Rep. Yvette D. Clarke

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the U.S. House of Representatives' support for designating May as "National Bladder Cancer Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or funding but calls on the public, advocacy groups, researchers, and those affected by bladder cancer to promote awareness and support during May. The resolution cites that bladder cancer affects over 800,000 families in the U.S., is among the top diagnosed cancers, and early detection improves survival rates. Its goal is to encourage community activities that raise public knowledge about the disease and support for patients and research.

Maddy summaryThe EVs for All Act of 2023 establishes a Department of Energy grant program to fund electric vehicle (EV) sharing services at public housing projects. Eligible entities - like public housing agencies, local governments, and partner nonprofits - can apply for grants to purchase used EVs, install charging equipment, and run community outreach. Grants prioritize projects in historically marginalized communities with high pollution or limited transportation access, require fair labor practices, and mandate affordable, non-discriminatory charging fees. The program requires grantees to report on usage, emissions reductions, and service costs while ensuring EVs meet domestic content and worker protection standards.

Maddy summaryHR 3502, the Responsible Firearms Marketing Act, directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study and regulate deceptive advertising practices related to firearms. The FTC must study marketing that targets minors, implies illegal use, or promotes semiautomatic assault weapons, then report findings to Congress within two years. If the FTC identifies unfair practices, it must issue enforceable regulations within 18 months of the report to prohibit such marketing by firearm manufacturers, dealers, and importers. The law aims to stop deceptive advertising through FTC enforcement under existing consumer protection rules, directly affecting the firearms industry.

Maddy summaryHR 3548, the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, aims to reduce mental health disparities for racial and ethnic minority groups by directing federal funding and policy changes. It increases annual grants for primary/behavioral health services to $60 million in 2023 and $80 million yearly through 2029, prioritizing entities serving minority communities. The bill requires the NIH to study mental health disparities within 9 months and mandates new training for mental health professionals (including social work and psychiatry) on culturally appropriate care. Additionally, it funds a $15 million annual outreach strategy to combat stigma and improve access to care, requiring materials tailored to cultural and language needs of minority groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill gives the President authority to prohibit new exports of U.S.-produced crude oil and natural gas, with limited exemptions for exports deemed consistent with national interest and the bill’s purpose. It directly affects U.S. fossil fuel producers and exporters by restricting new international shipments of these resources, though exemptions could apply based on export purpose, destination country, or other factors. The President may also restrict coal, petroleum products, and related equipment exports under the same framework. Implementation would follow existing export control procedures, with enforcement under the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. The bill does not affect existing export contracts or historical trade with Canada and Mexico.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires sponsors of NIH-funded or NIH-approved clinical trials (for drugs, devices, biological products, or behavioral interventions) to set specific, measurable goals for recruiting participants reflecting race, ethnicity, age, and sex - either based on disease prevalence or the U.S. population. Key mechanisms include mandating detailed plans for achieving these goals, annual reporting of demographic data (without personally identifiable information), and strategies to reduce participation barriers like virtual visits or flexible scheduling. It also requires training for researchers on diversity and health inequities, and establishes a remediation process if goals aren’t met. The law aims to improve representation in clinical trials to ensure medical research better serves all patient groups.

Maddy summaryHR 3523, the Perinatal Workforce Act, provides $15 million annually from 2024 to 2028 to expand and diversify maternity care providers. It directs HHS to issue guidance for states on recruiting diverse providers (including midwives, nurses, and community health workers) and requires grant recipients to prioritize students from racial/ethnic minority groups, implement bias training, and target health professional shortage areas. The bill also mandates annual reporting on workforce diversity and outcomes, and requires a GAO report assessing barriers to equitable access in maternal healthcare. This legislation directly affects hospitals, nursing schools, midwifery programs, and insurers by funding targeted workforce development to address racial disparities in maternal care.

Maddy summaryHR 3420, the My Body, My Data Act of 2023, restricts how companies can handle reproductive and sexual health data - such as pregnancy details, contraceptive use, or abortion-related information - by requiring them to collect only what’s necessary for requested services and limiting employee access. It gives individuals the right to access, correct, or delete their data, see which third parties received it, and get clear privacy policies explaining data practices. The Federal Trade Commission enforces the law, with penalties for violations including $100-$1,000 per violation per day, and bans retaliation for exercising these rights. The law applies to companies (like health apps or insurers) but excludes HIPAA-covered healthcare providers and entities subject to existing federal health privacy rules.

This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to publish on its website data about diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility that is collected from recipients of funding through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The BEAD Program provides funds to states and territories for broadband deployment, connectivity, mapping, and adoption projects. The data that the NTIA must publish includes (1) ownership and workforce demographics of subrecipients, and (2) the number and amount of contracts and subcontracts awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses.

Maddy summaryThe Maternal Vaccination Act amends public health law to specifically target vaccination outreach for pregnant and postpartum individuals and their children, directly affecting public health campaigns and health agencies. It updates existing provisions to include these groups in awareness efforts, requires new activities to increase vaccination rates - particularly among racial and ethnic minority communities - and increases annual funding from $15 million to $17 million for fiscal years 2024-2028. Key mechanisms include revising language in the Public Health Service Act to explicitly cover pregnant/postpartum individuals in campaign descriptions and adding a new requirement (Section 317(k)(1)(E)(vii)) to address vaccination equity. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to expand access and awareness, not on predicting outcomes.