Rep. Jamaal Bowman

Maddy summaryHRES 561 is a non-binding House resolution opposing state laws that criminalize access to essential health care. It specifically condemns using criminal penalties against people for pregnancy outcomes (such as miscarriages), seeking abortion or contraception, or receiving gender-affirming care, and disapproves of punishing health care providers or supporters for facilitating such care. The resolution affirms that patients deserve access to reproductive and gender-affirming health services without fear of prosecution or discrimination. It emphasizes that criminalizing these health care decisions violates patient rights and ethical provider obligations, without creating new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 4340, the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2023, prohibits paid providers from offering conversion therapy - defined as any commercial service attempting to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity - and bans advertising that claims such therapy is effective or harmless. It directly affects therapists, counselors, or organizations offering paid conversion therapy services, including those advertising such services. Key provisions make it unlawful to provide, advertise, or facilitate paid conversion therapy, with enforcement led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under consumer protection laws and allowing states to pursue civil actions. The bill explicitly excludes supportive care for gender transition or identity exploration from its definition of prohibited therapy.

This resolution expresses support for (1) equal rights and protections for all people, regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics; and (2) the designation of LGBTQI+ Equality Day to commemorate Supreme Court decisions handed down on June 26 in 2003, 2013, and 2015. The resolution also acknowledges the need for further legislation to ensure that people in the United States are free from all forms of discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.

Equal Access to Reproductive Care Act This bill includes assisted reproduction as a tax deductible medical expense. It defines assisted reproduction as any methods, treatments, procedures, and services for effectuating a pregnancy and bringing it to term, and treats it as medical care of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or a dependent to the extent that they intend to take legal custody or responsibility for any children born as a result of such assisted reproduction.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 522 is a symbolic resolution recognizing that active father involvement during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care improves health outcomes for both mothers and babies. It cites research showing fathers' engagement correlates with better prenatal care access, reduced maternal mental health risks, lower smoking/drinking during pregnancy, healthier birth weights, and improved child development. The resolution calls for addressing systemic barriers - such as workplace policies, cultural stigma, and healthcare access inequities - to support fathers as partners in maternal and infant health. It does not create new laws but formally acknowledges the role of fathers in reducing maternal mortality, infant health risks, and racial disparities in care.

Maddy summaryThe PRIDE Act of 2023 amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace gender-specific terms like "husband and wife" with gender-neutral language such as "married couple" or "spouses" across numerous tax code sections. This bill affects all legally married couples who file federal tax returns by updating language in over 30 sections of the tax code related to filing status, deductions, credits, and other tax matters. The bill is a language update that makes the tax code more inclusive without changing existing tax treatment for married couples. It does not alter tax rates, benefits, or policies, but ensures all provisions apply equally regardless of gender.

Maddy summaryHR 4272, the Stop Fentanyl Now Act of 2023, directly affects schools, public health systems, and law enforcement by expanding prevention and response efforts to the fentanyl crisis. The bill requires schools to train staff on carrying and administering naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal drug) and provides grants to states for school-based programs, treatment access, and harm reduction tools like fentanyl test strips. It also increases law enforcement resources to disrupt fentanyl trafficking, including targeting online sales, and removes legal barriers for possessing fentanyl test strips. These provisions aim to reduce overdose deaths by improving education, treatment access, and prevention strategies in communities most impacted by fentanyl-laced pills.

Maddy summaryThe HERO Act establishes a national data system to track suicides among public safety officers, including firefighters, EMTs, police, and telecommunicators, collecting detailed statistics by age, gender, occupation, and employment status (career, volunteer, or retired). It mandates annual reports to Congress and public availability of findings to identify suicide trends and effective interventions. The bill also funds peer-support wellness programs for fire/EMS departments, behavioral health programs for healthcare providers, and resources to train mental health professionals on treating public safety personnel. All data collection and program provisions include strict privacy safeguards to protect confidentiality and prohibit using suicide data to deny survivor benefits.

Protect Sexual and Reproductive Health Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to undertake activities to promote access to sexual and reproductive health and well-being. The bill renames HHS's Office of Population Affairs as the Office of Sexual and Reproductive Health and modifies its responsibilities. Among other activities, the office must develop and implement a strategy to promote sexual and reproductive health and well-being. This strategy must include recommendations to integrate sexual and reproductive health equity and reproductive justice into federal programs. HHS must also award grants for improving access to sexual and reproductive health care to nonprofit or community-based organizations that assist individuals seeking abortion services through programs that are unbiased and medically and factually accurate. Additionally, HHS and the Director of the White House Gender Policy Council must jointly establish an interagency task force to coordinate and promote federal programs and activities related to sexual and reproductive health and well-being.

Maddy summaryHR 4270 creates a federal grant program to fund green roofs on public elementary and secondary schools. It provides grants for planning, installing, and maintaining vegetated roofs that improve energy efficiency, reduce stormwater runoff, and offer educational opportunities. Schools serving communities where at least 30% of students are from low-income households receive priority, and grants require ADA compliance and plans for local workforce hiring. The program includes 5 years of maintenance funding after installation to ensure long-term energy savings and environmental benefits.