Rep. Abigail Davis Spanberger

Maddy summaryHR 3713 creates federal grants to fund comprehensive school-based mental health programs for students in grades K-12, including those in Bureau of Indian Education schools. It requires partnerships between schools and community mental health providers to deliver trauma-informed, culturally appropriate services addressing suicide risk, grief, violence, and trauma exposure. The bill authorizes $300 million annually (2024-2027) for these programs, mandating privacy protections under HIPAA and FERPA, and requires annual reporting on program effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHR 3186, the Supporting Veteran Families in Need Act, permanently authorizes funding for supportive services for very low-income veteran families living in permanent housing. It amends Section 2044(e) of the U.S. Code to establish ongoing annual funding authority starting in fiscal year 2025, replacing previous temporary or annual appropriations. This change ensures consistent financial assistance for essential services like childcare, transportation, and counseling that help these families maintain stable housing. The bill directly affects eligible veteran families meeting specific income and housing criteria, providing them with reliable support through a permanent funding mechanism.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit for expenses related to "qualified access technology for the blind" under the Internal Revenue Code. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $2,000 per year (adjusted for inflation) for costs paid for hardware, software, or IT that converts visual information into formats usable by blind individuals, covering the taxpayer, their spouse, or a dependent who is blind. The credit is limited to $2,000 over any three consecutive tax years per blind individual and expires after 2028. It directly affects blind individuals and their families who purchase qualifying assistive technology. The credit cannot be claimed for expenses already covered by other tax deductions or credits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. government agencies to develop strategies to combat "transnational repression" - actions by foreign governments or their agents to intimidate, coerce, or harm diaspora and exile communities outside their home countries. It mandates the State Department to create an interagency strategy, amend annual country reports to include information on transnational repression tactics, and provide training for diplomatic and law enforcement personnel. The bill also establishes sanctions against foreign governments or individuals responsible for transnational repression, including blocking property and denying visas. These provisions directly affect diaspora communities facing foreign government harassment and U.S. agencies tasked with protecting them.

Maddy summaryHR 3639, the After Hours Child Care Act, creates a new Child Care and Development Innovation Fund to improve access to child care for parents working nontraditional hours (such as evenings, nights, or weekends). The bill directly affects working parents with young children and eligible child care providers who serve these families. It authorizes competitive grants (ranging from $25,000 to $500,000) to providers or partnerships with businesses/community organizations to expand after-hours care programs, establish workplace child care, or improve existing facilities. Grantees must cover 25% of costs, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services must report biennially on program impact to Congress.

Historic Preservation Fund Reauthorization Act This bill extends through FY2033 and increases funding for the National Park Service's Historic Preservation Fund. The funding is provided from revenues from Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leases, and awards from the fund are made to states and other entities, including tribes and nonprofits.

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 summaryThis bill requires that AM radio receivers be included as standard equipment in all new motor vehicles (such as cars and trucks) sold in the United States, with a rule to be issued by the Department of Transportation within one year. The rule must ensure AM radio is easily accessible on the dashboard and allows manufacturers to use digital AM radio technology instead of traditional AM. During the one-year period between the bill's enactment and the rule's effective date, manufacturers must clearly label vehicles without AM radio. The bill also directs a study to evaluate whether an alternative system could deliver emergency alerts as reliably as AM radio across the country, especially during crises.

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.

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.