Rep. Jim Costa

Maddy summaryHRES 342 is a symbolic House resolution commemorating the 48th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon (April 30, 1975), an event known as "Black April" in Vietnamese-American communities. It honors Vietnamese Americans who resettled in the U.S. after 1975, recognizes the service of South Vietnamese and U.S. military personnel who fought in Vietnam, and acknowledges the ongoing human rights concerns in Vietnam. The resolution has no policy or financial impact - it solely encourages the public to remember this historical event and support democratic values in Vietnam.

Maddy summaryThe Postal Police Reform Act of 2023 updates federal law to explicitly include "Postal Service police officers" alongside Postal Inspectors as authorized personnel for enforcing regulations on U.S. Postal Service property. It clarifies that the Postmaster General can establish and post rules for protecting postal property, with violations punishable by fines or up to 30 days in jail. This change directly affects USPS police officers (by formalizing their role), the Postmaster General (by expanding regulatory authority), and anyone on postal property who must follow posted rules. The bill makes existing enforcement procedures more explicit without altering penalties or creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects living organ donors from insurance discrimination by prohibiting life, disability, and long-term care insurers from denying coverage, raising premiums, or altering policy terms solely because someone donated an organ while alive. It also updates the Family and Medical Leave Act to include recovery from organ donation surgery as a qualifying health condition, allowing donors to take protected leave for this purpose. Additionally, the bill requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to update public educational materials about living donation benefits, risks, and insurance protections within six months of enactment. These changes directly affect living organ donors, insurers, employers, and healthcare systems by ensuring fair access to insurance and workplace leave.

Maddy summaryHR 2955, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, establishes a Federal Work Group to improve data collection and best practices for youth in residential programs (like therapeutic schools, treatment centers, and group homes). The Work Group, composed of federal agency representatives and diverse stakeholders, must develop national data standards, create risk assessment tools, and issue biennial reports with recommendations to enhance safety, reduce restraints, and expand community-based alternatives. It directly affects youth with mental health, substance use, or disability needs placed in these facilities, as well as agencies overseeing them. The bill also mandates a National Academies study to examine funding, oversight, and barriers to community care. These mechanisms aim to standardize data tracking and promote less restrictive, trauma-informed care for youth in residential programs.

Maddy summaryHRES 334 is a symbolic resolution recognizing "Community College Month" to celebrate over 1,000 community colleges across the United States. It highlights how these institutions support accessible higher education, workforce training, and economic prosperity - serving 10.2 million students annually while charging affordable tuition (averaging $3,860 for in-district students). The resolution does not create new laws or requirements but formally acknowledges community colleges' role in strengthening local communities and the national economy. This acknowledgment applies broadly to all community colleges and their students, without imposing any obligations.

Maddy summaryThe PREPARE Act establishes a new pre-disaster mitigation loan program for small businesses through the Small Business Administration (SBA). It authorizes $25 million annually from 2024 to 2028 to provide loans of up to $500,000 per business, enabling small businesses to fund projects that protect their property and operations from disaster damage (e.g., flood barriers or structural reinforcements). The SBA must conduct targeted outreach to businesses in economically distressed areas, offer technical assistance, and require borrowers to maintain insurance during loan terms. Annual reports will track program outcomes, including project types, cost savings avoided, and regional impacts, to evaluate effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHRES 332 is a symbolic House resolution expressing congressional support for Ukraine's victory in its war against Russia. It affirms that U.S. policy should aim for Ukraine to prevail and return to its internationally recognized 1991 borders, with the House declaring that Ukraine's victory must be secured through NATO integration. The resolution also calls for the Russian Federation to pay reparations, global support for Ukraine's rebuilding, accountability for Russian leaders, and justice for victims of wartime crimes. As a non-binding "sense of Congress" resolution (not a law), it does not change U.S. policy but reflects the House's stance on supporting Ukraine.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 330) is a symbolic measure supporting the annual designation of the week of April 23-29, 2023, as "National Crime Victims' Rights Week." It does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally recognizes the importance of crime victims' rights and highlights the 2023 theme, "Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change," which focuses on amplifying survivors' perspectives in policy and support systems. The resolution expresses the House's commitment to honoring victims, supporting victim assistance organizations, and promoting existing federal programs like the Victims of Crime Act. It has no direct effect on individuals or policy changes beyond raising awareness.

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.