Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Farmers' Markets and Local Food Promotion Program with increased funding, raising annual appropriations from $50 million to $100 million for 2019-2026 and $50 million annually thereafter. It requires grantees to provide 25% matching funds (cash or in-kind) for most projects, though priority grants for new markets by entities without recent grants are exempt from this requirement. The bill reserves 30% of annual funds specifically for new farmers' markets established by organizations that haven't received prior grants, aiming to expand access to local food systems. It also mandates two new reports: one detailing grant applications and participation trends, and another assessing program integrity and the impact of the funding changes. The primary beneficiaries are local food businesses, farmers' markets, and communities seeking to develop new agricultural market opportunities.

Maddy summaryHR 6776, the Farmers to Families Act, allows WIC participants to use their nutrition benefits to purchase fresh, local foods directly from farmers, farmers' markets, and food hubs. It requires states to integrate cash-value benefits and coupons into the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system within 18 months, enabling participants to pay for unprepared, locally grown foods through a single EBT card. The bill also automatically authorizes farmers to sell to WIC participants and establishes a Technical Assistance Center to help farmers and markets accept nutrition benefits. This directly affects WIC participants and farmers' markets, expanding where benefits can be spent while simplifying access for sellers. The law focuses on concrete changes to program rules, not outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates federal programs to advance alternative protein production through biomanufacturing and bioprocessing. It authorizes $15 million annually for research centers focused on protein diversification, $50 million for grants to companies building food biomanufacturing facilities, and $25 million for workforce development programs. The bill also requires a national strategy on protein security coordinated across multiple federal agencies. These provisions aim to strengthen food supply chains, create jobs in the growing protein sector, and reduce reliance on foreign commodities. The bill explicitly excludes insect-based food production from its scope.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes and strengthens the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection program. It establishes that all federal, state, and local government records related to historical civil rights cases must carry a presumption of immediate public disclosure, with full access intended for public understanding. Key provisions include allowing the Review Board to reimburse state/local governments for digitizing or copying records to add to the national collection, removing an exception that previously blocked state records from being included, and extending the Review Board's term from 7 to 11 years. The bill directly affects government agencies holding these records and the public seeking historical transparency about civil rights cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects funding and staffing at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It prevents the government from holding back or redirecting VA funds without new law, and requires the VA to notify Congress if funding shortfalls approach. The bill exempts the VA from hiring freezes through 2029, mandates reinstating veterans fired between 2025 and the bill’s enactment, and requires special legal authorization for layoffs (including probationary employees). The VA must also submit annual compliance reports to Congress.

Dental Care for Veterans Act This bill expands eligibility for veterans for dental care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, the bill makes all veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system eligible for VA-provided dental services. Currently, only veterans who have a service-connected dental issue or meet other narrow criteria are eligible for certain dental services. The bill phases in eligibility over four years based upon existing eligibility, degree of service-connected disability or other disability, prisoner of war status, award of a Purple Heart, financial need, or VA health care eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution expresses Congress's disapproval of a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rule that requires doctors to obtain prior authorization for certain medical services under the WISeR Model. The bill directly affects healthcare providers and patients by seeking to cancel the rule, which would otherwise mandate that specific services be approved before they are delivered. If passed, the provision would render the rule ineffective, preventing the new prior authorization requirements from taking effect. This action is part of a standard legislative process used to reject federal regulations without needing to pass a new law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes that military personnel and their families living in Washington, D.C., deserve full voting representation and local self-government. It highlights the significant contributions of approximately 30,000 local veterans and active-duty service members who currently lack a vote in Congress. The text calls for the passage of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act to grant statehood, citing historical sacrifices and the long-standing effort to secure these rights. As a non-binding measure, it does not change laws but serves to express the House's support for the statehood movement on Memorial Day 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new federal tax on money received by former U.S. presidents, their immediate family members, or their controlled businesses from civil lawsuits against the government. Under the law, any settlement or verdict awarded to these individuals would be subject to a 100 percent tax, and the payments would not be counted as taxable income for other purposes. To enforce this, the bill requires trustees and administrators to file public reports detailing these payments and imposes a $10,000 penalty for failing to do so. These rules would apply to any funds received on or after May 20, 2026.

Maddy summaryThe IMPACT to Save Moms Act directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to run a five-year demonstration project from 2027 to 2031, allowing states to test new payment models for maternity care under Medicaid and state child health plans. This initiative aims to improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals, with a specific focus on reducing disparities among groups that experience higher rates of maternal mortality and severe complications. To achieve these goals, the project requires states to consider alternative payment structures that account for pregnancy risk levels, include diverse care teams with training on bias, and address social factors affecting health. The bill also mandates that the federal government evaluate the project's impact on health outcomes and spending, and submit a final report to Congress with recommendations on whether to expand the program nationwide.