Rep. Dwight Evans

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution formally recognizes the ongoing disparity between wages paid to men and women in the United States and reaffirms Congress's commitment to supporting equal pay. It highlights statistical data showing that women earn approximately 81 cents for every dollar earned by men, with significant variations across racial and ethnic groups, and notes that the gender wage gap has widened over the past two years. The document also identifies contributing factors such as occupational segregation, lack of family-friendly workplace policies, and workplace harassment, while emphasizing the economic impact on women's retirement security and family incomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new annual wealth tax on individuals with net assets exceeding $50 million, requiring them to pay a percentage of their total asset value each year. The tax applies a 2 percent rate to assets between $50 million and $1 billion, with a higher rate of 3 percent or 6 percent on assets above $1 billion depending on whether a universal health insurance program is enacted. Married couples are taxed as a single unit, and certain assets like primary residences and small personal items are excluded from the calculation. The legislation also mandates enhanced reporting requirements for asset values, requires the IRS to audit at least 30 percent of taxpayers subject to this tax annually, and authorizes $100 billion in funding over ten years to support enforcement and administration of the new tax system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners and operators of gas distribution pipelines to evaluate their systems for the presence of Aldyl-A polyethylene plastic within three years of enactment. The law mandates that pipeline companies report the total mileage of any identified Aldyl-A piping to the Secretary but does not require digging or excavation to find it. Additionally, the bill updates federal safety regulations to include historic plastics with known safety issues alongside cast iron and bare steel pipelines in risk assessment and integrity management programs. The legislation applies to all gas distribution pipeline facilities in the United States and aims to improve safety oversight without mandating immediate physical inspection or replacement.

Extending WIC for New Moms Act This bill amends the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to extend the eligibility periods for breastfeeding and postpartum women. Specifically, a state program may elect to certify a breastfeeding woman for up to 24 months (currently 1 year) postpartum. The bill also expands the eligibility period for postpartum women to up to 24 months after termination of pregnancy (currently 6 months). The Department of Agriculture must submit a report to Congress evaluating the effect of these changes to the program on (1) maternal and infant health outcomes, (2) breastfeeding rates, and (3) qualitative evaluations of family experiences under WIC.

Maddy summaryThis bill would eliminate interest on all existing and future Federal student loans starting in 2026, directly affecting current borrowers and future students. It requires the Department of Education to automatically modify eligible Federal Direct loans to stop interest accrual and allows borrowers to refinance other Federal loans into zero-interest consolidation loans without origination fees. The legislation also creates a new Education Affordability Trust Fund that would use loan repayments to fund these interest-free loans and potentially provide additional Pell Grants, while establishing a six-member board to oversee investments in government bonds.

Maddy summaryThe Energy Bills Relief Act aims to lower household energy costs and accelerate the development of low-cost, clean energy by modifying federal tax credits, expanding weatherization programs, and streamlining permitting processes. Key provisions include restoring tax incentives for renewable energy projects, increasing funding for low-income heating assistance, and requiring federal agencies to treat wind, solar, and storage projects with the same procedural fairness as oil and gas projects. The bill also establishes new incentives for upgrading the electricity grid, such as tax credits for transmission lines and grants for wildfire prevention measures, while creating mechanisms to ensure utilities serve public interests and protect consumers from price volatility.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to cover abortion care, counseling, and related medication as part of standard hospital and medical services for eligible veterans and certain dependents. It amends VA healthcare law to explicitly include these services under existing coverage for veterans qualifying under section 1703 and dependents eligible under section 1781(a). The policy directly affects veterans and their dependents enrolled in VA healthcare programs by expanding covered benefits to include abortion-related care. This is a concrete policy change to VA healthcare benefits, not a broader abortion law.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act, would change federal labor rules to require overtime pay and minimum wage protections for certain babysitters. It specifically targets casual babysitting work that is irregular or intermittent, while excluding trained medical professionals like nurses and home health aides from these changes. The law would also allow babysitters to perform up to 20% of their work time on unrelated household tasks without losing their protected status. These amendments would apply to workers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 who provide custodial care for infants or children in private homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to commission and place a statue of Clarence Mitchell, Jr. in a permanent public location within the United States Capitol. The legislation authorizes the committee to enter into agreements with an artist or organization to create the statue and permits the Architect of the Capitol to handle related contracts on the committee's behalf. Funding is authorized to cover the costs of obtaining and installing the statue, with no specific time limit for spending the allocated funds. The bill honors Mitchell, Jr., a civil rights leader and former NAACP Washington Bureau director, by recognizing his contributions to civil rights legislation through a physical memorial in the Capitol.

This concurrent resolution directs the President to terminate the use of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of the Iranian government or military unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted. The resolution specifies that it shall not be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack.