Rep. Emily Randall

Maddy summaryHR 2586, the Reentry Act of 2025, amends Medicaid rules to allow incarcerated individuals to receive Medicaid coverage during the 30 days immediately before their release from prison or jail. This directly affects people leaving correctional facilities, ensuring they can access health care as they transition back into communities. The bill requires a report within 18 months analyzing current health care standards in prisons, the number of people who would gain coverage, and current discharge practices to improve Medicaid enrollment for newly released individuals. The report will also assess how to better connect people with community health services and addiction treatment after release.

Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025   This bill imposes penalties on certain persons (individuals and entities) if the President determines that the Russian government or a person acting at Russia's direction is involved with (1) refusing to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine; (2) violating a negotiated peace agreement; (3) initiating another invasion of Ukraine; or (4) overthrowing, dismantling, or seeking to subvert the Ukrainian government.   If the President makes such a determination, the bill requires certain actions including the President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on specified persons such as the Russian president, certain Russian military commanders, and any foreign person that knowingly provides defense items to the Russian armed forces; the President must increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported from Russia into the United States to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services; the President must increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported into the United States from countries that knowingly engage in the exchange of Russian-origin uranium and petroleum products to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services; the Department of the Treasury must impose property-blocking sanctions on any financial institution organized under Russian law and owned wholly or partly by Russia, and any financial institution that engages in transactions with those entities; and the Department of Commerce must prohibit the export, reexport, or in-country transfer to or in Russia of any U.S.-produced energy or energy product.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic resolution (HCONRES 23) expresses Congress's support for International Transgender Day of Visibility, observed annually on March 31. It encourages Americans to recognize and celebrate transgender community achievements while acknowledging ongoing challenges like discrimination in employment, healthcare, and public accommodations. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally endorses the day's purpose through non-binding statements of support and recognition. It directly affects the broader public by promoting awareness and respect for transgender individuals' rights and contributions.

Maddy summaryThe Heating and Cooling Relief Act (HR 2486) expands the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help low-income households struggling with energy costs. It increases funding to cover all eligible households (those with incomes up to 250% of poverty level or 80% of State median income), sets a goal that no household should spend more than 3% of income on energy, and requires states to operate assistance programs year-round. The bill includes new protections against utility shutoffs for 2 years after assistance is received, prohibits late fees during the 6 months following assistance, and mandates weatherization and energy efficiency improvements in low-income housing. It also requires states to develop extreme heat response plans and addresses the $21 billion in residential utility arrears as of September 2024.

Maddy summaryHR 2485, the Arts Education for All Act, requires states and school districts to integrate arts education into K-12 curricula and report on its availability. It mandates states to describe how they will support arts courses, increase certified arts educators (especially in high-need schools), and use arts to enhance teaching in core subjects like math and science (Section 202). Schools must track and report on arts course offerings, teacher qualifications, and student access - including disaggregated data by school poverty levels (Section 203). The bill also expands arts access in juvenile justice programs (Section 301) and funds research on effective arts education methods (Section 401). It directly affects public schools, arts educators, and youth in after-school and correctional settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to launch a national public education campaign about abortion access. The campaign must provide medically accurate information on where to obtain abortion services (including medication abortion), legal rights for out-of-state care, identifying misleading anti-abortion centers, spotting disinformation, and protecting personal health data. It specifically targets underserved communities like people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, rural residents, and those with low incomes, while prohibiting the promotion of misinformation or abstinence-only programs.

Maddy summaryHR 2487, the Transgender Health Care Access Act, aims to improve access to gender-affirming care for transgender individuals by funding training and education for healthcare providers. The bill provides $10 million annually for medical schools to develop curricula on gender-affirming care and culturally competent treatment, and $15 million annually for grants to train medical residents, nurse practitioners, and community health centers serving transgender patients. It specifically targets rural providers through $5 million annually for collaborative networks to expand care in underserved areas. The legislation requires a report to Congress within two years detailing progress in improving health equity for transgender populations.

Maddy summaryThe ABC Act (HR 2491) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Social Security Administration to review and simplify eligibility processes, forms, and communications for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Social Security programs. It specifically aims to reduce duplicate paperwork for family caregivers - defined as individuals supporting people with disabilities or health needs - and improve accessibility through features like ADA-compliant websites, translation services, and reduced call wait times. The agencies must gather input from caregivers and organizations, then implement changes to streamline interactions. Within two years, they must report findings and proposed actions to Congress, with follow-up reports every two years. This procedural bill focuses on administrative improvements, not new benefits.

Save America's Forgotten Equines Act of 2025 or the SAFE Act of 2025 This bill permanently prohibits the slaughter of equines (e.g., horses and mules) for human consumption. (Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill extends the prohibition to equines.) Specifically, this bill prohibits a person from knowingly (1) slaughtering an equine for human consumption; or (2) shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption. The bill subjects a violator to a fine. The bill applies to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. However, it does not apply to an activity carried out by an Indian for a religious ceremony. As background, in recent years, the appropriations acts have prohibited the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using federal funds to inspect horses before they are slaughtered for human consumption. Therefore, there are currently no USDA-inspected horse slaughter facilities in the United States.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 2411, directs the U.S. government to immediately resume funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) by repealing two prior funding restrictions. It requires the State Department to restart payments to UNRWA under existing authorities and mandates the President to rescind a 2025 executive order ending UNRWA support. The bill affects Palestinian refugees in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank who rely on UNRWA for humanitarian aid, as well as U.S. funding mechanisms. It also requires quarterly reports through 2028 on UNRWA’s progress implementing accountability reforms from an independent review led by Catherine Colonna.