Rep. Steve Cohen

Maddy summaryThe Hunger-Free Future Act of 2025 amends the SNAP program to require that any update to the thrifty food plan must not increase food insecurity. It mandates that adjustments to the diet cost must continue following existing rules while explicitly ensuring updates do not worsen food insecurity, defined as households lacking adequate food due to insufficient money or resources. This directly affects SNAP beneficiaries by setting a new standard for how the program's cost calculations are reviewed. The bill changes the procedural requirement for SNAP re-evaluations without altering benefit amounts or eligibility rules.

Hot Foods Act of 2025 This bill expands the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to permit the use of SNAP benefits to purchase hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption.

Maddy summaryHR 2357, the Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025, removes a restriction that previously barred workers on strike from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to eliminate language making workers ineligible for SNAP "as a result of being on strike," ensuring striking workers are not automatically denied food assistance during labor disputes. This change directly affects workers participating in strikes who would otherwise lose access to SNAP benefits. The key mechanism updates the eligibility rules to prevent SNAP ineligibility solely due to strike participation.

Maddy summaryThe Advancing Water Reuse Act creates a 30% tax credit for businesses investing in qualifying water recycling systems. It directly affects industrial, manufacturing, data center, and food processing facilities that replace freshwater use with recycled water from municipal sources, as well as projects building municipal water recycling infrastructure to serve these sectors. The credit covers 30% of the cost for eligible equipment, such as new onsite recycling systems or municipal infrastructure upgrades. This policy is available for projects completed by December 31, 2032, with specific rules allowing businesses to claim the credit even if equipment is later transferred to water utilities.

Maddy summaryHR 2947, the Deafblind DATA Act, requires the U.S. Census Bureau to publish an annual data table starting in 2026 showing individuals who reported both hearing and vision loss in the American Community Survey. The table will include demographic details (sex, race, age) and economic factors (employment, education, income, poverty status) for people in each state, without revealing personal identifiers. This bill directly addresses the lack of centralized data on the deafblind population (estimated at 10,000 children and 40,000 adults by the National Center on Deafblindness), which currently prevents accurate service planning. The Census Bureau must also report to Congress within 180 days on feasibility of expanding such data collection. The Act does not change existing services but aims to improve understanding of this population's needs through better data.

Maddy summaryHRES 332 is a resolution designating April 11-17, 2025, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to raise awareness about maternal health disparities affecting Black women and birthing people in the U.S. It references CDC data showing Black women are 2-3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women and that the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations. The resolution emphasizes the need to address systemic inequities contributing to these outcomes without creating new laws or funding. It serves as a symbolic recognition to amplify community-led efforts, such as those by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, rather than implementing policy changes.

Maddy summaryThe DRIVE Act of 2025 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to set mileage reimbursement rates for veterans at the federal government's current standard rate for employees using personal vehicles on official business, replacing the previous fixed rate of 41.5 cents per mile. It also mandates that the VA process and pay these reimbursements within 90 days of a veteran's valid request. This directly affects veterans who travel for VA medical appointments or services using their personal vehicles. The bill aligns veteran travel reimbursements with federal employee standards and ensures timely payments.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 331) is a non-binding House of Representatives statement supporting National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. It urges state/local governments and schools to recognize the day and promotes inclusive HIV education in curricula, including information on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The resolution calls for removing outdated HIV criminalization laws, expanding youth-friendly healthcare access (including confidential testing and treatment without parental consent), and supporting existing programs like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. It specifically highlights the disproportionate impact of HIV on young Black gay and bisexual men and advocates for reducing stigma to improve health outcomes for youth living with HIV.

Maddy summaryThe Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act (HR 2904) aims to reduce mental health disparities affecting racial and ethnic minority groups by modifying federal grant programs, requiring research on disparities, and funding targeted initiatives. It directs the Health and Human Services Secretary to prioritize grants for community health organizations serving minority populations, mandates a National Institutes of Health study on mental health research gaps in these groups, and establishes training programs for health professionals to address cultural competency in mental health care. The bill also requires a public outreach strategy developed with community input to reduce stigma and improve access to culturally appropriate care, alongside $20 million annually (2026-2031) for this effort. Additional funding includes $150 million yearly for NIH mental health research and $750 million yearly for the National Institute on Minority Health.

Maddy summaryHR 2859, the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act of 2025, adds a 10-cent per meal reimbursement to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for meals served to children in licensed childcare settings. This change directly affects childcare providers, including family and group day care homes and centers participating in CACFP, starting after the bill's enactment. The bill amends existing law to require this additional payment for every meal and supplement served under the program. The increase applies to all qualifying meals served after the effective date, without altering existing reimbursement tiers or eligibility rules.