Rep. Judy Chu

Maddy summaryHRES 449 is a non-binding House resolution expressing support for establishing an income tax agreement between the United States and Taiwan. It highlights that Taiwan is the U.S.'s largest trading partner without such a treaty, noting that over 188,000 U.S. jobs depend on trade with Taiwan. The resolution encourages the President to work toward eliminating double taxation and strengthening economic ties through formal tax agreements. It does not create new law but urges diplomatic efforts to advance trade and investment, consistent with existing U.S. policy toward Taiwan.

Corporal Fernando Ruiz Baltazar Posthumous Citizenship Act of 2023 This bill extends posthumous citizenship to an otherwise qualified noncitizen who enlisted, reenlisted, extended enlistment, or was inducted into the U.S. Armed Forces in the Philippines and died as a result of such active duty service during the period beginning September 1, 1939, and ending December 31, 1946. The executive department under which an individual served must determine whether the individual satisfied the requirements for posthumous citizenship under this bill. Specified naturalization and other posthumous benefit provisions shall not apply to the surviving spouse, child, or parent of such an individual.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit for expenses related to "qualified access technology for the blind" under the Internal Revenue Code. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $2,000 per year (adjusted for inflation) for costs paid for hardware, software, or IT that converts visual information into formats usable by blind individuals, covering the taxpayer, their spouse, or a dependent who is blind. The credit is limited to $2,000 over any three consecutive tax years per blind individual and expires after 2028. It directly affects blind individuals and their families who purchase qualifying assistive technology. The credit cannot be claimed for expenses already covered by other tax deductions or credits.

Preemption of Real Property Discrimination Act This bill preempts any state law that prohibits or restricts the purchase of real property by an individual based on the individual's citizenship.

Maddy summaryHRES 439 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for keeping the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as an independent federal agency, not subject to privatization. It highlights USPS's constitutional role, self-sustaining nature (relying on service revenue, not taxpayer funds), and its importance to rural communities, e-commerce, and over 600,000 employees. The resolution urges Congress to take action to preserve USPS's independence, emphasizing that privatization could raise prices, reduce services, and harm the nation's mail infrastructure. As a procedural resolution, it does not change law but formally states the House's position.

Maddy summaryHR 3607, the SYLLABLE Act of 2023, creates a federal grant program to fund high-quality dual language immersion programs for students from low-income families, English learners, and minority children. It authorizes up to $15 million in funding for fiscal year 2024 to award no more than five grants to local educational agencies, requiring partnerships between schools, early childhood programs, and technical assistance providers. The grants support bilingual programs from preschool through fifth grade that use the partner language for at least half of instruction, include teacher training in dual language teaching, and measure student progress in both English and the partner language. The program must serve high-need schools and evaluate outcomes like literacy development, academic achievement, and program effectiveness over five years.

Maddy summaryHR 3606 (FLUENT Act) creates a federal grant program to expand family literacy services for English language learner families, targeting caregivers with limited English proficiency. It authorizes $50 million annually (2024-2028) for grants up to $1 million each to organizations providing research-based programs that include interactive caregiver-child literacy activities, adult education, and school collaboration. The program requires grantees to improve children's English language skills, primary language literacy, and caregivers' ability to support education, with measurable outcomes tracked across seven key areas. It prioritizes "hardest-to-reach" families and mandates services for children under age 8 with caregivers aged 16+.

Maddy summaryHR 3605, the Reaching English Learners Act, creates a new federal grant program to improve teacher preparation for educators working with English learners. The bill authorizes competitive grants to partnerships between colleges and school districts (high-need local educational agencies or early childhood programs) to develop or strengthen teacher training programs. These grants fund evidence-based strategies like bilingual education and dual-language instruction, clinical classroom experiences with English learners, and training on supporting students with disabilities who are English learners. Partners must contribute 50% of costs from non-Federal sources and track outcomes like teacher certification rates and employment in high-need schools. The program aims to ensure future teachers meet state requirements to effectively support English learners in early childhood, elementary, and secondary education.

Maddy summaryHR 3610, the Neighbors Not Enemies Act, repeals specific sections (4067-4070) of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 from U.S. law. This bill removes the legal authority allowing the president to detain or deport non-citizens during wartime based on that historical statute. The repeal directly affects the federal legal framework governing emergency powers over non-citizens, eliminating a provision dating to the Quasi-War with France. The bill makes no new policy changes but formally removes this outdated legal mechanism from the U.S. Code.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits corporal punishment (such as spanking or paddling) in all schools receiving federal funding, directly affecting students, school personnel, and school administrators. It requires schools to notify parents within 24 hours if corporal punishment occurs and establishes enforcement through civil lawsuits by students/parents, Attorney General actions, and Office for Civil Rights oversight. The bill mandates states to submit school climate reports and develop training programs on positive behavioral interventions to reduce exclusionary discipline practices that disproportionately affect students of color, students with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. It creates a grant program to help schools implement these approaches, with priority given to schools with high suspension rates and disciplinary actions. The bill does not apply to private schools or home schools that don't receive federal funding.