Rep. Donald S. Beyer, Jr.

Maddy summaryThe Sarah Grace-Farley-Kluger Act (Parental Bereavement Act of 2024) amends the Family and Medical Leave Act to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the death of a son or daughter, regardless of the child's age. It requires employees to give reasonable notice for foreseeable leave and may necessitate employer-requested certification, while prohibiting intermittent leave without mutual agreement. The law applies to private-sector workers covered by the FMLA and federal employees under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. This change creates a specific bereavement leave category, removing age restrictions that previously limited such time off for parents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Defense and VA to improve outreach to service members transitioning to civilian life through the Solid Start program. It mandates calling each transitioning service member 210-120 days before separation to explain benefits and connect them with help filing disability claims, while also collecting suicide prevention resources. The bill specifically prioritizes outreach to women veterans and ensures all transitioning members (regardless of separation type) receive support. These changes directly affect service members within their final year before leaving military service, focusing on practical access to benefits and crisis resources during transition.

Maddy summaryHR 7438 directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including 100,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins will be sold to the public at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively), with all surcharge revenue paid to FWC2026 US, Inc. for U.S. soccer programs. These funds must support soccer initiatives, particularly in underserved communities and youth development, as specified in the bill. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued during 2026, with no net cost to the U.S. government.

Maddy summaryHR 6751 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Roberto Clemente, a Hall of Fame baseball player and humanitarian, including 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins must feature Clemente's image and inscriptions like "Roberto Clemente" and "2027," with all sales including a surcharge ($5-$35 per coin) paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation. The foundation, which supports youth sports, education, and disaster relief programs, will use these funds for its mission, while the U.S. Treasury must recover all production costs. The coins will be sold exclusively in 2027, with no net cost to the government.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Critically Endangered Animals Conservation Fund within the existing Multinational Species Conservation Fund, authorizing $5 million annually from 2025-2030. It provides competitive grants to foreign wildlife authorities and qualified organizations to fund on-the-ground conservation projects for species facing severe extinction risk (defined by IUCN Red List categories). Projects must focus on habitat protection, research, anti-poaching enforcement, community engagement, or disease management, while requiring local community consent and matching funds. Grants cannot fund captive breeding except for reintroduction into the wild, and all project reports must be publicly available.

Maddy summaryHR 10199, the Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act of 2024, requires new health warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages, foods containing non-sugar sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in nutrients like added sugar or sodium. These warnings must be prominently displayed on product packaging using specific formatting requirements, including a 5% minimum area on the front of containers. The bill also restricts advertising of these foods to children and establishes a public education campaign to help families understand the warnings and make healthier choices. The law would directly affect food manufacturers, advertisers, and families with children, while authorizing research on nutrition science through the National Institutes of Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill enhances the existing American Battlefield Protection Program by expanding eligibility for grants to include Tribes, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions, alongside States and local governments. It clarifies that eligible sites must be identified in the 1993 Civil War battlefield report or 2007 Revolutionary War/War of 1812 report, excluding sites already within National Park boundaries. The bill also requires the Secretary to submit updated battlefield condition reports to Congress every 10 years, starting two years after enactment, tracking preservation efforts and battlefield changes. These changes streamline program administration and ensure ongoing assessment of historic battlefield sites.

Maddy summaryHR 10165, the Security Clearance Review Act, requires the FBI Director to approve security clearances and access to classified information for political appointees working in the Executive Office of the President. It prohibits such appointees from holding clearances or accessing classified information without the FBI Director’s explicit authorization. If the FBI denies clearance, the Director must immediately notify the President and Congress. If the President overrides this denial, they must provide a written explanation to Congress within 30 days. The bill directly affects political appointees in the White House and establishes new oversight steps for security clearance decisions.

Maddy summaryThe Improving Diagnosis in Medicine Act of 2024 creates a federal research program to reduce diagnostic errors and improve patient safety in healthcare. It authorizes $30 million in 2025 (rising to $45 million by 2028) to fund research centers, develop evidence-based strategies for preventing diagnostic delays, and engage stakeholders like hospitals and patient groups. The bill also establishes an interagency council to coordinate federal efforts and requires a National Academies report on disparities in diagnostic safety. These provisions directly affect healthcare providers, patients, and researchers by aiming to make diagnosis safer and more reliable through systematic research and data improvements.

Maddy summaryThe American Renewable Energy Act of 2024 establishes a national standard requiring large electricity suppliers to generate increasing percentages of renewable electricity, from 20% in 2025 up to 70% by 2034. It mandates that 15-20% of required renewable energy credits must come from distributed generation (small-scale projects under 1 megawatt) and from projects in "impacted communities" - communities disproportionately affected by pollution and environmental injustice. Retail electricity suppliers can meet requirements through renewable energy credits or pay a $50 annual compliance fee (adjusted for inflation), with funds from these fees required to support renewable energy deployment, storage, and energy efficiency programs, ensuring at least 50% of benefits reach impacted communities. The law creates a national credit system while preserving existing state renewable energy programs and preventing double-counting of renewable energy credits.