Rep. Wesley Bell

Maddy summaryThe JUDGES Act of 2025 authorizes the creation of new federal district court judgeships across multiple jurisdictions to address rising caseloads. It specifies adding 1-2 new judges to 11 federal districts in 2025, with additional judgeships phased in through 2035 across California, Texas, Florida, New York, and other states. The bill also establishes temporary judgeships for Oklahoma's eastern district with specific vacancy rules, authorizes funding for these positions through 2035, and requires GAO reports on judicial caseload methodologies and detention space needs. This legislation directly affects federal courts in 15 states by increasing judicial staffing to address a 30% rise in filings since 1990, as noted in the bill's findings.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by clarifying how to prove voting discrimination and expanding requirements for preclearance of voting changes. It establishes new standards for determining when voting practices dilute minority voting strength or deny/abridge voting rights, requiring plaintiffs to show specific conditions for vote dilution claims and including factors like historical discrimination and racial polarization in court analyses. The bill modifies the criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must seek preclearance for voting changes, and adds new transparency requirements for jurisdictions to publicly disclose changes to voting qualifications, polling locations, and election districts. It directly affects states and local governments that implement voting policies, particularly those with a history of voting rights violations or that make changes to voting qualifications, procedures, or district boundaries. The bill aims to prevent discriminatory voting practices by providing clearer standards for courts and requiring greater transparency in voting rule changes.

Maddy summaryThe Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025 strengthens workers' organizing rights by making it an unfair labor practice for employers to threaten permanent replacement of striking workers, discriminate against workers who support unions, or require employees to attend employer campaigns unrelated to their job duties. It expands the definition of "employee" to make it harder for companies to classify workers as independent contractors and requires employers to post notices about workers' rights in conspicuous locations. The bill establishes a new electronic voting system for union elections, creates a 90-day bargaining period before mediation can be requested, and increases penalties for violations of labor laws. These changes are intended to make it easier for workers to form unions and negotiate better wages and working conditions.

Maddy summaryHR 1835 (MERIT Act) provides reinstatement or compensation to federal employees who were terminated during a specific mass layoff period (January 20, 2025, through the bill’s enactment date). Affected probationary employees - newly hired workers on a trial period or not yet permanent - can choose to return to a similar position with matching benefits or receive a lump-sum payment covering the pay difference between their terminated role and any new federal job they held during the layoff period. Agencies must notify affected employees within 30 days and offer reinstatement or payment within 90 days, with employees required to accept or decline within 30 days to avoid losing eligibility. The bill defines "mass termination" as 15+ separations in a 30-day period by a single agency.

Maddy summaryHJRES 67 designates August as Slavery Remembrance Month to commemorate the arrival of enslaved Africans in 1619 and honor freedom fighters who opposed slavery. The resolution condemns slavery and its lasting impacts - including convict leasing, Jim Crow laws, and systemic racism - while encouraging public remembrance through ceremonies. It requests the President issue a proclamation urging Americans to observe the month with appropriate activities. The resolution also posthumously recognizes 15 Black Congress members from the Reconstruction Era as honorary cosponsors. This is a symbolic commemorative resolution with no binding policy changes.

Maddy summaryHR 1787 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring baseball legend Roberto Clemente, including $5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar coins, with specific specifications for weight, size, and metal content. The bill requires the coins to feature Clemente's image and commemorative inscriptions, and mandates a surcharge ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollar) paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation for its educational, youth sports, and disaster relief programs. All coins must be minted in 2027, sold at face value plus surcharge and production costs, and will be legal tender. The bill focuses solely on the coin program, not broader policy changes.

Safe Schools Improvement Act This bill requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment of elementary and secondary school students. In particular, these policies must prohibit bullying and harassment based on race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex. Sex includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics (including intersex traits). Further, LEAs must provide (1) students, parents, and educational professionals with annual notice of the conduct prohibited in their disciplinary policies; (2) students and parents with grievance procedures that target such conduct; and (3) the public with annual data on the incidence and frequency of that conduct at the school and LEA level. The Department of Education must conduct and report on an independent biennial evaluation of programs and policies to combat bullying and harassment in elementary and secondary schools. The National Center for Education Statistics must collect state data to determine the incidence and frequency of the conduct prohibited by LEA disciplinary policies.

Maddy summaryHR 1383 extends the Secure Rural Schools program, which provides payments to counties and states with federal land (like national forests) to support local schools and services. It reauthorizes these payments through fiscal year 2026, adding specific rules to ensure counties don’t receive duplicate payments for 2024 and 2025. The bill also extends related authorities for special projects on federal land and county fund expenditures through 2028-2029. This directly affects rural communities adjacent to federal lands that rely on these payments for education and infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Section 5(e)(6) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 by removing a reference to "subparagraph (B)" and renumbering the following provisions. It does not change SNAP eligibility rules or benefits; it only adjusts the internal numbering of existing provisions. The change takes effect January 1 following enactment. As a procedural amendment, it directly affects how the law is cited but does not alter policy or impact beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HJRES 63) would rename the Robert E. Lee Memorial, a National Park Service site in Arlington, Virginia, to "Arlington House National Historic Site." It directly affects the National Park Service, which manages the site, and all federal government documents, maps, and records referencing the location. The key provision updates all official references to the site to the new name and repeals two prior resolutions that established the memorial. As a procedural renaming bill, it does not create new policies or funding but changes the site's official designation.