Rep. Sharice Davids

Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025 This bill sets forth requirements for the processing of a proposed residential leasehold mortgage, business leasehold mortgage, land mortgage, or right-of-way document by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The BIA must notify lenders upon receipt of such documentation, perform a preliminary review of such documents not later than 10 days after receipt, and approve or disapprove of such documents within 20 or 30 days, depending on the type of application. Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements for the BIA regarding (1) response times for the completion of certified title status reports, (2) notification of delays in processing, and (3) the form of notices and delivery of certain reports. The bill also provides relevant federal agencies and Indian tribes with read-only access to the Trust Asset and Accounting Management System maintained by the BIA. The Government Accountability Office must report on digitizing documents for the purpose of streamlining and expediting the completion of mortgage packages for residential mortgages on Indian land. Finally, the bill establishes within the BIA's Division of Real Estate Services the position of Realty Ombudsman.

Maddy summaryThis bill continues the USDA's Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, which provides funding to strengthen food supply chains. It specifically allows recipients of this funding to now use the money for activities related to meat and poultry processing and distribution, starting from the bill's enactment date. The change directly affects agricultural businesses, processors, and organizations receiving USDA grants under this program by expanding how they can spend the funds. The bill makes no new policy changes beyond this expanded eligibility for meat and poultry sector investments.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes tax rules for specific education loan repayments. It allows graduates to exclude from taxable income amounts received through "post-graduation scholarship grants" that repay part of their student loans. These grants must be provided by qualified nonprofits (like private foundations or community trusts) to individuals who agree to live and work in communities with below-average bachelor's degree attainment rates. The grants require direct payments to loan holders, exclude employees of the granting organization, and include reporting requirements for the Treasury Department on program effectiveness within three years.

Maddy summaryHR 7543, the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, prohibits plastic pellets and pre-production plastic materials from being discharged into waterways through wastewater, spills, or runoff from specific facilities. It directly affects plastic manufacturing, molding, packaging, and transportation facilities regulated under existing environmental rules. Within 60 days of enactment, the EPA must issue a rule banning these discharges and update all relevant wastewater, stormwater, and performance standards in permits. The law requires all permits and standards for these facilities to reflect the new ban, ensuring plastic pellets cannot enter water systems. This is a concrete regulatory change to prevent plastic pollution at its source.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1063) is a symbolic measure designating February 2026 as "Career and Technical Education Month" to recognize the importance of career and technical education (CTE) programs. It does not create new policies or funding but formally supports CTE's role in preparing students for high-demand jobs by encouraging educators and parents to promote CTE as a valid educational pathway. The resolution references CTE's alignment with workforce needs and cites bipartisan support from past legislation like the 2018 Strengthening Career and Technical Education Act. It affects no specific individuals or programs, serving only as a non-binding statement of support.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most employers to provide workers with earned paid sick leave. Employees would earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year, which can be used for their own illness, medical care, caring for family members (including children, parents, spouses, domestic partners, or other family-like relationships), or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking situations. The bill prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who use this leave and requires employers to inform employees about their rights. It ensures that workers who leave and return to the same employer within a year can reinstate their unused sick leave. This law would not override more generous state or local paid leave policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce two types of commemorative $2.50 coins for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence: a circulating coin for everyday use and a numismatic (collector) coin. Both would feature designs based on the 1926 Sesquicentennial coin - showing allegorical liberty holding the Declaration on one side and Independence Hall on the other - with "1776-2026" inscriptions. The bill requires the Mint to issue these coins by July 4, 2026, if technically and economically feasible, but does not mandate their production or affect any specific groups beyond the public who may purchase them.

Maddy summaryHRES 1060 is a symbolic resolution designating April 5, 2026, as "Barth Syndrome Awareness Day" in the U.S. House of Representatives. It directly supports individuals and families affected by Barth syndrome, a rare genetic disorder primarily impacting males that causes heart, muscle, and immune system issues. The resolution expresses support for raising public awareness, improving early diagnosis, advancing research, and developing treatments for this condition - though it does not create new funding or policy changes. It serves as a non-binding statement of recognition by Congress, acknowledging the challenges faced by the small patient community (fewer than 160 diagnosed in the U.S.) and the need for greater attention to this ultrarare disease.

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for various agencies and offices within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), except for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and management and oversight activities of the Office of the Secretary. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to DHS for  the Federal Protective Service, the Office of Inspector General, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and the Science and Technology Directorate. The bill does not provide appropriations for some agencies and activities that have been funded in prior DHS appropriations acts, including ICE, CBP, and management and oversight activities of the Office of the Secretary.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the tax code to allow first-time homebuyers to use funds from 529 college savings plans for home purchases without tax penalties, under specific conditions. It permits tax-free withdrawals of the original contributions (plus earnings) if the account was maintained for 15 years, the funds are used within 60 days for a first home purchase, and the total lifetime withdrawals do not exceed $35,000. If the home is sold within 5 years, a recapture tax may apply based on the time held. It directly affects first-time homebuyers who have maintained 529 plans for 15 years and use the funds for qualifying home purchases.