Rep. Maxine Dexter

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal for Fred Korematsu, a Japanese American civil rights advocate who challenged the World War II internment of Japanese Americans. It recognizes his legal fight against Executive Order 9066, which led to the unjust incarceration of over 120,000 people, and his lifelong advocacy against racial discrimination. The medal, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. The bill is purely commemorative and does not create new legal rights or funding requirements.

Maddy summaryHRES 68 is a non-binding House resolution expressing strong disapproval of the President’s announcement to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. It commends states, businesses, and citizens supporting the Agreement, urges the President to reverse the withdrawal decision, and calls for Congress to prioritize U.S. climate leadership. The resolution does not create new laws or affect specific groups but formally states the House’s position against withdrawing from the international climate accord. It was introduced by 115 co-sponsors and reflects broad congressional concern about reversing U.S. climate commitments.

Maddy summaryHR 738, the Universal Right To Vote by Mail Act of 2025, would require all states to allow any voter to request and cast a mail-in ballot for federal elections without needing to provide a reason, directly affecting all voters in states holding federal elections. The bill prohibits states from adding extra conditions beyond ballot request and return deadlines, and mandates that election officials must notify voters of signature discrepancies or missing information within one business day, giving them three days to correct errors before ballots are rejected. It explicitly preserves states' ability to maintain in-person polling places and applies to federal elections starting in 2026. The bill cites findings that universal mail-in voting increases participation, reduces poll wait times, and has no proven fraud risk, while eliminating requirements for personal justification or notarization.

Maddy summaryHR 669, the "Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2025," requires Congress to declare war before the U.S. can conduct a first-use nuclear strike. It directly affects the President (who currently has sole authority to authorize such strikes), military commanders, and Congress by mandating that federal funds cannot be used for a first-use attack without a congressional declaration of war. The bill defines a "first-use nuclear strike" as an attack launched without prior confirmation that the U.S., its territories, or allies were first hit with nuclear weapons. This law changes policy by creating a constitutional check on presidential nuclear authority, requiring explicit congressional approval for the initial use of nuclear weapons.

Maddy summaryHR 646, the Build Housing with Care Act of 2025, establishes a HUD grant program to fund the co-location of affordable housing developments with child care facilities. It directly affects housing developers, child care providers, and residents of affordable housing by requiring grants to support projects in "child care deserts" (areas with severe child care shortages), prioritizing low-income, rural, or Head Start-serving providers. Key provisions mandate that projects must not evict residents, include resident engagement plans, and ensure child care providers serve low-income families or dual-language learners. The bill authorizes $100 million annually (2025-2030) and requires annual reports tracking child care slots created, resident usage, and demographic data.

Neighbors Not Enemies Act This bill repeals provisions authorizing the President to apprehend and remove from the United States the citizens of a particular nation, if the United States has declared war against that nation or that nation has threatened an invasion against the United States.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, or sex characteristics in military service. It requires that eligibility for military service and all personnel policies consider only an individual's ability to meet job-specific military standards, banning the use of race, color, national origin, religion, or gender-related factors. The law directly affects all current and prospective members of the Armed Forces by mandating that military occupational standards apply equally to everyone. It amends Title 10 of the U.S. Code to establish these protections as a formal requirement for all military personnel policies.

Maddy summaryHR 433, the Department of Education Protection Act, prohibits the use of federal funds to reorganize the Department of Education. Specifically, it blocks any spending from current fiscal year appropriations on activities that would decentralize the department, reduce staffing, or alter its structure, responsibilities, or authority relative to its organization as of January 1, 2025. The bill directly affects the Department of Education by preventing structural changes to its existing offices and operations. This is a procedural measure focused solely on preserving the current departmental framework, not on changing education policy or funding.

Maddy summaryThe TRUST in Congress Act requires current and new Members of Congress, along with their spouses and dependent children, to place certain investments - such as stocks, commodities, and derivatives - into a blind trust within 90 to 180 days of taking office. It excludes U.S. Treasury securities and widely held mutual funds from this requirement and exempts investments tied to a spouse’s or dependent child’s primary job. Members must certify the trust’s setup to the House Clerk or Senate Secretary within 15 days, with these records posted publicly online. The act also prohibits dissolving such trusts until 180 days after a member leaves office.

Maddy summaryThe Proxy Voting for New Parents Resolution (HRES 23) would allow U.S. House Members who have given birth or whose spouse has given birth to appoint another Member as a proxy to cast their vote or record their presence in the House and committees for up to 12 weeks after childbirth. To use this, the new parent must submit a signed letter to the Clerk detailing the birth or medical condition and naming the proxy; the proxy must vote exactly as instructed and announce the vote as "by proxy." The proxy vote does not count toward quorum, and the new parent can revoke the proxy at any time by submitting a new letter or casting their own vote. This resolution applies to all House Members, including Delegates and the Resident Commissioner, though they cannot cast votes for the House itself.