Rep. Mike Kennedy

Maddy summaryHRES 447 is a non-binding House resolution condemning antisemitism and honoring Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, two Israeli Embassy employees killed during a peace-focused panel discussion in 2023. The resolution specifically condemns all forms of antisemitism - including violence, vandalism, and online harassment - and remembers the victims, who were killed by a far-left activist affiliated with the Party for Socialism and Liberation. It calls for enforcing existing hate crime laws and protecting religious freedom, without creating new legislation. This resolution symbolically supports Jewish communities and victims of antisemitic violence but does not alter legal requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 3595, the Safe Prescribing Through Reporting Act of 2025, requires healthcare providers to share certain records about prescribing or dispensing medications for substance use disorder with state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), but only when state law already mandates such reporting. This bill does not create new reporting requirements but ensures federal law aligns with existing state rules. It directly affects healthcare providers (like doctors and pharmacists) who prescribe or dispense medications for addiction treatment, as they must comply with their state's PDMP reporting rules. The key provision amends federal law to clarify that such disclosures are permissible under applicable state law.

Maddy summaryHR 3518 would deny federal funding to graduate medical schools that require certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Specifically, schools must certify they do not compel students or staff to affirm specific beliefs about race, gender, or systemic racism; require "diversity statements" for admission or employment; establish DEI offices; or discriminate based on race in programs. This affects graduate medical schools at institutions of higher education seeking federal financial aid, including student loan programs. The bill permits schools to teach about medical conditions related to race or collect demographic data, but prohibits policies mandating DEI-related pledges or offices.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to study whether the Bonneville Shoreline Trail should be officially designated as part of the National Trails System. The study will assess the feasibility of designating this 280-mile trail system, which follows the historic shoreline of ancient Lake Bonneville from the Idaho-Utah border to Nephi, Utah. The bill does not create the trail or change current management but requires a federal evaluation to inform future decisions. This study would determine if the trail meets criteria for formal designation under the National Trails System Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases mandatory prison sentences for non-citizens convicted of certain crimes after entering the U.S. without authorization or being deported. It raises the minimum sentence from 2 to 5 years for those who improperly enter the U.S. and later commit a crime punishable by over one year in prison. For non-citizens previously deported who commit crimes, it increases the minimum sentence from 2 to 10 years and mandates at least 10 years for offenses including aggravated felonies, state/federal felonies, or crimes punishable by over one year. These changes apply to all non-citizens convicted under these circumstances, regardless of jurisdiction.

Maddy summaryHR 3078 requires the U.S. Department of Energy to develop new technologies that detect fentanyl vapor or particles. The bill mandates coordination between the Energy Secretary, Attorney General, Homeland Security Secretary, and Postmaster General to test these technologies. Specifically, the program focuses on rapid screening for fentanyl in mail, prisons, U.S. borders, and other related settings. This creates a new federal research initiative with defined use cases for fentanyl detection technology.

Maddy summaryThe SNAP Reform and Upward Mobility Act of 2025 modifies the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and improves how poverty is measured in the United States. It requires states to gradually increase their matching funds for SNAP from 10% to 50% over nine years, raises the age for certain work requirements from 60 to 65, and mandates states to report on employment and training program outcomes for SNAP recipients. The bill also establishes a Commission to recommend how to value non-cash benefits for poverty measurement and requires the Census Bureau to collect additional data on federal benefit participation to improve poverty calculations. These changes directly affect SNAP recipients, state agencies administering the program, and the methodology used to measure poverty in the U.S.

Maddy summaryHR 2326, the Dietary Guidelines Reform Act of 2025, requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to update the Dietary Guidelines for Americans at least every 10 years, instead of the previous 5-year cycle. The bill mandates guidelines be based on "significant scientific agreement" through evidence-based reviews, include input from an Independent Advisory Board (with specific member requirements and conflict-of-interest disclosures), and exclude topics like taxation or social policies. It also requires the Secretaries to notify Congress 90 days before updates and assign evidence strength ratings to each guideline. These changes directly affect the federal agencies responsible for creating the guidelines and the public who rely on them for health guidance.

Maddy summaryHR 2947, the Deafblind DATA Act, requires the U.S. Census Bureau to publish an annual data table starting in 2026 showing individuals who reported both hearing and vision loss in the American Community Survey. The table will include demographic details (sex, race, age) and economic factors (employment, education, income, poverty status) for people in each state, without revealing personal identifiers. This bill directly addresses the lack of centralized data on the deafblind population (estimated at 10,000 children and 40,000 adults by the National Center on Deafblindness), which currently prevents accurate service planning. The Census Bureau must also report to Congress within 180 days on feasibility of expanding such data collection. The Act does not change existing services but aims to improve understanding of this population's needs through better data.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to explicitly include "the birth of a son or daughter" as a qualifying reason for leave. It directly affects employees taking leave for childbirth, ensuring they cannot be penalized for not returning to work after such leave. The key provision requires employers to notify eligible employees that they cannot recover health insurance premiums paid during the leave if the employee does not return due to the birth. This change clarifies protections for parents using FMLA for childbirth-related leave.