Transportation Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a grant program for protection and advocacy (P&A) systems to advocate for individuals with disabilities to access transportation. (Each state has a designated P&A system that protects and advocates for the rights of individuals with disabilities.) The bill directs DOT to select 10 P&A systems to receive five-year grants. Grant recipients must submit an annual report documenting the work they have done to address the barriers to accessing transportation for individuals with disabilities. Further, DOT must award one grant annually to a national organization with extensive knowledge of P&A systems to provide training and technical assistance to the systems.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHRES 778 is a House resolution demanding Senator Tommy Tuberville end his hold on military promotions affecting personnel critical to U.S. support for Israel. It specifically references blocked nominations for key Middle East roles, including Admiral Lisa Franchetti (Chief of Naval Operations), General David Allvin (Chief of Staff, Air Force), and Rear Admiral George Wikoff (5th Fleet commander). The resolution states these delays hinder the U.S. military’s ability to provide security, intelligence, and humanitarian support to Israel and stranded American citizens following the October 7 Hamas attacks. It urges Tuberville to lift the holds to ensure readiness for ongoing operations in the region. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests action on pending military confirmations.
Maddy summaryHRES 771 is a non-binding resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. It condemns Hamas' actions, affirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls for the immediate release of hostages. The resolution also urges enforcement of existing laws restricting aid to terrorists and sanctions against Iran for supporting Hamas. It does not create new policies or allocate funds, as it is a symbolic statement of congressional support.
Maddy summaryHRES 768 is a symbolic House Resolution expressing congressional support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks. It condemns Hamas' actions, reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls for the immediate release of hostages. The resolution references the U.S. commitment to Israel's security through existing military aid programs, including the 2016 U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding, and emphasizes enforcement of laws like the Taylor Force Act to prevent U.S. aid from reaching terrorist groups. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new policy but serves as a statement of congressional support for Israel.
Maddy summaryHRES 762 is a non-binding House resolution expressing congressional support for increasing Latino representation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. It highlights that Latinos make up 18% of the U.S. workforce but only 8% of STEM workers, despite growing population and interest in STEM fields. The resolution cites challenges like unmet financial needs (70% of Latino students) and notes STEM job growth (10.8%) outpaces non-STEM sectors. It formally acknowledges the underrepresentation in STEM, encourages federal support for initiatives targeting Latino students, and recognizes Hispanic-serving institutions' role - without creating new programs or funding.
Maddy summaryHR 6054, the Represent America Abroad Act of 2023, creates a 3-year pilot program to increase diversity in the U.S. Foreign Service by recruiting mid-career professionals from historically excluded groups - including racial/ethnic minorities, women, people with disabilities, and others - through a modified lateral entry pathway. The program requires participants to have 5-8 years of relevant experience, pass standard Foreign Service exams, and complete specialized training, with a goal of placing at least 50% of participants into mid-level Foreign Service roles annually. It mandates annual reporting to Congress on applicant demographics, advancement rates, retention, and recruitment efforts, targeting outreach to minority-serving institutions and community organizations. The bill directly affects the Department of State and USAID, aiming to address documented diversity gaps in leadership (currently 13-17% minority representation at executive levels) by expanding recruitment from underrepresented talent pools.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a one-time $40,000 payment to former Air America employees who served at least five years during 1950-1976, or to their survivors (widows/widowers, dependents, or children). Additional $8,000 payments are provided for each full year of service beyond five years. The total funding is capped at $60 million, with claims due within two years of regulations being finalized. It does not create ongoing benefits or change Air America’s legal status, and payments are issued as a single lump sum.
Maddy summaryThe Safe Schools Improvement Act (HR 6031) requires public elementary and secondary schools to implement comprehensive anti-bullying policies that specifically prohibit harassment based on protected characteristics like race, gender identity, disability, religion, and sexual orientation. It mandates schools to collect and publicly report annual data on bullying incidents while establishing clear grievance procedures for students and parents. The bill also requires states to submit biennial reports on school compliance and supports evidence-based interventions, such as restorative practices, to reduce exclusionary discipline. This legislation directly affects all public K-12 schools and students in the U.S., aiming to create safer learning environments through standardized policy requirements and data transparency.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 40% tax credit for individuals and businesses purchasing zero-emission electric lawn, garden, and landscape equipment, such as electric mowers or trimmers. The credit covers 40% of the equipment's cost, with a yearly cap of $25,000 and a 10-year aggregate limit of $100,000 per taxpayer. Qualifying equipment must run on electricity (via solar, batteries, fuel cells, or grid power) and cannot use gasoline, diesel, or manual effort. The bill also includes related items like batteries, repair tools, and retrofitting equipment in the credit scope while preventing double benefits with other tax credits.
Maddy summaryThis bill removes a previous exclusion that prevented temporary federal employees (including U.S. Postal Service staff and Members of Congress) from counting service after January 1, 1988, toward their retirement benefits. It allows these workers to have their post-1988 temporary service counted toward retirement eligibility if they pay a deposit to the retirement system. The change applies to anyone employed by the federal government on or after the bill's enactment date. The Office of Personnel Management must notify affected employees and create rules to implement this change.