Rep. Delia C. Ramirez

Maddy summaryThis House resolution expresses support for designating the week beginning September 14, 2026, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week. It recognizes these colleges and universities, which enroll at least 25 percent Hispanic students, for their role in providing higher education access to low-income and underserved populations. The bill highlights that these institutions serve a significant portion of the nation's undergraduate students and contribute to economic mobility. It calls on the public and interested groups to observe the week with ceremonies and activities during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require Medicare to cover early detection screening tests for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias starting January 1, 2028. It defines eligible tests as FDA-cleared genomic blood tests, blood product analyses, or equivalent medical imaging methods (like protein expression or whole genome sequencing) that detect pre-symptomatic or early-stage conditions. Medicare beneficiaries would receive this coverage without cost-sharing for these specific screenings. The bill amends Medicare coverage rules to explicitly include these tests under Section 1861(nnn) of the Social Security Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all new passenger vehicles manufactured for sale in the U.S. to include AM radio as standard equipment (not an optional add-on) by 2027-2028, depending on manufacturer size. It mandates that AM radio receivers must be easily accessible to drivers and allows compliance through digital AM broadcast technology. During a transition period, manufacturers must clearly label vehicles without AM radio but cannot charge extra for this feature. The bill also mandates a GAO study on AM radio's role in emergency alerts and includes a 10-year sunset provision for the rule. It preempts state laws regarding AM radio access in vehicles.

Maddy summaryH.J. Res. 216 proposes a constitutional amendment to eliminate the exception in the Thirteenth Amendment that currently permits slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. The resolution would amend the Constitution to explicitly state that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude may be imposed on anyone as a penalty for criminal conduct. This change would directly affect incarcerated individuals by prohibiting forced labor practices within the criminal justice system, while clarifying that voluntary work programs and community service alternatives remain permissible.

Maddy summaryThe Survivors' Rights Restitution Act of 2026 establishes a federal compensation program administered by the Attorney General for victims of sexual assault, abuse, trafficking, or exploitation involving Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as victims whose rights were violated by the federal government. Petitions are filed with the United States Court of Federal Claims and assigned to special adjudicators who must be mental health professionals or experts in victim services, civil rights law, or claims administration. The process is designed to be informal and less adversarial than standard litigation, with decisions required within 120 days and a minimum compensation award of $123,000. Compensation is funded by a dedicated Treasury account that accepts forfeited assets and voluntary contributions, and payments are exempt from federal income tax and means-tested benefit calculations.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to overturn a Department of Homeland Security rule that would establish fixed time periods for admission and specific extension procedures for nonimmigrant academic students, exchange visitors, and representatives of foreign information media. If enacted, the bill would prevent this immigration regulation from taking effect, thereby maintaining the existing framework for how these individuals manage their stay in the United States. The measure directly affects international students, cultural exchange participants, and foreign journalists by blocking changes to their visa duration limits and renewal processes.

Maddy summaryThe AmeriCorps Access for Dreamers Act amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to allow individuals who have received deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to participate in AmeriCorps. This change removes a specific legal barrier that previously prevented DACA recipients from being eligible for service positions. By updating the eligibility criteria, the bill directly affects young immigrants who arrived in the United States as children and are currently protected from deportation under the DACA policy. The amendment takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to educational awards issued on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 14855 South Van Dyke Road in Plainfield, Illinois, as the "Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. Post Office Building." It directly affects the postal facility and all official references to it. The key provision requires that any future law, document, or record referring to the location must use the new name. This is a purely procedural renaming with no funding, policy changes, or impact beyond official nomenclature.