Rep. Eric Swalwell

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for new federal student loans. It allows public servants (like teachers, nurses, and government workers) who complete 2 to 10 years of qualifying employment to have a percentage of their loan balance canceled: 15% after 2-4 years, 20% after 6-8 years, and 30% after 10 years. Borrowers must submit an employment certification form, and their loans enter automatic deferment during service. The bill also cancels all interest accruing during the forgiveness application review period. It applies only to loans issued after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal grant program allowing state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to hire retired officers for specific civilian tasks like crime scene analysis, digital evidence review, and financial crime investigations - excluding any duties requiring sworn authority. Agencies must verify retirees have relevant skills or training, conduct background checks using federal databases, and comply with strict accountability measures. Grants require annual audits to prevent misuse, with agencies having unresolved audit findings barred from funding for two years. The program aims to leverage retired officers' expertise while adding safeguards for public funds.

Maddy summaryHR 8796, the "Stop Comstock Act," removes outdated restrictions from federal law that previously banned the distribution of materials related to contraception and abortion as "obscene" or "indecent." The bill amends Title 18 and the Tariff Act by deleting references to "indecent," "immoral," "unlawful abortion," and "procuring abortion" from provisions governing obscene materials. It clarifies that the law only prohibits "obscene materials" in commerce, eliminating broad restrictions on reproductive health information. This directly affects internet platforms, healthcare providers, and individuals sharing reproductive health resources by removing legal barriers to their distribution.

Maddy summaryThe State Public Option Act creates a new Medicaid buy-in program allowing individuals without other health insurance to purchase coverage starting January 1, 2025. This program limits premiums to 8.5% of household income and requires states to cover comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, including abortion, beginning in 2025. The bill also establishes how Affordable Care Act premium tax credits apply to this coverage and includes provisions for quality measures and payment rates for primary care services under Medicaid.

Maddy summaryThe Healthy MOM Act (HR 6716) would require health insurance plans to provide a special enrollment period for pregnant individuals beginning when pregnancy is reported to the insurer. It would mandate that group health plans cover maternity care for all dependents, including young women who might otherwise lack coverage due to plan exclusions. The bill would extend Medicaid coverage for pregnant individuals and infants to a full 12 months postpartum, rather than the current 60-day period. These provisions aim to improve access to comprehensive maternity care, which the bill states could prevent 3 in 5 pregnancy-related deaths by addressing coverage gaps that disproportionately affect women of color.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the "competitive need limitation" for duty-free imports from beneficiary developing countries under the Trade Act of 1974. It increases the annual cap for eligible imports from $75 million to $600 million and changes how the limit is calculated to count only duty-free entries during a calendar year. The President must restore duty-free treatment for most eligible articles within 120 days of the bill's enactment, with a one-year review period for sensitive products requiring continued withholding. The bill also requires a report to Congress within one year detailing restored and withheld duty-free treatments. This directly affects importers of goods from designated developing countries eligible for trade benefits.

Maddy summaryThe FOREST Act of 2023 prohibits U.S. imports of products made from commodities (palm oil, soybeans, cocoa, cattle, and rubber) produced on land where illegal deforestation occurred after the law's enactment. Importers must file declarations demonstrating they've assessed supply chain risks of illegal deforestation, with stricter requirements for products from countries identified in action plans. The law establishes a process to identify countries without adequate deforestation protections and requires them to develop action plans with specific benchmarks for compliance. It creates a fund using import penalty revenue to provide foreign assistance to help countries eliminate illegal deforestation and includes procurement preferences for federal contracts with suppliers demonstrating deforestation-free supply chains.

Maddy summaryHR 6417 amends the existing "Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act" to ban imports of energy products (classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule chapter 27) produced at any refinery using crude oil originating in Russia. This directly affects U.S. importers and companies bringing in such refined petroleum products. The key provision prohibits these imports regardless of where the refinery is located, targeting oil that has been "laundered" through foreign processing. The bill updates the existing law by adding this origin-based import ban as a new section.

Maddy summaryHR 5744, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2023, would impose a carbon fee on fossil fuels (crude oil, coal, and natural gas) based on their greenhouse gas emissions, starting at $15 per metric ton of CO2 equivalent in 2023 and increasing by $10 annually. The revenue from this fee would be distributed directly to American citizens as monthly "carbon dividends" through a new trust fund, with adults receiving full payments and children under 19 receiving half payments. The bill also establishes a border fee adjustment on imported carbon-intensive products to prevent companies from moving operations to countries with weaker environmental regulations. It sets specific emissions reduction targets: 8% annual reductions from 2025-2030 and 2.5% annual reductions from 2031-2050 relative to 2005 levels. The carbon fee would be phased out once emissions drop to 10% of 2005 levels and monthly dividends fall below $20 for three consecutive years.

Maddy summaryThe MORE Act (HR 5601) would federally decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the Schedule I list of controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act. It requires federal courts to expunge non-violent cannabis convictions and associated arrests, with a focus on addressing racial disparities in cannabis enforcement. The bill creates an Opportunity Trust Fund that would allocate 50% of funds to criminal justice programs, 20% to small business assistance for minority cannabis entrepreneurs, and 20% to community reinvestment grants for individuals impacted by the War on Drugs. It also prohibits federal agencies from denying benefits or security clearances based on cannabis use or past cannabis convictions, and establishes a Cannabis Justice Office to administer these programs.