Rep. Nikki Budzinski

Maddy summaryHRES 1337 is a ceremonial resolution commemorating the July 4, 2022, Highland Park, Illinois, Independence Day Parade shooting. It honors the seven victims (Katie Goldstein, Irina McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Stephen Strauss, Jacquelyn Sundheim, Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, and Eduardo Uvaldo) and over 40 wounded survivors, while acknowledging the community's healing two years post-tragedy. The resolution expresses the House's solidarity with Highland Park residents, first responders, and healthcare providers who aided victims. It does not enact new laws or policies but serves as a symbolic tribute to the victims and survivors. This is a procedural resolution with no concrete policy changes, solely focused on remembrance and support.

Maddy summaryHRES 1332 is a symbolic resolution recognizing June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. It encourages the celebration of Pride Month to honor the historical struggles and achievements of LGBTQIA+ people in the United States, while acknowledging the ongoing challenges they face. This resolution does not create new laws or policies, but serves as a formal recognition of LGBTQIA+ rights as human rights and highlights their integral role in American history. The resolution was introduced by multiple members of Congress and passed by the House of Representatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens the HUD-VASH program, which provides housing vouchers and case management to homeless veterans. It requires the VA to prioritize vulnerable homeless veterans - especially those with disabilities - for case managers and mandates annual reports tracking program effectiveness, staffing ratios, and veteran outcomes. The law also prohibits revoking housing assistance solely because a veteran refuses case management and protects veterans from eviction for this reason. Additionally, it directs a GAO report assessing veterans' housing stability, case manager recruitment, and program demographics.

Maddy summaryHR 8830, the High Court Gift Ban Act, sets strict limits on gifts federal judges may accept. It prohibits judges from receiving gifts valued over $50 from a single source in a year, unless the total from that source stays under $100 annually. Key exceptions include gifts paid for by the judge, gifts from relatives, honorary degrees from educational institutions, and public opportunities available to all federal employees. The bill also outlines enforcement mechanisms, requiring the Judicial Conference to refer violations to the Attorney General for civil or criminal penalties. This directly affects all federal judges, including Supreme Court justices and lower court judges, by restricting gifts from sources that may have business before them.

Maddy summaryThis resolution recognizes June 19, 2024, as Juneteenth Independence Day, acknowledging its historical significance as the anniversary of the end of slavery in the U.S. (specifically referencing Union soldiers' announcement in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865). It does not create new policy but formally encourages all Americans to observe the day through ceremonies and educational activities. The resolution emphasizes Juneteenth's role in honoring African American freedom and its importance to U.S. history and cultural heritage. It follows the 2022 law that established Juneteenth as a federal holiday, focusing solely on symbolic recognition and annual observance.

Maddy summaryHR 8732, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act, would establish new labor protections for domestic workers including nannies, housekeepers, and caregivers who work in private homes. The bill requires written agreements between employers and domestic employees, provides earned sick days, ensures fair scheduling practices, and prohibits unfair wage deductions for cash shortages or communications. It also creates a Domestic Employee Standards Board to recommend workplace standards and establishes a National Domestic Employee Hotline for assistance. The bill specifically targets domestic workers who have historically been excluded from labor protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Civil Rights Act, benefiting an estimated 2.2 million domestic workers in the U.S. who are disproportionately women of color and immigrants.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows veterans who served between 1944 and 1977 (and never used VA home loan benefits) to transfer those benefits to family members. Living veterans can transfer benefits to spouses, children, grandchildren, or other direct descendants. For deceased veterans who served in that period and never used benefits, the VA will transfer benefits to eligible family members who apply within 10 years of the law's enactment. Legatees receive full benefits immediately but cannot transfer them further and must still pay applicable fees. The bill updates VA definitions to treat transferred-benefit recipients as "veterans" for home loan purposes.

Maddy summaryHR 5012 (SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023) authorizes federal funding to improve stillbirth research and data collection. It provides $5 million annually for states to collect standardized stillbirth data (including risk factors) while protecting privacy, $1 million annually for developing public educational materials and data collection guidelines, and $3 million annually for medical fellowships training pathologists in perinatal autopsy and stillbirth research. The bill directly affects state health departments, medical professionals (like obstetricians and pathologists), and families who experience stillbirth by improving data quality for future research. It requires federal reports on guidelines and program effectiveness within five years but does not provide direct medical care or financial assistance to families.

Maddy summaryHR 537 authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor 60 diplomats who saved Jewish lives during the Holocaust by issuing visas and passports against their governments' orders, risking expulsion and personal danger. The medal will be presented to the next of kin of these diplomats, alongside representatives from their home countries, and permanently displayed at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The bill also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This legislation recognizes the diplomats' humanitarian actions without creating new government programs or altering existing laws.

Maddy summaryHRES 1265 is a symbolic resolution designating May 2024 as "Renewable Fuels Month" to recognize renewable fuels' role in reducing carbon emissions, lowering consumer fuel prices, supporting rural economies, and decreasing reliance on foreign energy sources. It highlights that renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel contribute to U.S. energy independence (displacing 525 million barrels of crude oil in 2023), support over 72,000 direct jobs in ethanol production, and reduce emissions by 44-52% compared to gasoline. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges these benefits through congressional recognition. It is non-binding and focuses solely on raising awareness of the renewable fuels industry's economic and environmental contributions.