Rep. Jahana Hayes

Maddy summaryThe Family Vaccine Protection Act makes the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) an official part of federal law, requiring it to provide vaccine recommendations based on strong scientific evidence. It mandates that the CDC Director must adopt ACIP's recommendations unless they don't meet the evidence standard, and if not adopted, the CDC must explain its decision and notify Congress within 48 hours. The bill establishes procedures for ACIP to review new vaccines within 90 days of licensure and to consider breakthrough therapies or public health emergencies. This act aims to strengthen transparency and evidence-based decision-making in vaccine recommendations for the public health system. It affects the CDC, ACIP, and Congress through formalized processes for vaccine policy development.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals key provisions of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which previously shielded gun manufacturers and dealers from civil lawsuits. It allows gun trace data from the federal Firearms Trace System to be used as evidence in civil court cases involving gun violence. Victims of gun violence (or their families) who sue gun manufacturers, dealers, or distributors in state or federal court can now access and rely on this trace information. The bill directly changes the legal landscape by removing a major barrier to holding gun industry entities accountable in civil cases. It does not alter criminal proceedings or affect gun ownership rights.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 457) is a symbolic measure expressing congressional support for designating June 6, 2025, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and June 2025 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or policies but encourages public awareness through specific actions: wearing orange on June 6, focusing on gun safety during summer months, and holding community discussions. The resolution references statistics on gun violence deaths and honors Hadiya Pendleton, a teen victim killed in 2013. It directly affects the public by calling for voluntary observance and community engagement, not government mandates.

Maddy summaryHR 3694, the VALID Act of 2025, requires lenders to include specific information about VA loans in mortgage disclosures. It amends the National Housing Act to mandate that disclosures state the loan-to-value ratio and clarify that VA loans are available under Chapter 37 of Title 38 (veterans' benefits law), assuming prevailing interest rates. The bill also requires the Federal Housing Finance Agency to add a military service question to the Uniform Residential Loan Application form, placing it above the signature line within six months of enactment. This directly affects veterans and active-duty service members applying for VA-guaranteed mortgages, as well as the lenders processing those applications.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates federal housing law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It amends the Fair Housing Act to include these characteristics as protected classes alongside race, color, religion, sex, and other existing categories. The law now covers discrimination against individuals due to their own sexual orientation or gender identity, or because of their association with someone who has these characteristics. This applies to all housing providers, including landlords, real estate agents, and mortgage lenders, making it illegal to deny housing or services based on these factors.

Maddy summaryHR 3623, the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2025, prohibits transporting horses between states in motor vehicles with two or more stacked levels. This directly affects horse transporters, including owners and carriers moving horses across state lines. The bill defines "motor vehicle" to exclude rail vehicles but requires compliance with the multi-level ban, imposing civil penalties of $100-$500 per horse transported in violation. Violations are enforced through separate penalties for each horse transported illegally, in addition to other applicable laws.

Maddy summaryThe Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2025 requires schools, colleges, correctional facilities, and federal buildings to provide free menstrual products to those who need them. It makes menstrual products covered by Medicaid, prohibits states from taxing these products, and creates grant programs to support low-income individuals. Key provisions include mandating free products in educational settings, requiring employers with 100+ employees to provide them, and expanding Medicaid coverage for these items. The bill directly affects students, incarcerated individuals, homeless people, Medicaid beneficiaries, and low-income families by addressing period poverty through concrete access requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes collective bargaining rules for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employees by removing existing subsections (b), (c), and (d) from Section 7422 of Title 38 and redesignating the current subsection (e) as (b). It directly affects VA health care employees by altering the structure of their collective bargaining framework. The bill explicitly states it does not change the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authorities over incentive pay or expedited hiring under Section 706 of Title 38. The change is purely procedural, focusing on the internal organization of bargaining rules without introducing new employee benefits or obligations.

Maddy summaryHR 3604, the *Reducing Waste in National Parks Act*, requires National Park Service (NPS) units to reduce and eliminate the sale of disposable plastic products (including water bottles, bags, and food containers) where feasible, considering operational factors like cost, waste reduction, and concessioner impacts. Park officials must develop visitor education plans, implement refill stations, and weigh 13 specific factors before eliminating sales, such as infrastructure costs, revenue effects, and public health safety. The program must be evaluated every two years to measure visitor satisfaction, waste collection rates, and safety outcomes. This bill directly affects NPS operations, concessioners, and park visitors who use park facilities.

Maddy summaryThe Strength in Diversity Act of 2025 provides federal grants to schools and districts with racial or socioeconomic isolation to develop and implement strategies increasing diversity. It authorizes planning grants (up to 2 years) for assessments and community engagement, and implementation grants (up to 3 years) for activities like transportation plans, teacher recruitment, innovative school assignments, and equitable enrollment systems. Recipients must track measurable progress on academic outcomes (e.g., graduation rates, achievement gaps) and diversity metrics, including reducing isolation in covered schools (public K-12 schools and publicly-funded early childhood programs). The bill requires robust community input, data-driven evaluation, and plans for sustainability beyond the grant period, with funding authorized for fiscal years 2025-2029.