Rep. Dwight Evans

Maddy summaryThe DEFIANCE Act of 2025 creates a new civil legal remedy for victims of non-consensual intimate digital forgeries (synthetic images or videos manipulating real people into sexual contexts without consent). It allows affected individuals to sue perpetrators in federal court for damages up to $250,000, injunctions to remove content, and privacy protections like pseudonyms. The bill specifically covers cases where forgeries are created or shared with intent to disclose, including scenarios involving sexual assault or harassment. It expands existing federal protections under 15 U.S.C. 6851 to address digital forgeries while ensuring state laws remain in effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal education law to require K-12 schools to include Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history in American history and civics education. It directs the Department of Education to update curriculum standards, teacher training programs, and national assessments to ensure AANHPI contributions and experiences are integrated into existing history lessons. The policy affects all public schools receiving federal education funding by mandating specific inclusion of AANHPI history alongside traditional American history content. This change aims to address historical gaps in curricula that have excluded these communities' diverse roles and experiences.

This bill prohibits the President from selling, transferring, or exporting certain defense articles or services to Israel, except in specified circumstances.  Defense articles covered by the prohibition include BLU-109 bunker busting bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) assemblies, and 155mm artillery ammunition. Defense services directly related to such articles are also covered.  The President may sell, transfer, or export such defense articles or services to Israel if (1) a law is enacted specifying the purposes for which such articles or services may be used, and (2) Israel provides written assurances that the defense articles or services will be used for those specific statutory purposes and in a manner consistent with certain other laws, including international human rights laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal demonstration program to address high school graduation gaps by funding additional school counselors in struggling schools. It targets secondary schools with a four-year graduation rate of 60% or lower, providing competitive 4-year grants to hire counselors focused on students at risk of not graduating. Grants require maintaining a 1:250 counselor-to-student ratio for at-risk youth, covering new counselors and related resources like professional development, while ensuring funds supplement - rather than replace - existing counseling staff. Schools must show at least a 10% graduation rate improvement to renew funding for up to three cycles. The program aims to directly support historically underserved student groups with lower graduation rates, including students of color, those with disabilities, and English learners.

Maddy summaryThe College for All Act of 2025 would eliminate tuition and required fees for eligible students at public community colleges and 4-year institutions through a federal-state partnership. The federal government would cover 100% of costs in the first year (2026-2027), gradually decreasing to 80% by 2030-2031, while states would start with 0% and increase to 20% by 2030-2031. Eligible students would include those with family income below $150,000 for single parents or $300,000 for married parents, regardless of immigration status. The bill also includes requirements to maintain instruction funding, improve transfer pathways between community colleges and 4-year institutions, and provide additional support for students after tuition elimination.

Maddy summaryThis bill would establish 18-year fixed terms for all Supreme Court justices, replacing lifetime appointments. It requires the President to nominate one justice every two years (during first and third years after presidential elections), with Senate confirmation within 90 days, and prohibits reappointments after a single term. Current justices would be phased out in order of seniority as new justices are appointed under this schedule. The bill directly affects all sitting and future Supreme Court justices by mandating term limits and a structured appointment process.

Maddy summaryHR 3506 reauthorizes annual funding for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative through fiscal year 2030, setting specific mandatory funding levels starting at $25 million for 2026 and increasing to $50 million annually after 2029. The bill directs the Commodity Credit Corporation to allocate these funds to support projects expanding access to healthy food in underserved communities. It directly affects low-income neighborhoods lacking grocery stores and local food businesses seeking financing for development or expansion. The legislation provides no new policy mechanisms beyond establishing these fixed annual funding amounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a code of conduct for Supreme Court justices, requiring them to disclose gifts, income, and potential conflicts of interest. It creates a formal process for handling complaints about justices, including a judicial investigation panel to review allegations. The bill adds specific circumstances requiring recusal, such as when a justice or family member has financial ties to a party in a case. Additionally, it mandates that parties and amicus briefs disclose any gifts given to justices and lobbying activities related to their nomination. These provisions aim to increase transparency and accountability in the Supreme Court's operations.

Maddy summaryHR 3498, the Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a commemorative gold medal to honor Henrietta Lacks for her contribution to science through her immortal HeLa cells. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to strike the medal, which will be presented posthumously by Congress and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint fund. This is a ceremonial recognition of Lacks' legacy, not a policy change affecting any group or requiring new regulations.

Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a grant program to support operating projects for public transportation and related service improvements, particularly in underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty. Specifically, the bill requires DOT to allocate funding under the program for urbanized areas, states, and Indian tribes that are recipients of funds under either the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) Urbanized Area Formula Funding program or Formula Grants for Rural Areas program. Eligible recipients may use funding for operating costs associated with projects that improve public transportation service for transit-dependent populations and support increased transit ridership (e.g., service expansion, information technology enhancements, and workforce development). DOT must apportion the funding so that recipients receive funds that are proportional to their share of operating costs. The bill also provides for an increased federal cost share for operating assistance for projects or programs carried out in areas of persistent poverty or underserved communities. DOT must set up a multimodal access measurement interface for public agencies to aid transit agencies in determining and reporting on access to jobs and essential services. A grant recipient must (1) report specific information to the FTA for inclusion in the National Transit Database, and (2) survey transit riders and non-riding residents regarding transit service improvements. Further, the bill expands the purposes of the public transportation programs to include supporting public transportation's role in combating climate change through growing/retaining transit ridership.