Rep. Linda T. Sánchez

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal demonstration program to address high school graduation gaps by funding additional school counselors in struggling schools. It targets secondary schools with a four-year graduation rate of 60% or lower, providing competitive 4-year grants to hire counselors focused on students at risk of not graduating. Grants require maintaining a 1:250 counselor-to-student ratio for at-risk youth, covering new counselors and related resources like professional development, while ensuring funds supplement - rather than replace - existing counseling staff. Schools must show at least a 10% graduation rate improvement to renew funding for up to three cycles. The program aims to directly support historically underserved student groups with lower graduation rates, including students of color, those with disabilities, and English learners.

Maddy summaryHR 3532, the Striking and Locked Out Workers Healthcare Protection Act, prohibits employers from terminating or altering an employee’s employer-sponsored health coverage during a lawful strike or a lockout (when an employer withholds work to influence bargaining). It directly affects workers participating in strikes or facing lockouts, ensuring continued healthcare access during these labor disputes. The bill adds penalties: $75,000 per violation for lockout-related coverage termination (up to $150,000 for repeat offenses), and $50,000 per violation for strike-related termination (up to $100,000 for repeat offenses), with penalties applied alongside other remedies. These provisions amend the National Labor Relations Act to protect workers’ healthcare rights during collective bargaining actions.

Maddy summaryHR 3506 reauthorizes annual funding for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative through fiscal year 2030, setting specific mandatory funding levels starting at $25 million for 2026 and increasing to $50 million annually after 2029. The bill directs the Commodity Credit Corporation to allocate these funds to support projects expanding access to healthy food in underserved communities. It directly affects low-income neighborhoods lacking grocery stores and local food businesses seeking financing for development or expansion. The legislation provides no new policy mechanisms beyond establishing these fixed annual funding amounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a code of conduct for Supreme Court justices, requiring them to disclose gifts, income, and potential conflicts of interest. It creates a formal process for handling complaints about justices, including a judicial investigation panel to review allegations. The bill adds specific circumstances requiring recusal, such as when a justice or family member has financial ties to a party in a case. Additionally, it mandates that parties and amicus briefs disclose any gifts given to justices and lobbying activities related to their nomination. These provisions aim to increase transparency and accountability in the Supreme Court's operations.

Maddy summaryHR 3526, the Uplifting First-Time Homebuyers Act of 2025, increases the maximum amount first-time homebuyers can withdraw penalty-free from retirement accounts. It amends the Internal Revenue Code to raise the limit from $10,000 to $50,000 for qualified first-time homebuyer distributions. This change directly affects individuals using retirement savings to purchase their first home, allowing them to access significantly more funds without incurring the usual 10% early withdrawal penalty. The provision applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHR 3501 would require Medicare providers to screen beneficiaries aged 65 and older for cognitive impairment during annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical exams, using tools approved by the National Institute on Aging. The screening must be documented in the patient’s medical record. This change applies to visits starting January 1, 2026, and aims to support early detection of conditions like Alzheimer’s through standard preventive care. The bill directly affects Medicare beneficiaries, providers, and caregivers by integrating cognitive screening into routine preventive services.

Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a grant program to support operating projects for public transportation and related service improvements, particularly in underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty. Specifically, the bill requires DOT to allocate funding under the program for urbanized areas, states, and Indian tribes that are recipients of funds under either the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) Urbanized Area Formula Funding program or Formula Grants for Rural Areas program. Eligible recipients may use funding for operating costs associated with projects that improve public transportation service for transit-dependent populations and support increased transit ridership (e.g., service expansion, information technology enhancements, and workforce development). DOT must apportion the funding so that recipients receive funds that are proportional to their share of operating costs. The bill also provides for an increased federal cost share for operating assistance for projects or programs carried out in areas of persistent poverty or underserved communities. DOT must set up a multimodal access measurement interface for public agencies to aid transit agencies in determining and reporting on access to jobs and essential services. A grant recipient must (1) report specific information to the FTA for inclusion in the National Transit Database, and (2) survey transit riders and non-riding residents regarding transit service improvements. Further, the bill expands the purposes of the public transportation programs to include supporting public transportation's role in combating climate change through growing/retaining transit ridership.

Maddy summaryHR 3368, the "Born in the USA Act of 2025," prohibits federal funding for Executive Order 14160 (which aimed to restrict birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S.). The bill directly affects federal agencies that might implement the executive order by blocking their use of funds for that purpose. Its key provision is a funding ban targeting the executive order and any similar future policies, without changing citizenship law. The bill does not alter birthright citizenship rights but prevents federal resources from being used to enforce the controversial executive order. It is a procedural measure focused on funding, not a substantive policy change to citizenship rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to prohibit children under 18 from having direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves on farms. It directly affects minors who might work on tobacco farms and tobacco farm employers who currently allow such employment. The key change adds tobacco farming to the list of occupations where children under 18 cannot work, closing a loophole that previously permitted this activity. This update explicitly excludes tobacco-related agriculture from exceptions allowing minors in certain farm jobs under federal law.

Maddy summaryHR 3376 creates the Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Trust Fund, funded by increasing the corporate tax rate from 21% to 24.5% starting in 2025, with annual funding capped at $35 billion or 1/20th of 20-year infrastructure needs. The bill allocates funds to clean water programs (42%), safe drinking water programs (42.5%), household water well systems (1%), colonias assistance (0.5%), and Indian health services (3%), requiring specific prioritization of low-income and minority communities for many programs. It mandates an EPA study on water affordability, discriminatory practices, and civil rights violations in water service, including data collection on service disconnections affecting vulnerable populations. The bill also includes provisions for lead service line replacement, PFAS contamination response, and job training grants for water system operators with specific requirements to prioritize low-income communities.