Rep. Christopher H. Smith

This resolution finds that the August 9, 2020, election in Belarus was neither free nor fair and does not recognize Alyaksandr Lukashenka as the legitimate president of Belarus. The resolution condemns human rights violations committed by Belarusian authorities, calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners, and calls for new elections under the observation of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. government agencies to develop strategies to combat "transnational repression" - actions by foreign governments or their agents to intimidate, coerce, or harm diaspora and exile communities outside their home countries. It mandates the State Department to create an interagency strategy, amend annual country reports to include information on transnational repression tactics, and provide training for diplomatic and law enforcement personnel. The bill also establishes sanctions against foreign governments or individuals responsible for transnational repression, including blocking property and denying visas. These provisions directly affect diaspora communities facing foreign government harassment and U.S. agencies tasked with protecting them.

Maddy summaryHR 3639, the After Hours Child Care Act, creates a new Child Care and Development Innovation Fund to improve access to child care for parents working nontraditional hours (such as evenings, nights, or weekends). The bill directly affects working parents with young children and eligible child care providers who serve these families. It authorizes competitive grants (ranging from $25,000 to $500,000) to providers or partnerships with businesses/community organizations to expand after-hours care programs, establish workplace child care, or improve existing facilities. Grantees must cover 25% of costs, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services must report biennially on program impact to Congress.

This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require that medications and medical equipment for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose be included in an aircraft emergency medical kit; the FAA must, to the maximum extent possible, follow the guidance of the Aerospace Medical Association. In a 2019 guidance document to the FAA, the Aerospace Medical Association recommended including an opioid antagonist (e.g., naloxone or Narcan) in an aircraft emergency medical kit.

Maddy summaryHRES 439 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for keeping the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as an independent federal agency, not subject to privatization. It highlights USPS's constitutional role, self-sustaining nature (relying on service revenue, not taxpayer funds), and its importance to rural communities, e-commerce, and over 600,000 employees. The resolution urges Congress to take action to preserve USPS's independence, emphasizing that privatization could raise prices, reduce services, and harm the nation's mail infrastructure. As a procedural resolution, it does not change law but formally states the House's position.

Maddy summaryThis bill would withhold 50% of federal highway funds from states implementing congestion pricing systems similar to New York City's Manhattan Central Business District Tolling Program (referenced in a 2023 environmental assessment). It directly affects states like New York that have adopted or plan to adopt such tolling systems, targeting specific programs rather than all congestion pricing. The mechanism requires the Secretary of Transportation to withhold these funds annually starting October 1, 2023, from apportionments under specific highway funding formulas. The bill does not create new tolling policies but adds a federal funding penalty for states using the targeted congestion pricing model.

This resolution calls for the immediate extradition or rendering of convicted criminals William Morales, Joanne Chesimard, and others receiving safe harbor in Cuba to the United States. The resolution also urges the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and international community to continue to press for the immediate return of all fugitives from justice to the United States.

Maddy summaryHR 3517, the Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights Act of 2023, clarifies that military department secretaries (e.g., Secretary of the Army) retain final authority over fitness-for-duty determinations for service members in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES), not the Defense Health Agency. It requires the Department of Defense to update IDES policies so Wounded Warriors can demand a full hearing within 90 days if they dispute a medical separation decision, conducted by their military chain of command. This hearing is separate from existing IDES appeals and must be adjudicated within 90 days of request. The bill directly affects service members undergoing medical evaluation for separation due to injury or illness sustained in service. It ensures due process rights are upheld throughout the IDES process without altering healthcare benefits or creating new financial obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes federal standards for labor-management cooperation between public safety employers (state and local governments) and public safety workers (law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel). It requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine if states substantially provide rights like collective bargaining, union representation, and binding arbitration for these workers. States found lacking would need to follow federal bargaining procedures after a two-year transition period or following the next legislative session. The bill explicitly respects existing state laws that provide comparable or better rights to public safety workers. It also prohibits strikes or work stoppages that would disrupt emergency services.

Maddy summaryHR 3537 authorizes the minting of commemorative coins to mark the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Foreign Service, established by the 1924 Rogers Act. The bill specifies three coin types ($5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar clad) with limited mintage (50,000 gold, 400,000 silver, 750,000 half-dollars) to be issued in 2025, featuring designs honoring diplomatic history. A surcharge on each coin sale ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollars) will fund the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST) to support its oral history program and diplomatic preservation efforts. The coins will be legal tender, sold at cost-plus-surcharge, with all revenue directed to ADST per the bill's provisions.