Maddy summaryHCONRES 37 is a non-binding congressional resolution expressing that Congress views climate change as an emergency requiring a massive national mobilization. It states that human-caused climate change severely impacts U.S. economic well-being, health, safety, and national security, and urges the President to use existing authorities to accelerate climate action. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but emphasizes the need for urgent, equitable efforts to reduce emissions, address environmental injustice, and support vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by climate impacts. It cites rising global temperatures, extreme weather costs ($165 billion in U.S. disasters in 2022), and the Inflation Reduction Act as context, while clarifying it does not declare an actual national emergency.
Rep. Judy Chu
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHRES 362 is a symbolic House resolution recognizing elementary and secondary school teachers' contributions to U.S. civic, cultural, and economic well-being. It specifically thanks teachers and encourages students, parents, school leaders, and officials to acknowledge National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 8-12, 2023). The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes - it solely promotes public appreciation for the teaching profession through a formal expression of gratitude. It directly affects teachers by affirming their societal value but does not alter laws, funding, or educational standards.
Maddy summaryHRES 351 is a symbolic resolution designating May as "National Menstrual Health Awareness Month" to address stigma around menstruation. It recognizes that stigma and lack of access to products/facilities impact women, girls, and people who menstruate in education, work, and health. The resolution supports normalizing menstruation, improving menstrual health education, and promoting access to products and private sanitation facilities. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but aims to raise awareness and advance gender equity through public acknowledgment.
Maddy summaryThis resolution designates April 30, 2023, as "National Adult Hepatitis B Vaccination Awareness Day" to raise public attention about hepatitis B vaccination for adults. It highlights that only 30% of U.S. adults are vaccinated despite the vaccine's 95% effectiveness and hepatitis B's serious health risks, including liver cancer. The resolution encourages testing, vaccination, and care linkage for adults but does not create new laws or funding. It serves as a symbolic congressional statement to support existing public health efforts, focusing on awareness rather than policy changes.
Maddy summaryHR 3117, the Hotel to Housing Conversion Act of 2023, creates a $750 million federal grant program to help convert vacant hotels, motels, or residential properties into emergency shelters and housing for homeless individuals and families. The grants, distributed to states and local homeless service networks, cover acquisition, renovation, operating costs, and supportive services like counseling. Eligible projects must address urgent housing needs in areas with high homelessness, as determined by competitive applications. The program runs from fiscal years 2024 through 2028, requiring grantees to report on how funds reduced homelessness in their communities.
Maddy summaryHR 3113, the Expanding Access to School Meals Act of 2023, would eliminate reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs in schools, requiring all meals to be either free or full price. It would expand eligibility for free school meals by raising the income threshold from 130% to 200% of the federal poverty level and creating direct certification for children receiving Medicaid benefits. The bill also allows schools to seek retroactive reimbursement for meals served to eligible students and increases the community eligibility program multiplier to 2.5. These changes would affect school meal programs nationwide, particularly benefiting low-income children who qualify for free meals under the revised standards.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows states to implement a statewide program under the National School Lunch Act, enabling all schools in the state to receive federal reimbursement for free meals without needing to individually verify student poverty levels. It removes the previous requirement that schools must meet a minimum percentage of low-income students (setting the threshold to zero) and simplifies eligibility by calculating student need across the entire state instead of per school district. Schools in participating states would no longer need to conduct individual student eligibility screenings for free meal programs, streamlining access. The policy directly affects public school districts and students in states that adopt this statewide approach, ensuring all enrolled students receive free meals without administrative barriers.
Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act This bill limits U.S. assistance to Israel and establishes reporting requirements related to Israel's activities in the West Bank and its expenditures for offshore procurement. (Offshore procurement involves spending U.S. security assistance from the Foreign Military Financing program on Israeli-origin rather than U.S.-origin defense articles.) Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of any funds that are made available for assistance to Israel to support (1) military detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill treatment of Palestinian children; (2) seizure, appropriation, or destruction of Palestinian property and forcible transfer of civilians in the Israeli-controlled West Bank; or (3) certain activities to facilitate unilateral annexation by Israel of West Bank territory. The Department of State must report on the nature and extent of such activities carried out by Israel. Further, the Government Accountability Office must submit to Congress a report on related topics, such as (1) identifying specific programs and items to which funds for offshore procurement in Israel have been allocated, (2) identifying all end-use monitoring to which Israel is subject with respect to U.S.-origin defense articles, and (3) assessing the extent to which offshore procurement funds have supported illegal Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
Original Fair Housing Resolution of 2023 This resolution expresses support for the goals and values of the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and for efforts to strengthen housing protections.
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.