Rep. Robert Menendez

Maddy summaryHR 2585, the Armenian Genocide Education Act, establishes a federal program through the Library of Congress to develop educational resources about the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide for K-12 schools. It requires the Librarian to create and distribute accurate teaching materials, provide teacher training workshops, and maintain an online resource hub focused on the genocide's history, lessons, and prevention of hate. The program directly supports local educational agencies, independent schools, and educators by offering professional development and curriculum resources. It defines key terms like "denial" and "distortion" to guide the educational content, aiming to improve understanding of this historical event and its relevance to preventing modern-day hate crimes.

Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025   This bill imposes penalties on certain persons (individuals and entities) if the President determines that the Russian government or a person acting at Russia's direction is involved with (1) refusing to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine; (2) violating a negotiated peace agreement; (3) initiating another invasion of Ukraine; or (4) overthrowing, dismantling, or seeking to subvert the Ukrainian government.   If the President makes such a determination, the bill requires certain actions including the President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on specified persons such as the Russian president, certain Russian military commanders, and any foreign person that knowingly provides defense items to the Russian armed forces; the President must increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported from Russia into the United States to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services; the President must increase the rate of duty on all goods and services imported into the United States from countries that knowingly engage in the exchange of Russian-origin uranium and petroleum products to at least 500% relative to the value of such goods and services; the Department of the Treasury must impose property-blocking sanctions on any financial institution organized under Russian law and owned wholly or partly by Russia, and any financial institution that engages in transactions with those entities; and the Department of Commerce must prohibit the export, reexport, or in-country transfer to or in Russia of any U.S.-produced energy or energy product.

Maddy summaryThe Sarah Katz Caffeine Safety Act would require restaurants and retail food establishments with 20 or more locations to label menu items containing 150 milligrams or more of caffeine per serving with a "High caffeine" warning. It would mandate that packaged foods and dietary supplements with more than 10 milligrams of caffeine display the exact caffeine content, whether naturally occurring or added, along with a safety advisory about daily limits (400 milligrams for healthy adults). The bill directs the FDA to review caffeine safety in food and beverages, and the NIH to study caffeine's effects on vulnerable populations including children, pregnant women, and those with heart conditions or mental health conditions. It also requires a public education campaign about caffeine safety and a GAO study on the marketing of caffeinated beverages to children and teens, with reports due within 6 months and 180 days respectively.

Maddy summaryHR 2487, the Transgender Health Care Access Act, aims to improve access to gender-affirming care for transgender individuals by funding training and education for healthcare providers. The bill provides $10 million annually for medical schools to develop curricula on gender-affirming care and culturally competent treatment, and $15 million annually for grants to train medical residents, nurse practitioners, and community health centers serving transgender patients. It specifically targets rural providers through $5 million annually for collaborative networks to expand care in underserved areas. The legislation requires a report to Congress within two years detailing progress in improving health equity for transgender populations.

Save America's Forgotten Equines Act of 2025 or the SAFE Act of 2025 This bill permanently prohibits the slaughter of equines (e.g., horses and mules) for human consumption. (Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill extends the prohibition to equines.) Specifically, this bill prohibits a person from knowingly (1) slaughtering an equine for human consumption; or (2) shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption. The bill subjects a violator to a fine. The bill applies to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. However, it does not apply to an activity carried out by an Indian for a religious ceremony. As background, in recent years, the appropriations acts have prohibited the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using federal funds to inspect horses before they are slaughtered for human consumption. Therefore, there are currently no USDA-inspected horse slaughter facilities in the United States.

Maddy summaryHRES 261 is a symbolic resolution recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of Latinas in the United States. It celebrates Latinas' historical and ongoing roles in fields like business, military service, science, arts, and public office, while acknowledging persistent challenges like wage gaps and systemic barriers. The resolution specifically highlights that Latinas make up approximately 1 in 6 U.S. women (31 million people) and emphasizes their economic impact (contributing $1.3 billion to GDP in 2021) and cultural achievements. It does not create new policies or allocate funds but formally honors these contributions and calls for continued efforts to address inequities. This resolution directly affects Latinas as a recognized demographic group within U.S. society.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Urban Waters Federal Partnership Program to improve coordination among federal agencies working on urban waterways. It designates specific urban areas (particularly overburdened or economically distressed communities) as "partnership locations," requiring each to have a local "Urban Waters ambassador" to coordinate projects. Key mechanisms include a federal steering committee (led by EPA) to guide priorities, a "Learning Network" for sharing best practices, and $10 million annually for program administration through fiscal years 2026-2030. The program aims to advance projects improving water quality, recreation, community engagement, and infrastructure in designated urban watersheds, while requiring annual congressional reports on progress.

Maddy summaryThe Prescription Drug Transparency and Affordability Act (HR 2450) requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to provide detailed, regular reports to group health plans and health insurance issuers about prescription drug pricing and spending. These reports, to be submitted every six months (or quarterly if requested), must include specific information about drug costs, rebates, out-of-pocket spending by participants, and other financial details in plain language and machine-readable format. The law specifically applies to "specified large employers" (employers with 100+ employees) and "specified large plans" (plans with 100+ participants), aiming to increase transparency about drug pricing and help health plans make more informed coverage decisions. The bill includes enforcement provisions, with potential civil penalties for non-compliance, and requires reports to be provided in accessible formats while maintaining privacy protections.

Maddy summaryHR 2467, America's Red Rock Wilderness Act, would designate approximately 1.3 million acres of public land across Utah as wilderness areas, protecting them from development and managing them for conservation. The bill specifically designates 77 wilderness areas in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau regions, including lands within existing national monuments like Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears. It includes provisions for water rights protection, allows continued livestock grazing under certain conditions, and withdraws the designated lands from mining and mineral leasing. The bill also ensures Tribal rights are protected and requires the Secretary of the Interior to administer these areas according to wilderness management standards.

TAP Promotion Act This bill requires that pre-separation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program include a presentation that promotes the benefits available to veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill also requires the VA to annually report on the presentation to (1) identify veterans service organizations that participate, (2) provide the number of members of the Armed Forces who attend, and (3) provide any recommendations for changes to the presentation.