Rep. Maggie Goodlander

Maddy summaryHRES 843 is a symbolic resolution supporting the designation of October 30 as an "International Day of Political Prisoners" in the United States. It expresses the House's solidarity with global political prisoners - estimated at 1 million - including journalists, activists, and dissidents detained for political reasons without credible charges. The resolution urges the U.S. government to continue efforts to condemn political imprisonment, secure releases through diplomacy, and raise international awareness. It does not create new laws or directly affect specific individuals, as it is a non-binding expression of support for an existing international observance.

Prevent Government Shutdowns Act This bill provides continuing appropriations to prevent a government shutdown if the appropriations bills for a fiscal year have not been enacted before the fiscal year begins and continuing appropriations are not in effect. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations at the rate of operations that was provided for the prior fiscal year to continue programs, projects, and activities that were funded in the preceding fiscal year. The bill also limits official travel, congressional recesses or adjournments, and the consideration of legislation that is unrelated to appropriations after the beginning of a fiscal year if the appropriations process has not been completed.

Maddy summaryHR 5835, the REPO Implementation Act of 2025, establishes a mechanism to use frozen Russian sovereign assets held abroad for Ukraine's benefit. It creates a "Ukraine Support Fund" to hold these assets without confiscation and requires the U.S. Treasury to invest them in U.S. government obligations. The bill mandates quarterly transfers of at least $250 million from the fund to Ukraine for assistance, with final amounts spent when less remains. It also requires the President to report to Congress on Russian assets held by foreign countries (including G7/EU members) and urges diplomatic efforts to secure similar asset repurposing from those nations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution requires the House of Representatives to hold daily meetings and recorded attendance checks during government shutdowns. Members must electronically confirm their presence each day via a "quorum call," with fines of $500 for a first offense and $2,500 for repeat failures. Fines cannot be paid using campaign or official funds, and the rules apply to all House members, including delegates and the Resident Commissioner. The bill aims to ensure continuous House operations during shutdowns but does not alter the cause or duration of shutdowns.

Maddy summaryHR 5705 requires the federal government to reimburse state agencies for funds they use to maintain participation in the WIC program during a government shutdown. It directly affects states that cover WIC costs using their own money when federal funding lapses. The bill establishes a process where states can seek reimbursement from the federal government after the shutdown ends. This ensures states aren’t burdened with costs for a federal funding gap that impacts nutrition assistance for women, infants, and children.

Maddy summaryHR 5680, the "Pay Our Public Shipyard Workers Act," ensures continuous pay for civilian and military workers at public shipyards during budget gaps in fiscal years 2026 or 2027. It appropriates funds from the Treasury to cover their pay and allowances if regular appropriations bills aren't enacted before the start of those fiscal years. The funding expires no later than January 1, 2027, or when regular appropriations are passed, whichever comes first. This bill directly affects shipyard workers whose pay would otherwise be interrupted during federal budget transitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds Medicare coverage for multi-cancer early detection screening tests (blood or biological tests analyzing cell-free DNA) starting January 1, 2028. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries aged 68 and older (starting in 2028, with the age limit increasing by 1 year annually), requiring tests to be FDA-cleared and deemed reasonable/necessary by the Secretary for early cancer detection across multiple organ sites. Payment will initially match current stool DNA test rates before 2031, then shift to a lower rate or new payment system after 2031, with limits preventing more than one test per year. The bill explicitly states it does not alter coverage for existing cancer screenings like breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer tests.

Maddy summaryHR 5429, the HUD-USDA-VA Interagency Coordination Act, requires the heads of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create a formal agreement for sharing housing-related research and data. It mandates that these departments jointly submit a report within 180 days of enactment detailing ways to improve collaboration on housing programs, which must first be published in the Federal Register for 30 days of public comment. The bill does not create new benefits or programs but focuses on improving coordination between three federal agencies that administer housing assistance. It directly affects the operational procedures of HUD, USDA, and VA, not specific individuals or communities.

Maddy summaryHR 5660, the Pay Our Military Act, ensures military personnel and support staff receive pay during a government funding gap in fiscal year 2026. It appropriates funds from the Treasury to cover pay and allowances for active-duty troops, reservists, Department of Defense civilian employees, and contractors supporting military operations, if Congress hasn’t passed regular funding by then. The funding remains available until either regular appropriations are enacted or January 1, 2027, whichever comes first. This is a temporary measure to prevent disruptions in military pay during budget negotiations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 770) is a symbolic statement expressing the House's support for "Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Day" observed on September 25. It directly affirms the House's commitment to military sexual trauma (MST) survivors - impacting both women and men in the military - by highlighting the need to reduce stigma and improve support systems. The resolution encourages the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs to expand access to MST-related services and promote transparency in handling cases, but it does not create new laws or funding. As a non-binding resolution, it serves only to formally acknowledge the issue and encourage existing agencies to prioritize survivor care.