Rep. Nikki Budzinski

Maddy summaryHR 8639, the Warehouse Worker Protection Act, requires employers in covered warehouse facilities (including distribution centers, storage facilities, and delivery services) to provide workers with clear written descriptions of any quotas they're subject to, including how performance is measured and monitored. The bill prohibits quotas that interfere with breaks, safety compliance, or anti-discrimination protections, and mandates that employers provide employee work speed data in human-readable formats. It creates new anti-retaliation protections for workers who exercise these rights or file complaints, and establishes a Fairness and Transparency Office within the Department of Labor to oversee implementation. The act also amends the National Labor Relations Act to explicitly prohibit quotas that discourage workers from exercising their labor rights.

Maddy summaryThe SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2024 reauthorizes and expands the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), which provides free screenings and care coordination to low-income, uninsured, or underinsured women. It increases annual funding from $275 million (2024) to $500 million (2028) and explicitly adds "prevention" to the program’s mission, requiring it to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in cancer outcomes. The bill mandates the program to address barriers like social determinants of health and implement evidence-based strategies to boost screenings, particularly for underserved communities disproportionately affected by pandemic-related screening declines. This directly benefits millions of women, especially Black, Hispanic, and Asian women, who face higher cancer death rates and reduced access to care.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the National Alzheimer's Project Act through 2035 (extending the previous deadline of 2025) and adds new requirements to promote healthy aging and reduce Alzheimer’s risk factors. It mandates the program to provide information on healthy behaviors that may lower cognitive decline risk and expands the advisory group to include representatives from agencies like the Department of Justice, FEMA, and Social Security Administration, plus experts with diverse clinical trial experience. The bill directly affects Alzheimer’s research, care programs, and the federal advisory group overseeing national efforts. Key changes include requiring annual evaluations instead of initial ones and adding a focus on reducing health disparities in Alzheimer’s initiatives.

Maddy summaryHR 8489, the Presidential Ethics Reform Act, requires Presidents and Vice Presidents to submit detailed financial disclosures at key career points: within 30 days of taking office, annually by May 15, and after leaving office with ongoing annual reports for two years. It directly affects the President/Vice President and their defined relatives (including spouses, parents, children, and siblings), mandating disclosures of gifts over $10,000, loans, foreign payments, full tax returns (with identity theft redactions), conflicts of interest involving relatives, and details about relatives accompanying them on official travel. Reports must be submitted to congressional committees and the Office of Government Ethics, then made publicly searchable online within 30 days. The bill aims to increase transparency around financial ties and potential conflicts by expanding existing ethics reporting requirements with specific, time-bound obligations.

Maddy summaryHR 8383, the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act, creates a federal program to improve emergency obstetric care in rural areas lacking dedicated obstetric units. It authorizes $5 million (2025-2027) for training programs that teach non-obstetric rural healthcare providers to handle emergencies like severe bleeding, high blood pressure, or mental health crises during pregnancy or postpartum. The bill also allocates $15 million (2025-2028) for grants to rural hospitals and consortia to purchase equipment, hire staff, integrate training, and develop transfer protocols for obstetric emergencies. Additionally, it funds a $5 million teleconsultation pilot (2025-2028) to connect rural facilities with maternal health specialists via telehealth for urgent consultations. The program directly supports rural health facilities in designated maternity care shortage areas, aiming to expand access to emergency obstetric care.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $162 million for law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire career officers under existing federal grant programs. It requires agencies using these funds to conduct background checks and psychological evaluations for all new or returning officers, covering those costs with the grant money or agency funds. The funding directly supports local and state police departments seeking to fill vacancies, particularly for sworn officers. The bill does not create new hiring requirements but provides targeted funding to accelerate officer recruitment while mandating specific vetting steps.

Maddy summaryThe Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2024 establishes federal minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public employees and supervisory employees. The Federal Labor Relations Authority will determine if each state's laws "substantially provide" for these rights, and if not, federal standards will apply to that state. These standards include the right to self-organization, collective bargaining, recognition of labor organizations, and procedures for resolving disputes. The bill preserves existing collective bargaining agreements and excludes certain employee categories like emergency services workers from some provisions.

Maddy summaryThe Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of 2024 would transition Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, particularly screening agents, from TSA-specific personnel rules to the standard federal government personnel system under Title 5 of the U.S. Code by December 31, 2024. The bill prohibits changes to current personnel policies for covered employees until the transition date and ensures no reduction in pay or benefits during the conversion process. It preserves certain benefits like law enforcement availability pay for Federal air marshals and maintains collective bargaining rights for screening agents. The bill also requires various reports to Congress on recruitment, implementation, diversity, and workplace safety to be submitted within specified timeframes.

Maddy summaryHRES 1203 is a symbolic resolution designating July 17, 2024, as "Glioblastoma Awareness Day." It expresses congressional support for raising public awareness about glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain cancer with a 6.9% 5-year survival rate and limited treatment options. The resolution encourages greater public understanding of the disease's challenges, honors those affected by it, and urges continued research and collaboration. This is a non-binding awareness measure with no new funding or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Health and Human Services Secretary to fund research on early detection and treatment of uterine fibroids, with a focus on reducing health disparities. It authorizes grants to states for screening programs (including advanced imaging), patient navigation services, and public education campaigns - prioritizing areas with socially vulnerable populations at higher risk. States receiving funds must implement evidence-based strategies to improve access to early intervention. The bill also requires regular reports to Congress on grant outcomes and research findings related to fibroid treatment disparities and related conditions like Asherman’s Syndrome.