Rep. Terri A. Sewell

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal officials from reducing, eliminating, or suspending funding for land-grant colleges and universities without specific authorization from Congress. It directly affects public institutions designated as land-grant colleges under the 1977 National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act. The key provision requires that any change to their funding must be explicitly approved by an Act of Congress, preventing unilateral federal action. This creates a clear legal barrier against unexpected funding cuts to these institutions. The bill focuses on preserving existing funding streams rather than creating new programs.

Maddy summaryHR 3243, the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2025, bans the provision of paid conversion therapy aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, and prohibits advertising such therapy as effective, safe, or without risk. It directly affects LGBTQ+ individuals and their families who might be targeted by these practices, as professionals have determined conversion therapy is ineffective and harmful. The law treats violations as deceptive acts under consumer protection laws, empowering the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to enforce it through civil actions. It explicitly excludes legitimate gender transition support and non-discriminatory counseling from the ban.

Maddy summaryHR 3257, the Bridge to Medicaid Act of 2025, would make healthcare more affordable for low-income Americans by reducing out-of-pocket costs for individuals with household incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. The bill extends cost-sharing reductions through 2028, creates special enrollment periods for eligible low-income individuals, and provides additional benefits including non-emergency medical transportation services. It also temporarily expands premium tax credits for 2026-2028 and increases federal Medicaid funding for newly eligible individuals through 2029. The legislation aims to improve access to healthcare for millions of Americans who face financial barriers to coverage.

Maddy summaryHRES 392 is a non-binding congressional resolution expressing support for designating May as "National Bladder Cancer Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or programs but formally urges the public, research groups, and affected individuals to promote awareness and early detection of bladder cancer during May. The resolution cites statistics showing over 84,000 new bladder cancer diagnoses and 17,420 deaths expected in the U.S. in 2025, emphasizing that early detection improves survival rates. It specifically highlights the disease's impact on veterans, firefighters, and women (who often face later diagnoses), and references ongoing efforts like the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network's work. The resolution calls for community observances and increased focus on research, but has no direct effect on policy or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies liability for payroll tax errors when third-party payroll services (like professional employer organizations) rely on employer certifications. It allows these services to depend on employer-provided information unless they knew or should have known of an error. If an error is discovered, the employer bears full liability unless the third party had "constructive knowledge" of the error, in which case liability is shared based on the portion of the error the third party knew about. The bill also prevents the IRS from delaying payroll tax credits or auditing employers solely because a third party relied on an erroneous certification from that employer. It directly affects third-party payroll services and the businesses that use their services for tax filings.

Maddy summaryHRES 380 is a symbolic resolution supporting the designation of May 5-9, 2025, as "Teacher Appreciation Week." It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes teachers' contributions to education. The resolution affirms teachers' role in shaping students' futures and calls for including teachers in education policymaking at all levels. It highlights teacher survey data showing broad support for policies like equitable school funding and culturally responsive teaching, though the resolution itself only expresses support for the week's designation. This is a non-binding gesture with no direct impact on affected individuals or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Small Business Act to allow surviving children of service-disabled veterans to maintain a business's status as "owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans" after the veteran owner's death. It adds surviving children (biological or adopted) to the definition of eligible owners, enabling them to inherit the veteran's ownership stake if they acquire it immediately after the death. The business must have been previously certified under the program, and the child must hold the ownership for up to three years (or until they relinquish it) to keep the business eligible for veteran-owned business benefits. This change directly affects small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans that would otherwise lose their veteran-owned status upon the owner's death.

Maddy summaryHRES 372 is a symbolic resolution designating May as "National Menstrual Health Awareness Month" to address stigma around menstruation. It does not create new laws but formally recognizes how menstrual stigma impacts women, girls, and people who menstruate in areas like education, health, and daily life. The resolution supports efforts to normalize menstruation, improve access to menstrual products and sanitation facilities, and promote research on menstrual health conditions. It urges awareness and education to advance gender equity but has no legal force or direct policy changes.

Maddy summaryThe SALUTE Act establishes a 5-year pilot program to provide supplemental insurance for military members and their TRICARE-eligible dependents who face uncovered cancer-related costs. It requires the Secretary of Defense to partner with up to two insurance companies to offer fixed indemnity plans that pay direct cash benefits for cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment expenses not covered by standard military health benefits. These plans must operate separately from existing coverage, be available through TRICARE's online portal, and be funded entirely by enrollee premiums with no government subsidies. The program targets active-duty service members (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force) and their TRICARE-enrolled dependents facing out-of-pocket cancer costs.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses congressional support for designating April 30, 2025, as "National Adult Hepatitis B Vaccination Awareness Day." It highlights that only 30% of U.S. adults are vaccinated against hepatitis B despite the vaccine being 95% effective, and emphasizes the need to increase adult vaccination rates - particularly among high-risk groups like people who inject drugs and communities disproportionately affected by the virus. The resolution encourages adults to get tested and vaccinated, links diagnosed individuals to care, and promotes awareness to reduce hepatitis B-related liver cancer and death. It does not create new laws but aims to raise public and provider awareness about existing vaccination recommendations.