Rep. Marilyn Strickland

Maddy summaryHR 1638, the CROWN Act of 2025, prohibits discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyle that is commonly associated with race or national origin, particularly affecting Black individuals who wear natural or protective styles like braids, locs, cornrows, twists, or Afros. The bill explicitly expands protections under existing federal civil rights laws (including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act) to cover hair-based discrimination in federally funded programs, housing, public accommodations, employment, and equal rights. It requires schools, employers, and other entities receiving federal funds to eliminate grooming policies that disproportionately target these hairstyles. The law clarifies that such discrimination violates federal law and provides enforcement through existing civil rights mechanisms.

Maddy summaryEthan's Law requires gun owners to store firearms securely in homes where minors live or where residents are legally prohibited from owning guns. It makes it unlawful to leave firearms unsecured if a minor or ineligible person could access them, with fines of $500 per violation and harsher penalties if injury or death occurs. The bill creates a federal grant program to help states implement similar secure storage laws and treats unsafe storage as negligence in legal cases. It directly affects households with children or residents who cannot legally possess firearms, aiming to reduce accidental shootings and unauthorized access.

Maddy summaryHRES 159 is a symbolic resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' support for designating February 24-28, 2025, as "Public Schools Week." It does not create new laws or allocate funds but aims to highlight the importance of public schools in communities. The resolution cites reasons such as public schools serving 90% of U.S. students, fostering critical thinking, and requiring equitable funding - though these are context, not policy changes. It directly affects public schools and their communities by raising awareness of their role in education. As a non-binding resolution, it has no direct impact on school operations or funding.

Maddy summaryHR 1543, the EQUITY Act, prohibits discrimination in the U.S. military based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation. It requires that military service, advancement, and evaluations be based solely on individual merit, fitness, capability, and performance. The bill amends Title 10 to add Section 975, explicitly banning discrimination and ensuring eligibility considers only job-related standards and military occupational specialty requirements. This directly affects all active-duty service members and military personnel by codifying merit-based standards and reversing policies like the 2025 executive order restricting transgender service.

Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2025 This bill provides continuing appropriations to the Coast Guard for pay and benefits when there is a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse. Under the bill, a  Coast Guard-specific funding lapse occurs when (1) a bill providing appropriations for the Coast Guard for a fiscal year has not been enacted before the beginning of that fiscal year, and no joint resolution providing continuing appropriations for the Coast Guard is in effect; and (2) a bill providing appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for the fiscal year has been enacted before the beginning of the fiscal year, or a joint resolution providing continuing appropriation for DOD is in effect.  If a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse occurs, the bill provides appropriations to the Coast Guard for pay and allowances for military members of the Coast Guard who perform active service or inactive-duty training; pay and benefits for certain civilian employees and contract employees; the payment of a death gratuity; payments for travel related to funerals, the dignified transfer of remains, and unit memorial services; and the temporary continuation of the basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Coast Guard dying on active duty. The bill generally provides the appropriations to the Coast Guard until the earlier of the enactment of specified Coast Guard appropriations legislation, the termination of the availability of appropriations for DOD, or two weeks after the beginning of the Coast Guard-specific funding lapse.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses support for designating February 16, 2025, as "International Black Aviation Professionals Day." It requests the President issue a proclamation encouraging schools to teach about Black aviation pioneers' contributions and support opportunities for Black Americans in the field. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise public awareness of historical figures like Bessie Coleman, the Tuskegee Airmen, and Katherine Johnson. It affects recognition efforts rather than direct policy changes, focusing on honoring past contributions to aviation.

Maddy summaryHR 1505, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, establishes federal standards for collective bargaining rights for public safety officers (including police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel) in states that do not meet minimum requirements. The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) will determine after 180 days whether a state law "substantially provides" key rights, such as forming unions, negotiating wages/hours, and using binding arbitration to resolve disputes. If a state fails this assessment, federal bargaining rules apply within two years, but existing state laws with stronger protections remain valid. The bill explicitly respects state laws that exceed its standards and exempts small jurisdictions (under 5,000 population or 25 full-time employees).

Maddy summaryHR 1433, the Kids’ Access to Primary Care Act of 2025, sets a minimum Medicaid payment rate of 100% of Medicare’s rate for primary care services provided to children. It directly affects Medicaid-covered children and expands eligibility for providers to include pediatricians, family medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse-midwives, and rural health clinics or Federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs) under specific conditions. Key provisions require Medicaid managed care plans to pay these providers at the minimum rate, with documentation requirements to verify compliance, and exclude emergency department services from the definition of primary care. The bill also mandates a study to track enrollment and payment rate changes across states after implementation.

Buffalo Soldiers Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 This bill provides for a Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded to the Buffalo Soldier regiments (six all-Black cavalry and infantry regiments authorized by Congress in 1866 to serve in the Armed Forces) in recognition of their vital service to the United States.

Maddy summaryHR 1347, the AIMM Act, permanently extends a tax provision allowing businesses to deduct depreciation, amortization, or depletion when calculating their business interest expense limit. This change directly affects manufacturers and other businesses that use these deductions for tax purposes. The bill amends the tax code to remove the previous expiration date (which applied only to years before 2022), making the deduction rule permanent for all future taxable years. The key change is eliminating a temporary provision, providing ongoing certainty for business tax calculations.