Rep. Jasmine Crockett

Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act of 2023 or the FAIR Act of 2023 This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights dispute.

Maddy summaryThe RAP Act of 2023 (HR 2952) would prevent prosecutors and plaintiffs from using a defendant’s creative or artistic works - such as poems, songs, art, or films - as evidence in court, unless specific exceptions apply. It requires the government to prove by clear evidence that the work was meant literally (not figuratively), directly relates to the specific facts of the case, is relevant to disputed facts, and has unique value beyond other evidence. If admitted, courts must redact the work to limit its presentation and provide jury instructions about its restricted use. This bill directly affects defendants in both criminal and civil cases who create artistic expression, aiming to protect their creative works from being misused in legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryHR 2918, the Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2023, amends the Fair Housing Act to explicitly protect survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking from housing discrimination. It adds "survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or severe forms of trafficking" as a protected class under the law, prohibiting landlords and housing providers from refusing to rent, evicting, or charging more based on this status. The bill also clarifies that discrimination based on survivor status - including denial of housing due to protective orders, shelter stays, or prior incidents - is illegal. This directly affects survivors who face barriers like denied rentals, evictions, or higher costs when seeking safe housing, addressing documented discrimination reported by 67% of survivors in New York studies. The law preserves survivors' ability to pursue other discrimination claims under the Fair Housing Act.

Raise the Age Act of 2023 This bill establishes new restrictions on the sale or transfer of certain semiautomatic firearms to individuals under 21 years of age. Specifically, this bill makes it unlawful for a licensed gun dealer, importer, manufacturer, or collector to sell or deliver a semiautomatic center-fire rifle or semiautomatic center-fire shotgun that has (or has the capacity to accept) an ammunition feeding device with a capacity of more than five rounds to an individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is under age 21. The prohibition does not apply if the individual under age 21 is a full-time law enforcement officer or active-duty member of the Armed Forces. The bill also requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation to report on the operation of its public access line, including a description of information sharing protocols and recommendations for improving such protocols.

Maddy summaryHR 2915, the Farm Workforce Support Act of 2023, requires the Comptroller General to study the H-2A visa program and submit a report to specific congressional committees within two years. The report must examine how the program affects hiring (including impacts on domestic and guest workers), challenges in providing housing for guest workers, wage rate effects on employer recruitment, economic impacts of lost wages for guest worker families, and compliance with working condition guarantees. This bill does not create new policy but mandates a detailed analysis of the existing H-2A program's operations and impacts. The study will directly inform Congress on the program's current functioning and potential issues.

Maddy summaryThe Right to Read Act of 2023 defines an "effective school library" as one with certified librarians, adequate resources, and support for digital and information literacy. It requires states and school districts to ensure all students, particularly those in under-resourced schools, have access to such libraries through new reporting requirements and funding mechanisms. The bill provides $500 million annually for literacy programs and mandates biennial data collection on school library resources. It also protects staff from liability for following right-to-read policies and requires school libraries to uphold First Amendment rights by providing diverse reading materials without political bias.

Maddy summaryHR 2370, the Access to AEDs Act, authorizes $25 million in federal funding (2024-2028) to help public elementary and secondary schools improve access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and CPR training. The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to school districts and partners for developing AED programs, training staff and students, purchasing and maintaining AEDs, and creating cardiac emergency response plans. It specifically targets schools to address sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), which is a leading cause of death among student athletes and youth, with 90% of SCA victims dying without immediate CPR and defibrillation. The law requires grantees to report on their activities and establishes a clearinghouse to collect data on school AED access and costs.

Maddy summaryThe Child Labor Exploitation Accountability Act requires U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) contractors to annually disclose if they or their subcontractors faced serious labor violations - including child labor violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act - in the past three years. Contractors with such violations must report corrective steps, and those failing to address issues or repeating violations face a five-year ban from USDA contracts (including the year of listing and the next four years). The law mandates annual reports to Congress tracking the number of contractors on the ineligible list and the program's effectiveness. This policy directly affects agricultural businesses and suppliers contracting with the USDA, aiming to enforce labor compliance through financial consequences.

Maddy summaryHR 2825, the Prison Libraries Act of 2023, establishes a federal grant program to fund library services in state and territorial correctional facilities. It directly affects incarcerated individuals by providing access to books, digital resources, educational programs, and staff support, with funds requiring states to submit detailed plans demonstrating need and measurable goals like improving literacy or job skills. Key provisions include funding for modern library infrastructure, hiring qualified librarians, and programming such as job training, digital literacy, restorative justice, and cultural activities - all while prohibiting use for food, general prison operations, or unrelated staff costs. The program authorizes $10 million annually for six years (2024-2029), prioritizing grants that align with library standards, prioritize post-secondary education, and show clear impact on reducing recidivism.

Maddy summary# Summary of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2023 This proposed legislation establishes a comprehensive framework to modernize and expand apprenticeship programs in the United States, creating a National Apprenticeship System designed to address current workforce needs and increase opportunities for underrepresented populations. ## Key Provisions ### System Framework - Establishes clear quality standards for apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and youth apprenticeship programs - Requires programs to meet specific criteria including: - Minimum 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning (with flexibility for some occupations) - Structured related instruction (minimum 144 hours per year for time-based programs) - Progressive wage scales - Safety training and equipment - Equal opportunity for participation ### Program Types - **Apprenticeship Programs**: Time-based, competency-based, or hybrid models for full-time workers - **Pre-apprenticeship Programs**: Designed to prepare individuals without meeting minimum qualifications for apprenticeship - **Youth Apprenticeship Programs**: For high school students, integrating academic and work-based learning ### Diversity & Inclusion Requirements - Requires programs to actively recruit and support nontraditional apprenticeship populations: - Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities - Long-term unemployed - Individuals impacted by the criminal or juvenile justice system - Foster and former foster youth - Individuals with barriers to employment ### Registration & Oversight - Requires formal registration of programs with a registration agency - Mandates annual performance data collection and reporting - Establishes procedures for program review, technical assistance, and deregistration ### Grant Program (Title II) - Authorizes $4 billion over five years ($400M-$800M annually) for competitive grants - Funds will support: - Creation and expansion of apprenticeship programs in high-demand sectors - Encouraging employer participation, particularly with small- and medium-sized businesses - Supporting intermediaries (national and local) - Strengthening educational alignment with secondary and postsecondary systems ### Evaluation Requirements - Mandates independent evaluations of grant programs - Requires collection of disaggregated data by program type and demographic factors - Focuses on measuring outcomes including: - Program completion rates - Employment rates in related fields - Wage growth - Increased participation of underrepresented groups ### Conforming Amendments - Repeals outdated sections of the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to align with the new apprenticeship system This legislation represents a significant investment in workforce development, aiming to create a more inclusive, high-quality apprenticeship system that responds to 21st-century labor market needs while expanding opportunities for historically underrepresented groups.