Rep. James P. McGovern

Woman on the Twenty Act of 2023 This bill bars the printing of any $20 note after December 31, 2026, which does not prominently feature a portrait of Harriet Tubman on the front face of the note. The Department of the Treasury shall release to the public the preliminary design of the $20 note prominently featuring a portrait of Harriet Tubman no later than December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits children under 18 from having direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves on farms. It amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to explicitly add "tobacco-related agriculture" to the list of occupations where minors cannot work, alongside manufacturing and mining. The law directly affects young workers in tobacco farming by banning their hands-on involvement with crops and processed tobacco. This change updates existing labor protections to specifically cover tobacco farming operations. The policy would require farms to adjust employment practices to exclude minors from these tasks.

Maddy summaryHR 3985 establishes a new Office within the U.S. Department of State to monitor and combat Islamophobia abroad. The bill requires the State Department to appoint a Special Envoy who will coordinate efforts to track Islamophobic incidents globally and mandate specific reporting in three key State Department documents. These reports must detail physical violence against Muslims or Muslim institutions, hate propaganda in media, government responses, religious freedom protections, and anti-bias education efforts in foreign countries. The provisions apply to annual human rights, foreign assistance, and religious freedom reports, requiring detailed descriptions of Islamophobia occurrences and governmental actions. The new reporting requirements become effective 180 days after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies collecting demographic survey data to begin including questions on sexual orientation, gender identity, and variations in sex characteristics (intersex traits) within 360 days of enactment. Agencies must review existing surveys to identify gaps, develop privacy-protective methods for collecting this data (including anonymization and data destruction protocols), and incorporate it into relevant reports within three years. The law applies to all federal surveys that collect standard demographic data (like race, ethnicity, and age), such as the census or health surveys, but does not compel individuals to disclose their status. It emphasizes maintaining confidentiality, allows limited agency waivers if standards can't be met, and mandates a congressional report on implementation within two years.

Maddy summaryHR 3953, the Debt Ceiling Reform Act, changes how Congress can block the Treasury from borrowing more money. It requires the Treasury to notify Congress when debt approaches a $1 trillion increment, giving Congress 30 days to pass a resolution disapproving further borrowing. The bill mandates strict timelines: the House must act within 6 days of introduction (with committees required to report bills within 5 days), and the Senate must consider the resolution within 6 days with limited debate. This process directly affects the Treasury’s ability to issue debt and Congress’s procedural control over debt ceiling decisions. The bill does not eliminate the debt ceiling but streamlines the disapproval process.

Maddy summaryHR 3910, titled "Dillon’s Law," amends federal public health grants to prioritize states that permit trained individuals to carry and administer epinephrine during severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). States receiving these grants must certify they have civil liability protection laws shielding trained individuals who provide emergency aid. The bill defines "trained individual" as someone with approved medical training in epinephrine use and clarifies it does not alter existing liability protections under other laws. This policy change directly affects state governments seeking federal public health funding by linking grant eligibility to specific state-level regulations on emergency epinephrine access.

Maddy summaryHR 3850, the Pride In Mental Health Act of 2023, establishes a federal grant program to improve mental health and substance abuse services for LGBTQ+ youth (including nonbinary, intersex, and Two Spirit individuals). The bill directs the Health and Human Services Secretary to fund eligible organizations to provide trauma-informed care, cultural competency training for caregivers, school bullying prevention guidelines, and family support resources. It explicitly prohibits grant funds from being used for conversion therapy or advertising related to such therapy. The bill also requires data collection on LGBTQ+ youth mental health and a federal survey to measure psychological distress.

Maddy summaryHR 3860, the Humane Correctional Health Care Act, removes the exclusion that previously prevented incarcerated individuals under 65 from receiving Medicaid or CHIP health care coverage. The bill amends the Social Security Act to allow states to provide Medicaid, CHIP, or pregnancy-related assistance to incarcerated people starting January 1, 2024. It requires the Comptroller General to report annually on health care access, quality, and outcomes for incarcerated people, including post-release enrollment in community health programs. The legislation also states Congress' view that incarceration should not be used to provide health care unavailable in communities, and federal funds should not replace community-based health investments. This is a policy change directly affecting incarcerated individuals' health care eligibility and state program administration.

Maddy summaryHRES 483 is a symbolic resolution recognizing June 2023 as "Immigrant Heritage Month" to celebrate immigrants and their children for their contributions to U.S. health, safety, diversity, and prosperity. It highlights immigrants' roles in critical sectors like healthcare (including 27% of physicians) and the economy (e.g., 44% of Fortune 500 companies founded by immigrants or their descendants). The resolution urges the House to celebrate immigrant contributions, welcome immigrants, and work toward "smart and just immigration policy." As a non-binding resolution, it does not change laws but formally acknowledges immigrants' historical and ongoing impact on U.S. society.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large credit card issuers (with over $100 billion in assets) to allow merchants to choose which payment networks process credit card transactions, ending restrictions that previously forced merchants to use only one network. It prohibits issuers from blocking merchants from routing transactions through competing networks or penalizing them for choosing non-exclusive processing options. The Federal Reserve must create rules within one year to implement these changes, ensuring merchants have more choice in payment processing. The law does not apply to credit cards issued in a "3-party payment system" model.