Rep. Lateefah Simon

Maddy summaryThis House resolution formally supports the recognition of September 27, 2026, through October 3, 2026, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week." The bill marks the 19th anniversary of Congress first authorizing funding for these specific colleges and universities in 2007. It highlights that these institutions enroll a significant majority of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander undergraduate students, many of whom are from low-income or first-generation college families. The resolution encourages these schools to continue securing resources and calls on the public to observe the week with events that demonstrate support for their educational mission.

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 summaryThe Debt-Free College Act of 2026 establishes a state-federal partnership that provides federal grants to states to cover the unmet financial need of eligible students attending in-state public colleges, effectively making tuition debt-free for those who qualify. To participate, states must commit to capping tuition increases at inflation levels, maintaining their current level of funding for higher education, and implementing student success programs that support low-income and underserved populations. The bill also creates a separate five-year grant program for specific minority-serving institutions and tribal colleges to help them cover student costs, while simultaneously expanding federal financial aid eligibility to include "Dreamer students" who entered the United States as minors under certain conditions.

Maddy summaryThe Incentivizing Small Business Employee Retention Act of 2026 expands tax incentives for small businesses by extending the Work Opportunity Credit through September 30, 2030, and introducing a new multi-year credit structure. Under this enhanced provision, qualified small businesses can claim additional tax credits based on wages paid to employees in their second through fifth years of employment, with the credit percentage increasing from 50 percent to 100 percent over that period. The bill also doubles the annual deduction limit for expenditures made to remove architectural and transportation barriers for individuals with disabilities and older adults from $15,000 to $30,000, while explicitly including improvements to internet and telecommunications accessibility in this category. Additionally, the legislation requires the Treasury Department to submit annual reports to Congress through 2030 detailing the number of businesses using the new credit, their employee retention rates, and the overall fiscal impact of these changes.

Maddy summaryThe Backlog Justice Act of 2026 aims to reduce the backlog of untested sexual assault evidence kits by requiring the Attorney General to create a public database tracking inventory levels and laboratory processing times across state and local jurisdictions. To address staffing shortages, the bill authorizes the FBI to develop training programs for forensic analysts and DNA technical leaders, allowing states and localities to hire individuals who have completed this federal training. Additionally, it funds a program for the FBI to collaborate with state and local providers on validating new DNA processing technologies and sharing related protocols. The legislation also provides increased grant funding to states that implement electronic tracking systems allowing sexual assault survivors to monitor the status of their evidence kits from collection through final disposition.

Maddy summaryThe 504 Program Level Flexibility Act allows the Small Business Administration to exceed its annual loan guarantee limit by up to 15 percent if demand for financing from qualified state or local development companies is high. This provision applies starting in fiscal year 2027 and requires the agency administrator to notify specific congressional committees at least 30 days before using this extra authority. The bill also restricts the SBA to using this flexibility measure no more than once per fiscal year.

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.