Maddy summaryThe People's Response Act establishes a new Division on Community Safety within the Department of Health and Human Services to fund community-based approaches to safety that are disconnected from traditional law enforcement and criminal justice systems. It creates four grant programs totaling $13 billion over five years: one for community-led organizations serving disproportionately impacted communities (especially Black and Indigenous communities), one for local governments to conduct safety needs assessments, one for states to support statewide implementation, and one for hiring and training first responders who provide non-carceral crisis response. These grants require recipients to use "qualified approaches to community safety" that avoid collaboration with carceral institutions and prioritize organizations led by or serving communities most affected by the criminal legal system. Recipients must report on outcomes including racial disparities in arrests, incarceration, and how funds are used to address safety needs through community-led initiatives.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHR 4663, the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act, defines "mechanical insulation" (insulation around pipes and equipment in federal buildings) as an eligible energy efficiency measure. It requires federal agencies to include mechanical insulation in their required energy and water evaluations, specifically mandating that evaluations identify this insulation as a potential efficiency measure. The bill specifies that such insulation must meet minimum standards under Reference Standard 90.1 to qualify. This change directly affects federal building managers and contractors by formally recognizing mechanical insulation as a standard efficiency option in compliance with existing energy conservation laws.
Maddy summaryThe SHADE Act creates a federal grant program to plant trees in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods, primarily targeting redlined areas (former HOLC "hazardous" zones) and overburdened areas (where at least 35% of households are low-income, or 40% identify as minority/tribal, or 40% are limited English proficiency). Eligible entities - like cities, tribes, or nonprofits - must submit applications with 5-year plans, community input strategies, and evidence of housing policies preventing displacement. Grants cover tree planting, maintenance for 5 years, and training, with $50 million annually authorized through 2034. The bill directly affects communities facing environmental inequities by linking tree planting to neighborhood revitalization efforts.
Maddy summaryHR 4812, the Food for Thought Act of 2023, provides federal grants to eligible colleges and universities to offer free on-campus meals to low-income students. The bill targets institutions with high Pell Grant enrollment (at least 30% of undergrads), prioritizing community colleges, minority-serving institutions, and those in areas with high need. Participating schools must provide 1-10 free meals weekly to students facing food insecurity, with priority given to those with greatest financial need, and must report on student outcomes like retention and graduation rates. Grants cover meal costs, campus food pantries, and SNAP enrollment support, with funds allocated for 5 years and requiring detailed reporting on program impact.
Maddy summaryH.J.Res. 25 would remove the 1979 deadline for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which was originally proposed in 1972. This bill directly affects states that ratified the ERA after the deadline (such as Nevada, Illinois, and Virginia in 2017-2018) by making their ratifications legally valid. The key provision states that the ERA is valid as part of the Constitution if ratified by three-fourths of states, regardless of the original deadline. The bill does not create new rights but aims to finalize the constitutional amendment process by eliminating the time limit.
Maddy summaryHCONRES 56 is a non-binding congressional resolution recognizing that climate change disproportionately harms children's health, economic opportunities, and rights. It expresses Congress's view that U.S. leadership is urgently needed to address the climate crisis and calls for a national climate recovery plan. The resolution specifically demands a science-based plan to phase out fossil fuels, protect natural carbon sinks, and reduce atmospheric CO2 to below 350 parts per million by 2100. This resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally states congressional support for a comprehensive climate strategy prioritizing children's well-being.
Maddy summaryHJRES 82 is a non-binding resolution stating that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) has been validly ratified by the required 38 states (including Virginia's 2020 ratification) and should be certified as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It directs the Archivist of the United States to fulfill their statutory duty under Title 1, U.S. Code, to certify and publish the ERA without delay. The resolution argues Article V of the Constitution has no ratification deadline, citing precedents like the 27th Amendment. It does not change the Constitution itself but urges the Archivist to complete the certification process. The bill affects the Archivist’s office, requiring them to act on the ERA’s ratification status.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $30 million annually (2024-2028) for the National Institutes of Health to expand research on uterine fibroids, including studies on racial disparities (noting Black women are 80% likely to develop fibroids by menopause versus 70% of White women). It also requires the creation of a Medicaid database to track treatment services for fibroids and mandates a congressional report on related costs and coverage. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to develop public education materials about fibroid symptoms, treatment options (including non-hysterectomy care), and racial prevalence differences. It directly affects women with fibroids - particularly those from racial minority groups - and aims to improve data collection and awareness around a condition causing significant health burdens and healthcare costs.
Maddy summaryThe Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act would ban the federal government from imposing or carrying out the death penalty for any violation of federal law after the bill's enactment. It would require federal courts to resentence all individuals currently under a federal death sentence to a non-death penalty. This bill directly affects federal criminal defendants and inmates on federal death row, but does not impact state-level death penalty cases. The law would take effect immediately upon passage, ending federal death penalty sentencing for future cases and changing current death row sentences.
Housing for Formerly Incarcerated Reentry and Stable Tenancy Act or the Housing FIRST Act This bill limits the information allowed to be shared on credit reports and considered in housing decisions, including certain criminal background information. First, the bill prohibits a consumer reporting agency from including specified information on a consumer credit report provided for tenant screening purposes, such as arrests, juvenile adjudications or convictions, civil citations, resolved criminal cases (e.g., through completion of a diversion program), and convictions with completed sentences. Further, the bill restricts the use of consumer credit reports for tenant screening. A person who obtains such a report must not use it in violation of fair housing laws and must disclose its use to the consumer. When taking adverse action based on the report, a person must provide the consumer with a copy of the report, the specific reasons for the adverse action, and other information. The bill also specifies that upon request, consumer reporting agencies must disclose to a consumer the entity that is the source of any information on a consumer credit report. Finally, the bill excludes from consumer credit reports criminal convictions older than seven years.