Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott

Maddy summaryThe POJA Act of 2025 amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act to explicitly prohibit age discrimination against job applicants, not just current employees. It directly affects job seekers aged 40 and older who face bias during hiring. The bill requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to conduct a study within one year of enactment, counting age discrimination claims filed since 2015 (including closed cases), and issue a public report with prevention recommendations for employers. This study aims to address gaps in protecting applicants during the hiring process.

Maddy summaryHRES 746 is a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives condemning all political violence - including attacks on elected officials, candidates, and public figures - and rejecting rhetoric that dehumanizes opponents. It specifically urges law enforcement to investigate and prosecute such violence, calls on public officials and media to avoid inflammatory language, and references recent incidents like the 2025 assassination of activist Charlie Kirk and targeted shootings of Minnesota legislators. The resolution does not create new laws but formally expresses the House’s commitment to protecting public servants and promoting peaceful political discourse. It directly affects the House’s public stance and serves as a call to action for officials, media, and communities to foster civil engagement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans, Medicare Part D, Medicaid, and CHIP to cover vaccines recommended by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) without cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles). It applies to vaccines recommended as of October 25, 2024, including updates through 2029, and covers all such vaccines for the period starting when the bill is enacted until December 31, 2029. The requirement excludes vaccines given within minimum recommended intervals. It directly affects patients, insurers, and government health programs by ensuring no out-of-pocket costs for covered vaccines during this timeframe.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes federal funding for diabetes programs targeting Type 1 diabetes. It extends annual funding of $160 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, continuing existing support for research, treatment, and prevention initiatives. The funds remain available until expended, directly supporting programs serving people with Type 1 diabetes and the organizations delivering these services. The bill makes no changes to program eligibility or structure, only extending current funding levels.

Maddy summaryThe Redistricting Reform Act of 2025 requires states to use independent redistricting commissions for congressional redistricting, banning partisan gerrymandering and requiring plans to comply with constitutional and Voting Rights Act standards. The bill establishes ranked criteria for redistricting, prioritizing population equality, voting rights protections, and community preservation over partisan advantage. It mandates multi-partisan commission composition with public input and transparency requirements, with states facing court-developed plans if they miss deadlines. The law would apply to redistricting after the 2030 census, affecting all 50 states' congressional district maps.

Maddy summaryHJRES 122 proposes a constitutional amendment that would grant Congress and states explicit authority to regulate campaign contributions and spending intended to influence elections. It would allow for reasonable, viewpoint-neutral limits on how much money candidates and others can raise or spend, as well as enable public financing systems to reduce private wealth's influence in campaigns. The amendment would permit distinguishing between individuals and corporations in campaign finance rules, potentially banning corporate spending to influence elections. It explicitly states this amendment would not affect the freedom of the press.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline to establish a dedicated "Press 3" option (via IVR) for LGBTQ+ youth seeking crisis support, directly affecting LGBTQ+ youth who face a four times higher suicide risk than peers. It mandates that at least 9% of funds allocated for the lifeline's services be reserved specifically for these specialized LGBTQ+ youth services. The bill amends existing law to formalize this dedicated resource, building on current services that handled over 1.5 million contacts from LGBTQ+ youth in 2025. This creates a concrete policy change for accessing tailored crisis support without altering other lifeline operations.

Maddy summaryHRES 720 is a symbolic resolution expressing congressional support for designating September 2025 as "African Diaspora Heritage Month." It does not create legal requirements or allocate funding but encourages public observation through ceremonies and programs. The resolution highlights the African diaspora’s economic contributions (e.g., $24 billion in federal taxes in 2021), cultural diversity, and historical significance to U.S. society. It urges local governments to recognize the month and affirms that the diaspora’s contributions enrich American history and national identity. This is a non-binding gesture focused on recognition, not policy change.

Maddy summaryHR 5401, the Pay Our Troops Act of 2026, ensures military personnel, civilian Defense workers, and supporting contractors receive pay during government funding gaps in fiscal year 2026. It appropriates emergency funds for active-duty service members, reserves, and their supporting personnel (including Coast Guard staff under DHS) if regular appropriations aren't enacted by the end of the fiscal year. The bill provides necessary pay and allowances during any period when full-year funding is unavailable, covering both active service and support roles. Funding expires when regular appropriations are passed, a funding resolution is enacted, or January 1, 2027, whichever comes first. This is a procedural measure to prevent pay delays for military and support staff during fiscal year 2026 funding lapses.

Maddy summaryThe FAMILY Act would establish a national paid family and medical leave insurance program that provides wage replacement benefits for workers needing time off for caregiving or medical reasons. It defines "qualified caregiving" to include caring for a family member with a serious health condition, personal medical needs, or recovery from violence (including domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking). Benefits would be calculated based on earnings, with a minimum monthly benefit of $580 and maximum of $4,000, administered by a new Office of Paid Family and Medical Leave within the Social Security Administration. Eligible individuals would need to have worked for at least 8 quarters in the previous year and file an application with required documentation, while existing state paid leave programs would continue to operate alongside this federal program.