Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky

Maddy summaryHRES 995 is a symbolic resolution supporting Korean American Day, commemorating January 13 as the anniversary of the 1903 arrival of the first large wave of Korean immigrants to the U.S. It urges all Americans to recognize Korean Americans' contributions to U.S. society, economy, and U.S.-South Korea relations, honoring their historical journey and ongoing impact. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it serves solely as a formal acknowledgment of cultural heritage.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. federal funds from being used to support Venezuela's oil and petroleum sector, including financing infrastructure projects, purchasing property, providing insurance, making payments to companies, or government advocacy. It directly affects all federal agencies and programs that manage taxpayer money, preventing them from funding any aspect of Venezuela's oil industry. The bill requires the Secretary of State to submit annual reports to specific congressional committees detailing any related activities and confirming compliance. These provisions aim to restrict U.S. financial involvement in Venezuela's oil sector using clear, non-ambiguous language.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires companies to use non-animal testing methods for products regulated by the FDA, EPA, USDA, or Consumer Product Safety Commission when such methods are available and accepted by the agency. It bans submission of new animal test data for these products unless specific exceptions apply (like historical data or foreign regulatory needs). Companies must minimize animal use and suffering if non-animal methods aren't feasible, and agencies must publish annual reports tracking animal use and waivers. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $10,000 per instance.

Maddy summaryHR 6088, the *Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025*, repeals specific sections (10101-10108) from a prior reconciliation law. This action revives previous provisions related to food security programs that were modified by those repealed sections. The bill directly affects federal food assistance and agricultural support programs by restoring their prior legal framework. It does not create new policies but reverses recent changes to existing food security measures.

Maddy summaryThe MORE Act (HR 5068) would remove cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances, effectively decriminalizing it at the federal level while establishing a new tax on cannabis products. The bill creates an Opportunity Trust Fund that would distribute tax revenues to support communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition, including funding for expungement programs, job training, and equitable licensing initiatives for minority business owners. It also includes provisions to prevent discrimination based on cannabis use in federal programs, immigration proceedings, and workplace policies. The bill would require federal courts to expunge non-violent cannabis convictions and establish a process for resentencing individuals currently serving time for such offenses. These provisions aim to address racial disparities in cannabis enforcement and create more equitable opportunities in the legal cannabis industry.

Maddy summaryHR 5017, the Greyhound Protection Act of 2025, prohibits commercial greyhound racing, live lure training, open field coursing, and related betting across state lines. It bans activities like using live animals as bait, conducting interstate simulcast betting, and transporting greyhounds for racing purposes. The law amends the Animal Welfare Act to make these actions unlawful, with penalties including fines and up to 7 years in prison per violation. It applies to conduct occurring on or after October 1, 2027, and does not override existing state laws banning these activities. The bill directly affects greyhound racing industry participants and the animals involved in these practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill standardizes voluntary date labels on food packaging by requiring "BEST If Used By" (or "BB" for short) for quality dates and "USE By" (or "UB" for short) for discard dates. Manufacturers may choose whether to use these labels, but if they do, they must follow specific formatting rules (e.g., prominent placement, month/year format) and avoid conflicting state requirements. It excludes infant formula from the labeling rules and prohibits states from imposing different labeling standards. The law also mandates consumer education on label meanings within two years of enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 909, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025, modifies how funds from the False Claims Act are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund. It specifies that from 2025 through 2029, certain False Claims Act proceeds (specifically those for qui tam plaintiff payments and government damage reimbursements) cannot be deposited into the fund. This change directly affects the composition of the Crime Victims Fund by excluding these specific revenue streams during the specified period. The bill does not create new benefits or alter victim services; it only adjusts fund allocation rules for existing False Claims Act revenues.

Maddy summaryThe Affordable CHOICE Act (HR 7023) creates a new public health insurance option to be offered exclusively through state health insurance exchanges starting in 2027. It directly affects consumers purchasing coverage through these exchanges by adding a government-run plan that must offer bronze, silver, and gold coverage tiers. Key provisions require the Secretary to set premiums based on geographic rates (using Medicare reimbursement rates if negotiations with providers fail), collect data to reduce health disparities, and establish provider networks using existing Medicare/Medicaid participating providers unless they opt out. The plan must maintain quality and affordability while operating under the same consumer protections as private plans in the exchanges.

Maddy summaryHR 7016, the "No Funds for NATO Invasion Act," blocks federal funding for any U.S. military invasion of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member country or territory covered by NATO's Article 5 mutual defense clause. The bill prohibits using any federal funds for such invasions and bans U.S. officials from executing these actions. It directly affects U.S. military operations and funding decisions involving NATO members. The law applies to all federal spending, preventing the use of existing budgets for this specific purpose.