Rep. Ami Bera

Maddy summaryHR 6774, the FHA Small-Dollar Mortgages Act, authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish a four-year pilot program to increase access to mortgages of $100,000 or less for individuals purchasing their primary residence. This program would offer incentives such as direct payments to lenders for originating these small-dollar mortgages and grants to borrowers to help cover costs like down payments, closing costs, and appraisals. It also allows for adjustments to Federal Housing Administration terms for these loans and mandates outreach to potential borrowers. The bill requires annual reports to Congress evaluating the program's outcomes and risks to the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal monitors and receivers overseeing public housing agencies to testify annually before two congressional committees. Specifically, they must appear before the House Financial Services Committee and Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee by October 1 each year to report on their management oversight. The testimony must cover their oversight activities from the previous year, directly affecting federal monitors and receivers managing public housing agencies under the 1937 Housing Act. The requirement applies to all such oversight roles, not specific agencies or outcomes.

Maddy summaryThe Clean Competition Act (HR 6787) creates a carbon border adjustment mechanism that imposes fees on imported goods and domestic production based on their carbon intensity relative to U.S. industry averages. The bill requires covered entities to report greenhouse gas emissions and production data annually, calculates charges based on how much a facility's emissions exceed a baseline percentage that decreases over time, and provides rebates for exported goods. It includes provisions for carbon removal credits, establishes funding programs to support domestic industrial decarbonization through grants and contracts, and creates a framework for international 'carbon club' agreements with trading partners that meet specific environmental and labor standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires recipients of federal housing funds (grantees) to create and maintain a searchable online database listing all undeveloped land they own. It amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to add this new requirement for grant recipients. The database must be publicly accessible and identify all undeveloped parcels owned by the grantee. The requirement takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThe San Gabriel Mountains, Foothills, and Rivers Protection Act of 2025 designates specific wilderness areas in California's Angeles National Forest, including Condor Peak (8,207 acres), additions to San Gabriel Wilderness (2,032 acres), additions to Sheep Mountain Wilderness (11,938 acres), and Yerba Buena Wilderness (6,694 acres). It also designates segments of Little Rock Creek and its tributaries as wild, scenic, or recreational rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and requires a three-year study of additional San Gabriel River segments. The bill includes provisions for fire management activities, ensures tribal access for cultural and religious practices, and permits continued operation of certain water facilities in designated wilderness areas. These designations protect natural areas from development while maintaining opportunities for recreation, conservation, and tribal cultural activities.

Essential Caregivers Act of 2025   This bill prohibits certain health care facilities from limiting the access of essential caregivers to residents of those facilities, including during designated emergency periods.   Specifically, the bill generally prohibits Medicare skilled nursing facilities, Medicaid nursing facilities, Medicaid intermediate care facilities, and associated inpatient rehabilitation facilities from restricting the access of essential caregivers to residents of the facilities, including during emergency periods in which visitation rights are otherwise restricted. During emergency periods, facilities may restrict access for an initial period of up to seven days and for one additional maximum seven-day period (if the additional period is approved by the state health department). Facilities may restrict access for a total of 7 days (or 14 days with the approval of the state health department) during an emergency period. Essential caregivers must agree to comply with any safety protocols set by the facility, which may be no more stringent for caregivers compared to those for staff. Caregivers who fail to comply with these requirements may be denied access, subject to an appeals process.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund planning and implementation activities for affordable housing. Eligible entities - such as states, local governments, and regional planning agencies - can use grants to update zoning codes, develop housing plans, improve community development strategies, and reduce barriers to housing supply. Funds specifically support activities like increasing housing affordability, improving access to transportation, and advancing sustainable community development goals. Grants may cover up to 90% of planning and implementation costs, with a 10% cap on administrative expenses. The program requires coordination with transit agencies and focuses on concrete policy changes to expand housing access.

Maddy summaryThe Protect America's Workforce Act cancels an executive order issued on March 27, 2025, that excluded certain groups from federal labor-management relations programs, making it legally unenforceable. It also ensures that all collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and labor unions, which were active as of March 26, 2025, remain fully effective until their agreed terms expire. This directly affects federal agencies, labor unions, and the employees covered by these agreements. The bill prevents federal funds from being used to implement the canceled executive order while preserving existing labor agreements.

Maddy summaryThe Restoring American Mineral Security Act of 2025 aims to reduce U.S. dependence on China for critical minerals by creating a "Critical Minerals Security Alliance" with other countries. The bill would encourage countries to impose higher tariffs on minerals from China and other "foreign countries of concern," while offering those countries duty-free access to the U.S. market for their critical minerals and derivative products like batteries and magnets. It establishes a trust fund using duties collected on minerals from China to support U.S. mining and processing projects through the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. This legislation directly affects U.S. mineral industry stakeholders, foreign trade partners, and companies producing critical minerals and related products, focusing on trade policy rather than direct regulation of mineral production.

Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act This act provides for the award of Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team in recognition of the team's achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.