Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Red Star Service Banner as an officially recognized symbol to honor U.S. service members and veterans who died by suicide, as well as first responders who died by suicide. The banner features a white field with a blue border and a single red star, and it may be displayed at private residences, workplaces, public buildings, community spaces, and other appropriate locations to recognize the sacrifice of those who died and support their families. The legislation clarifies that displaying the banner does not create new eligibility for benefits, requires VA approval for individual display, or establish any legal status beyond recognition. It also allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to promote awareness of the banner in coordination with the Department of Defense without requiring additional funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study on how data centers impact communities of color and low-income communities, working with agencies like the EPA and the Council on Environmental Quality. The study will examine specific issues including water and energy consumption, air and soil quality, effects on property values and local tax revenue, and public health risks related to pollution and heat. The Secretary must consult with local governments and Indian Tribes during the study and submit a report to Congress within 18 months that includes a map of data center locations relative to affected communities, along with recommendations for mitigating potential harms.

Maddy summaryThe INCREASE Housing Affordability Act creates a new tax credit for converting commercial buildings (like offices) into residential housing. Property owners who convert eligible buildings can claim a tax credit equal to 15% of qualified conversion costs, with limits of $200,000 per residential unit or $10 million per building. The bill also provides bonus credits for projects with rent-restricted units for lower-income residents (10-20% more credit) and for paying prevailing wages (15% more credit). To qualify, buildings must have been nonresidential for at least 15 years and undergo substantial conversion (with expenditures exceeding adjusted basis or $15,000).

Maddy summaryHRES 1106 is a non-binding House resolution honoring the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., a prominent civil rights leader and activist. The resolution recognizes his lifelong work in advancing equality through organizations like Operation PUSH, his leadership in the anti-apartheid movement, and his historic presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988. It expresses condolences to his family and calls on all Americans to continue his legacy of promoting civil rights and unity. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Direct File Act of 2026, would establish a government-run online system allowing taxpayers to prepare and file their individual income tax returns for free. The legislation prohibits the Treasury Department from entering into agreements that restrict its ability to provide tax preparation or filing services, and it voids any existing contracts with such restrictions. The program would use IRS data to simplify filing, include customer support, be available in multiple languages, and allow users to file even if they are not required to. It also enables taxpayers in participating states to file state and local returns alongside their federal returns, with funding provided to states that meet certain standards.

School Social Workers Improving Student Success Act This bill provides certain resources to increase the number of social workers in elementary and secondary schools. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Education to award grants to high-need local educational agencies to retain or hire school social workers. The bill also establishes a national technical assistance center for school social work to, among other duties, develop strategies for improving the effectiveness of the school social work workforce.

Maddy summaryThe DISCLOSE Act of 2026 aims to increase transparency in election spending and prevent foreign influence. It expands the ban on foreign money to cover federal, state, and local elections, including ballot initiatives and judicial nominations, and criminalizes using corporations to conceal these funds. The bill mandates that organizations spending over $10,000 on campaign-related activities, such as independent expenditures or judicial nomination advocacy, disclose their beneficial owners and top donors. Additionally, it establishes new "Stand By Every Ad" disclaimers for political communications, requiring the highest-ranking official to approve the message and, for certain ads, list their top funders. These provisions directly affect non-candidate organizations, individuals involved in political and judicial nomination spending, and foreign nationals.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal loan forgiveness program to encourage mental health professionals to work in areas with shortages of care providers. It directly affects students and graduates enrolled in mental health training programs at minority-serving institutions who agree to work full-time in underserved communities for at least five years. Under the program, eligible individuals would receive loan deferment during their service period, and after completing five years of employment, the government would repay up to $200,000 of their outstanding student loans. The bill defines qualified mental health providers to include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other licensed professionals specializing in mental and behavioral health care.

Maddy summaryHR 7803, the "Save Medicare Act," renames Medicare Advantage plans to "Alternative Private Health Plan" for all federal references, including in the Social Security Act. It requires health plans to stop using "Medicare" in their titles after enactment, imposing a $100,000 civil penalty per violation. The change applies to all Part C Medicare plans and mandates a full transition by October 15, 2023, with a temporary period allowing both terms to be used during the switch. This bill directly affects private health insurers offering Medicare Part C plans and federal agencies managing Medicare programs. The policy change is solely about terminology, not benefits or coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes and modernizes Trade Adjustment Assistance programs to help workers, firms, communities, and farmers affected by trade-related job losses. It extends program funding through 2033 and expands eligibility to include teleworkers, staffed workers, and public agency employees. Key provisions increase financial benefits, add new allowances for childcare and job search, require inflation adjustments to benefit amounts, and establish new outreach requirements to ensure underserved communities receive adequate support. The legislation also creates a new community assistance program providing grants for strategic economic development planning and expands technical assistance for businesses seeking adjustment support.