must investigate any unauthorized access within 30 days and report to Congress, detailing the breach, security risks, and any halted payments. The bill directly affects Treasury staff, contractors, and any external entities accessing federal payment systems.

Maddy summaryHR 1158, the Freedom First Lend Lease Act, authorizes the U.S. President to lend or lease defense equipment to Ukraine and Eastern European countries impacted by Russia's invasion, for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It specifically removes certain legal restrictions (like sections of the Foreign Assistance Act and Arms Export Control Act) that would normally apply to such assistance for Ukraine. The bill requires the President to establish expedited delivery procedures for defense articles within 60 days of enactment and mandates that any loan or lease must comply with standard return, reimbursement, and repayment requirements. This policy change directly affects U.S. foreign military assistance to these nations, streamlining support for defense capabilities and civilian protection.

Maddy summaryHR 1138, the Payment Choice Act of 2025, requires most retail businesses to accept cash for in-person purchases up to $500 per transaction and prohibits charging higher prices for cash payments compared to other methods. Businesses may temporarily refuse cash only due to system failures, insufficient change, or if they offer a prepaid card conversion device meeting strict conditions (no fees, no minimum deposit, no expiration). The bill allows businesses a 5-year period to phase in accepting $50 bills or larger, after which the Treasury Secretary must mandate acceptance of $1-$20 bills. Consumers can send a 45-day notice to businesses for violations before pursuing legal action, with potential damages of at least $250 per violation. The law does not override stricter state cash acceptance protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands 529 college savings account flexibility by allowing funds to cover costs for industry-recognized postsecondary credentials, not just traditional degrees. It defines "qualified expenses" to include tuition/fees for recognized credential programs (like certifications or apprenticeships), required testing fees, and continuing education needed to maintain credentials. To qualify, programs must meet specific criteria, such as appearing on state lists under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or being listed in VA or Defense directories. The change applies to 529 distributions made after the law's enactment, giving families more options to use these accounts for job-focused training.

Protecting Sensitive Locations Act This bill prohibits immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of a sensitive location except in exigent circumstances, such as the imminent risk of death, violence, or physical harm to any person. Sensitive locations include  health care facilities; schools and school bus stops; places that provide assistance for people such as children, pregnant women, and abuse victims; child care facilities; places that provide disaster or emergency services; places of worship; courthouses and lawyers’ offices; facilities used as polling places; certain labor union facilities; and public assistance offices. The prohibition shall apply to Department of Homeland Security officers and agents, as well as state employees pursuing immigration enforcement actions. If an enforcement action is carried out in violation of this prohibition (1) no information resulting from the action may be entered into the record in a resulting removal proceeding, and (2) the affected individual may move to immediately terminate such a proceeding. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall annually report to Congress about enforcement actions taken at sensitive locations in the preceding year.