Rep. Terri A. Sewell

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Secretary of Defense to create a 5-year pilot program treating pregnancy as a qualifying event for enrolling in TRICARE Select. It would allow military members and their dependents (who are already eligible for TRICARE Select) to change their health plan enrollment during pregnancy without waiting for an annual open season. The program requires the Department of Defense to track enrollment changes by month and reason, including cases specifically tied to pregnancy. Annual reports to Congress will detail participation, ensuring transparency about how the policy affects military families' healthcare access.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides one-time financial assistance to U.S. farmers growing specific crops (like corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice) during the 2024 crop year if their expected costs exceed expected returns. Payments equal 60% of the difference between the expected cost of production per acre (based on USDA cost forecasts) and the expected gross return per acre (based on projected farm prices and yields). Payments are calculated using actual planted acreage plus 50% of acreage prevented from planting due to natural disasters, with annual caps of $175,000 or $350,000 depending on the farm’s primary income source. The program uses existing USDA data sources and applies standard farm payment limits.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1558) is a symbolic House of Representatives measure supporting October as "National Domestic Violence Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally expresses the House's support for raising awareness about domestic violence and its impacts, and urges continued backing for existing programs that address domestic violence. The resolution cites statistics on domestic violence prevalence (e.g., 24 people per minute affected by intimate partner violence) to underscore the importance of the observance. It directly affects public awareness efforts but does not change policies or directly impact individuals.

Maddy summaryThe VA Employee Fairness Act of 2024 modifies collective bargaining rules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). It removes existing subsections (b), (c), and (d) from the law governing VHA employee bargaining and renumbers the remaining provision. This change streamlines the collective bargaining framework but does not alter the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authorities over incentive pay and expedited hiring. The bill directly affects VHA employees by changing how their collective bargaining rights are structured under federal law. The law remains neutral, focusing solely on procedural adjustments to the existing bargaining framework.

Maddy summaryHRES 1543 is a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives condemning Tucker Carlson for hosting Holocaust revisionist Darryl Cooper on his show, where Cooper promoted false claims about the Holocaust. The resolution states this platforming spreads harmful falsehoods, fosters antisemitism, and undermines efforts to combat hate and bigotry. It commits the House to raising awareness against antisemitism and honoring Holocaust survivors, while specifically rejecting Cooper's distortion of historical facts like the Nazi Hunger Plan. This symbolic resolution has no legal effect but expresses the House's stance against Holocaust denial.

Maddy summaryHRES 1542 is a symbolic resolution designating October 15, 2024, as "National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day" to honor individuals and families who have experienced pregnancy loss or infant death. It directly affects those who have endured such losses by affirming their experiences and promoting awareness of the emotional impact - citing that approximately 1 million pregnancies end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or newborn death annually in the U.S. The resolution requests the President issue a proclamation encouraging nationwide observance through community activities and support. It does not create new laws or funding but aims to reduce stigma and foster understanding around this issue.

Maddy summaryHR 9930 amends the Small Business Act to allow surviving children of service-disabled veterans to maintain a business's eligibility as a veteran-owned concern after the veteran owner's death. The bill directly affects small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans where a surviving child (biological or legally adopted) inherits the veteran's ownership stake. Key provisions create a 3-year transition period starting when the veteran dies, during which the business retains eligibility if the child acquires ownership and the business was previously included in the veteran-owned business database. This change ensures continuity for businesses that would otherwise lose veteran-owned status upon the owner's death, without altering the 51% ownership requirement during the transition.

Maddy summaryHRES 1525 is a non-binding resolution calling for the U.S. government to address policies contributing to forced migration and displacement. It urges reforms such as overhauling economic sanctions, investing in developing countries to reduce poverty and instability, and reforming trade agreements to protect workers. The resolution also calls for expanding legal immigration pathways, improving asylum processing, and creating a roadmap to citizenship for immigrants living in the U.S. As a resolution, it does not create new laws but sets policy priorities for future legislative action.

Maddy summaryHRES 1516 is a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives to commend Big Brothers-Big Sisters of America on its 120th anniversary. It recognizes the organization’s work in providing youth mentorship that helps young people graduate from school and plan for their future. The resolution highlights how the organization, operating in over 5,000 communities nationwide, has supported millions of young people through long-term mentor relationships. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or policies but expresses congressional support for the organization’s mission.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally censures Representative Glen Clay Higgins (LA-03) for a September 25, 2024, social media post containing racist remarks and false claims about Haitians. The bill requires Higgins to appear in the House chamber to receive the censure, with the resolution publicly read by the Speaker. It specifically references his post describing Haiti as "the nastiest country," falsely accusing Haitians of eating pets, and labeling them "slapstick gangsters and thugs." The censure is a formal disciplinary action by the House, not a policy change.