Rep. Stacey E. Plaskett

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to include school or community gardens as part of student health programs under nutritional education. It requires schools using funds from Section 4108 to report on garden activities, then directs the Education Department to collect this data, identify effective practices, and publish them online for public access. The bill directly affects schools receiving ESEA funds and their students by integrating garden-based learning into health education, without creating new funding. It focuses on sharing practical approaches for developing and maintaining gardens, not on mandating specific outcomes.

Maddy summaryHRES 1101 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for collaborating with the Congressional Black Caucus to develop a "Black Wealth Agenda." It commits the House to outlining legislative priorities focused on closing the racial wealth gap through key areas like expanding Black entrepreneurship, reforming housing policies, building workforce development programs, and updating the federal minimum wage. The resolution emphasizes addressing systemic barriers in homeownership, education access, employment discrimination, and tax policy to advance economic equity for Black communities. It does not create new laws but directs the House to coordinate with the CBC on policy solutions targeting wealth-building opportunities.

Maddy summaryHRES 1096 is a non-binding resolution expressing support for the House of Representatives to collaborate with the Congressional Black Caucus in developing the "Black Wealth Agenda." It identifies key areas requiring policy action, including closing the racial wealth gap through improvements in homeownership access, education equity, fair employment practices, affordable housing, and tax reform. The resolution outlines priorities such as expanding support for Black entrepreneurship, addressing systemic housing discrimination, raising the federal minimum wage, and investing in historically Black colleges. It does not create new laws or mandate specific actions but commits the House to coordinating legislative efforts focused on these economic equity goals. The resolution was introduced by multiple representatives and referred to relevant committees for review.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Dr. Percy and Dr. Anna Julian Home in Oak Park, Illinois, as a National Historic Site within the National Park System. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to finalize an agreement with the Julian Home for public access, interpretation, and maintenance before designation, and mandates a map of the site boundaries. The site aims to preserve and interpret the Julian family's achievements in chemistry and medicine, their history of overcoming racial discrimination, and their home's resilience against firebomb attempts. The National Park Service will manage the site under existing park system laws, with a management plan due within one year of funding. This designation directly affects the Julian Home property and future visitors, not policy or citizens.

Maddy summaryHR 3385, the DiasporaLink Act, requires the Commerce Secretary to produce a report within one year assessing the value, cost, and feasibility of building a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. The report must evaluate security, economic opportunities, current telecommunications infrastructure reliability, and potential digital sovereignty benefits of such a cable. It also mandates analysis of developing a secure data center in the U.S. Virgin Islands for military communications. This procedural bill directs a federal assessment but does not authorize construction or funding. The report will inform Congress about the project's potential without advancing any policy position.

Expanding Opportunity for Minority Depository Institutions Act or the Expanding Opportunity for MDIs Act This bill establishes the Financial Agent Mentor-Protégé Program within the Department of the Treasury. The program provides participating minority deposit institutions and small financial institutions with mentorship from large financial institutions or from financial agents designated by Treasury. This mentorship prepares protégé institutions to improve service capacity or to perform as financial agents for the federal government.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Department of Education to automatically send information about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility to college students with a zero expected family contribution (EFC) who submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It directs the Secretary to provide written and electronic details about SNAP benefits, including how to apply and contact information for state SNAP agencies, in both formats. The bill mandates consultation between the Education and Agriculture Departments to design this communication. It directly affects low-income undergraduate students who qualify for federal aid but may not know about SNAP food assistance. The policy change aims to connect eligible students with existing nutrition support programs.

Climate and Health Protection Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Climate and Health Program within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an Interagency Task Force on Black Women and Girls, requiring the Attorney General and Health Secretary to create a group within 180 days of enactment. The Task Force will examine systemic issues affecting Black women and girls - including school discipline, economic opportunities, healthcare access, justice system involvement, and housing - and make policy recommendations across these areas. It mandates the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to annually study specific disparities like maternal mortality rates, the school-to-prison pipeline, and housing barriers, then report findings to Congress. The bill directly targets policies impacting Black women and girls as defined in the legislation, with recommendations due within two years.

Maddy summaryHR 7378, the Frederick Douglass Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes Congress to posthumously award a gold medal to honor Frederick Douglass's legacy as a pivotal abolitionist, writer, and advocate for civil rights. The medal, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be presented to the National Museum of African American History and Culture for display, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. This ceremonial bill does not create new laws or affect current policies - it solely commemorates Douglass's historical contributions to ending slavery and advancing equality.