Rep. Nellie Pou

Maddy summaryThe Equality Act (HR 15) amends federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, and jury service. It expands existing protections under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by adding sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics under sex discrimination prohibitions. The bill clarifies that discrimination against LGBTQ people is a form of sex discrimination, consistent with the Supreme Court's Bostock decision, and adds specific definitions for gender identity and sexual orientation. This legislation directly affects businesses, employers, housing providers, financial institutions, and government entities that serve the public. The bill creates a more comprehensive legal framework to address discrimination that LGBTQ people face in multiple aspects of daily life.

Maddy summaryHR 3045, the West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025, imposes U.S. sanctions on foreign individuals and entities responsible for violence, displacement, or property destruction in the West Bank. It targets those directly involved in attacks on civilians, forced displacement, or property seizures, including settler leaders or officials of groups engaged in such activities. Key provisions require freezing assets of sanctioned individuals within U.S. jurisdiction and blocking their entry into the United States via visa restrictions. The law applies to foreign nationals meeting specific criteria outlined in the bill, not U.S. citizens or entities.

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 326 is a non-binding resolution designating April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day" to honor the late labor and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta. It recognizes her foundational work co-founding the United Farm Workers, leading grape boycotts that secured union contracts, advocating for farm workers' safety, and championing women's rights and Latino political representation. The resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on any group, as it solely serves to commemorate Huerta's legacy. It was introduced by multiple House members in recognition of her contributions to civil rights and equality.

Maddy summaryHR 2837 establishes an Advisory Council under the Department of Health and Human Services to improve access to existing resources for victims of gun violence. The council, composed of federal agency heads and appointed victims/support professionals, will assess needs, identify effective programs, and compile a public resource hub with contact information for medical, financial, mental health, legal, and government support services. It requires a detailed report within 180 days of enactment and a follow-up report within two years, focusing on gaps in current assistance and coordination. The bill directly affects individuals defined as victims of gun violence (including those wounded, threatened, witnessing incidents, or related to victims) and aims to connect them to existing federal, state, and nonprofit resources without authorizing new funding. The council will sunset after five years.

Maddy summaryHR 2881, the COAST Anti-Drilling Act of 2025, prohibits the federal government from issuing new oil and gas leases in four specific coastal planning areas: the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida. This directly affects the Department of the Interior (specifically the Secretary) and oil and gas companies seeking to explore or develop resources in these regions. The bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to ban all new leasing authorizations in these areas, as defined by the 2024-2029 leasing program notice. It does not affect existing leases or operations but prevents future development in these designated coastal zones.

Maddy summaryThe American Family Act (HR 2763) establishes a new refundable child tax credit that provides monthly payments to eligible families with children. It would pay $300 per month for each child under age 6 and $360 per month (120% of $300) for each child age 6 or older, with income limits of $150,000 for joint filers and $112,500 for other filers. The bill creates a "period of presumptive eligibility" to determine eligibility for monthly payments, allowing families to receive advance payments based on information from previous tax returns. This would directly affect millions of families with children who meet the income requirements, providing more consistent financial support throughout the year rather than an annual tax credit.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to annually report to Congress on the accreditation status of all its basic training programs for entry-level law enforcement roles. The reports must include details like accreditation dates, reasons for lack of accreditation, assigned accreditation managers, and timelines to achieve it - ending once all programs are accredited. It also mandates immediate notification to Congress if a program loses accreditation, including reasons and plans to regain it. Additionally, the bill directs DHS to research better ways to provide training access to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement, especially in rural areas.

Maddy summaryHR 1508, the DHS Special Events Program and Support Act, creates a new program within the Department of Homeland Security to assess security threats at pre-planned large events (like festivals or conferences) not already designated as National Special Security Events. It allows state, local, tribal, and territorial officials to voluntarily request a security rating for their events, based on factors like attendance of officials, event size, venue, and credible threats. The program enables DHS to provide direct security and situational awareness support upon request, with annual reports to Congress tracking event submissions, support provided, and rating reassessments. The bill also requires DHS to research technologies for mass gathering security while respecting privacy and civil liberties.

Maddy summaryThe Raise the Wage Act of 2025 gradually increases the federal minimum wage from $9.50 to $17.00 per hour over six years, with annual adjustments based on median wage growth. It raises the base wage for tipped workers from $6.00 to $17.00 per hour, phasing out their separate minimum wage structure by 2029. The bill also eliminates special minimum wage certificates for disabled workers after 2029, requiring employers to pay the standard minimum wage. These changes apply to most covered workers, including tipped employees and those under 20, with specific transition timelines for each group.