Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman

Maddy summaryHJRES 68 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a specific proposed U.S. military sale to Israel. It targets defense articles and services detailed in Transmittal No. 24-16, including 10,000 additional M107/M795 155mm artillery shells and related support like technical documentation and engineering services. The resolution would prohibit this sale by invoking Congress's disapproval authority under the Arms Export Control Act. It directly affects the U.S. government's ability to proceed with this particular foreign military sale to Israel. The measure focuses solely on stopping this specific transaction, not broader policy changes.

Maddy summaryHJRES 71 is a joint resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a specific proposed foreign military sale to Israel. It targets Transmittal No. 24-104, which includes 3,000 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles (in various variants) and related support items like spare parts, training, software, and logistics services. The resolution aims to block this sale under the Arms Export Control Act by prohibiting the specific defense articles and services listed. If passed, it would prevent the U.S. government from proceeding with this particular military transfer to Israel.

Maddy summaryHRES 181 is a symbolic resolution recognizing Black History Month by highlighting the historical and ongoing contributions of Black labor to the U.S. economy and society. It commemorates Black labor from slavery through modern times, including agricultural work, unionization efforts (like A. Philip Randolph’s Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters), and contemporary issues like the racial wage gap (where Black workers earned $878 weekly vs. $1,059 for others in 2023). The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges these contributions to raise public awareness. It is sponsored by 70+ House members and aligns with the 2025 Black History Month theme focused on "African Americans and Labor." As a commemorative resolution, it has no direct effect on individuals or legislation.

Maddy summaryHR 1787 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring baseball legend Roberto Clemente, including $5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar coins, with specific specifications for weight, size, and metal content. The bill requires the coins to feature Clemente's image and commemorative inscriptions, and mandates a surcharge ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollar) paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation for its educational, youth sports, and disaster relief programs. All coins must be minted in 2027, sold at face value plus surcharge and production costs, and will be legal tender. The bill focuses solely on the coin program, not broader policy changes.

Safe Schools Improvement Act This bill requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment of elementary and secondary school students. In particular, these policies must prohibit bullying and harassment based on race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex. Sex includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics (including intersex traits). Further, LEAs must provide (1) students, parents, and educational professionals with annual notice of the conduct prohibited in their disciplinary policies; (2) students and parents with grievance procedures that target such conduct; and (3) the public with annual data on the incidence and frequency of that conduct at the school and LEA level. The Department of Education must conduct and report on an independent biennial evaluation of programs and policies to combat bullying and harassment in elementary and secondary schools. The National Center for Education Statistics must collect state data to determine the incidence and frequency of the conduct prohibited by LEA disciplinary policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Section 5(e)(6) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 by removing a reference to "subparagraph (B)" and renumbering the following provisions. It does not change SNAP eligibility rules or benefits; it only adjusts the internal numbering of existing provisions. The change takes effect January 1 following enactment. As a procedural amendment, it directly affects how the law is cited but does not alter policy or impact beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the U.S. Interior and Agriculture Secretaries from transferring title of certain federal lands to non-government entities. It specifically blocks transfers of lands that are publicly accessible (via roads, trails, or waterways) or adjacent to such lands, unless the land is under 300 acres or meets specific exceptions. Key exceptions include small parcels under 5 acres accessible by water, transfers authorized by historical laws like the Alaska Statehood Act, and land exchanges already permitted by federal law. The bill does not affect existing transfers under these authorized programs or prevent agencies from subdividing land to meet acreage thresholds.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 16 is a concurrent resolution scheduling a joint session of Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 2, 2026. The session will commemorate the 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial) of the Declaration of Independence, which was approved in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. This ceremonial gathering at Independence National Historical Park follows past congressional meetings held outside Washington, D.C., for historical milestones, such as the 1987 Constitution bicentennial event. The bill does not create new laws or alter policies - it solely directs the timing and location of a commemorative event.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HJRES 63) would rename the Robert E. Lee Memorial, a National Park Service site in Arlington, Virginia, to "Arlington House National Historic Site." It directly affects the National Park Service, which manages the site, and all federal government documents, maps, and records referencing the location. The key provision updates all official references to the site to the new name and repeals two prior resolutions that established the memorial. As a procedural renaming bill, it does not create new policies or funding but changes the site's official designation.

Maddy summaryHRES 173 is a symbolic resolution, not a bill, calling for federal recognition and support of historically Black Freedmen's Settlements. It honors communities like Sand Branch, Texas (facing water contamination and poverty), Africatown, Alabama (surrounded by pollution), and Mossville, Louisiana (enduring industrial pollution), which were established by formerly enslaved people after emancipation. The resolution urges federal coordination to preserve these communities through documentation, historic preservation, and leveraging existing programs like EPA’s Environmental Justice initiatives and Justice40 funding - without creating new mandates or direct funding. It emphasizes collaboration between federal agencies, states, and nonprofits to address legacy inequities in infrastructure, environmental health, and economic opportunity. The resolution focuses on acknowledgment and strategic support, not new legislation or financial commitments.