Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to include Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees as eligible for public safety officers' death benefits. It specifically covers TSA officers who die while performing duties related to protecting transportation systems, ensuring their families receive financial support similar to other public safety officers. The key change adds a new definition (subparagraph H) to the existing law, expanding eligibility to TSA personnel who are actively safeguarding transportation infrastructure. This directly affects TSA employees and their dependents by granting access to these death benefits for on-duty fatalities. The amendment applies to incidents occurring on or after October 31, 2013.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands 529 college savings account flexibility by allowing funds to cover costs for industry-recognized postsecondary credentials, not just traditional degrees. It defines "qualified expenses" to include tuition/fees for recognized credential programs (like certifications or apprenticeships), required testing fees, and continuing education needed to maintain credentials. To qualify, programs must meet specific criteria, such as appearing on state lists under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or being listed in VA or Defense directories. The change applies to 529 distributions made after the law's enactment, giving families more options to use these accounts for job-focused training.

Maddy summaryHR 1121, the "No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act," prohibits U.S. federal executive agencies from using the DeepSeek application (or any successor by High Flyer) on government information technology devices. It requires the Office of Management and Budget to develop removal standards within 60 days, directing agencies to remove the application while complying with existing security rules. Exceptions are permitted for national security, law enforcement, and security research activities, but agencies must document risk mitigation plans for any authorized use under these exceptions. The bill directly affects all executive agencies covered under federal information technology policies.

Maddy summaryHRES 119, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on February 6, 2025, declares racism a public health crisis. This non-binding resolution recognizes documented health disparities affecting racial and ethnic minorities - including higher infant mortality, chronic disease rates, and barriers to care - based on data from public health experts. It calls for coordinated government action to address systemic inequities but does not create new laws or allocate funding. The resolution aligns with existing CDC acknowledgment that racism meets public health crisis criteria.

Protecting Sensitive Locations Act This bill prohibits immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of a sensitive location except in exigent circumstances, such as the imminent risk of death, violence, or physical harm to any person. Sensitive locations include  health care facilities; schools and school bus stops; places that provide assistance for people such as children, pregnant women, and abuse victims; child care facilities; places that provide disaster or emergency services; places of worship; courthouses and lawyers’ offices; facilities used as polling places; certain labor union facilities; and public assistance offices. The prohibition shall apply to Department of Homeland Security officers and agents, as well as state employees pursuing immigration enforcement actions. If an enforcement action is carried out in violation of this prohibition (1) no information resulting from the action may be entered into the record in a resulting removal proceeding, and (2) the affected individual may move to immediately terminate such a proceeding. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall annually report to Congress about enforcement actions taken at sensitive locations in the preceding year.

Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025 This bill requires or authorizes certain actions related to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The bill requires the Department of Justice to appoint an assistant U.S. attorney in each judicial district to coordinate and supervise the investigation and prosecution of various crimes related to postal services (for example, assault on a postal service employee, breaking into a post office, or obstruction of mails). The bill also requires the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend sentencing guidelines to provide that the assault or robbery of a postal employee shall be treated the same as the assault of a law enforcement officer. Additionally, the bill authorizes appropriations for the USPS to install high security collection boxes and replace older versions of the universal mailbox key with electronic versions.

Maddy summaryHR 1046, the Marc Fischer Memorial Act, requires the Bureau of Prisons to implement digital mail scanning technology at all federal prisons to detect fentanyl and other synthetic drugs in inmate mail. It mandates a strategy within 90 days of an evaluation, including 100% scanning of all mail, digital copies of mail to inmates within 24 hours, and physical mail delivery within 30 days for non-contaminated items. The bill directly affects federal prison staff, inmates, and the Bureau of Prisons by aiming to reduce drug-related overdoses and alleviate staff workload tied to mail processing. Implementation must be completed within three years, with annual reports tracking detected drugs and strategy efficiency. The legislation focuses on concrete technological and procedural changes to enhance safety, referencing a successful pilot program at two facilities.

Maddy summaryThe Scientific Integrity Act requires federal agencies that fund, conduct, or oversee scientific research to adopt policies preventing political interference in scientific work. These policies must prohibit suppressing, altering, or delaying the communication of scientific findings and ensure hiring and decisions are based on expertise - not politics. Agencies must appoint a Scientific Integrity Officer to enforce the policies, handle complaints, and submit annual reports to Congress and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The bill directly affects scientists and staff in covered agencies by safeguarding their ability to share research freely and maintain ethical standards in scientific communication.

Maddy summaryThe Project Turnkey Act establishes a $1 billion annual federal program to fund affordable housing for vulnerable populations. It provides grants to states, local governments, nonprofits, and community housing organizations to develop or convert properties (like hotels or vacant buildings) into housing for homeless individuals, those at risk of homelessness, domestic violence survivors, and youth experiencing homelessness. Key provisions include limiting administrative costs to 15% of funds, allowing up to 5% for supporting community housing organizations, and waiving certain existing housing program requirements to accelerate project development. Funds must supplement - never replace - state or local housing investments and remain available until 2035.

Maddy summaryThe CLEAR Act extends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to certain federal entities established under Section 3161 of Title 5, United States Code, including the National Archives and Records Administration. It requires these entities to process FOIA requests for all records - regardless of when they were created - starting from the law's enactment date. This change directly affects the public, who can now access historical and current records held by these entities through FOIA. The bill does not alter existing record-keeping practices but ensures consistent access to information across these specific federal bodies.