Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez

Cuban-American Unrecognized Bravery Act of 2023 or the CUBA Act of 2023 This bill expands eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits to certain individuals who served in the Bay of Pigs, Cuba, in April 1961. Specifically, the bill expands eligibility for benefits to individuals who (1) were members of the military group that invaded the Bay of Pigs in 1961, (2) are citizens of the United States, and (3) have not received VA benefits for which they have applied.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE Banking Act of 2023 would protect banks and financial institutions that provide services to state-legal marijuana businesses and hemp-related businesses by preventing federal regulators from taking adverse actions against them solely for serving these businesses. It clarifies that income from state-legal marijuana businesses can be considered for mortgage applications, and requires regulators to update guidance on suspicious activity reports related to these businesses. The bill does not require financial institutions to serve these businesses, but ensures they won't face penalties for doing so. It extends similar protections to hemp-related businesses, which have faced banking challenges despite being federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill.

Maddy summaryHR 3067, the CASES Act of 2023, requires the U.S. Secretary of State to submit annual reports detailing the financial assets of five specific Argentine officials. The bill targets Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Máximo Kirchner, Juan Martin Mena, Oscar Parrilli, and Carlos Zannini, including their personal wealth, family assets, and business holdings. If the President determines these individuals meet sanctions criteria under existing law, U.S. sanctions must be imposed on them. The bill directly affects these five named officials by establishing a mechanism for potential U.S. financial sanctions based on their reported assets. It does not impose sanctions automatically but triggers them upon the President's affirmative determination.

This resolution expresses U.S. support for Israel and its efforts to defend its right to existence. The resolution also declares that the United States and international community must prevent Iran from acquiring or building nuclear weapons.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 2600 Michigan Avenue in Kissimmee, Florida, as the "Robert Guevara Post Office Building." It updates all official references - such as in laws, maps, and documents - to use this new name for the building. The bill directly affects the postal facility and any government records referencing its location. It is a ceremonial naming measure with no policy changes or financial impact.

Maddy summaryHR 2906, the "Reject Latinx Act," prohibits U.S. federal executive agencies from using the terms "latinx" or "latin-x" (or variations) in any official public document. This applies to all documents produced on or after a 30-day effective date following the bill's enactment. The bill directly affects federal agencies responsible for creating public-facing communications, such as reports, forms, or websites. It does not restrict the terms in private or non-governmental contexts. The law mandates this language change for all new agency documents but does not require altering existing documents.

This bill prohibits the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) from implementing their January 2023-announced changes to the single-family pricing framework for fees on purchase, rate-term refinance, and cash-out refinance loans. The changes revise the fee charts that provide percentage adjustments based on a borrower's credit score and other factors.

Maddy summaryHRES 323 (submitted April 25, 2023) is a ceremonial House resolution commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion and honoring members of the Assault Brigade 2506 (Brigada de Asalto 2506). It specifically remembers veterans who died, were imprisoned, or suffered during the operation, and calls for continued U.S. support for Cuban democracy. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal effect but formally recognizes the historical event and its participants. The resolution focuses on historical remembrance rather than proposing new policies or affecting current legislation.

Maddy summaryHR 2826, the Save Local Business Act, clarifies when multiple businesses can be held jointly responsible for labor laws. It amends the National Labor Relations Act and Fair Labor Standards Act to state that a business is only a joint employer if it directly controls key employment terms like hiring, pay, schedules, or discipline for another business's workers. This directly affects franchisors, contractors, and similar business models that might previously have been deemed joint employers under broader interpretations. The bill aims to limit joint employer liability to cases where one business has clear, day-to-day control over essential worker conditions.

Maddy summaryHR 1788, the "Goldie’s Act," strengthens USDA enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act. It requires annual inspections of all regulated animal businesses (like dealers, research facilities, and exhibitors) and mandates immediate, humane confiscation of animals suffering due to violations, while prohibiting owners from destroying animals during this process. The bill increases civil penalties to $10,000 per violation, requires hearing panels including veterinarians, and mandates that penalties consider business size and violation severity. It also requires USDA to share violation records with local animal control within 24 hours.