Rep. Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 56 is a non-binding congressional resolution recognizing that climate change disproportionately harms children's health, economic opportunities, and rights. It expresses Congress's view that U.S. leadership is urgently needed to address the climate crisis and calls for a national climate recovery plan. The resolution specifically demands a science-based plan to phase out fossil fuels, protect natural carbon sinks, and reduce atmospheric CO2 to below 350 parts per million by 2100. This resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally states congressional support for a comprehensive climate strategy prioritizing children's well-being.

Maddy summaryHJRES 82 is a non-binding resolution stating that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) has been validly ratified by the required 38 states (including Virginia's 2020 ratification) and should be certified as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It directs the Archivist of the United States to fulfill their statutory duty under Title 1, U.S. Code, to certify and publish the ERA without delay. The resolution argues Article V of the Constitution has no ratification deadline, citing precedents like the 27th Amendment. It does not change the Constitution itself but urges the Archivist to complete the certification process. The bill affects the Archivist’s office, requiring them to act on the ERA’s ratification status.

Maddy summaryHRES 580 is a symbolic resolution expressing the House's support for designating "Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day." It honors lineworkers who work in hazardous conditions (such as at heights near live wires) and respond to disasters like hurricanes and wildfires, while recognizing their contributions and the legacy of Henry Miller, an early electrical worker who died on the job. The resolution has no legal effect - it solely encourages public recognition and reflection on these workers' service.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $30 million annually (2024-2028) for the National Institutes of Health to expand research on uterine fibroids, including studies on racial disparities (noting Black women are 80% likely to develop fibroids by menopause versus 70% of White women). It also requires the creation of a Medicaid database to track treatment services for fibroids and mandates a congressional report on related costs and coverage. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to develop public education materials about fibroid symptoms, treatment options (including non-hysterectomy care), and racial prevalence differences. It directly affects women with fibroids - particularly those from racial minority groups - and aims to improve data collection and awareness around a condition causing significant health burdens and healthcare costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires lenders to request credit bureaus remove default notations from borrowers' credit reports once they fully repay defaulted federal student loans under the Higher Education Act. It directly affects borrowers who have repaid loans they previously defaulted on. The key mechanism is that after full repayment, the lender (or guaranty agency) must proactively ask credit reporting agencies to delete the negative mark. This changes the credit reporting process without altering loan repayment terms or forgiving debt.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley and Roberts Temple National Historic Site in Chicago, Illinois, as a unit of the National Park System. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to create the site only after securing an agreement with Roberts Temple Church (the Roberts Temple) for public access, interpretation, and maintenance. The site preserves and interprets resources tied to the Great Migration, Emmett Till’s memorial service, Mamie Till-Mobley’s activism following her son’s murder, and the civil rights movement. The National Park Service will administer the site under standard park laws, with management plans developed in coordination with Roberts Temple. The site directly affects Roberts Temple Church (as the managing partner) and the public (through access to historical resources).

Maddy summaryJaime’s Law requires federal background checks for ammunition purchases by expanding existing firearm background check rules to include ammunition. It mandates that unlicensed buyers must transfer ammunition through a licensed dealer (e.g., a gun store), who conducts the background check before completing the sale. The law includes exemptions for transfers between family members, law enforcement, transfers due to death, immediate self-defense situations, and legitimate shooting or hunting activities (with specific conditions). It explicitly states the law does not create a national ammunition registry and does not override state laws on ammunition.

Maddy summaryThe Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act would ban the federal government from imposing or carrying out the death penalty for any violation of federal law after the bill's enactment. It would require federal courts to resentence all individuals currently under a federal death sentence to a non-death penalty. This bill directly affects federal criminal defendants and inmates on federal death row, but does not impact state-level death penalty cases. The law would take effect immediately upon passage, ending federal death penalty sentencing for future cases and changing current death row sentences.

Maddy summaryThe Clean Slate through Rehabilitation Act amends the Higher Education Act to change how defaulted federal student loans impact borrowers' credit histories. Specifically, it revises a provision to require the removal of *any* adverse credit information related to a defaulted loan - not just the default record itself - from a borrower's credit history. This change directly affects federal student loan borrowers who have defaulted and are rehabilitating their loans, as it would clear broader negative credit items that hinder credit rebuilding. The policy shift aims to improve credit outcomes for these borrowers by removing more types of adverse information tied to their loans.

Maddy summaryHR 4591, the Clean Slate through Consolidation Act, requires federal student loan holders to request credit bureaus to remove default marks from borrowers' credit reports when they consolidate a defaulted federal student loan under the Higher Education Act. It directly affects borrowers who obtain a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan that pays off their previously defaulted federal student loans. The key mechanism is a mandatory request to consumer reporting agencies to delete the adverse credit information related to the discharged defaulted loan. This policy change automatically clears the default from credit histories upon successful consolidation, without requiring additional action from the borrower.