Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro

Maddy summaryHRES 1508 is a resolution supporting the designation of September 2024 as "National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month." This symbolic resolution does not create new laws or funding but aims to promote public awareness of ovarian cancer, which is the fifth-leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. It highlights the disease's impact, including its high mortality rate and lack of early detection tests, to encourage broader education about symptoms and care. The resolution is directed at raising public and provider awareness, not at altering policy or services.

Maddy summaryThe Toxic Free Food Act of 2024 requires the FDA to revise its "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) rule within 180 days of enactment. It mandates that food manufacturers must submit detailed safety data - including cumulative effects, safety factors, and protections for vulnerable groups - before marketing a substance as GRAS or using it in food. The bill also prohibits carcinogens and novel chemicals from being classified as GRAS, requires public posting of all GRAS submissions with a 90-day review period, and bans the use of experts with conflicts of interest in safety assessments. This directly affects food manufacturers, the FDA, and consumers by increasing transparency and safety standards for food additives.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 130 is a symbolic concurrent resolution commending state and local governments that treat reproductive rights as human rights following the *Dobbs* decision. It recognizes efforts by cities like Austin, Texas, and Montgomery County, Maryland, to expand abortion access and condemn criminalization of pregnancy outcomes. The resolution affirms that reproductive rights are human rights, urges states to repeal restrictive laws, and references U.S. obligations under international human rights treaties. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or alter existing policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Defense to provide clear, annual information to TRICARE beneficiaries (military members, families, and retirees) about reproductive healthcare access under the military health system. It mandates details on covered care (including abortion), when care is available at military facilities, how to request leave/travel for out-of-state care, and how to find non-DoD providers. Military healthcare providers must also receive annual training on their obligation to offer covered reproductive care (abortion, contraception, fertility) regardless of state laws, and their legal protections. The information must be shared in person, in writing (including electronically), and posted in accessible areas at military medical facilities. This focuses on improving transparency and provider knowledge, not expanding coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands TRICARE coverage to allow military service members and their dependents to obtain up to a full year's supply of contraception in a single fill (365 days) at military pharmacies, retail pharmacies, or through TRICARE's mail-order program. It requires TRICARE to implement this coverage within 180 days of enactment and mandates outreach to inform beneficiaries and providers within 90 days of implementation. The policy directly affects active-duty military members and their eligible dependents enrolled in TRICARE, removing prior restrictions on supply limits for contraceptive prescriptions. This change simplifies access by eliminating the need for frequent refills while maintaining existing coverage requirements under TRICARE.

Maddy summaryHRES 1468 is a non-binding resolution recognizing the significant pay disparity faced by disabled women in the U.S. workforce. It cites data showing disabled women earn, on average, 50 cents for every dollar earned by nondisabled men, with even starker gaps for disabled women of color (e.g., 44 cents for disabled Latinas). The resolution highlights systemic barriers like occupational segregation, the subminimum wage, and lack of support services contributing to these inequities. It does not create new laws or affect any group directly, but formally acknowledges these disparities and reaffirms the House’s commitment to addressing wage gaps. This is a symbolic recognition, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. government to immediately restore funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), reversing a temporary funding pause. It repeals two appropriations acts that halted payments and requires the Secretary of State to resume UNRWA funding under existing authorities. The legislation specifically aims to support UNRWA’s critical humanitarian work - providing shelter, education, healthcare, and aid to Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan - during an acute famine risk in Gaza. It also mandates quarterly reports to Congress on UNRWA’s implementation of reforms from an independent review, ensuring accountability for its humanitarian mission.

Maddy summaryThe DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024 establishes a new National Institutes of Health (NIH) research program focused on Down syndrome. It requires the NIH to study medical conditions often linked to Down syndrome - such as Alzheimer's disease, heart problems, and autoimmune disorders - to develop better treatments and improve quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome. The program must coordinate existing NIH research, expand clinical trials involving people with Down syndrome, and submit biennial reports to Congress on progress. The bill authorizes $250 million annually for fiscal years 2025-2030 to fund this initiative, supplementing but not replacing current NIH funding for Down syndrome research.

Maddy summaryHRES 1448 is a non-binding House resolution stating that the House believes every person has the right to emergency health care, including abortion care, during medical emergencies. It specifically addresses concerns that abortion restrictions force medical providers to choose between treating patients in life-threatening situations or risking criminal charges. The resolution highlights that such restrictions disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, people of color, immigrants, low-income individuals, and LGBTQI+ patients. It does not change existing laws but expresses congressional support for ensuring access to emergency care without legal barriers. The resolution was introduced by multiple House members and referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Maddy summaryHR 8611, the Save Our Small Farms Act of 2024, amends crop insurance and assistance programs to better support small-scale and diversified farms. The bill creates a voluntary transition program from noninsured crop disaster assistance to whole farm revenue insurance with tiered premium discounts (25% for the first year, 50% for subsequent years) and streamlines application processes for urban, small-scale, and direct-to-consumer farming operations. It allows use of IRS Schedule F for revenue history, establishes remote appraisal options for crop loss assessments, and creates a new single index insurance policy to protect against weather-related income losses. These changes directly affect limited resource, beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers, as well as producers of hand-harvested or rapidly-deteriorating crops.