Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

Maddy summaryHR 2029, the "Stop Comstock Act," amends federal obscenity laws to remove outdated restrictions on abortion and contraception. It deletes references to "indecent" materials and abortion-related language from Title 18 (e.g., removing "or means for procuring abortion" from section 552 and revising definitions in sections 1461 and 1462). The bill clarifies that federal law does not prohibit the distribution of materials related to abortion or contraceptives, updating how "obscene" is defined. These changes directly affect federal enforcement of obscenity laws, particularly regarding medical information and devices. The bill focuses on modernizing statutory language to align with current legal standards for protected speech and healthcare access.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act This bill expedites payment of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and eligibility for Medicare coverage for those with metastatic breast cancer (i.e., breast cancer that has spread to other sites in the body). Specifically, the bill eliminates the 5-month waiting period for SSDI benefits and the subsequent 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage for individuals with metastatic breast cancer. Under current law, individuals generally must wait 5 months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits and an additional 24 months to become eligible for Medicare.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to transition its workforce from a special personnel management system to the standard federal personnel system under Title 5 of the U.S. Code by December 31, 2025. It protects TSA employees by ensuring no reduction in pay, benefits, or retirement rights during the transition, while preserving collective bargaining rights for screening agents. The legislation also mandates consultation with labor unions during the process and requires several reports on workforce issues including recruitment, harassment policies, and workplace safety.

Maddy summaryHR 2040, the NEWBORN Act, creates federal grants for local health departments to run infant mortality pilot programs in the 50 highest-risk counties. The $10 million annual funding (2025-2029) requires grantees to develop community-specific plans addressing causes like preterm birth, maternal complications, and infant injuries. Programs must include outreach to at-risk mothers, standardized services (postpartum care, smoking cessation, nutrition counseling), rural health initiatives, and public education campaigns. Grantees must report annually on program outcomes, with funds limited to 10% for evaluation. The bill directly affects communities with high infant mortality rates and at-risk mothers and infants through these targeted, evidence-based interventions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing services for beneficiaries 65 and older (and some younger people with disabilities), effective January 1, 2026. It would provide 100% coverage for preventative dental services in 2026, with basic and major dental services gradually increasing to 80% coverage by 2029. Vision benefits would include 80% coverage for annual eye exams and specific limits on eyeglasses, frames, and contact lenses ($100 per year for lenses, $100 every two years for frames, $200 every two years for contacts). Hearing services would include 80% coverage for hearing exams and hearing aids, with a limit of one hearing aid per ear every 48 months. The bill also adds oral health professionals to the United States Preventive Services Task Force to help guide coverage decisions.

Maddy summaryThe WISH Act would create a federal long-term care insurance program to help seniors cover costs of long-term care services. It would provide monthly benefits to seniors who have a serious disability lasting at least a year, have met coverage requirements (6 quarters of coverage in the base period starting in 2026), and have not exhausted their savings. Benefits would be calculated based on the median cost of personal assistance care and the individual's work history. The program would be funded through an initial $12 million appropriation for each of fiscal years 2026-2028, plus $50 million for public education. This would help seniors avoid exhausting their savings or becoming dependent on Medicaid for long-term care costs.

Maddy summaryHR 2033, the Military Spouse Hiring Act, expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include spouses of active-duty military personnel. It adds "qualified military spouse" as an eligible category for the tax credit, meaning employers who hire such spouses can claim the credit. A "qualified military spouse" is defined as someone certified by a local agency as married to an active-duty service member at the time of hire. The credit applies to hires occurring after the bill's enactment date. This directly affects military spouses seeking employment and employers hiring them, providing a tax incentive to encourage their hiring.

Maddy summaryHR 862, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act, requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to conduct a feasibility study on whether employees' commute time between duty locations and airport parking/transit stops should count as on-duty hours. The study, due within 270 days of enactment, must examine commute times at small, medium, and large hub airports, average commuting duration, potential employee and agency benefits, and practical tracking methods (like mobile location data). It also must assess costs, including retirement pay implications, for treating commute time as work hours. The study will be submitted to relevant House and Senate committees, but the bill itself does not change current policies.

Maddy summaryHRES 210 is a symbolic resolution recognizing National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10. It highlights that women, especially women of color (including Black and Latina women), are disproportionately affected by HIV in the U.S. and globally, with data showing they account for significant shares of new diagnoses and deaths. The resolution calls for greater focus on HIV vulnerabilities among women and girls, improved access to prevention tools like PrEP, and stronger investment in care, treatment, and research to reduce health disparities. It urges support for evidence-based programs addressing gender-based violence, discrimination, and barriers to sexual health services.

American Teacher Act This bill establishes grants to increase the minimum salary of public elementary and secondary school teachers. It also authorizes a national campaign regarding the value of the teaching profession. First, the bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award four-year grants to state educational agencies (SEAs) and, through them, subgrants to local educational agencies to establish a minimum annual salary of $60,000 (to be adjusted annually for inflation) for these teachers. Second, the bill directs ED to award grants to eligible SEAs to provide cost-of-living adjustments to the annual base salary of teachers. Finally, the bill authorizes ED to carry out a national campaign to (1) increase awareness about the importance of teachers and the value of the teaching profession, (2) encourage secondary school and college students to consider teaching as a professional career, and (3) diversify the pool of individuals who enter the teaching profession.