Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

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 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.

Maddy summaryHRES 1087 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing community water fluoridation as a safe and effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay. It acknowledges decades of scientific support for fluoridation, including CDC recognition as a top public health achievement, and highlights its cost-effectiveness in reducing dental treatment costs. The resolution encourages states and localities to maintain or adopt optimal fluoridation levels but does not create new legal requirements or directly affect any specific group. It serves as a symbolic endorsement of existing public health practice, referencing support from major health organizations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1088) is a non-binding House of Representatives measure recognizing the importance of Black history museums and cultural institutions. It formally acknowledges their role in preserving Black American history and contributions, particularly in relation to the 2026 100th anniversary of Black History Month and the U.S. 250th anniversary. The resolution urges the House to affirm that Black history is foundational to American history and calls for federal agencies to support these institutions through funding and partnerships. It also encourages the public to visit these museums, support them financially, and engage with their educational resources. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding, but serves as a symbolic endorsement of these institutions' cultural and historical significance.

Maddy summaryHR 7736, the RELIEF Act, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to refund tariffs collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) on imports entered on or after January 1, 2025. It directly affects importers of record by mandating automatic refunds within 90 days of the bill's enactment, without requiring them to submit applications or protests. The bill directs Customs to use existing data to calculate and disburse refunds for all affected tariff collections, including entries involving goods withdrawn from warehouse for consumption. This policy change eliminates the need for importers to seek refunds through separate processes, streamlining the recovery of overpaid duties.

Maddy summaryHR 7740, the African American History Act of 2026, authorizes $4 million annually for the National Museum of African American History and Culture to develop educational resources and support teaching about African American history. The bill directs the museum to create digital and print materials, provide teacher training, and expand access to curriculum resources for K-12 and college classrooms. It requires annual reports to Congress on fund usage and expires in 2030. This program directly affects educators and students by enhancing classroom materials and professional development on African American history.

Maddy summaryHR 7685, the Healthy Hair Act, amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to classify hair straightening or smoothing products containing formaldehyde (or formaldehyde-releasing substances) as "adulterated" when sold across state lines after an 180-day grace period. It directly affects hair product manufacturers, salons, and workers who use or handle these products. The bill mandates a two-part study by the FDA and NIOSH on health impacts like cancer and respiratory issues for salon workers exposed to formaldehyde, requiring an initial report within one year and a final report within two years and two months. The study will inform future regulatory actions but does not ban formaldehyde products immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs U.S. agencies to support Iranian people's access to uncensored information and hold Iranian officials accountable for human rights abuses. It requires the State Department and FCC to report on technologies (like satellite networks and mesh systems) that could bypass internet restrictions in Iran, and authorizes $2 million annually to develop such tools. The bill also establishes a new "Iran Kleptocracy Initiative" at FinCEN to track corruption, freeze assets of Iranian regime officials and state-owned businesses, and coordinate with international partners. These measures apply to U.S. policy toward Iran but do not alter Iran's domestic laws; they focus on U.S. sanctions, technology development, and anti-corruption efforts targeting the Iranian regime.

Maddy summaryHR 7599 creates a federal framework for extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), allowing family members or law enforcement to petition courts to temporarily prohibit individuals from possessing firearms when they pose a risk of harm to themselves or others. The bill establishes a process for issuing ex parte orders (up to 14 days) followed by a hearing within 72 hours to determine if a longer-term order (up to 180 days) should be issued, requiring respondents to surrender firearms to U.S. Marshals or designated law enforcement. Courts must consider specific factors like recent threats, violence, substance abuse, or cruelty to animals before issuing orders, with no fees for petitioners. The law requires law enforcement training to address bias, includes annual reporting requirements, and ensures firearms are returned once the order expires and the individual is eligible to own firearms under federal law.