Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky

Maddy summaryThe Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act prohibits the President and federal officials from changing the official names of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, or Lake Ontario. The bill specifically nullifies Executive Order 14422, which had renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America, and bans any further attempts to alter these geographic names through similar executive actions. Additionally, it forbids the use of federal funds to implement or enforce the revoked order or any comparable measures.

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Pricing for Taxpayer-Funded Prescription Drugs Act of 2026 requires federal agencies to include reasonable pricing clauses in all research grants and contracts involving biomedical products. Under this provision, U.S. residents cannot be charged more than the median price found in Canada and six other high-income OECD countries for any drug, device, or therapy developed with federal support. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to establish additional regulations, such as mechanisms to lower prices when revenues exceed targets or costs per health benefit are too high, while retaining the ability to waive these obligations if doing so serves the public interest. To ensure accountability, manufacturers must report clinical trial costs, government subsidies, and annual revenues by county, with all data made publicly available.

Maddy summaryThe Green New Deal for Public Housing Act directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide grants to public housing agencies and tribal entities for the comprehensive rehabilitation, energy upgrades, and modernization of public housing stock. These funds are intended to transform properties into zero-carbon homes by installing renewable energy systems, electrifying appliances, and repairing infrastructure, while also establishing workforce development programs that offer training, apprenticeships, and stipends to residents and local low-income workers. The bill mandates strict labor standards, including prevailing wages and the use of U.S.-made materials, and requires agencies to maintain or increase the total number of public housing units while prioritizing resident participation through elected councils and community engagement processes.

Maddy summaryThe Protect American Values Act prohibits the use of federal funds to implement, administer, or enforce a specific Department of Homeland Security rule regarding the "Public Charge" ground of inadmissibility. This legislation directly affects immigrants and mixed-status families by preventing the government from using public benefits as a factor in determining eligibility for lawful permanent resident status. The bill includes a statement of congressional intent arguing that the targeted rule would restrict access to essential services like food, medical care, and housing, while also negatively impacting state and local economies. By cutting off funding for this specific policy, the act aims to maintain current immigration standards and prevent what Congress describes as an unauthorized reversal of long-standing law.

Maddy summaryThe Restoring Justice for Workers Act prohibits employers from forcing workers to agree to arbitration for workplace disputes and bans agreements that prevent employees from joining together to seek legal relief. Under this bill, any contract requiring arbitration before a dispute arises would be invalid, while agreements made after a dispute occurs must be truly voluntary, require plain language explanations, include a 45-day waiting period, and receive explicit written consent from the worker. The legislation also makes it illegal to retaliate against employees who refuse to sign arbitration clauses and ensures that courts, rather than arbitrators, decide whether these arbitration agreements are valid. Additionally, the act amends the National Labor Relations Act to explicitly forbid employers from interfering with employees' rights to engage in collective actions regarding their work. These changes apply to all workers, including independent contractors, and take effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Increasing Mental Health Options Act of 2026 expands Medicare coverage and oversight rules to include clinical psychologists in rural and underserved areas. Starting in 2026, clinical psychologists working in designated health professional shortage areas will receive an additional 10 percent payment for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries. The bill also removes certain federal restrictions that previously limited the types of care clinical psychologists could provide in outpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing, partial hospitalization, home health, and inpatient psychiatric settings. These changes allow psychologists to supervise or provide care directly in these facilities as long as state laws permit it, while maintaining existing requirements for consultation with physicians.

Maddy summaryThe Consumer Protection and Recovery Act expands the Federal Trade Commission's legal authority to seek financial remedies against companies that violate consumer protection laws. Specifically, it allows the FTC to request courts to order restitution, contract rescission, refunds, and the return of property to victims of fraud or unfair practices. The bill also authorizes the agency to seek disgorgement, which requires violators to pay back any unjust profits gained from their illegal activities, while ensuring these payments offset any refunds already issued. These new powers apply to violations that occurred within the last ten years, with time spent outside the United States excluded from that calculation. The changes take effect for any legal actions pending or filed after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryThe Temporary Protected Status Review Act restores the ability of courts to review decisions by the Department of Homeland Security to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for foreign nationals. Under this bill, the government must publish detailed written findings explaining why a country no longer qualifies for TPS protection, and these decisions would be subject to a legal challenge in federal court. If a TPS designation is terminated, the affected individuals would remain in the United States with their current status and work authorization intact while the legal challenge is pending. Additionally, the legislation requires the government to follow specific administrative procedures, such as considering all available evidence and avoiding bias, before making any termination decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes federal protections and funding to expand access to in vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination for individuals, military service members, and veterans. It requires most private health plans, Medicaid programs, and Medicare to cover these fertility treatments without imposing higher cost-sharing than other medical services. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs provide specific fertility preservation and treatment benefits to uniformed service members and eligible veterans. The bill also includes preemption clauses that override state laws restricting these procedures and prohibits discrimination based on marital status, sex, or sexual orientation in the provision of care.

Maddy summaryThe Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2026 requires that new homes receiving federal assistance include at least one level designed to be accessible for people with mobility challenges. This rule applies to single-family houses, townhouses, modular homes, and ground-floor units in small buildings, provided they are made available for occupancy after one year from the law's enactment. To comply, builders must submit their architectural and construction plans to state or local officials for approval, ensuring the design meets specific accessibility standards before construction is finalized. The bill also establishes legal penalties for violations, allowing private individuals to sue for damages or court orders, such as requiring retrofits, while protecting existing contracts with buyers who were unaware of any violations.