Rep. Ted Lieu

Maddy summaryThe REDUCE Act of 2023 imposes an excise tax on virgin plastic resin and certain single-use plastic products, starting at 10 cents per pound in 2024 and increasing to 20 cents per pound by 2026 (with annual inflation adjustments). The tax applies to manufacturers, producers, and importers of plastic products, with exemptions for small businesses producing less than 10 tons annually. Revenue from the tax will fund the Plastic Waste Reduction Fund, which will support recycling infrastructure, reuse systems, and marine debris cleanup efforts. The bill specifically excludes medical products, certain packaging, and hygiene items from the tax requirements.

Venezuelans Overcoming Interference and Corruption in Elections Act or the VOICE Act This bill requires the President to impose sanctions on any foreign persons who prevent opposition candidates from participating in the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election. Specifically, the President must impose sanctions on any foreign persons (including Venezuelan officials) who prevent opposition candidates from participating in, or who materially assist in preventing opposition candidates from participating in, the 2024 Venezuelan presidential elections. Sanctions include asset blocking, inadmissibility into the United States, and visa revocation. The President may waive sanctions based on a determination that such a waiver is in the national interest of the United States.

Maddy summaryHR 5610 establishes a 15-member Commission to examine historical discrimination against LGBTQ+ service members and veterans. The Commission will document policies targeting LGBTQ+ individuals in the military since WWII, gather testimonies from affected veterans, and analyze impacts on mental health, benefits access, and financial stability. It must hold public hearings, examine how discrimination affected racial minorities and women within the military, and recommend solutions like record corrections, improved benefits for LGBTQ+ veterans, and better diversity training. The Commission will submit a final report to Congress within one year, proposing concrete steps to address past harms and improve inclusion in the military.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution (HRES 701) symbolically supports expanding the Abraham Accords on their third anniversary by urging the U.S. government to encourage more countries to normalize relations with Israel and deepen economic cooperation among existing signatories. It recommends promoting regional collaboration in areas like clean energy, security, and trade, while linking expanded ties to progress on Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. The resolution has no legal effect - it expresses congressional support but does not create new laws or obligations. It directly affects U.S. diplomatic strategy toward Middle East relations, emphasizing symbolic endorsement over concrete policy changes.

Maddy summaryThe Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act would expand benefits for part-time workers by reducing the eligibility requirement for family and medical leave from 12 months to 90 days, applying to federal, state, and congressional employees. It prohibits employers from discriminating against part-time workers based on hours worked, requiring equal treatment in compensation, benefits, and promotion opportunities. The bill mandates employers to obtain written statements from employees about desired work hours and prioritize scheduling existing employees before hiring new staff or using contractors. It applies to employers with more than 15 employees across various sectors and establishes enforcement through the Department of Labor with civil penalties for violations. The bill would take effect one year after enactment, with regulations to be issued within 180 days of passage.

Maddy summaryHR 5566, the *Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization Act of 2023*, establishes an 18-year term limit for all Supreme Court justices. It requires the President to nominate one new justice every two years (during first and third years after presidential elections), with Senate confirmation within 90 days, and prohibits lifetime appointments. Current justices are automatically retired in order of service length as new justices are appointed, while retired justices may temporarily fill vacancies through a randomized process. The bill directly affects all sitting and future Supreme Court justices by restructuring appointments and retirement timelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill would establish the Civilian Climate Corps, a national workforce program that would employ and train 50,000 to 400,000 young adults annually through 2028 to work on climate-related projects. The program would provide participants with a minimum living allowance of $17 per hour, health care benefits, and $25,000 in educational benefits per term of service. It would require 50% of projects to be located in under-resourced communities (with 10% specifically in Indian country) and ensure at least 50% of participants come from these communities. The Corps would focus on climate resilience, clean energy infrastructure, environmental remediation, and creating career pathways in the growing clean economy sector.

Maddy summaryThe Reuniting Families Act reduces family-based visa backlogs by reclassifying spouses, permanent partners, and minor children of legal permanent residents as immediate relatives, allowing them to be processed more quickly. The bill recaptures unused visa numbers from previous years, increasing the total number of available family-based visas without changing the overall annual caps. It expands rights for permanent partners (not just married spouses) and provides relief for orphans, widows, and widowers with pending applications. The legislation also prohibits removal of aliens with pending applications and prioritizes family reunification in refugee resettlement processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office within the Department of Justice to address racial disparities in missing and murdered Black women and girls cases. The Office will collect data on case resolution times, coordinate with law enforcement, and create a public dashboard tracking these cases. It also creates grants for community organizations to provide culturally appropriate services, prevention programs, and training for law enforcement targeting violence against Black women and girls. The bill directly affects Black women and girls who are victims of violence and their communities, focusing on improving data collection and support systems rather than changing criminal laws.

Maddy summaryThe Schedules That Work Act (HR 5563) requires employers in retail, food service, cleaning, hospitality, and warehouse sectors to provide workers with at least 14 days' advance notice of their work schedules and to pay predictability pay for last-minute schedule changes. It allows employees to request schedule modifications for caregiving, health conditions, education, or second jobs, with employers required to grant such requests unless they have a bona fide business reason for denial. The bill also prohibits scheduling shifts less than 11 hours apart without employee consent and mandates employers to provide estimates of monthly work hours for the following year. These provisions aim to address the widespread problem of unpredictable schedules that disproportionately impact low-wage workers, particularly women and workers of color, who often lack control over their work hours.