Rep. Barbara Lee

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a single Congressional Gold Medal to honor all U.S. Army Dustoff crews who served during the Vietnam War (1962-1973). It recognizes their critical role in evacuating nearly 900,000 wounded personnel, including U.S., South Vietnamese, and allied forces, under extreme combat conditions. The medal, designed with input from the Secretary of Defense, will be presented to the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum for permanent display. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to cover costs, but the primary action is the commemorative recognition of these crews' service.

Maddy summaryHR 1002, the "Saving the Civil Service Act," restricts how federal government positions can be moved between competitive hiring (where most federal jobs are filled through merit-based exams) and non-competitive "excepted service" positions. The bill prevents agencies from moving positions out of the competitive service unless they fit specific schedules in place as of September 2020, requires Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approval for certain transfers, and mandates employee consent for any position transfer between service types. It also limits the number of employees that can be moved from competitive to excepted service during a presidential term - capping it at 1% of an agency's workforce or five employees, whichever is greater. The bill directly affects federal employees and agencies by making it harder to shift positions out of the competitive hiring system without strict oversight.

Maddy summaryThe Civil Rights Legacy Protection Act makes it a federal crime to intentionally damage or destroy 19 specific civil rights memorials and structures on public property, including the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama and the Civil Rights Memorial Center in Alabama. Offenders face penalties of up to 300 hours of community service or one year in prison for damage under $5,000, or up to three years in prison for more significant damage, with restitution required for convicted individuals. The bill mandates that the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights annually update and publish a public list of covered civil rights events and figures to define the protected sites. This law directly affects individuals who target these designated memorials, with the initial protected sites fixed at 19 locations.

Maddy summaryThe Pregnant Women in Custody Act establishes new standards for care of pregnant women in correctional facilities across federal, state, tribal, and local systems. It prohibits using restrictive housing for pregnant women from confirmed pregnancy through 12 weeks after delivery (with limited exceptions), requires facilities to provide comprehensive healthcare services including prenatal and postpartum care, and mandates data collection about the health needs of incarcerated pregnant women. The bill also requires staff training on proper treatment, establishes protocols for unexpected childbirth, and mandates transfer of women with high-risk pregnancies to facilities with appropriate medical care. These provisions aim to improve health outcomes for both mothers and infants by addressing gaps in care for incarcerated pregnant women.

Maddy summaryThe AIM Act of 2023 removes numerous restrictions on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that were previously placed in annual appropriations bills. The bill eliminates prohibitions on sharing firearms trace data with law enforcement, requirements for physical inventory checks of firearms dealers, and the 24-hour destruction rule for background check records. It also revises standards for revoking firearms licenses, changing the requirement from "willful" to "knowing" violations, and removes barriers to processing Freedom of Information Act requests related to firearms. This legislation directly affects the ATF's operations and firearms dealers who must comply with federal licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 782 prohibits state officials from interfering with abortion services provided across state lines. It specifically blocks states from restricting: (1) out-of-state patients traveling for legal abortions, (2) providers offering such services, (3) assistance for travel or care, or (4) the interstate shipment of FDA-approved abortion drugs. The bill allows the federal Attorney General or affected individuals to sue violators for injunctions, damages, and attorney fees. It directly affects patients seeking care in other states, healthcare providers, transportation services, and pharmacies handling FDA-approved abortion medications. The law focuses on preventing state laws from blocking access to legally permitted abortion services.

Maddy summaryHR 652, the Zero Food Waste Act, establishes a $650 million EPA grant program to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030 (compared to 2010 levels). It directly affects states, local governments, tribes, and nonprofits that apply for grants to fund food waste reduction activities, such as studying waste generation, collecting data, implementing diversion programs (like charging higher fees for landfill disposal), or supporting anaerobic digestion projects. Grants require grantees to collect data, publish reports, and prioritize projects in communities disproportionately affected by waste-related environmental or health impacts. The bill mandates annual EPA reports to Congress on progress toward the 50% reduction target.

Maddy summaryHRES 119 is a symbolic resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' support for designating March 2023 as "Music in Our Schools Month." It highlights music's cultural importance, historical role in education, and documented benefits for student engagement and development. The resolution specifically notes inequitable access to music programs in underserved schools (including those in urban/rural areas, high-poverty districts, and majority-Black, Hispanic, or Native American communities). As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new policies, funding, or mandates - it solely serves to publicly recognize the value of music education.

Maddy summaryHR 927, the Supreme Court Ethics Act, establishes new ethics rules and oversight for Supreme Court justices. It requires the Judicial Conference to create a binding code of conduct within one year and mandates the appointment of an Ethics Investigations Counsel to receive public complaints, investigate potential violations, and issue annual public reports. The bill also requires justices to publicly disclose their reasons for recusing themselves or denying recusal motions in cases. These provisions directly affect Supreme Court justices by creating a formal process for handling ethics concerns and increasing transparency around their conduct.

Maddy summaryThe Child Care for Every Community Act establishes a federal program to provide universal, high-quality child care and early learning services for all young children not yet required to attend school. It provides 90% federal funding for most programs (100% for migrant/seasonal farmworkers and Native American children) with a sliding fee scale based on family income (maximum 7% of income). The bill requires states, tribes, and localities to develop comprehensive plans ensuring services are accessible, culturally appropriate, and meet national quality standards. It specifically focuses on serving low-income children, children with disabilities, dual language learners, homeless children, and children in foster care. The program emphasizes coordination with schools and other community services to support children's development and school readiness.