Rep. Andrea Salinas

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution formally recognizes Congress's duty to protect the rights and economic security of working women, who make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce. The document highlights concerns about wage gaps, workplace discrimination, and recent policy changes that have weakened protections for women, particularly women of color. It calls for Congress to support equal pay, workplace safety, access to healthcare, paid leave, and the right to unionize, while also condemning actions that undermine civil rights enforcement and workplace protections. The resolution serves as a statement of principle rather than a law that creates new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Kira Johnson Act establishes a federal grant program to support community-based organizations in improving maternal health outcomes for populations facing higher rates of maternal mortality and health disparities. It allocates $100 million annually from 2027 to 2031 for grants that fund programs addressing social determinants of health, culturally congruent care, and support for midwifery practices. The bill also creates a separate $5 million annual funding stream for training all maternity care employees on bias reduction, trauma-informed care, and respectful service delivery. Additionally, the legislation requires hospitals and health systems to establish compliance programs that allow patients to report bias and mandates regular public reporting on these efforts. A study by the National Academies and ongoing evaluation by the GAO will assess the effectiveness of these initiatives in improving patient experiences and health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses support for designating March 24, 2026, as National Agriculture Day to honor the agricultural industry. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a symbolic gesture to recognize agriculture's economic importance in the United States. The measure is a non-binding expression of appreciation rather than a legislative action with enforceable provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes safety and security standards for online platforms and delivery services that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. It requires the Food and Nutrition Service to create rules for digital privacy, cybersecurity, fair working conditions including prevailing wages, and food safety for stores and wholesalers participating in the program. Retailers must report their compliance with these standards within 18 months of the rules being finalized, and noncompliance could result in losing authorization to accept SNAP benefits. The legislation aims to protect users and workers while ensuring food safety in the growing digital food assistance landscape.

Extending WIC for New Moms Act This bill amends the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to extend the eligibility periods for breastfeeding and postpartum women. Specifically, a state program may elect to certify a breastfeeding woman for up to 24 months (currently 1 year) postpartum. The bill also expands the eligibility period for postpartum women to up to 24 months after termination of pregnancy (currently 6 months). The Department of Agriculture must submit a report to Congress evaluating the effect of these changes to the program on (1) maternal and infant health outcomes, (2) breastfeeding rates, and (3) qualitative evaluations of family experiences under WIC.

Maddy summaryThe Empowering Women in Agriculture Act amends existing federal agricultural laws to expand support for women in farming. It updates definitions to include gender-based prejudice alongside racial and ethnic prejudice, and formally recognizes women's nonprofit organizations as eligible recipients of outreach assistance. The bill also requires that at least 10 percent of funding for socially disadvantaged farmer programs be directed toward women who are socially disadvantaged, extending the funding period through 2031. These changes directly affect women farmers, ranchers, and the nonprofit organizations that serve them by increasing access to training and financial resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires licensed firearm dealers to add serial numbers to unserialized guns they receive and to those they manufacture using 3D printing or similar non-traditional methods. It defines additive manufacturing as layer-by-layer processes like 3D printing and mandates that dealers engrave or cast serial numbers on frames and receivers, then report this information to the Attorney General. Dealers who fail to comply face civil fines up to $10,000 for first offenses and criminal penalties including up to $100,000 in fines and one year in prison for subsequent violations. The bill also creates a tax credit for dealers who spend money on serialization equipment and limits how the Attorney General can use the collected serial number data to only active criminal investigations. State laws regarding firearm serialization remain unaffected by these federal requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new funding opportunities for rural health facilities (like hospitals, clinics, and long-term care centers) in areas with populations under 50,000. It allows these facilities to use existing Rural Development Agency funds to refinance debt, update telehealth/equipment, or cover operating costs - provided the assistance preserves health access and improves the facility’s financial health. Eligibility requires the facility to be in a rural area or a persistent poverty area (defined as a 20%+ poverty rate for 30 years), and the Secretary may waive certain requirements for insolvent facilities in distressed communities. The law amends existing farm and rural development programs to directly support rural health infrastructure without creating new funding streams.

Maddy summaryThe Soil CARE Act of 2026 requires the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to establish a training program for its staff and third-party providers (such as farming consultants, conservation groups, and land-grant universities) on soil health management. The program includes an online curriculum and in-person workshops delivered twice every two years in each NRCS region, covering topics like soil biology, regenerative farming systems, and conservation practices. It mandates biennial updates to the curriculum and authorizes $10 million in funding for fiscal years 2027-2032. This initiative aims to improve NRCS and partner support for agricultural producers adopting soil health practices, without directly affecting producers themselves.

Maddy summaryHR 7455 amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to allow certain eligible states to receive their federal food assistance funds as cash instead of physical commodities. This change would let states directly purchase food from commercial markets using these funds, rather than receiving commodities through the federal system. The bill affects states that meet the definition of "eligible State" under the 2018 Farm Bill (Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018). The key provision replaces the current process where the federal government buys and distributes food with a system where states use cash for direct procurement.