Rep. Marilyn Strickland

Maddy summaryThe Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women’s Health Act of 2024 would expand access to preventive cancer screenings (including breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer screenings) for women, with a focus on low-income women, women of color, rural communities, and underserved populations. It authorizes $20 million annually for grants to health care providers - such as family planning centers - to increase screenings and establishes a training program for health care providers on best practices and cultural competency to address racial disparities. The bill also mandates a study analyzing cancer screening rates and disparities by race, income, geography, and insurance status, with reports to Congress every five years. These provisions aim to improve early detection, reduce mortality, and address systemic barriers in women’s cancer care.

Maddy summaryThe Investing in Community Resilience Act of 2024 amends the Stafford Act to expand eligibility for federal disaster resilience funding. It adds programs that improve building standards and land use practices to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters (like storms, floods, and wildfires) and includes support for community emergency response teams and non-governmental organizations providing disaster assistance through training and preparedness exercises. The bill requires FEMA to issue guidance to state and tribal governments within one year of enactment, and mandates that these changes be implemented using existing FEMA funds without new appropriations. This directly affects state/local governments and community emergency response organizations by altering how they access federal resilience funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the operating period for the African American Civil Rights Network program from 7 years to 10 years after the act's enactment. It directly affects the existing program, which supports organizations preserving civil rights history and promoting education, by allowing it to continue operating for a longer duration without needing new congressional approval. The change is a straightforward extension of an existing authorization period under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a single gold medal to honor the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, an all-African American unit that served during the D-Day invasion in World War II. The medal commemorates their unique role as the only African American combat unit to land in Normandy, their deployment of barrage balloons to protect troops from air attacks, and their contributions to the Allied victory. The gold medal, to be struck by the Treasury and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution (including locations like the National Museum of African American History and Culture), will be made available for public display and research. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes or direct impact on current laws or citizens.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how disability benefits are treated for homeless disabled veterans seeking housing assistance. It excludes certain disability payments (under Chapter 11 or 15 of Title 38, U.S. Code) from income calculations when determining eligibility for HUD-assisted housing programs, including the supported housing program under Section 8(o)(19) and housing on Department property. Specifically, it ensures these benefits are not counted toward income for housing eligibility, though they still count for "adjusted income" definitions. The bill directly affects disabled veterans applying for HUD housing assistance who receive these specific disability benefits. It makes a concrete change to income calculation rules without altering benefit amounts or creating new funding.

Maddy summaryThe COACH Act requires the Small Business Administration to create and regularly update a multilingual resource guide for small childcare businesses. This guide provides practical help on operations, finances, safety, compliance, and quality standards - covering topics like marketing, payroll, and eligibility for federal childcare funding. The guide must be published in English and 10 major U.S. languages (including Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean) and distributed through SBA offices, women’s business centers, and other partner organizations. It directly affects small childcare providers, sole proprietors, and organizations with limited administrative capacity.

Maddy summaryThe Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act would allow tribal law enforcement officers working under federal contracts or compacts (via the Indian Self-Determination Act) to enforce federal law on tribal lands, provided they complete equivalent training, pass background checks, and receive Bureau of Indian Affairs certification. It designates these officers as federal law enforcement officers for legal protections under specific federal laws, such as the Federal Tort Claims Act. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to establish a credentialing process within 24 months and directs the Attorney General to coordinate federal public safety efforts in Indian communities through improved data collection and training. This policy change directly affects tribal officers and communities by expanding their enforcement authority and legal recognition.

Maddy summaryHRES 1537 is a non-binding House resolution condemning Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, including 7 Americans still held captive. It calls on Hamas to immediately surrender, cease attacks, and release all hostages unconditionally, while reaffirming Israel's right to self-defense. The resolution also urges international organizations to condemn Hamas' actions and address the global surge in antisemitism following the attacks. As a symbolic statement, it does not create new laws or alter policy but expresses congressional position. The bill specifically references the ongoing captivity of seven U.S. citizens: Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judith Weinstein Haggai, Omer Neutra, and Keith Siegel.

Maddy summaryThe National Food as Medicine Program Act of 2024 creates a federal grant program to help states implement or expand initiatives that provide medically prescribed, nutrient-rich food (like fresh produce or tailored meals) to address chronic health conditions and food insecurity. States must partner with healthcare providers and community organizations to offer these interventions, using locally-sourced, sustainably produced food grown through regenerative or organic methods. The program requires states to evaluate outcomes like reduced hospital visits and improved health metrics, with reports submitted to the federal government after three years. It directly affects state Medicaid programs and healthcare providers participating in these initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates out-of-pocket costs for all FDA-approved contraceptives under TRICARE for military dependents (spouses and children) and extends full coverage to include counseling, insertion, removal, and follow-up care. It requires TRICARE Select, Prime, and pharmacy benefits to cover all contraceptive methods without cost-sharing, addressing current gaps where dependents face copays. The law also mandates family planning education for all service members and ensures sexual assault survivors can access emergency contraception without barriers at military medical facilities. This applies to all individuals with reproductive capacity, including transgender and non-binary dependents.