Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton

Maddy summaryHRES 1109 is a symbolic resolution supporting National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, observed annually on March 10. It recognizes the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls in the U.S., particularly women of color who face higher infection rates and barriers to care. The resolution calls for increased investment in prevention, treatment, and education programs to reduce new infections and address health disparities, while emphasizing the need for culturally responsive services and comprehensive sexual health education. It does not create new laws or funding but expresses congressional support for ongoing efforts to end the HIV epidemic among women and girls.

Maddy summaryHRES 1107 is a House resolution urging the President to issue a proclamation flying the U.S. flag at half-staff to honor Rev. Jesse Jackson. The resolution recognizes his civil rights leadership, including founding the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and his presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988, which advanced racial equality and economic justice. This symbolic gesture directly affects the President (as the one who would issue the proclamation) and the public, who would observe the flag at half-staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Guarantee Access to Arts and Music Education Act of 2026, amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to expand federal funding for arts and music programs in public schools. It directly affects school districts and educators by allowing Title I funds to support sequential, standards-based instruction in dance, media arts, theater, visual arts, and music. The legislation requires these programs to be taught by certified educators and aligns them with state academic standards to ensure quality instruction. Additionally, the bill allows targeted assistance schools to use federal funds for supplies, professional development, and equipment needed for arts and music education.

Maddy summaryHR 7827 restricts the Department of Defense from purchasing or selling military-style assault weapons and certain high-capacity ammunition (like .223 Remington) in commercial markets. It imposes strict requirements on dealers selling firearms or ammunition, including mandatory NICS background checks, limits on high-volume sales, security measures (like surveillance systems), and electronic recordkeeping for transactions. Dealers must also meet crime trace limits (fewer than 24 crime guns traced annually) and implement training on recognizing straw purchases and preventing illegal sales. Government-owned weapons plants must annually report commercial sales data to Congress, including customer locations and revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Treasury Department to create a program that refunds tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to importers who prove they lowered consumer prices as a result. The legislation specifically targets companies that paid over $5 million in these tariffs while excluding small businesses with less than $10 million in revenue. Importers must demonstrate how they will pass refunds directly to consumers through price cuts on essential goods like infant formula, diapers, and basic food items, or provide rebates to customers. The bill also prevents companies from conducting stock buybacks or paying dividends unless they certify they have taken steps to reduce consumer prices. All refunds must be processed within 180 days of the bill's enactment, with priority given to importers showing immediate price reductions for essential consumer products.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026, requires most health insurance plans to cover HIV prevention medication without charging patients any out-of-pocket costs. It directly affects people with private insurance, government health programs like Medicare and Medicaid, military health care, and the Indian Health Service. The law mandates that insurance companies cannot require pre-approval for these medications, cannot charge deductibles or copayments for them, and cannot deny or charge higher premiums for life, disability, or long-term care insurance based on someone taking HIV prevention medication. The bill also creates a new public education campaign to increase awareness about HIV prevention options and provides federal funding to states and community organizations to expand access to these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals receiving Medicare funding to create discharge plans for pregnant patients who are expected to leave the hospital before delivery, ensuring they have safe transportation and access to backup care if needed. The discharge plans must include clinical justification for early discharge, assessment of travel logistics, identification of alternative delivery facilities, and confirmation that patients understand the information in their primary language. Additionally, the bill expands rural maternal health training grants to include racial bias training, establishes performance milestones for grant recipients, and creates a new initiative to evaluate different training models for healthcare professionals. The legislation also mandates the development of a public dashboard tracking maternal health outcomes and federal investments in maternal health research.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2026, updates eligibility rules and benefit amounts for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which provides financial assistance to low-income elderly, blind, and disabled individuals. Key changes include raising income and resource limits to help more people qualify, adjusting benefit calculations to better reflect poverty guidelines, and extending the program to U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam. The legislation also removes certain financial penalties, excludes retirement accounts and tribal welfare payments from eligibility calculations, and clarifies how state tax credits are treated when determining income.

Maddy summaryHR 7856, the Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2026, amends the Fair Housing Act to explicitly prohibit housing discrimination based on being a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or severe trafficking in persons. It adds "survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or severe trafficking" as a protected class in the law, alongside existing categories like race or national origin. This means landlords, housing providers, and programs cannot deny housing, evict, or otherwise discriminate against individuals due to their status as a survivor. The bill directly affects survivors who face housing barriers, including those with protective orders, shelter histories, or past evictions linked to abuse.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a business tax credit for companies that purchase zero-emission electric lawn, garden, and landscaping equipment. The credit equals 40 percent of the equipment's cost, with annual limits of $25,000 and a ten-year aggregate cap of $100,000 per business. Eligible equipment includes electric-powered mowers, trimmers, and other landscaping tools powered by solar, batteries, fuel cells, or grid electricity, as well as batteries and generators used to power them. The credit applies to equipment placed in service after December 31, 2024, and expires five years after the bill is enacted.