Rep. Mark DeSaulnier

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual stipend for books, supplies, and educational materials under the Post-9/11 GI Bill from $1,000 to $1,400, effective immediately. It also establishes a new automatic annual adjustment starting in fiscal year 2026, tying stipend increases to inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Specifically, the stipend will rise each year by the percentage difference between the current CPI and the previous year’s CPI. This directly affects veterans using the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for their education expenses.

End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish case management to certain veterans who are eligible for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the VA. Specifically, the VA must furnish case management to veterans who are eligible for HUD-VASH that the VA determines require case management. The VA must prioritize vulnerable homeless veterans in assigning case managers and providing services. The VA must take certain actions if a veteran refuses case management. HUD or a public housing authority may not revoke assistance solely on the basis that a veteran has refused case management. Additionally, a veteran may not be evicted or penalized by the owner of a property solely on the basis that they have refused case management or cannot be provided case management for health and safety reasons. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on veterans who are served by the HUD-VASH program, case managers and case management services provided under the program, and metrics about housing stability for veterans participating in federal housing assistance programs. The bill also provides statutory authority to expand eligibility for the HUD-VASH program to any veteran who is homeless, at risk of homelessness, or receiving assistance under another housing assistance program if the VA determines a voucher under HUD-VASH is more appropriate. (Currently, assistance is statutorily limited to certain veterans who have chronic mental illness or substance use disorders.)

Maddy summaryHR 7599 creates a federal framework for extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), allowing family members or law enforcement to petition courts to temporarily prohibit individuals from possessing firearms when they pose a risk of harm to themselves or others. The bill establishes a process for issuing ex parte orders (up to 14 days) followed by a hearing within 72 hours to determine if a longer-term order (up to 180 days) should be issued, requiring respondents to surrender firearms to U.S. Marshals or designated law enforcement. Courts must consider specific factors like recent threats, violence, substance abuse, or cruelty to animals before issuing orders, with no fees for petitioners. The law requires law enforcement training to address bias, includes annual reporting requirements, and ensures firearms are returned once the order expires and the individual is eligible to own firearms under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires states receiving federal education funds to establish concussion safety plans for public schools by 2028. It mandates schools to educate staff and parents about concussions, immediately remove students showing symptoms from activities, require written medical clearance before returning to sports, and provide academic accommodations for students recovering. Schools must post concussion information based on CDC guidelines and create recovery plans involving health professionals and school staff. States failing to comply face progressive funding cuts of 5% in the first year and 10% in subsequent years from their Elementary and Secondary Education Act funds. The law directly affects all public school students, coaches, and staff in participating states.

Maddy summary# Summary of the Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Bill This comprehensive legislation aims to strengthen protections against workplace discrimination and harassment, with several key provisions: ## Key Provisions ### 1. Expanded Protections for Workers - Extends protections to independent contractors, interns, and volunteers - Clarifies that domestic service workers in households are covered under interstate commerce - Prohibits nondisclosure and nondisparagement clauses that cover harassment or discrimination ### 2. Nondisclosure Agreement Restrictions - Makes it unlawful for employers to require nondisclosure or nondisparagement clauses covering harassment or discrimination - Establishes specific requirements for valid settlement agreements: - Requires mutual agreement - Limits scope to statements with knowledge of falsity - Requires written advice to consult an attorney - Provides 21-day consideration period and 7-day revocation period - Prohibits enforcement of such clauses against workers reporting discrimination ### 3. Federal Contractor Compliance - Requires federal contractors to disclose labor and civil rights violations from the past 3 years - Establishes Labor Compliance Advisors within executive agencies - Creates procedures for pre-award and post-award compliance monitoring - Mandates annual reporting on contractor compliance ### 4. Nationwide Grant Programs - **National Grants**: For preventing and addressing employment discrimination through education, outreach, and complaint assistance - **Legal Assistance Grants**: For low-income workers facing employment discrimination - **State Advocacy System**: Creates state-level systems to protect workers' rights, with: - Independent lead entities - Authority to investigate discrimination - Annual reporting requirements - Coordination with federal and state agencies ### 5. Enforcement Mechanisms - Empowers the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to enforce the bill - Establishes clear procedures and remedies for violations - Requires employers to provide specific information about their compliance with labor laws The bill represents a comprehensive approach to workplace rights, focusing on prevention, reporting, and enforcement mechanisms while ensuring workers can seek redress without fear of retaliation or silencing through restrictive agreements.

Maddy summaryHR 7543, the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, prohibits plastic pellets and pre-production plastic materials from being discharged into waterways through wastewater, spills, or runoff from specific facilities. It directly affects plastic manufacturing, molding, packaging, and transportation facilities regulated under existing environmental rules. Within 60 days of enactment, the EPA must issue a rule banning these discharges and update all relevant wastewater, stormwater, and performance standards in permits. The law requires all permits and standards for these facilities to reflect the new ban, ensuring plastic pellets cannot enter water systems. This is a concrete regulatory change to prevent plastic pollution at its source.

Maddy summaryHRES 1061 is a symbolic resolution recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Lunar New Year in 2026. It does not create new laws or policies, but formally acknowledges Lunar New Year's origins (over 4,000 years in China), its celebration as Seollal in Korea and Tết in Vietnam, and its observance by millions of Asian Americans and others in the U.S. The resolution expresses respect for Asian Americans and extends holiday wishes for a "happy and prosperous new year" during the Year of the Horse. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal effect or direct impact on any individuals or groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Defense to obtain a clean audit opinion for its financial statements or face automatic spending reductions. If the Pentagon fails to achieve this by fiscal year 2026, non-exempt programs would lose 0.5% of funding in the first year of failure and 1% annually thereafter, with cuts applied across all programs within the affected department. Military personnel, reserve, National Guard, and Defense Health Program accounts are exempt from these reductions. Any funds saved through these cuts would be deposited into the General Fund for deficit reduction, not redirected to military operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most employers to provide workers with earned paid sick leave. Employees would earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year, which can be used for their own illness, medical care, caring for family members (including children, parents, spouses, domestic partners, or other family-like relationships), or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking situations. The bill prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who use this leave and requires employers to inform employees about their rights. It ensures that workers who leave and return to the same employer within a year can reinstate their unused sick leave. This law would not override more generous state or local paid leave policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill would remove longstanding U.S. trade restrictions on Cuba by repealing key laws including the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 and the LIBERTAD Act of 1996. It would allow U.S. businesses to trade with Cuba without restrictions, enable telecommunications services between the U.S. and Cuba, and eliminate limits on U.S. citizens sending remittances to Cuba. The bill also extends normal trade relations to Cuban goods, meaning Cuban products would enter the U.S. market without special tariffs. This would directly affect U.S. businesses, travelers, and Cuban citizens who receive remittances. The changes would take effect 60 days after enactment, with some provisions applying to goods entering the U.S. market 15 days after enactment.