Rep. Kathy Castor

Maddy summaryThis legislation directs the Food and Drug Administration to update regulations requiring the inclusion of pregnant women in clinical trials for new medications. It also mandates the National Institutes of Health to prioritize research projects focused on the safety and efficacy of drugs prescribed to pregnant and lactating women. To support these changes, the bill authorizes funding for an education campaign that informs patients and healthcare providers about available research opportunities and registries. Finally, the act requires the relevant agencies to submit work plans and progress reports to Congress regarding these regulatory and research initiatives.

Maddy summaryThe CHARTER Act aims to ensure that public funds for charter schools are not used to generate profits for for-profit companies. It directly affects charter schools receiving federal money by prohibiting them from contracting with for-profit entities to run, manage, or oversee their daily operations. While the bill allows schools to hire for-profit vendors for specific services like food, supplies, and transportation, it strictly bans contracts where a for-profit company controls the school or takes a cut of its revenue. These rules will only apply to new or renewed contracts made after the law is passed, with full enforcement beginning three years later.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Federal and State Food Safety Information Sharing Act of 2026, authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to share unredacted food safety information with State, local, Tribal, and Territorial public health authorities. This directly affects the FDA and these various state and local entities involved in protecting public health from foodborne hazards. The shared information can include details like foodborne illness surveillance data, laboratory testing results, inspection findings, recall distribution lists, and consumer complaints, to be shared as soon as reasonably practical. While recipient authorities generally need FDA permission for further disclosure, they may do so without permission if necessary to contain an outbreak, carry out a recall, or for other state enforcement activities. Additionally, the bill extends the duration of certain federal grants for enhancing food safety from three to five years and ties subsequent grant funding to successful program evaluations.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Energy Consumer Protection Act of 2026, strengthens enforcement powers for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to protect consumers in the electricity and natural gas markets. It allows FERC to ban companies or individuals who violate reporting rules or engage in deceptive practices from buying or selling energy and related services. The legislation also adds specific penalties for knowingly submitting false information about natural gas prices or availability to federal agencies. These changes apply to utilities, energy traders, and other market participants regulated by FERC.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Post-Disaster Protection Act, extends the time limit for appealing federal disaster assistance decisions from 60 to 90 days. It directly affects individuals and communities seeking aid after natural disasters by amending the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The change provides applicants with additional time to contest decisions regarding their eligibility or the amount of assistance they receive. This adjustment aims to give affected parties more time to review and challenge assistance determinations without rushing the appeals process.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution recognizes the efforts and public safety contributions of linemen and the important role they play in maintaining the nation's energy infrastructure. It expresses support for designating April 18, 2026, as "National Lineman Appreciation Day" and acknowledges linemen as first responders.

This resolution supports the recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The resolution also supports the efforts of the Department of Transportation, state and local governments, and state and local law enforcement to prevent and stop distracted driving.

Maddy summaryThe Momnibus Act is a comprehensive legislative bill designed to improve maternal health outcomes across the United States by addressing social determinants of health, expanding access to care, and reducing disparities among pregnant and postpartum individuals. The bill establishes a federal task force to coordinate efforts between agencies and stakeholders to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and severe morbidity, while providing sustained funding to community-based organizations to address nonclinical factors like housing, nutrition, and transportation. Key provisions include extending WIC eligibility to 24 months postpartum, creating grants to grow and diversify the perinatal workforce, implementing respectful maternity care training for all healthcare employees, and establishing compliance programs to track and address bias in maternity care settings. The legislation also includes specific measures for incarcerated mothers, veterans, and vulnerable populations affected by climate change, alongside funding for maternal mental health services and technology-enabled care models to expand access in underserved areas.

Maddy summaryThe ALERT Act (HR 7613) requires the Federal Aviation Administration to improve aviation safety through several key measures. It mandates the evaluation and potential implementation of enhanced collision avoidance systems (ACAS-Xa) for commercial aircraft and ACAS-Xr for rotorcraft, with specific deadlines for rulemaking and installation. The bill establishes committees to develop recommendations for safety technology requirements, requires safety risk assessments for air traffic controllers, and addresses operational procedures at high-traffic airports like Ronald Reagan Washington National. These provisions affect air carriers, air traffic controllers, rotorcraft operators, and Department of Defense aircraft operations. The act aims to enhance situational awareness and reduce midair collision risks through technology upgrades and improved safety protocols.

Maddy summaryThis bill seeks to block a specific rule issued by the Department of Education that affects the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. If passed, it would prevent the rule from taking effect, meaning the proposed changes to federal student loans would not be implemented. The measure uses a legislative process known as a joint resolution of disapproval to override agency regulations. It directly impacts students, families, and institutions that rely on federal student loans by stopping the Department of Education from enforcing the new policy.