Rep. Marilyn Strickland

Maddy summaryHRES 483 is a House resolution recognizing the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army's founding on June 14, 1775. It expresses appreciation for the Army's service over 250 years, honors soldiers' valor and core values, and calls for public observance through ceremonies and activities. The resolution has no policy impact or funding provisions - it is purely commemorative. It was introduced by 30 bipartisan House members and referred to the Armed Services Committee.

Farmers Feeding America Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), increases funding for the program, and provides additional delivery options for geographically isolated states (i.e., Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam). TEFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Through TEFAP, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a variety of commodities and makes those food products (e.g., canned, frozen, dried, and fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, and whole-grain and enriched grain products) available to state distributing agencies. The bill increases funding for purchasing commodities under the program. Further, the bill directs USDA to coordinate with geographically isolated states to (1) establish alternative delivery options for allocated commodities, and (2) allow for the states to order commodities through the USDA Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.  USDA may also provide geographically isolated states the ability to directly purchase domestically grown food in lieu of receiving a portion of the commodities. Under this option, USDA may distribute as cash to the state up to 20% of the cash value of the commodities that are allocated to the state under TEFAP.  Further, USDA may consider additional factors beyond lowest price in determining winning bids for contracts for fresh produce packages (including product variety and transportation distance).

Maddy summaryHR 3757, the Pride In Mental Health Act of 2025, provides $20 million annually (2026-2030) to fund grants for mental health services targeting LGBTQ+ youth, including nonbinary, intersex, and Two Spirit youth, and their families/caregivers. The bill mandates grantees to provide trauma-informed care, cultural competency training, school bullying prevention guidelines, and evidence-based practices while explicitly prohibiting the use of funds for conversion therapy or its promotion. It also requires the federal government to restore mental health reports on LGBTQ+ youth, conduct a national survey measuring mental health distress, and produce a report on mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth in foster care. The law directly affects these youth populations by expanding access to tailored mental health resources and data collection, with funding administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.

Maddy summaryHRES 463 is a House resolution (not a bill) condemning the international practice of "flag-of-convenience" shipping, where vessels register under foreign flags to avoid U.S. laws and regulations. It directly affects U.S. maritime industries, workers, and national security by highlighting how this practice undermines the U.S. merchant marine, enables illegal fishing ($50 billion annually), and facilitates crimes like forced labor and terrorism. The resolution calls for international action by urging the UN, International Maritime Organization, and International Labour Organization to condemn these practices and support global maritime standards. It also reaffirms support for U.S. shipbuilding, fishing, and tourism industries while emphasizing the need for stronger oversight to protect workers' rights and safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals key provisions of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which previously shielded gun manufacturers and dealers from civil lawsuits. It allows gun trace data from the federal Firearms Trace System to be used as evidence in civil court cases involving gun violence. Victims of gun violence (or their families) who sue gun manufacturers, dealers, or distributors in state or federal court can now access and rely on this trace information. The bill directly changes the legal landscape by removing a major barrier to holding gun industry entities accountable in civil cases. It does not alter criminal proceedings or affect gun ownership rights.

Maddy summaryHR 3694, the VALID Act of 2025, requires lenders to include specific information about VA loans in mortgage disclosures. It amends the National Housing Act to mandate that disclosures state the loan-to-value ratio and clarify that VA loans are available under Chapter 37 of Title 38 (veterans' benefits law), assuming prevailing interest rates. The bill also requires the Federal Housing Finance Agency to add a military service question to the Uniform Residential Loan Application form, placing it above the signature line within six months of enactment. This directly affects veterans and active-duty service members applying for VA-guaranteed mortgages, as well as the lenders processing those applications.

Maddy summaryThe Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2025 requires schools, colleges, correctional facilities, and federal buildings to provide free menstrual products to those who need them. It makes menstrual products covered by Medicaid, prohibits states from taxing these products, and creates grant programs to support low-income individuals. Key provisions include mandating free products in educational settings, requiring employers with 100+ employees to provide them, and expanding Medicaid coverage for these items. The bill directly affects students, incarcerated individuals, homeless people, Medicaid beneficiaries, and low-income families by addressing period poverty through concrete access requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 3658, the 911 Community Crisis Responders Act of 2025, provides federal grants to states, tribes, and local governments to create unarmed mobile crisis response teams. These teams would handle nonviolent 911 calls related to mental health, substance use, homelessness, or disabilities - instead of sending police - by dispatching trained professionals like social workers or nurses. The bill requires grantees to update 911 systems for call triage, train dispatchers to identify appropriate referrals, and collect data on demographics, outcomes (like reduced ER visits), and program costs. It directly affects communities experiencing mental health or substance use crises by offering an alternative to law enforcement responses.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes collective bargaining rules for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employees by removing existing subsections (b), (c), and (d) from Section 7422 of Title 38 and redesignating the current subsection (e) as (b). It directly affects VA health care employees by altering the structure of their collective bargaining framework. The bill explicitly states it does not change the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authorities over incentive pay or expedited hiring under Section 706 of Title 38. The change is purely procedural, focusing on the internal organization of bargaining rules without introducing new employee benefits or obligations.

Maddy summaryHR 3597, the Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates Act, creates two main incentives to boost domestic production of printed circuit boards and integrated circuit substrates. It provides a 25% tax credit for businesses purchasing US-manufactured circuit boards and substrates, and establishes a federal financial assistance program offering up to $300 million per project (with larger amounts possible with presidential approval) for manufacturing or research and development facilities in the United States. The program prioritizes small businesses, minority-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, and projects that expand domestic production capacity or relocate manufacturing from foreign-controlled areas. Recipients must use funds for specific covered incentives like facility construction, equipment, or workforce training programs, with strict clawback provisions for delays or inappropriate technology sharing with foreign entities of concern. The program requires coordination with multiple federal agencies and includes annual reviews by the Government Accountability Office to track outcomes.