Rep. Karen Bass

This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress for ensuring the speediest end of the COVID-19 pandemic the United States and European governments should unite to enact a World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights waiver, require technology transfer, and otherwise facilitate access in low- and middle-income countries to high-quality COVID-19 mRNA vaccines; and vital U.S. partners, with shared values who also prioritize global cooperation and saving lives and livelihoods worldwide, should unite to remove all obstacles to global access to COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics, treatments, oxygen, and other medical products to advance the common goal of quickly ending the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution states that the U.S. government has an obligation to the American people, whose taxpayer funds helped to develop lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines, to ensure that doses are ultimately delivered to those most in need around the world so as to ensure the global COVID-19 vaccination necessary to end the pandemic.

Maddy summaryHJRES 53 proposes a constitutional amendment to ban slavery and involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment. Currently, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution permits such punishments for crimes, creating a legal loophole. If ratified by 3/4 of state legislatures, this amendment would eliminate that exception nationwide, making it unconstitutional to impose forced labor or slavery as part of criminal sentences. The change would directly affect all states' criminal justice systems, particularly prison labor practices, by prohibiting these punishments for any offense.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment providing that the rights protected by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only. Artificial entities, such as corporations, shall have no rights under the Constitution and are subject to regulation. The amendment requires federal, state, and local government to (1) regulate, limit, or prohibit election contributions and expenditures, including a candidate's own contributions and expenditures; and (2) require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed. The judiciary is prohibited from construing the spending of money to influence elections to be speech under the First Amendment, and the amendment shall not be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.

This resolution expresses support for implementing a Transgender Bill of Rights that guarantees certain rights for transgender and nonbinary people with respect to public services and accommodations, employment, housing, health care, and other specified areas.

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights are human rights and protected by the U.S. Constitution; (2) LGBTQIA+ Pride Month should be celebrated; and (3) all Americans should be treated equally regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

This resolution reaffirms the goals of World Refugee Day and the commitment of the United States to promote the safety and well-being of refugees and asylum seekers.

This resolution expresses support for the goals and values of the 54th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and for efforts to strengthen housing protections, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 981) commemorates the one-year anniversary of the March 16, 2021, Atlanta spa shootings that killed eight people, six of whom were Asian women, and denounces anti-Asian hate. It formally condemns the violence, honors the victims, and recognizes the ongoing impact of anti-Asian hate crimes on the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. The resolution reaffirms support for the existing COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act and commits the federal government to combating hate and violence against AAPI communities. As a symbolic measure, it does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal statement of solidarity.

This resolution condemns racism and invidious discrimination as evil and antithetical to the U.S. Constitution and declares unconditional war on racism and invidious discrimination in America. (Invidious discrimination generally refers to discrimination based on a classification that is arbitrary or irrational and not related to a legitimate purpose.) The resolution also expresses the intention of the House of Representatives to pass legislation establishing a Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation. The department shall be charged with developing and coordinating the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to eliminate racism and invidious discrimination.

Maddy summaryHRES 893 is a non-binding House resolution designating January 1 to February 1, 2022, as "National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month." It urges the public, government agencies, and organizations to raise awareness about human trafficking through educational programs and activities during this period. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds - it is a symbolic measure to promote existing anti-trafficking efforts and partnerships. It directly affects all U.S. citizens by encouraging nationwide awareness, but it has no legal force or direct impact on specific groups.