Rep. Brittany Pettersen

Maddy summaryHR 6181, the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act, prohibits child welfare agencies receiving federal funds from discriminating against children, youth, or prospective foster/adoptive parents based on religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), or marital status. It directly affects LGBTQ youth in foster care - overrepresented at 30% of the system - who face higher risks of trauma, group home placements, and suicide attempts compared to non-LGBTQ peers. Key provisions require agencies to collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity, establish a National Resource Center for LGBTQ youth support, provide cultural competency training, and eliminate discriminatory practices. The law aims to improve safety, permanency, and placement stability by expanding access to family-based care and ensuring equitable services for all children in the system.

Maddy summaryHRES 581 is a procedural resolution that establishes rules for the House to consider H.R. 185, the Epstein Files Transparency Act. It waives all points of order against the bill, adopts a specific amendment (the full text of the Epstein Files Transparency Act), and limits debate to one hour equally divided between the Judiciary Committee's chair and ranking minority member. The resolution also requires the Attorney General to release unclassified DOJ records related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, with limited exceptions for privacy or national security.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program requiring the Secretary of Defense to partner with certified nonprofit diaper banks to provide free diapers and diapering supplies to military families in need. Covered diaper banks must be nonprofit members of the National Diaper Bank Network with at least five years of experience distributing diapers at no cost. The program will connect these banks directly with military installations to address diaper access gaps, with the National Diaper Bank Network providing technical support and evaluating the pilot's effectiveness. It directly affects military families facing financial barriers to basic necessities like diapers, creating a new federal partnership mechanism for support.

Maddy summaryThe Global Respect Act (HR 6151) requires the U.S. President to publicly list foreign officials responsible for severe human rights violations against LGBTQI individuals, including torture, prolonged detention, or violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It mandates denying visas and entry to listed individuals and requires annual reports on the list's updates and impacts. The bill also directs the State Department to track global violence against LGBTQI people and update annual human rights reports to include discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. These provisions directly affect foreign government officials and entities implicated in such abuses, aiming to increase accountability through U.S. visa restrictions.

Maddy summaryHR 6056, the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025, establishes a permanent Special Envoy at the State Department to lead U.S. foreign policy efforts addressing discrimination and violence against LGBTQI+ people globally. The bill requires the U.S. government to develop and update a biannual global strategy to prevent criminalization and violence against LGBTQI+ individuals, mandate detailed reporting on such abuses in annual country reports, and ensure all U.S. foreign assistance programs include inclusive nondiscrimination policies. This legislation directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation, federal agencies receiving funding, and LGBTQI+ communities facing persecution worldwide. The bill aims to coordinate U.S. government efforts across departments and with international partners to advance LGBTQI+ rights globally through concrete policy mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHR 5974, the Bureau of Prisons Pay Protection Act, ensures federal prison staff continue receiving pay during government shutdowns. It directly affects Bureau of Prisons personnel at all federal correctional facilities, including both correctional officers and non-correctional employees like medical staff. The bill creates a specific funding mechanism by appropriating unspent Treasury funds to cover salaries during any lapse in discretionary appropriations. This guarantees that prison operations can continue without pay delays for staff when Congress fails to pass regular budget funding.

Maddy summaryThe American Energy Independence and Affordability Act extends multiple clean energy tax credits that were set to expire between 2025 and 2026. It specifically extends residential clean energy credits through 2034, clean electricity investment credits for wind and solar through 2032, and clean vehicle credits for electric vehicles through 2032. The bill also reinstates special rates for sustainable aviation fuel and modifies requirements for energy-efficient home improvements. These provisions directly affect homeowners installing solar panels, businesses investing in clean energy infrastructure, and manufacturers producing clean energy equipment.

Maddy summaryHR 5813, the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Modernization Act of 2025, requires health insurance plans to cover all medically necessary breast or chest wall reconstruction services following breast cancer treatment, including mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery. It mandates coverage for every reconstruction method (like implants, tissue flaps, or future recognized techniques), symmetrical surgery for the other breast, custom prostheses, and treatment of complications like lymphedema. Health plans must ensure at least one in-network provider for each reconstruction type, provide annual written notices to patients about this coverage, and cannot deny coverage or penalize providers for following these requirements. This applies to group and individual health insurance plans, with no effect on stricter state laws requiring broader coverage.

Keep Air Travel Safe Act This bill provides continuing appropriations for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) during any period in which there is a lapse in appropriations for TSA. It also requires the continuing appropriations to be funded using certain unobligated funds that were provided to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.   The bill provides the appropriations for TSA to continue all programs, projects, or activities (including the costs of direct loans and loan guarantees) that were funded in the preceding fiscal year. The appropriations provided by this bill are available from the first day of a lapse in appropriations for TSA until the earlier of the date on which the applicable regular appropriations bill for the fiscal year becomes law or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations becomes law, or  the date that is 180 days after the first day of a lapse in appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the USDA's 502 housing loan program to make it easier for rural homeowners to transfer properties with existing loans. It allows qualified buyers to assume a guaranteed loan when purchasing a property, releasing the original borrower from liability and transferring the loan's obligations to the new owner. The changes apply to loans guaranteed under the program after the bill's enactment, directly affecting rural homeowners and buyers in USDA loan programs. The bill also permits servicers to charge fees for transaction costs related to these loan assumptions.