Rep. Kweisi Mfume

Maddy summaryHR 6039, the CLASS Act of 2023, prevents colleges and universities from requiring students to agree to arbitration clauses or other restrictions that limit their ability to sue the institution in court. The bill amends the Higher Education Act to prohibit institutions from enforcing any agreement that restricts students' access to courts - such as limiting venue, jury trials, or choice of law - when pursuing claims related to their enrollment. It directly affects students who sign enrollment contracts with higher education institutions and ensures they can seek legal remedies without forced arbitration. The law removes federal arbitration law (Title 9, Chapter 1) from these student-institution agreements.

Maddy summaryThe Safe Schools Improvement Act (HR 6031) requires public elementary and secondary schools to implement comprehensive anti-bullying policies that specifically prohibit harassment based on protected characteristics like race, gender identity, disability, religion, and sexual orientation. It mandates schools to collect and publicly report annual data on bullying incidents while establishing clear grievance procedures for students and parents. The bill also requires states to submit biennial reports on school compliance and supports evidence-based interventions, such as restorative practices, to reduce exclusionary discipline. This legislation directly affects all public K-12 schools and students in the U.S., aiming to create safer learning environments through standardized policy requirements and data transparency.

Maddy summaryHR 5999, the Small Business Regulatory Relief Act, creates a new Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act Ombudsman within the Small Business Administration (SBA). This ombudsman will directly assist small businesses by helping them understand and comply with federal regulations through training, compliance guides, and webinars on new rules. The bill requires federal agencies with regulatory authority over small businesses to designate a primary point of contact to coordinate with the ombudsman and provide clear information about regulatory requirements. It mandates that agencies develop and share resources to help small businesses navigate compliance, including assistance with forms and specific regulatory questions.

Maddy summaryHR 5895 amends the Higher Education Act to allow historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to use existing grant funds for specific arts-related activities. The bill adds new provisions enabling HBCUs to provide financial assistance to arts students, establish arts outreach programs, offer wraparound student services (like mentorship and career advising), maintain Black art collections, and create paid arts internships through partnerships. This directly affects HBCUs by expanding how they can allocate current funding to strengthen their arts programs and support Black artists. The key mechanism is modifying Section 323 of the Higher Education Act to include these new uses, with optional partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires websites and applications used by public entities, businesses, and employers to be accessible to people with disabilities. It directs the Department of Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to establish accessibility standards within 24 months, with special consideration for small businesses. The law defines accessibility as websites that are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for people with disabilities. It also creates a technical assistance center to help entities comply and provides grants to small businesses to fix inaccessible websites. The bill aims to ensure equal digital access for people with disabilities, building on existing ADA protections.

Maddy summaryHR 5784 would provide federal grants to public schools (including Bureau of Indian Education schools) to make them more environmentally sustainable and equitable. It prioritizes schools in the most vulnerable communities (based on CDC Social Vulnerability Index) for full funding to become "healthy zero-carbon schools" through energy-efficient retrofits and new construction, while offering reduced funding for less vulnerable schools. The grants require community engagement in planning, mandate hiring from local communities with specific diversity goals, fund social services and mental health support, and include strict energy efficiency standards for all projects. The bill also includes funding for educational equity planning and climate resiliency programs to help schools serve as community centers during disasters.

Maddy summaryHRES 733 is a non-binding resolution expressing concern about the rising number of book bans in U.S. schools and libraries. It cites data showing nearly 3,400 book removals affecting 1,557 titles from July 2022-June 2023, with disproportionate targeting of books featuring LGBTQ+ themes (36%) and racial justice content (37%). The resolution urges school districts to follow established best practices for handling book challenges and reaffirms the importance of protecting students' access to diverse materials. It does not create new laws but calls for local governments to support free expression as protected by the First Amendment.

Maddy summaryHR 5086, the COLAs Don’t Count Act of 2023, amends the Food and Nutrition Act to exclude certain cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) from counting as income for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility. Specifically, it removes increases from Social Security (Title II), Supplemental Security Income (Title XVI), Railroad Retirement, and Veterans benefits (38 U.S.C. §5312) from SNAP income calculations when determining household eligibility. This change directly affects SNAP recipients whose benefits include these COLAs, potentially allowing more households to qualify for assistance. The amendment takes effect October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Higher Education Act to require all U.S. colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid to create detailed anti-harassment policies covering physical, online, and institution-sponsored settings. It mandates policies prohibiting harassment based on race, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, religion, and other protected characteristics, including harassment via institutional email, computers, or electronic messaging. The bill also establishes a $50 million annual grant program to fund colleges developing prevention programs, victim support services, and training for students and staff on recognizing and addressing harassment. These policies and grants must comply with existing civil rights laws like Title IX but add specific requirements for reporting and prevention.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office within the Department of Justice to address racial disparities in missing and murdered Black women and girls cases. The Office will collect data on case resolution times, coordinate with law enforcement, and create a public dashboard tracking these cases. It also creates grants for community organizations to provide culturally appropriate services, prevention programs, and training for law enforcement targeting violence against Black women and girls. The bill directly affects Black women and girls who are victims of violence and their communities, focusing on improving data collection and support systems rather than changing criminal laws.