Rep. Joe Neguse

Maddy summaryHJRES 72 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove the exception in the Thirteenth Amendment that allows slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. If ratified, this amendment would ban the use of forced labor in prisons as a criminal penalty, directly affecting how the U.S. criminal justice system handles sentencing. The resolution clarifies it does not interfere with voluntary work programs in correctional facilities, existing employment protections for incarcerated people, or community service alternatives. This change aims to eliminate a historical loophole that has disproportionately impacted Black Americans since the 1860s.

Maddy summaryHR 4122, the Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to honor Henrietta Lacks for her contribution to medical science through the HeLa cell line. The bill directs the Treasury to strike the medal recognizing how her cells enabled major medical advances, including the polio vaccine and cancer treatments, without altering any laws or policies. The medal will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution to commemorate her legacy in scientific research and bioethics. This is a purely commemorative measure with no direct effect on current legislation or affected individuals.

Maddy summaryHR 1525, the FAIR Act of 2023, reforms federal civil forfeiture laws to require all property seizures to go through a court process rather than allowing agencies to take property without judicial review. It raises the evidence standard from "preponderance of the evidence" to "clear and convincing evidence" for the government to prove forfeiture, and mandates courts to review cases within 7 days of seizure. The bill also requires courts to appoint attorneys for low-income individuals unable to afford legal representation and ensures property owners receive timely notice of their rights. These changes directly affect individuals whose property is seized in civil forfeiture cases, particularly those with limited financial means.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases per diem payments for homeless veterans receiving VA services. It raises the daily payment rate from $115 to $200 for certain housing-related services, including emergency responses. The change directly affects homeless veterans who qualify for these VA-funded housing supports. The key provision adjusts the payment rate in Section 2012(a)(2)(B) of the U.S. Code to provide higher funding for services assisting homeless veterans.

Maddy summaryHR 4070, the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2023, excludes certain payments received from state disaster mitigation programs from taxable income. It directly affects homeowners who get funds from state or state-regulated programs to make property improvements specifically designed to reduce damage from windstorms, earthquakes, or wildfires (like installing fire-resistant roofing or seismic upgrades). The bill adds a new tax exclusion in the Internal Revenue Code, meaning these qualified mitigation payments won't be counted as gross income for tax purposes. This change applies to payments made after December 31, 2020, with options for retroactive tax filings.

Maddy summaryHR 4041, the Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act, requires lobbyists to disclose whether they qualify for an exemption under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Specifically, it amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act to add a new requirement for registrants to state if they are exempt under FARA section 3(h) (22 U.S.C. 613(h)). This affects registered lobbyists who may represent foreign principals but claim exemption from FARA registration. The bill changes disclosure forms to include this specific statement, enhancing transparency about foreign influence in lobbying activities.

Woman on the Twenty Act of 2023 This bill bars the printing of any $20 note after December 31, 2026, which does not prominently feature a portrait of Harriet Tubman on the front face of the note. The Department of the Treasury shall release to the public the preliminary design of the $20 note prominently featuring a portrait of Harriet Tubman no later than December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal program to collect data on illegal passing of stopped school buses. It requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to award grants to up to 12 diverse entities - including school districts, tribal agencies, public/private bus fleets, and communities with varying weather/socioeconomic backgrounds - to monitor and document specific incident details like location, weather, driver characteristics, and enforcement actions. After collecting this data, grantees must submit reports, leading to a national public safety campaign (using the collected data) and model legislation requiring illegal passing to be classified as a moving violation. The bill directly affects school transportation safety systems, law enforcement, and drivers who pass stopped school buses, focusing on data-driven prevention rather than new penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve how it processes PTSD disability claims. It mandates annual training for VA claims processors on PTSD stressor development and verification, standardizes training across regional offices, and establishes annual processes to analyze processing errors and study PTSD claim trends. The VA must also update procedural guidance yearly to provide better resources for processing claims involving service-connected PTSD. These changes directly affect VA claims processors and aim to make the claims process more accurate and efficient for veterans seeking PTSD disability benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies collecting demographic survey data to begin including questions on sexual orientation, gender identity, and variations in sex characteristics (intersex traits) within 360 days of enactment. Agencies must review existing surveys to identify gaps, develop privacy-protective methods for collecting this data (including anonymization and data destruction protocols), and incorporate it into relevant reports within three years. The law applies to all federal surveys that collect standard demographic data (like race, ethnicity, and age), such as the census or health surveys, but does not compel individuals to disclose their status. It emphasizes maintaining confidentiality, allows limited agency waivers if standards can't be met, and mandates a congressional report on implementation within two years.