Rep. Frederica S. Wilson

Maddy summaryHR 1333, the Safe Temperature Act of 2023, requires owners of federally assisted housing to maintain indoor temperatures between 71°F and 81°F in all dwelling units. This applies to public housing under the 1937 Housing Act, project-based housing assistance, and supportive housing for the elderly under the 1959 Housing Act. The bill allows the use of existing Capital and Operating Funds to ensure compliance with this temperature standard. It directly affects housing owners receiving federal subsidies, not tenants or general housing. The law establishes a specific, measurable requirement for temperature maintenance without specifying enforcement methods.

Maddy summaryThe Liberty City Rising Act requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish safety and security standards for public housing and federally assisted housing projects located in neighborhoods designated as "high-crime areas" based on violent crime data. It mandates specific security measures like cameras, locks, and lighting, requires anonymous tenant hotlines for reporting crime, and prioritizes funding for safety upgrades in these areas. The law applies directly to public housing agencies and property owners receiving federal housing assistance in designated high-crime zones. The Secretary must define high-crime areas within 90 days of enactment and establish the safety standards within one year. These provisions aim to enhance resident safety through concrete, measurable security requirements rather than general policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 184) formally recognizes and celebrates Black History Month as an annual observance in February. It highlights the significance of the 2023 theme "Black Resistance," acknowledging historical and ongoing Black American efforts to overcome oppression. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a commemorative statement to raise awareness of Black achievements and resistance history. It directly affects public awareness, encouraging all Americans to recognize this history during February.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the removal of statues in the U.S. Capitol that honor individuals who served with the Confederate States of America, as defined by an amendment to existing law. The Architect of the Capitol must identify and remove these statues within 120 days of enactment, with options to return them to the providing state (if requested and costs are covered) or store them in a nonpublic location. The bill appropriates $2 million for removal, transfer, storage, and related costs, and allows states to replace removed statues under standard Capitol display rules. It directly affects Capitol display policies and the states that provided the statues.

Maddy summaryHR 1247 would award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Freedom Riders collectively, honoring their pivotal role in challenging segregation in interstate travel during the Civil Rights movement. The medal, to be struck by the U.S. Mint and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, recognizes their nonviolent protests that led to the 1961 federal ban on segregation in interstate public facilities. This is a symbolic tribute with no legal effect, as the bill does not create new policies or alter existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 1239) renames a specific street segment in Washington, D.C., between 16th Street NW and Fuller Street NW to "Oswaldo Payá Way." It also redesignates the address 2630 16th Street NW as 2630 Oswaldo Payá Way for all official references. The bill is procedural, with no policy changes beyond the symbolic renaming to honor Cuban dissident Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas. The change affects District of Columbia street signage and official records referencing that location.

Maddy summaryHR 1244 authorizes Congress to award a gold medal collectively to Africans and their descendants who were enslaved in the U.S. from 1619 to 1865, recognizing their contributions to America's economic foundation. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the medal, which will be permanently displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a commemorative measure, not a policy change, focusing on symbolic recognition of historical contributions.

Maddy summaryThe Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2023 strengthens workers' rights to organize unions by making it harder for employers to interfere with organizing efforts. Key provisions include changing the definition of "employee" to make it more difficult to classify workers as independent contractors, prohibiting employers from threatening to permanently replace striking workers, and requiring employers to provide voter lists for union elections. The bill also creates a new electronic voting system for union elections, strengthens whistleblower protections for workers reporting labor violations, and increases penalties for unfair labor practices. These changes directly affect workers seeking to form unions, employers who may interfere with organizing, and labor organizations. The bill aims to make it easier for workers to exercise their right to collective bargaining under the National Labor Relations Act.

Maddy summaryThis is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' symbolic support for designating February 27-March 3, 2023, as "Public Schools Week." It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or directly affect any individuals or institutions. The resolution highlights the importance of public schools to democracy, equity, and student success through a series of supporting statements. As a procedural resolution, it has no legal effect beyond acknowledging the significance of public education.

This bill redesignates the federal building located at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest in the District of Columbia, commonly known as the J. Edgar Hoover Federal Building, as the Federal Bureau of Investigation Building.