Rep. Jamie Raskin

Maddy summaryThe Child Care for Working Families Act creates a federal program to provide affordable, high-quality child care for working families with children under age 6. It would provide direct child care assistance through certificates or grants to parents, with no copayment required for families at or below 85% of state median income. The program requires states to implement quality standards for child care providers, including a tiered quality system and minimum wage requirements for staff (at least a living wage equivalent to elementary educators). The bill appropriates $20 billion for the program over five years, with additional funding for quality improvement initiatives and universal preschool services.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding House resolution (HRES 577) demands that the current administration immediately release all unclassified federal documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, including flight logs, correspondence, and evidence. It specifically requires the release of materials involving Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and known associates, with redactions only to protect minor victims' identities and ongoing prosecutions. The resolution also calls for the Department of Justice and FBI to submit a report on any delays or evidence suppression related to the case. As a resolution, it does not create new law but serves as a formal congressional demand for transparency regarding Epstein-related investigations.

Maddy summaryHR 4382 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics/Paralympics and 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics/Paralympics. It specifies gold, silver, and half-dollar coin designs with defined mintage limits (e.g., up to 100,000 $5 gold coins for each event), all bearing inscriptions like "2028" or "2034" and standard coin features. A surcharge ($5-$50 per coin) is added to sales, with all funds directed to the respective Olympic committees to support event hosting and legacy programs like youth sports. The bill ensures no net cost to the government by requiring surcharge revenues to cover all design, production, and marketing expenses before funds are disbursed.

Maddy summaryHRES 575 is a symbolic resolution designating July 10th as "Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day." It honors lineworkers who face significant risks daily - working at heights near live wires and responding to disasters like hurricanes and wildfires. The resolution specifically references Henry Miller, an early leader of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who died on July 10, 1896, while troubleshooting an outage. It encourages the public to recognize these workers' contributions but does not create new laws or allocate funding.

Maddy summaryThe Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025 creates a federal grant program to help high-need schools hire and retain mental health professionals like counselors, psychologists, and social workers. It targets schools in the top 15% of need (based on student poverty or counts) that lack required staff ratios, such as one counselor per 250 students. Grants fund recruitment incentives (e.g., student loan repayment), retention programs, and evidence-based mental health services, with recipients required to contribute 25% of costs from non-federal funds. Schools must report annually on staff numbers, student-to-staff ratios, and retention rates to track progress toward improved mental health access.

Maddy summaryHRES 543 is a symbolic House resolution (not a law) introduced by multiple representatives. It affirms the constitutional right to peaceful protest under the First Amendment and condemns violent acts by some individuals during demonstrations, such as vandalism and looting. The resolution specifically criticizes the President’s 2025 deployment of National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles without proper legal authority (violating 10 U.S.C. § 12406 and the Posse Comitatus Act) and without coordination with California’s governor. It also denounces inflammatory rhetoric that escalated tensions and supports law enforcement efforts to protect public safety during protests. The resolution has no binding effect but formally expresses congressional position on these issues.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016 by preventing courts from dismissing claims based on time-related defenses (like laches or adverse possession) or other non-merits arguments (such as the act of state doctrine or forum non-conveniens). It specifically bars these defenses for claims seeking recovery of art looted by Nazis during World War II, ensuring cases are resolved on their merits. The bill applies to all pending cases and new claims filed after enactment, regardless of the victim's nationality. It strengthens the original law's purpose of enabling victims' heirs to pursue rightful recovery without procedural barriers.

Maddy summaryThe CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 expands Medicare telehealth coverage by removing geographic restrictions that limited where patients could receive care, expanding the types of health care providers who can offer telehealth services, and eliminating the requirement for an in-person visit before receiving telemental health services. The bill includes specific provisions to support telehealth use for Native American health facilities, rural health clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers. It requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to collect and publish data on telehealth usage and impacts, and to develop resources to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and limited English proficiency. Program integrity measures are added to monitor telehealth billing practices and prevent fraud while maintaining coverage for telehealth services during public health emergencies.

Maddy summaryHR 4212, the SHADE Act, establishes a federal grant program to plant trees in historically underserved urban areas. It directly affects cities and communities in "redlined areas" (low-income neighborhoods historically denied loans) or "intra-urban heat islands" (city zones with high temperatures and low tree cover). The bill authorizes $50 million annually (2026-2036) for grants to states, local governments, tribes, or qualifying nonprofits to fund tree planting, maintenance for 5 years, and community engagement plans. Grants prioritize projects that avoid displacing residents and require planting non-invasive tree species suited to the local environment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal agencies from entering contracts with firearm dealers who have been identified as having high crime connections. Specifically, it requires the federal government to publish annually a list of dealers with at least 25 firearms traced to crimes within 3 years of sale in two of the past three years. Federal agencies must then avoid contracting with these dealers for two years following their inclusion on the list. The Attorney General may grant limited national security waivers (with congressional notification), but the ban takes effect 180 days after enactment. This directly affects federal contractors and firearm dealers meeting the defined crime-tracing threshold.