Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman

Maddy summaryThe Hunger-Free Future Act of 2025 amends the SNAP program to require that any update to the thrifty food plan must not increase food insecurity. It mandates that adjustments to the diet cost must continue following existing rules while explicitly ensuring updates do not worsen food insecurity, defined as households lacking adequate food due to insufficient money or resources. This directly affects SNAP beneficiaries by setting a new standard for how the program's cost calculations are reviewed. The bill changes the procedural requirement for SNAP re-evaluations without altering benefit amounts or eligibility rules.

Hot Foods Act of 2025 This bill expands the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to permit the use of SNAP benefits to purchase hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption.

Maddy summaryHR 2357, the Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025, removes a restriction that previously barred workers on strike from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to eliminate language making workers ineligible for SNAP "as a result of being on strike," ensuring striking workers are not automatically denied food assistance during labor disputes. This change directly affects workers participating in strikes who would otherwise lose access to SNAP benefits. The key mechanism updates the eligibility rules to prevent SNAP ineligibility solely due to strike participation.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the federal tax credit for rehabilitating historic buildings. It raises the standard credit rate from 20% to 30% for qualifying small projects (with a $3.75 million expenditure cap) and further increases the cap to $5 million for projects in rural areas. The bill also allows taxpayers to transfer all or part of this credit to another taxpayer, creating a new market for the credit. These changes apply to properties placed in service after the bill's enactment date. The bill directly affects developers and owners of historic properties seeking tax incentives for rehabilitation projects.

Maddy summaryHRES 332 is a resolution designating April 11-17, 2025, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to raise awareness about maternal health disparities affecting Black women and birthing people in the U.S. It references CDC data showing Black women are 2-3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women and that the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations. The resolution emphasizes the need to address systemic inequities contributing to these outcomes without creating new laws or funding. It serves as a symbolic recognition to amplify community-led efforts, such as those by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, rather than implementing policy changes.

Maddy summaryHR 2912, the "Oligarch Act of 2025," creates a new progressive wealth tax on high-net-worth individuals and certain trusts. It imposes tax rates of 2% to 8% on net taxable assets exceeding a threshold based on median household wealth (starting at $50,000), with higher rates applying to larger wealth brackets. The bill excludes assets under $50,000 that are tangible personal property used in daily life, and includes special rules for married couples, trusts, deceased individuals, and non-residents. It requires new reporting by taxpayers and financial institutions and mandates annual audits of 30% of taxpayers subject to the tax.

Maddy summaryHRES 328 is a non-binding House resolution expressing support for library staff and the essential services libraries provide to communities across the United States. It recognizes libraries as critical infrastructure for community access to information, internet, social services, and safe spaces - especially for underserved groups - and calls for full federal, state, and local funding to sustain these services. The resolution reaffirms the public’s right to free access to information, supports library workers’ rights to unionize and collectively bargain, and defends staff from threats like book bans or intimidation for upholding library missions. It specifically endorses National Library Week and urges protection of civil rights for library workers. (Note: As a procedural resolution, it does not create new law but formally expresses congressional support.)

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 331) is a non-binding House of Representatives statement supporting National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. It urges state/local governments and schools to recognize the day and promotes inclusive HIV education in curricula, including information on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The resolution calls for removing outdated HIV criminalization laws, expanding youth-friendly healthcare access (including confidential testing and treatment without parental consent), and supporting existing programs like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. It specifically highlights the disproportionate impact of HIV on young Black gay and bisexual men and advocates for reducing stigma to improve health outcomes for youth living with HIV.

Maddy summaryHR 2884 establishes a National Center on Antiracism and Health within the CDC to address structural racism as a public health crisis. The center will research how racism impacts health outcomes, collect disaggregated data by race, ethnicity, and other factors, and develop antiracist interventions for public health systems. It requires CDC to create regional centers in minority communities, build a public data clearinghouse, and train health professionals on racism's health effects. The bill also directs the CDC to research police violence's public health impacts and develop prevention strategies, requiring annual reports to Congress on these efforts.

Maddy summaryThe Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act (HR 2904) aims to reduce mental health disparities affecting racial and ethnic minority groups by modifying federal grant programs, requiring research on disparities, and funding targeted initiatives. It directs the Health and Human Services Secretary to prioritize grants for community health organizations serving minority populations, mandates a National Institutes of Health study on mental health research gaps in these groups, and establishes training programs for health professionals to address cultural competency in mental health care. The bill also requires a public outreach strategy developed with community input to reduce stigma and improve access to culturally appropriate care, alongside $20 million annually (2026-2031) for this effort. Additional funding includes $150 million yearly for NIH mental health research and $750 million yearly for the National Institute on Minority Health.