Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

Maddy summaryHRES 768 is a symbolic House Resolution expressing congressional support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks. It condemns Hamas' actions, reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls for the immediate release of hostages. The resolution references the U.S. commitment to Israel's security through existing military aid programs, including the 2016 U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding, and emphasizes enforcement of laws like the Taylor Force Act to prevent U.S. aid from reaching terrorist groups. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new policy but serves as a statement of congressional support for Israel.

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 summaryThis bill removes a previous exclusion that prevented temporary federal employees (including U.S. Postal Service staff and Members of Congress) from counting service after January 1, 1988, toward their retirement benefits. It allows these workers to have their post-1988 temporary service counted toward retirement eligibility if they pay a deposit to the retirement system. The change applies to anyone employed by the federal government on or after the bill's enactment date. The Office of Personnel Management must notify affected employees and create rules to implement this change.

Maddy summaryHR 5979, the VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2023, requires lenders using the standard home loan application form to add a specific disclaimer below the military service question. The disclaimer states: "If yes, you may qualify for a VA Home Loan. Consult your lender regarding eligibility." This change must be implemented within six months of the bill's enactment. The bill also mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study within 18 months to check if less than 80% of lenders are including this disclaimer. The policy directly affects veterans and military service members who may qualify for VA home loans but are not currently being informed of this option during the loan application process.

Maddy summaryHR 5960, the Opportunity to Compete Act, limits how employers use educational requirements in hiring. It requires employers using computerized hiring systems to disclose the median experience needed for a job (including military service or community college) and to accept equivalent work experience instead of a bachelor's degree. Employers seeking a waiver to require a bachelor's degree must prove the skill can't be gained without it and disclose this requirement to applicants, with the Labor Secretary processing waiver requests within 14 days. Small businesses with fewer than 500 employees are exempt from these rules. The law aims to expand hiring opportunities by reducing unnecessary degree barriers.

Maddy summaryThe Streamlining Federal Grants Act of 2023 requires federal agencies to simplify grant application and reporting processes, with a focus on improving access for underserved communities, rural areas, and historically excluded organizations like faith-based groups. Key mechanisms include designating senior agency officials for grants, creating a Grants Council to coordinate improvements, and mandating plain-language notices of funding opportunities under 500 words. Agencies must develop annual plans to streamline procedures, ensure language accessibility for limited-English speakers, and report progress to Congress. The bill directly affects federal agencies managing grants and their recipients, aiming to reduce administrative burdens while expanding equitable access to federal funding.

Supporting Early-childhood Educators' Deductions Act of 2023 or the SEED Act of 2023 This bill expands the tax deduction for the expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers to include early childhood educators.

Maddy summaryHR 1809 requires the U.S. Commerce Secretary to develop a strategy preventing U.S. exports of specific microelectronics (like microcontrollers, GPS modules, and circuit boards) to Iran for use in drone production. It also directs the State Department to coordinate with European and Asian allies to block similar technology transfers to Iran. The bill targets dual-use components that have been found in Iranian drones used by Russia in Ukraine, aiming to stop these technologies from supporting Iran's drone industry. This policy directly affects U.S. manufacturers of these components, their distributors, and international partners involved in exporting such technology to Iran.

Health Care Practitioner Disaster Protection Act This bill extends certain liability protections available for health care practitioners who provide voluntary health care services in declared emergencies through a community health center other than the one that initially sponsored them. Current law makes the liability protections available to volunteer practitioners that are sponsored by a particular community health center. This bill maintains the liability protections for a volunteer practitioner who provides services through a different community health center if the center (1) seeks the assistance of the volunteer practitioner to respond to a declared emergency, and (2) promptly notifies the Department of Health and Human Services that the volunteer practitioner will be providing services.

Maddy summaryHR 5110, the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act, amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to clarify that federal education funds cannot be used for certain weapons - but this restriction does not apply to archery, hunting, or other shooting sports training programs. The bill directly affects schools and educational programs seeking to use federal funds for these specific activities, such as archery clubs or hunting safety education. It adds an explicit exception to the existing prohibition, allowing funds to support "educational instruction or enrichment activities" in these sports under authorized programs. This change removes ambiguity about funding eligibility for such educational initiatives in K-12 schools.