This resolution condemns Turkey's continued occupation of Cyprus and calls on Turkey to withdraw all of its troops from the island. It also calls on Turkey to adhere to NATO's democratic principles and mission.
Maddy summaryHR 1831 would award Billie Jean King a Congressional Gold Medal to honor her lifelong advocacy for equal rights in sports and society. The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike the medal and have it presented by congressional leaders, recognizing her pivotal role in advancing women's equality through tennis (including founding the Women’s Tennis Association and securing equal prize money) and her broader impact on society through initiatives like Title IX advocacy.
Maddy summaryHR 314, the FORCE Act, prohibits the President or Secretary of State from removing Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. It requires the President to first make a specific determination under the 1996 LIBERTAD Act before Cuba can be removed. The bill directly affects Cuba (by maintaining its current designation) and the executive branch (by restricting their authority to remove the designation). This is a procedural bill focused on preserving Cuba's current status on the terrorism list until the specified conditions are met.
Maddy summaryHR 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act, would require public schools receiving federal funding to provide parents with greater access to educational information. The bill mandates that schools post curricula online or widely distribute it to parents, include school budgets in report cards, and provide specific information about school activities including violent incidents and plans to eliminate gifted programs. It also guarantees parents the right to meet with teachers twice a year, review library materials, and address school boards. These requirements would apply to all local educational agencies and schools covered by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The bill amends existing education laws to strengthen parental transparency and involvement in their children's education.
This resolution congratulates the people of Greece as they celebrate the 202nd anniversary of the War of Greek Independence. The resolution also expresses support for the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law to which the people of the United States and Greece are committed.
Assessing Unintended Drivers of Illegal Trafficking Act or the AUDIT Act This bill prohibits certain federal agencies from giving grants to implementing partners that provide abortion services to asylum seekers. The bill also requires these agencies to submit quarterly reports to Congress on grants that the agencies have provided for migrant services programs in Central and South America. The reporting requirements and grant prohibitions apply to (1) the U.S. Agency for International Development; (2) the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration; and (3) the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. These federal agencies may not give grants to any implementing partners that (1) perform abortions, (2) provide health services that include referrals for abortions, or (3) provide assistance or funding in any manner for obtaining abortions. Among other required elements, the quarterly reports for specified migrant services grants shall explain why each implementing partner was chosen, the amount of money the partner received, the availability of asylum claims processing in countries where those partners operate, and the number of asylum claims processed in those countries.
Maddy summaryThe Economic Impact of Tolling Act (HR 1759) requires the Secretary of Transportation to complete and publicly release an economic impact analysis before implementing or authorizing any congestion pricing program on toll roads, bridges, or tunnels. This directly affects federal transportation decisions and ensures transparency by mandating that the public has access to the analysis prior to program rollout. The bill does not alter existing toll systems but sets a clear pre-implementation requirement for new congestion pricing initiatives. Its key mechanism is the mandatory completion and public disclosure of the economic study as a prerequisite for any such program.
Maddy summaryHR 1613, the Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act of 2023, requires Medicaid programs to mandate pass-through pricing for covered outpatient drugs. This means pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and managed care entities must pay pharmacies directly for the drug's ingredient cost plus a fixed dispensing fee, eliminating "spread pricing" where PBMs keep profits from the difference between what they pay pharmacies and what Medicaid reimburses. The bill also establishes a national survey of retail pharmacy drug prices to determine average acquisition costs, requiring participating pharmacies to report pricing data to states. These changes apply to Medicaid contracts entered into or renewed 18 months after the bill's enactment, affecting states, PBMs, managed care organizations, and community pharmacies.
Maddy summaryHCONRES 28 is a symbolic resolution expressing Congress's view that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies - organizations providing life, health, and accident benefits to members - have long delivered critical community support. It states these societies, with about 7 million members nationwide, generate significant annual value through charitable work and volunteer activities (estimated at over $3.8 billion yearly). The resolution affirms that their tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(8) of the tax code is essential for sustaining their volunteer-driven model and relieving pressure on government safety programs. As a non-binding expression of congressional sentiment, it does not alter existing laws or create new obligations.
Maddy summaryThe Military Food Security Act of 2023 amends federal law to exclude the basic allowance for housing (BAH) from the gross household income calculation for eligible military members when determining eligibility for food assistance programs. This change directly affects active-duty service members and their families who rely on programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The key provision removes BAH from income calculations, meaning housing payments will no longer reduce a military household's eligibility for food benefits. This adjustment aims to improve access to nutrition assistance for military families by ensuring their housing allowance isn't counted as income. The bill focuses solely on modifying a calculation method, with no new funding or benefits created.
