Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán

Maddy summaryHR 9099 establishes the Federal Food Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee all U.S. food safety and regulatory activities previously handled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This new agency directly affects food facilities (like factories and warehouses), consumers, and public health by transferring FDA's food-related enforcement, inspections, and research functions to the Federal Food Administration. Key provisions include implementing risk-based inspections (annual for high-risk facilities, every 6 months for infant formula manufacturers), requiring follow-up compliance checks after violations, and creating science-based standards for food safety. The bill renames the FDA's drug-focused division as the Federal Drug Administration while shifting all food safety responsibilities to the new Federal Food Administration, effective 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 9104, the Access to Birth Control Act, requires pharmacies that normally stock contraception to provide birth control or related medications without delay if in stock, or immediately offer alternatives like referrals to other pharmacies or expedited orders if unavailable. It prohibits pharmacists from intimidating customers, misrepresenting availability, breaching confidentiality, or refusing to fill valid prescriptions for birth control. Pharmacies violating these rules face civil penalties up to $1,000 per day or private lawsuits. The law specifically applies to pharmacies that routinely carry contraception and excludes cases where a valid prescription is missing or payment cannot be made. It aims to address documented refusals to dispense birth control, particularly following the Dobbs decision.

Maddy summaryHR 9038, the FAIR Fleets Act, requires the U.S. Postal Service to conduct ongoing assessments of its vehicle distribution and develop a strategic plan to increase fleet availability in underserved areas using fuel-efficient, modern vehicles. The bill mandates an annual report to Congress by December 31 each year, detailing fleet distribution by state, steps taken to improve service in underserved areas, and recommendations for further action. Underserved areas are specifically defined to include rural regions, postal regions with aging vehicles, counties with significant delivery delays, high-poverty urban neighborhoods, and tribal lands. The law aims to improve fleet modernization and equitable distribution across all U.S. regions.

Maddy summaryHR 4581, the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2024, amends Title V of the Social Security Act to explicitly allow federal funds to support stillbirth prevention efforts. The bill directs states receiving Title V maternal and child health funds to use these resources for evidence-based programs and research aimed at reducing stillbirths, including tracking fetal movements, screening for growth issues, smoking cessation, and community support. It directly affects state maternal health programs by clarifying that existing funding can now cover specific stillbirth prevention activities previously not explicitly permitted. The law changes how Title V funds may be spent, adding clear provisions for research and programs targeting stillbirth reduction. This is a policy change that updates funding guidelines without creating new programs or mandates.

Maddy summaryThe Corner Post Reversal Act amends federal law to establish a six-year deadline for filing lawsuits challenging federal agency actions. It requires that any legal challenge to an agency decision must be initiated within six years of the agency's final action, unless another law specifies a different timeframe. This change directly affects individuals, organizations, or entities seeking to contest agency decisions in court by limiting the window for legal action. The bill does not alter substantive policies but modifies procedural rules governing judicial review of agency actions.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 119 is a non-binding congressional resolution expressing that people wrongfully or unjustly deported after establishing long-term ties in the U.S. (such as DACA recipients, veterans, or those with expunged convictions) deserve a fair process to return. It proposes creating a centralized unit within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), modeled after DHS’s existing ImmVets program for veterans, to review applications for re-entry. The resolution does not change immigration law but urges DHS to establish this dedicated process to address systemic barriers like lengthy delays, complex procedures, and limited access to legal help. It specifically targets individuals separated from families after years in the U.S., including those deported due to errors, protests, or outdated convictions. The resolution emphasizes repairing past injustices without altering current legal frameworks.

Maddy summaryHRES 1355 is a non-binding resolution supporting the designation of July 10 as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day. It honors lineworkers who maintain electrical infrastructure under hazardous conditions, including during disasters, and commemorates Henry Miller, the first president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who died on July 10, 1896, while troubleshooting an electrical outage. The resolution encourages public recognition of these workers' contributions but does not create new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThe SHIELD Act (HR 8980) establishes a federal grant program to improve access to legal representation for people facing deportation. It authorizes $100 million annually for fiscal years 2025-2026 to fund workforce development and legal services infrastructure through competitive grants to states, local governments, and community organizations. The program will support recruitment, training, and retention of legal professionals to provide high-quality, culturally competent representation to immigrants in deportation proceedings. Grantees must report on services provided, outcomes achieved, and unmet needs to ensure accountability and measure the program's impact on addressing the current shortage of legal representation in immigration court.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 118 is a symbolic congressional resolution recognizing the wage disparity faced by Black women in the U.S. It specifically highlights that Black women earn 69 cents for every dollar earned by White, non-Hispanic men, as noted in Census Bureau data. The resolution marks July 9, 2024, as Black Women’s Equal Pay Day to symbolize how long into 2024 Black women must work to earn what White men earned in 2023. It does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges this disparity and reaffirms congressional support for equal pay for equal work.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the National and Community Service Act to allow DACA recipients to qualify for AmeriCorps programs. It directly affects undocumented immigrants who received deferred action under the 2012 DACA policy, including those who would otherwise be ineligible due to immigration status. The key change adds DACA recipients to the list of eligible participants by modifying the existing eligibility criteria in the law. The policy takes effect upon enactment, applying only to educational awards disbursed after that date.