Sen. Sherrod Brown

Maddy summaryThis bill reimposes tariffs on steel imports from Mexico at levels in effect before May 2019, requiring the Secretary of Commerce to maintain these duties for at least one year. It targets Mexican steel exporters directly, aiming to address alleged breaches of a 2019 trade agreement that the bill claims caused harm to the U.S. steel industry. The law also allows the President to set import limits (quotas) to reduce Mexican steel shipments back to pre-2019 trade volumes. Duties can only be lowered if U.S. officials certify Mexico has adopted compliant policies and will maintain them. The measure focuses on reversing increased steel imports from Mexico under the framework of the 2019 Joint Statement.

Maddy summaryThe Housing Supply Fund Act of 2024 establishes a $500 million annual fund within the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund to expand affordable housing. It provides competitive grants to community development financial institutions, housing nonprofits, and public housing agencies for developing, preserving, or rehabilitating housing for low-income renters (including those at very low and extremely low income) and homeowners earning up to 120% of local median income. Key mechanisms include funding loan loss reserves, revolving loan funds, mortgage programs for first-time buyers with barriers to credit, and converting commercial properties to housing. The fund requires grants to be committed within four years, with 5% of funds allowed for administrative costs, and designates the appropriation as an emergency requirement.

Maddy summaryThe Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2024 establishes a federal program providing downpayment assistance to first-generation homebuyers, primarily targeting socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and those from racial/ethnic groups that have faced historic barriers to homeownership. The program would allocate up to $100 billion in grants to states and eligible entities to cover downpayment costs, closing costs, and mortgage rate reductions for homebuyers with incomes up to 140% of median area income. Assistance is capped at $20,000 per homebuyer or 10% of the purchase price (whichever is greater), and recipients must occupy the home as their primary residence for at least five years. The program requires housing counseling before closing and mandates detailed demographic reporting to monitor equitable outcomes, with funds distributed based on population needs and housing market conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides federal loan assistance to preserve affordable apartment buildings (with 5+ units) at risk of physical decline or financial failure. It offers low-interest loans (1% interest) to owners for necessary repairs, requiring a 20% matching contribution from the owner and a 30-year commitment to keep the housing affordable. The loans must be used solely for physical improvements, and the Secretary may forgive or modify loans to maintain affordability. The bill authorizes $25 million for fiscal year 2025 to fund these preservation efforts.

Maddy summaryThe Grandfamilies Act of 2023 makes it easier for children living with grandparents or other relatives to access Social Security benefits and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The bill removes the requirement that children must be dependent on a parent for benefits, instead allowing them to qualify if living with a relative for 12+ months and receiving at least half their support. It eliminates 5-year time limits on TANF assistance for children living with non-parent caregivers, exempts these caregivers from work requirements, and provides grants for states to develop support plans for grandparents raising grandchildren. The legislation specifically helps older caregivers and those caring for children with disabilities by disregarding their income when determining eligibility for assistance.

Maddy summaryThe HELPER Act of 2023 creates a new FHA mortgage insurance program allowing eligible first responders and K-12 teachers to secure home loans with **no down payment**. It directly affects full-time law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and public/private K-12 teachers who have worked in their roles for at least 4 of the past 5 years. Key provisions include requiring housing counseling, verifying employment status, and prohibiting monthly mortgage insurance premiums (replacing standard FHA requirements). The bill authorizes $660,000 for 2024 and $160,000 annually from 2025-2030 to fund this program, which expires after 5 years.

Maddy summaryThe Grandfamily Housing Act of 2023 establishes a federal grant program for owners of intergenerational housing units - homes where grandparents or other relatives live with grandchildren. Grants cover costs for service coordinators to provide onsite support (like tutoring, healthcare, and after-school care), community outreach, and property modifications to support these families. The program requires coordination with local kinship navigator programs and mandates a report to Congress on the program's effectiveness within two years. It directly affects property owners in qualifying intergenerational housing units and aims to strengthen support services for these families through HUD-administered grants.

Maddy summaryThe Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act of 2023 establishes a federal grant program to fund local projects reducing urban heat in low-income and racially impacted neighborhoods. It allocates $30 million annually (2023-2030) for eligible entities like cities or nonprofits to implement measures such as planting trees, installing cool roofs/pavements, and creating cooling centers in areas with high heat exposure and low tree cover. At least 75% of funds must target "covered census tracts" (defined as low-income areas with ≥20% poverty), requiring projects to include community engagement and address racial/environmental disparities. The program mandates annual reporting to Congress and oversight to ensure projects effectively combat urban heat island effects.

Maddy summarySRES 575 is a Senate resolution that declares racism a public health crisis in the United States. It cites extensive evidence of racial health disparities, including lower life expectancy for Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native populations, higher maternal mortality rates, and disproportionate impacts of conditions like diabetes and cancer across racial and ethnic groups. The resolution commits the Senate to supporting local declarations of racism as a public health crisis and establishing a nationwide strategy to address health disparities and dismantle systemic racism. While this resolution doesn't create new laws or programs, it aims to raise awareness about how racism functions as a social determinant of health affecting access to care, housing, and opportunities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program to address social determinants of health - such as housing instability, food insecurity, and transportation access - by funding community-based initiatives. It authorizes $100 million annually (2025-2029) to award grants to state/local health agencies, tribes, and community organizations for evidence-based, cross-sector strategies targeting specific communities with significant health inequities. Grantees must collaborate with health systems, payors, and local groups to collect data, design interventions, and evaluate outcomes, while requiring annual reporting to the CDC. An independent national evaluation will be conducted after five years, with results reported to Congress.