Rep. Julia Brownley

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state officials from blocking abortion access for patients traveling from other states, including restricting providers who offer legal abortions in their state to out-of-state patients. It protects people traveling across state lines for legal abortions, those assisting such travel, and the interstate transport of FDA-approved abortion medication. Violations can be challenged by the Justice Department or affected individuals through civil lawsuits seeking injunctions and damages. The law applies broadly across all states, territories, and tribal nations, defining "abortion service" to include both medical procedures and related care.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates federal funding for community-based violence intervention programs in high-violence areas, targeting communities with 35+ homicides annually or 20+ homicides with rates double the national average. It establishes grants for community organizations to implement trauma-informed violence interruption strategies, hospital-based programs for injured patients, and job training for "opportunity youth" (16-25 year olds not in school or work). The legislation authorizes $300 million in 2026, increasing to $700 million annually through 2033, with requirements for evidence-based approaches that reduce violence without contributing to mass incarceration. It creates a National Community Violence Response Center to coordinate data collection, research, and best practices for these programs. The focus is on prevention through economic opportunity, trauma care, and community-driven interventions rather than traditional law enforcement approaches.

Maddy summaryHR 3538, the Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025, establishes a national network to handle the care of live wildlife seized at U.S. borders due to illegal trafficking. It creates a coordinated system where Federal wildlife law enforcement (like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) can partner with qualified facilities - including zoos, sanctuaries, and rehabilitation centers - to provide immediate care, maintain evidence integrity, and manage long-term placement for confiscated animals. The bill expands a successful Southern California pilot that already placed over 4,100 animals by creating a centralized database and single point of contact for law enforcement. It authorizes $5 million annually (2026-2030) to support this network, directly affecting border agencies and participating care facilities while addressing capacity gaps at ports of entry.

Maddy summaryThe Caring for Survivors Act of 2025 increases monthly dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses of veterans. It changes the calculation method from a fixed $1,154 to 55% of a specific veteran compensation rate, effective six months after enactment. The bill also reduces the required continuous disability rating period for survivors from 10 years to 5 years, and provides a proportional payment for cases where the rating period is shorter than 10 years. Surviving spouses of veterans who died before January 1, 1993, receive the greater of their current benefit or the new calculation. This directly affects surviving spouses eligible for benefits under Title 38, U.S. Code, particularly those with veterans who died prior to 1993.

Maddy summaryHR 4084, the Access to Birth Control Act, requires pharmacies that stock contraception to provide it without delay when requested by a customer. If a requested method is out of stock, pharmacies must immediately offer referrals to nearby pharmacies or expedite an order. The bill prohibits pharmacists from intimidating customers, misrepresenting availability, breaching confidentiality, or refusing to fill valid prescriptions for contraception. It directly affects pharmacies nationwide, addressing reported refusals to provide birth control - particularly after the *Dobbs* decision - and ensures access to FDA-approved contraceptive methods without cost-sharing barriers.

Maddy summaryThe Autism Family Caregivers Act of 2025 creates a 5-year pilot program funding grants to community organizations for free, evidence-based skills training for family caregivers of children (ages 0-9) with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays. The program requires training in communication, social engagement, daily living skills, and caregiver self-care strategies, with emphasis on cultural competence and coordination with local health, education, and community services. Grants must support at least 25 organizations across 15+ states, using $10 million annually (2026-2030), and mandate stakeholder committees including caregivers and local providers. It directly affects families caring for young children with these conditions by expanding access to structured support, while requiring programs to supplement - rather than replace - existing Medicaid, education, or insurance-covered services.

Maddy summaryHRES 523 is a symbolic resolution designating June 21, 2025, as National ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day. It does not create new laws but encourages parents and guardians to ask two specific questions before children visit other homes: "Is there a gun in your house?" and "Is it locked and unloaded?" The resolution directly supports families and aims to promote secure gun storage practices, referencing the ASK Campaign administered by the Brady Campaign since 2000. It cites statistics about child firearm injuries to highlight the campaign's focus on preventing accidental harm through simple, proactive conversations.

Maddy summaryThe Increasing Behavioral Health Treatment Act removes a Medicaid exclusion that previously blocked coverage for behavioral health services for individuals under 65 in psychiatric hospitals (also called "institutions for mental diseases"). It requires states to submit detailed plans to the federal government outlining how they will expand outpatient and community-based care for people transitioning from these facilities, including improved crisis services like mobile units and observation centers. States must also report annually on costs, patient outcomes, and the types of outpatient treatment provided after discharge, with specific requirements for coordinating care between health providers and first responders. This policy change directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries under 65 in psychiatric hospitals and state Medicaid programs, aiming to shift care toward less restrictive community settings.

Maddy summaryHR 3963, the Public Inspectors for Safe Infrastructure Act, requires state and local transportation agencies to use government workers (not private consultants) for inspecting highway construction projects funded under federal law. This applies to projects covered by Section 112(b) of Title 23, including design-build and 2-phase contracts. Agencies may temporarily use private consultants only if they lack sufficient staff, but such contracts are limited to 12 months and must be justified annually in public reports submitted to the federal government. The bill aims to ensure inspections are conducted by public employees with direct accountability, rather than external contractors.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 37 is a non-binding congressional resolution urging the President to establish a U.S. Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation. The resolution does not create the commission itself but calls for its formation to acknowledge historical racial injustices (like discriminatory housing policies, the Chinese Exclusion Act, and forced Native American boarding schools) and catalyze efforts to eliminate racial inequities. The commission would focus on dismantling the "belief in a hierarchy of human value" and advancing racial healing, complementing ongoing efforts like H.R. 40 (the reparations study bill). It directly affects federal leadership (via the President) and aims to guide national policy, though it has no legal force.