Rep. Marilyn Strickland

Maddy summaryHRES 1101 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for collaborating with the Congressional Black Caucus to develop a "Black Wealth Agenda." It commits the House to outlining legislative priorities focused on closing the racial wealth gap through key areas like expanding Black entrepreneurship, reforming housing policies, building workforce development programs, and updating the federal minimum wage. The resolution emphasizes addressing systemic barriers in homeownership, education access, employment discrimination, and tax policy to advance economic equity for Black communities. It does not create new laws but directs the House to coordinate with the CBC on policy solutions targeting wealth-building opportunities.

Maddy summaryHR 7790, the Women and Underrepresented Minorities in STEM Booster Act of 2024, authorizes $15 million annually (2024-2028) through the National Science Foundation to fund grants for programs increasing participation of women, underrepresented racial/ethnic groups (including Black, Hispanic, Native American, and specific Asian subgroups), LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities in STEM fields. The grants support concrete activities like mentoring programs, STEM internships, K-12 outreach, and faculty recruitment initiatives designed to address documented disparities in STEM degree completion and career retention. The bill directly affects eligible institutions (e.g., universities, nonprofits) that apply for competitive funding to implement these targeted programs. It focuses on measurable policy changes through federal funding for evidence-based retention strategies, not on outcome predictions.

Maddy summaryHR 7770, the Rosie the Riveter Commemorative Coin Act, authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell three commemorative coins honoring women who worked on the U.S. home front during World War II. It specifies $5 gold coins (max 50,000), $1 silver coins (max 400,000), and half-dollar coins (max 750,000), all to be issued between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Each coin sale includes a surcharge ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollar), with all surcharge funds directed to the Rosie the Riveter Trust for maintaining the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and educational programs. The coins will feature designs reflecting the legacy of diverse women workers and must meet specific weight, diameter, and composition standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal grant program to fund projects restoring native kelp forests, directly affecting eligible entities like fishing industry members, tribes, universities, nonprofits, and state/local governments. It requires projects to address the greatest kelp declines, focus on ecosystem resilience (including natural predator-prey relationships), integrate Indigenous knowledge, and avoid commercial harvesting. The program allocates $5 million annually (2024-2028), with at least $750,000 reserved for tribal projects, and mandates that federal funds cover up to 85% of project costs (with possible waivers). Grants prioritize areas identified in tribal or government restoration plans and require monitoring plans to measure project effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCONRES 97) recognizes the gender wage gap, noting that women working full-time earn 84 cents for every dollar earned by men. It highlights racial disparities (e.g., Latinas earn 57 cents, Black women 69 cents) and the economic impact of the gap, including $965 billion in annual lost wages for women. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the issue and reaffirms Congress’s commitment to addressing wage inequality.

Maddy summaryHR 7629, the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2024, allocates $1.4 billion annually (2025-2029) to the U.S. Postal Service for high-security collection boxes and replacing physical universal mailbox keys with electronic versions, directly affecting USPS operations and letter carriers. It requires the Attorney General to appoint specialized prosecutors in each district to coordinate investigations and prosecutions of postal-related crimes, such as assaults on carriers or mail theft. The bill also mandates the U.S. Sentencing Commission to adjust guidelines so that assaults or robberies against postal employees are treated with the same severity as assaults against law enforcement officers. These provisions aim to enhance safety through infrastructure upgrades, improved prosecution, and stricter sentencing for crimes targeting postal workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill takes approximately 17.26 acres of land owned by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians in Pierce County, Washington, into federal trust for the tribe. The land, described as three specific parcels in Tacoma, will become part of the tribe's reservation and be managed under standard federal trust laws for tribal lands. The bill also clarifies that the U.S. government will not be liable for environmental contamination existing on the land before the trust transfer, and it prohibits the land from being used for any gaming operations under federal law.

Maddy summaryThe American High-Speed Rail Act authorizes $35 billion annually for high-speed rail corridor development (with $3 billion for corridor planning), requiring at least 20% of project costs to come from non-Federal sources. It defines "high-speed rail" as services reaching 186+ mph and "higher-speed rail" as 110-186 mph, with no more than 20% of funds allocated to higher-speed rail projects. Key provisions include allowing advance acquisition of rail corridors before environmental reviews, creating tax exclusions for rail carriers selling property to high-speed rail projects, and requiring consideration of equity, sustainability, and economic development impacts in planning. The bill affects federal agencies, state and local governments, rail carriers, and communities along proposed rail corridors.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires states to immediately stop Medicaid recovery claims against beneficiaries' estates. Specifically, it mandates that states withdraw all existing liens within 90 days of enactment and notify affected individuals or their estates about the withdrawal. The law also prohibits states from initiating, maintaining, or collecting any future Medicaid recovery claims for benefits correctly paid. It directly affects Medicaid recipients and their heirs who were previously subject to state recovery efforts. The key mechanism is the 90-day deadline for states to remove existing liens and cease all new recovery actions.

Maddy summaryHR 7577, the CHEERS Act, creates a new tax deduction for restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues by expanding eligibility under the energy efficiency tax code (Section 179D). It defines "qualified energy-efficient draft property" as stainless steel or aluminum containers and tap equipment used for alcohol distribution in these businesses, treating them as eligible for the existing energy efficiency tax deduction. This change applies to equipment placed in service after the bill's enactment date, directly benefiting hospitality businesses that own or lease such equipment. The provision modifies existing tax code language without creating new tax rates or altering other regulations.