Rep. Gregory W. Meeks

Maddy summaryHR 2643, the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025, requires the U.S. State Department to submit annual reports for five years detailing ties between Haitian criminal gangs and political/economic elites, including specific gang leaders, their operations, and how elites exploit these relationships. The bill mandates that the President impose automatic sanctions - including freezing assets and barring entry to the U.S. - against foreign individuals identified in these reports within 90 days of the report’s submission. These sanctions apply to Haitian officials and business leaders linked to gangs, with limited exceptions for humanitarian aid. The law expires five years after enactment, focusing on transparency and targeted U.S. actions to address collusion threatening Haitian stability and U.S. interests.

Maddy summaryThis bill permanently establishes the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) within the State Department, expanding their role to prioritize family reunification for U.S. military personnel and veterans with Afghan allies. It mandates the Coordinator to collect detailed data on Afghan applicants (including special immigrant visa seekers, refugees, and parolees), vetting timelines, and pending family reunification cases into a centralized database. The Coordinator must report this data to Congress every 90 days to ensure transparency and inform policy decisions. The law directly affects Afghan allies and their families seeking U.S. relocation, particularly those connected to U.S. military service.

Maddy summaryHR 4917, the Expanding the VOTE Act, amends the Voting Rights Act to increase language access for voters. It expands the definition of "voting materials" to include digital formats and requires states to provide language assistance (both written and oral) for minority language groups, with special provisions for American Indian and Alaska Native languages when written translations aren't feasible. The bill creates grants to help jurisdictions provide voting materials in languages that don't currently trigger Section 203 coverage, and mandates a study on lowering population thresholds for language assistance requirements. This directly affects states, local election jurisdictions, and voters who speak minority languages, including those in communities not currently covered by existing language access rules.

Maddy summaryThe Election Mail Act (HR 4915) establishes new standards for handling voting-by-mail materials in Federal elections. It requires the Postal Service to process absentee ballots the same day received, add postmarks showing mailing dates, and treat election mail as first-class with free postage for completed ballots. States must provide ballot return envelopes with tracking barcodes and accept mailed ballots postmarked on election day if received within 7 days. These provisions apply to Federal elections starting in 2026, with some requirements taking effect sooner.

Maddy summaryHR 4894, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2025, prohibits the intentional spread of false information about voting procedures, eligibility, or penalties within 60 days of an election. The bill specifically targets deceptive communications through social media, text messages, and AI-generated content designed to prevent voters from casting ballots, including false claims about voting locations, registration status, or legal consequences. It creates a private right of action for individuals harmed by these deceptive practices and authorizes the Attorney General to issue corrective information to counter false claims. The law directly affects voters, election officials, social media platforms, and anyone spreading false voting information, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for violations.

Maddy summaryThe Ending Homelessness Act of 2025 would expand housing assistance to reduce homelessness through several key provisions. It would allocate 500,000 additional housing choice vouchers in 2025, increasing to 1 million annually by 2028 for extremely low-income families and individuals receiving supplemental security income. The bill prohibits housing discrimination based on source of income (including housing vouchers and Social Security benefits), provides $1 billion annually for emergency relief grants targeting high-need areas, and establishes a permanent entitlement program for housing vouchers starting in 2029. It also repeals certain ineligibility criteria for housing assistance and makes faith-based and private nonprofit organizations eligible for funding.

Maddy summaryThe Time Off to Vote Act requires employers with 25 or more employees to provide two hours of paid leave for federal elections. Employees can use this leave to vote in person, return mail-in ballots, or perform other voting activities during open polling hours. Employers may set the specific two-hour window (excluding lunch breaks) but cannot deny the leave, retaliate against employees who take it, or cause loss of accrued benefits. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation, enforced by the Department of Labor.

Maddy summaryHR 4909 requires federally assisted housing providers and mortgage lenders to include a uniform voter registration information statement with key documents. It mandates that public housing agencies, rental voucher programs, and multifamily housing owners provide this statement to tenants when signing leases or submitting income forms. Mortgage lenders must include it in writing within 5 business days of a loan application. The statement, developed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and available in English and 10 common languages, explains voter registration options but does not require individuals to register. This affects renters in federally assisted housing and mortgage applicants.

Unhoused Voter Opportunity Through Elections Act or the Unhoused VOTE Act This bill expands voter registration and voting access for unhoused individuals.  The bill specifies that no state or political subdivision may deny or abridge the right of any U.S. citizen to vote because the citizen resides at or in a nontraditional abode.  Additionally, the bill requires jurisdictions that allow for ballot drop boxes to ensure that these drop boxes are available for in-person use and are accessible and clearly labeled. If a state requires individuals to show proof of residence in order to vote in a federal election, then the state must accept the individual’s written attestation of residence. A state may not prohibit an individual who is residing in a homeless shelter from using the shelter as the individual’s residence for purposes of voting in a federal election. The bill requires chief state election officials to conduct outreach to unhoused individuals. The bill directs the Election Assistance Commission to (1) develop best practices for election officials regarding voter registration and voting access for unhoused individuals, and (2) make grants to eligible states and local governments for programs and activities to support access to voting for unhoused individuals.  The bill also revises the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, including by (1) treating emergency shelters as voter registration agencies, and (2) allowing an unhoused individual to use an unsheltered street location as the individual's place of residence for purposes of a voter registration application.

Maddy summaryThe POLL Act requires states to develop plans ensuring voting wait times don't exceed 30 minutes at any polling place during federal elections. It establishes standards for allocating voting resources (including voting systems and poll workers) based on factors like voting-age population, past turnout, and needs of disabled voters and those with limited English proficiency. The bill creates a private right of action for voters who experience excessive wait times, allowing them to seek civil penalties. Additionally, it authorizes $500 million annually in federal funds to help states implement these changes and meet the new requirements.