Rep. Robin L. Kelly

Maddy summaryHR 3622, the Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Joan Trumpauer Mulholland in recognition of her civil rights activism during the 1960s and her lifelong commitment to social justice. The medal, to be struck by the U.S. Mint, will be presented to Mulholland or, if she is unavailable, to her son, honoring her direct actions - including sit-ins, Freedom Rides, and integration efforts - and her subsequent work as an educator and civil rights advocate.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes collective bargaining rules for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employees by removing existing subsections (b), (c), and (d) from Section 7422 of Title 38 and redesignating the current subsection (e) as (b). It directly affects VA health care employees by altering the structure of their collective bargaining framework. The bill explicitly states it does not change the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authorities over incentive pay or expedited hiring under Section 706 of Title 38. The change is purely procedural, focusing on the internal organization of bargaining rules without introducing new employee benefits or obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal law (Section 1983) to eliminate qualified immunity as a defense in civil rights lawsuits. It would prevent government officials from avoiding liability by claiming they acted in good faith, believed their actions were lawful, or didn't know a right was clearly established at the time. This directly affects individuals who sue police, law enforcement, or other officials for violating constitutional rights. The change would apply to lawsuits filed after the bill's enactment, requiring officials to face liability under the original standard of Section 1983.

Maddy summaryHR 3603, the Andrew Kearse Accountability for Denial of Medical Care Act of 2025, requires federal law enforcement officers, Bureau of Prisons staff, and U.S. Marshals Service personnel to provide immediate medical care when someone in federal custody shows medical distress (like breathing difficulties). It makes it a crime for these officials to negligently fail to act, punishable by fines, up to one year in prison, or both. The bill mandates agency inspector general investigations for such failures resulting in harm, requires staff training on medical assistance, and allows state attorneys general to pursue civil legal remedies for affected residents. This directly affects federal custody staff and aims to prevent avoidable harm through enforceable medical response standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends existing federal reentry programs under the Second Chance Act through 2030, continuing funding for services supporting people returning to communities after incarceration. It specifically maintains grants for state/local reentry projects (including substance use treatment, housing, and peer recovery services), family-based substance abuse treatment, prison/jail educational programs, career training, and community mentoring by nonprofits. The bill updates program timelines from their previous 2019-2023 authorization period to 2026-2030 without altering the core services provided. It directly affects state/local agencies, prisons, and nonprofit organizations administering these reentry programs. The legislation focuses solely on extending current funding mechanisms, not changing program requirements or creating new initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the U.S. military from discriminating against service members or applicants based on gender identity. It bans policies that would deny service, involuntarily separate members, deny medically necessary healthcare, or require service in a gender different from one's identity. The law defines "gender identity" broadly to include a person's internal sense of gender, appearance, and mannerisms, regardless of sex assigned at birth. It directly affects transgender and gender-diverse individuals currently serving or seeking to serve in the Armed Forces.

This bill prohibits the President from selling, transferring, or exporting certain defense articles or services to Israel, except in specified circumstances.  Defense articles covered by the prohibition include BLU-109 bunker busting bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) assemblies, and 155mm artillery ammunition. Defense services directly related to such articles are also covered.  The President may sell, transfer, or export such defense articles or services to Israel if (1) a law is enacted specifying the purposes for which such articles or services may be used, and (2) Israel provides written assurances that the defense articles or services will be used for those specific statutory purposes and in a manner consistent with certain other laws, including international human rights laws.

Maddy summaryThe College for All Act of 2025 would eliminate tuition and required fees for eligible students at public community colleges and 4-year institutions through a federal-state partnership. The federal government would cover 100% of costs in the first year (2026-2027), gradually decreasing to 80% by 2030-2031, while states would start with 0% and increase to 20% by 2030-2031. Eligible students would include those with family income below $150,000 for single parents or $300,000 for married parents, regardless of immigration status. The bill also includes requirements to maintain instruction funding, improve transfer pathways between community colleges and 4-year institutions, and provide additional support for students after tuition elimination.

Maddy summaryHR 3506 reauthorizes annual funding for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative through fiscal year 2030, setting specific mandatory funding levels starting at $25 million for 2026 and increasing to $50 million annually after 2029. The bill directs the Commodity Credit Corporation to allocate these funds to support projects expanding access to healthy food in underserved communities. It directly affects low-income neighborhoods lacking grocery stores and local food businesses seeking financing for development or expansion. The legislation provides no new policy mechanisms beyond establishing these fixed annual funding amounts.

Maddy summaryHR 3498, the Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a commemorative gold medal to honor Henrietta Lacks for her contribution to science through her immortal HeLa cells. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to strike the medal, which will be presented posthumously by Congress and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint fund. This is a ceremonial recognition of Lacks' legacy, not a policy change affecting any group or requiring new regulations.