Rep. Josh Harder

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates September 22-28, 2025, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week" to honor institutions that serve Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students. It recognizes these colleges and universities as critical providers of higher education, noting they enroll 46% of AANHPI undergraduates despite comprising only 7% of U.S. institutions. The resolution emphasizes their role in supporting low-income, first-generation students and preserving cultural heritage, while calling for national recognition through community activities during the designated week. It is a symbolic gesture with no funding or policy changes attached.

Maddy summaryHRES 744 is a non-binding House resolution supporting the designation of September 21-27, 2025, as "Gold Star Families Remembrance Week." It honors families who lost members in military service (Gold Star Families) and families of veterans, recognizing their sacrifices. The resolution encourages Americans to observe the week through community service and by celebrating the lives of those who died defending the U.S. It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes these families annually. This is a commemorative measure, not a legislative change.

Maddy summaryHR 5462, the Michelle Alyssa Go Act, changes Medicaid rules to exclude small mental health facilities with 36 beds or fewer from the definition of "institution for mental diseases" if they meet specific national standards. This directly affects small mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities (36 beds or less) that comply with evidence-based standards for services, care hours, staffing, and clinical programs. The bill modifies Medicaid funding eligibility by removing these small facilities from the restrictive "institution" category, allowing them to remain eligible for Medicaid coverage under state plans. The change takes effect 180 days after the law is enacted, applying to all state Medicaid plans starting then.

Maddy summaryHR 5476, the PARA Educators Act, provides federal grants to states to help recruit and retain school support staff (paraprofessionals) in public elementary, secondary, and preschool programs. It allocates funds based on previous Title I education funding, requiring states to prioritize schools serving high numbers of low-income students or those meeting specific poverty criteria. States can use the funds for proven programs like mentoring for paraprofessionals, professional development, helping staff earn credentials (e.g., special education or English learner certificates), and increasing wages or offering retention bonuses. The law mandates annual reporting on wage baselines, paraprofessional employment, and program outcomes. This bill directly affects paraprofessionals and the schools they support, particularly in high-poverty communities.

Maddy summaryThe Redistricting Reform Act of 2025 requires states to use independent redistricting commissions for congressional redistricting, banning partisan gerrymandering and requiring plans to comply with constitutional and Voting Rights Act standards. The bill establishes ranked criteria for redistricting, prioritizing population equality, voting rights protections, and community preservation over partisan advantage. It mandates multi-partisan commission composition with public input and transparency requirements, with states facing court-developed plans if they miss deadlines. The law would apply to redistricting after the 2030 census, affecting all 50 states' congressional district maps.

Maddy summaryHRES 733 is a symbolic resolution designating the week of September 20-27, 2025, as "National Estuaries Week." It expresses congressional support for raising public awareness about the economic and ecological importance of coastal estuaries, which support millions of jobs, generate significant economic output, and provide critical services like flood protection and habitat for fish and wildlife. The resolution acknowledges estuaries' role in sustaining employment, economic growth, and environmental health without creating new policies or funding. It directly affects the public, government officials, and conservation organizations by highlighting estuaries' value through a designated awareness week.

Maddy summaryHR 5401, the Pay Our Troops Act of 2026, ensures military personnel, civilian Defense workers, and supporting contractors receive pay during government funding gaps in fiscal year 2026. It appropriates emergency funds for active-duty service members, reserves, and their supporting personnel (including Coast Guard staff under DHS) if regular appropriations aren't enacted by the end of the fiscal year. The bill provides necessary pay and allowances during any period when full-year funding is unavailable, covering both active service and support roles. Funding expires when regular appropriations are passed, a funding resolution is enacted, or January 1, 2027, whichever comes first. This is a procedural measure to prevent pay delays for military and support staff during fiscal year 2026 funding lapses.

Maddy summaryThe FAMILY Act would establish a national paid family and medical leave insurance program that provides wage replacement benefits for workers needing time off for caregiving or medical reasons. It defines "qualified caregiving" to include caring for a family member with a serious health condition, personal medical needs, or recovery from violence (including domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking). Benefits would be calculated based on earnings, with a minimum monthly benefit of $580 and maximum of $4,000, administered by a new Office of Paid Family and Medical Leave within the Social Security Administration. Eligible individuals would need to have worked for at least 8 quarters in the previous year and file an application with required documentation, while existing state paid leave programs would continue to operate alongside this federal program.

Maddy summaryHR 1107, the *Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025*, allows Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health professionals to prescribe and dispense medications regulated under federal law (like opioids or stimulants) via telemedicine without requiring an in-person medical exam first. This directly affects veterans receiving VA care and VA-employed health professionals who provide telemedicine services. The bill requires providers to hold a valid state license, act within their professional scope, and ensure prescriptions serve a legitimate medical purpose. It does not change existing federal drug laws but streamlines access to controlled medications for veterans through telehealth, particularly benefiting those in rural or remote areas.

Equal COLA Act This bill applies a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for annuities paid under the Federal Employees Retirement System that is equal to the increase in inflation, regardless of the amount of the increase. Specifically, for any year in which the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased over the previous year, the COLA amount shall be increased by the change in the CPI from the previous year.  Current law applies an adjustment equal to the change in CPI only if the change is 2% or less. If the change is between 2% and 3%, the adjustment is limited to 2%. If the change is more than 3%, the adjustment is limited to 1% less than the change.