Rep. Deborah K. Ross

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Federal and State Food Safety Information Sharing Act of 2026, authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to share unredacted food safety information with State, local, Tribal, and Territorial public health authorities. This directly affects the FDA and these various state and local entities involved in protecting public health from foodborne hazards. The shared information can include details like foodborne illness surveillance data, laboratory testing results, inspection findings, recall distribution lists, and consumer complaints, to be shared as soon as reasonably practical. While recipient authorities generally need FDA permission for further disclosure, they may do so without permission if necessary to contain an outbreak, carry out a recall, or for other state enforcement activities. Additionally, the bill extends the duration of certain federal grants for enhancing food safety from three to five years and ties subsequent grant funding to successful program evaluations.

Maddy summaryHR 5543, the Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025, requires the U.S. State and Defense Departments to submit a report within 180 days of enactment. The report will assess emerging military, cyber, hybrid, and political threats to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, including the roles of Russia, Belarus, China, Iran, and other actors. It will also evaluate U.S. and NATO military presence in the region, opportunities for defense cooperation, and recommendations to strengthen deterrence, cybersecurity, and democratic resilience in the Baltic countries. This bill directly affects U.S. foreign policy and defense planning regarding the Baltics, but does not create new programs or funding.

Maddy summaryThe Civics Learning Act of 2026 amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to expand federal funding and support for civics education in K-12 schools. The bill directs the Department of Education to distribute $70 million in grants to schools, with at least 60 percent reserved for elementary and middle schools and a preference for programs that include hands-on civic engagement, constitutional history, and civil rights education. It also requires grant recipients to submit annual reports detailing how they meet civics education goals and ensures geographic diversity in funding distribution across urban, suburban, and rural areas.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution recognizes the efforts and public safety contributions of linemen and the important role they play in maintaining the nation's energy infrastructure. It expresses support for designating April 18, 2026, as "National Lineman Appreciation Day" and acknowledges linemen as first responders.

Maddy summaryThe RECOVER Act of 2026 seeks to eliminate a specific payment reduction under the Medicare program, directly affecting Medicare beneficiaries who receive multiple therapy services and the providers who furnish them. Currently, Medicare applies a 50% payment reduction when certain multiple therapy services are provided to a beneficiary on the same day. This bill amends existing law to eliminate that 50% reduction, changing it to 0 percent. This change applies to therapy services billed under the physician fee schedule, as well as outpatient and comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation services, and will take effect for services furnished on or after January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThe Momnibus Act is a comprehensive legislative bill designed to improve maternal health outcomes across the United States by addressing social determinants of health, expanding access to care, and reducing disparities among pregnant and postpartum individuals. The bill establishes a federal task force to coordinate efforts between agencies and stakeholders to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and severe morbidity, while providing sustained funding to community-based organizations to address nonclinical factors like housing, nutrition, and transportation. Key provisions include extending WIC eligibility to 24 months postpartum, creating grants to grow and diversify the perinatal workforce, implementing respectful maternity care training for all healthcare employees, and establishing compliance programs to track and address bias in maternity care settings. The legislation also includes specific measures for incarcerated mothers, veterans, and vulnerable populations affected by climate change, alongside funding for maternal mental health services and technology-enabled care models to expand access in underserved areas.

Maddy summaryHR 7380, the IRAN Act, aims to improve internet access for Iranian citizens by directing U.S. agencies to support secure connectivity tools. It requires the State Department to coordinate digital freedom efforts, update strategies to evaluate VPNs and Direct-to-Cell (DTC) technology, and ensure sanctions enforcement doesn’t block these tools for Iranians. The bill also mandates the FCC to prevent licensees from geo-blocking Iran’s satellite/DTC coverage (except for network security) and directs the State Department to report on coverage issues. Additionally, it authorizes $15 million annually for cybersecurity training and digital safety tools for Iranian journalists, activists, and civil society. The law explicitly states it does not override existing sanctions or require U.S. companies to sell services in Iran.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that former President Donald Trump, his Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, and all federal officials must comply with the Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause. It specifically calls for them to immediately turn over to the Department of the Treasury any payments received from the United Arab Emirates or other foreign states. Furthermore, the resolution urges them to divest from all business interests linked to foreign governments, including those tied to United Arab Emirates officials.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the House of Representatives' opinion that the Department of Justice and other federal agencies should not administratively settle legal claims for money filed against the United States by a sitting President, specifically referencing President Donald Trump. The House believes that such settlements would violate the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, which prevents a President from receiving payments from the government beyond their official salary. Therefore, the resolution advises the Department of Justice to refuse any administrative settlement of these claims, while clarifying that a President can still pursue lawsuits in independent courts. This position directly affects how the Department of Justice would handle such claims from a President.

Maddy summaryThe Clean Slate through Rehabilitation Act (HR 8361) proposes to expand the credit history relief available to student loan borrowers who successfully complete a default reduction program. The bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to change the scope of information removed from a borrower's credit history. Currently, the law states that the "record of the default" is removed; this bill would change that to "any adverse information relating to such loan." This aims to provide more comprehensive clearing of negative credit reporting for individuals who rehabilitate their defaulted student loans.