Rep. Betty McCollum

Maddy summaryThis bill, the BIKE Act of 2024, directs federal funding toward school-based bicycle safety education for elementary and secondary students. It amends existing law to require grant funds for on-bicycle education programs and mandates the Secretary of Transportation to revise safety guidelines within one year. The revised guidelines must specifically encourage skills training, roadway navigation, traffic rule awareness, safety precautions, and helmet use for students. These updated materials will be shared with state education agencies, and the Secretary must report to Congress within three years on implementation efforts and outcomes. The bill directly affects public school systems by integrating structured bike safety education into curricula.

Maddy summaryHR 7795, the ProTECT Act of 2024, bans trophy hunting and importing trophies of threatened wildlife species in the U.S. and prohibits issuing permits for such activities. It amends the Endangered Species Act to extend existing protections - previously only covering endangered species - to threatened species, making it unlawful to take or import trophies (including parts or derivatives) of these species. The bill defines "trophy" broadly to cover whole animals, parts, or processed items obtained under hunting authorization, aiming to prevent legal trade from masking illegal wildlife trafficking.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide federal grants to public housing agencies to modernize public housing through energy efficiency upgrades, infrastructure improvements, and renewable energy systems. It requires all public housing to become "zero-carbon homes" that produce enough renewable energy to meet their own consumption within 10 years. The bill includes specific requirements for workforce development, hiring from low- and very low-income communities (40% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 90% after that), and contracting with resident-owned businesses (20% in year 1, 30% in year 2, 50% after that). It also mandates resident and community engagement in planning, and requires public housing agencies to meet specific energy efficiency and water quality standards. The bill directly affects all public housing agencies managing housing for low- and very low-income residents across the United States, including tribal housing entities.

Maddy summaryHR 7770, the Rosie the Riveter Commemorative Coin Act, authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell three commemorative coins honoring women who worked on the U.S. home front during World War II. It specifies $5 gold coins (max 50,000), $1 silver coins (max 400,000), and half-dollar coins (max 750,000), all to be issued between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Each coin sale includes a surcharge ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollar), with all surcharge funds directed to the Rosie the Riveter Trust for maintaining the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and educational programs. The coins will feature designs reflecting the legacy of diverse women workers and must meet specific weight, diameter, and composition standards.

Maddy summaryHR 6727 establishes the United States Foundation for International Conservation, a nonprofit organization that will provide grants to support long-term management of protected and conserved areas in eligible countries. The Foundation requires a 2:1 cost match from other sources, demands host country and community consent through binding agreements, and prioritizes areas with high biodiversity or species of significant importance. It will be governed by a Board of Directors including government officials and private sector experts, operate for 10 years with $1 million authorized for 2024 and $100 million annually from 2025-2035, and must follow international conservation standards while prohibiting funding for countries supporting terrorism or violating human rights.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 149) is a symbolic congressional statement condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine, specifically the forcible transfer and abduction of Ukrainian children. It directly addresses the Russian government, citing evidence including Ukrainian reports of over 2,300 children kidnapped and Russia's policy granting citizenship to children born in occupied territories after February 24, 2022. The resolution formally declares these actions violate the Genocide Convention (Article II(e)) and claims Russia is attempting to erase Ukrainian identity by targeting children. As a non-binding resolution, it holds no legal force but expresses the House's official stance against these practices.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 99 is a symbolic congressional resolution honoring Wadee Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy murdered in a hate crime on October 14, 2023, after being stabbed 26 times by a perpetrator who made anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian remarks. The resolution recognizes Congress's condemnation of hate crimes, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian discrimination, while affirming the United States' "zero tolerance" for such violence. As a procedural resolution (not a law), it does not create new policies but formally honors Wadee and his family, emphasizing the need to reject dehumanizing rhetoric targeting religious or ethnic groups.

Maddy summaryHR 7634, the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, prohibits plastic pellets and pre-production plastic materials from being discharged into water through wastewater, spills, or runoff from specific facilities. It directly affects plastic polymer production facilities, plastic molding and forming facilities, and any point source (like packaging or transport operations) handling plastic pellets. The bill requires the EPA to issue a final rule within 60 days of enactment banning these discharges and updating all relevant wastewater, stormwater, and performance standards in permits and regulations. This creates a legal requirement for facilities to prevent plastic pellet pollution in waterways, targeting a major source of ocean plastic pollution.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCONRES 97) recognizes the gender wage gap, noting that women working full-time earn 84 cents for every dollar earned by men. It highlights racial disparities (e.g., Latinas earn 57 cents, Black women 69 cents) and the economic impact of the gap, including $965 billion in annual lost wages for women. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the issue and reaffirms Congress’s commitment to addressing wage inequality.

Maddy summaryHRES 1074 is a symbolic House resolution reaffirming congressional support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. It explicitly states the House supports Israel's right to exist as a Jewish, democratic state and recognizes Palestinians' right to sovereignty through a separate state. The resolution identifies a two-state solution as the best path to lasting peace and condemns efforts opposing this approach. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law or policy but formally expresses the House's position on this issue. It was introduced by multiple House members on March 12, 2024.