Rep. Rashida Tlaib

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution supports designating the week of September 21 through September 25, 2026, as National Falls Prevention Awareness Week to highlight fall risks among adults over age 65. The bill cites statistics showing that falls are a leading cause of injury and death in this demographic, resulting in significant medical costs for Medicare, Medicaid, and private payors. It recognizes the effectiveness of cost-effective prevention strategies such as exercise programs, medication management, and home hazard reduction. Additionally, the resolution encourages federal investments in these programs and acknowledges the collaborative efforts of government agencies, health care providers, and community organizations to reduce fall risks.

Maddy summaryThe Diversify Act expands the federal TEACH Grant program by doubling the maximum annual award to $8,000 and increasing the total grant limit to $32,000 for eligible teacher candidates. These funds can be applied directly toward a student's full cost of attendance, including tuition and fees. The bill also broadens the definition of qualifying service to include teaching in high-need early childhood education programs, not just schools with significant shortages of qualified teachers. Additionally, it prohibits the government from imposing monetary penalties if a recipient fails to complete the required teaching service and exempts the program from automatic budget cuts known as sequestration.

Maddy summaryHR 5334, the SEED Act of 2025, expands the existing educator expense deduction under federal tax law to explicitly include early childhood educators. It revises the Internal Revenue Code to cover expenses for "early childhood educators" and broadens the educational levels affected to include "pre-kindergarten through grade 12." This change allows early childhood educators (such as preschool teachers) to deduct work-related expenses like classroom supplies and professional development costs, which they previously could not claim under the existing deduction for "kindergarten through grade 12" teachers. The amendment applies to expenses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.