Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Maddy summaryThis resolution symbolically recognizes April 11-17, 2024, as the seventh annual "Black Maternal Health Week." It highlights the disproportionately high maternal mortality and morbidity rates faced by Black women in the U.S., citing data showing Black women are 2-3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. The resolution emphasizes systemic racism, healthcare inequities, and barriers like limited access to care as key factors contributing to these disparities. It calls for policy action - including support for the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act - but does not create new laws or allocate funding.

Maddy summaryHR 8061, the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024, ensures stable funding for the Crime Victims Fund by directing certain False Claims Act collections into it from 2024 through 2029. Specifically, it adds a provision requiring that amounts collected under the False Claims Act (excluding whistleblower rewards and government reimbursement for damages) be deposited into the fund during this period. This directly affects crime victims who rely on the fund for services like counseling and emergency aid, as it prevents potential shortfalls in funding. The bill makes a concrete policy change by redirecting specific federal civil penalties into the fund, rather than altering the fund's existing purposes or eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from closing, consolidating, or moving operations at any processing and distribution center in a region that missed specific delivery targets in the previous year. It directly affects USPS operations in regions failing to meet two key 2023 performance goals: at least 93% on-time delivery for two-day first-class mail and 90.3% for three-to-five-day first-class mail. The restriction applies annually during any calendar year based on the prior year's performance data. The law aims to protect postal facilities in underperforming areas from closure due to delivery metrics.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 288) urges the European Union to formally designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization under EU legal framework Common Position 931. It does not create new laws but requests the EU take this specific action, noting the EU has previously sanctioned IRGC individuals but not the organization as a whole. The resolution cites the IRGC's role in human rights abuses, support for proxy groups, and involvement in conflicts like Ukraine as context for the request. Introduced in April 2023 by 20+ House members, it is a non-binding expression of congressional preference.

Maddy summaryHR 3303, the Maternal Health for Veterans Act, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to annually report on maternity care coordination programs and maternal health outcomes for veterans receiving care through VA facilities or VA-contracted providers. The bill mandates the VA to collect data on maternal outcomes - including disparities affecting high-risk demographic groups - and submit recommendations to Congress by September 2028. It authorizes $15 million annually (2024-2028) for VA maternity care coordination programs, supplementing existing funding without reducing current resources. The law directly affects veterans using VA maternity services, aiming to improve care through data-driven strategies.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1147) calls on the U.S. to urge the UN Security Council to investigate sexual violence and torture reported during Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. It references a UN report finding "reasonable grounds" for incidents including rape, gang rape, and mutilation of victims, based on interviews, medical evidence, and survivor accounts. The resolution demands the international community hold perpetrators accountable for these acts. As a non-binding House resolution, it does not create new law but expresses congressional support for accountability through UN mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHRES 1148 is a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that condemns the Iranian government for supporting terrorism, regional proxy conflicts, and internal suppression of dissent - including its crackdown on protests following Mahsa Amini's death in 2022. It specifically calls for maintaining sanctions against Iran, supporting the Iranian Resistance's Ten-Point Plan (which advocates for a democratic, secular, nonnuclear Iran), and protecting Iranian political refugees in Albania. The resolution also affirms the Iranian people's right to self-determination under international law and urges the U.S. to recognize their struggle for freedom. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally expresses congressional stance.

Maddy summaryHRES 1142 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing the 10th anniversary of Boko Haram's 2014 kidnapping of 276 Chibok schoolgirls in Nigeria and urging the Nigerian government to intensify efforts against Boko Haram. It specifically calls on Nigeria to prioritize recovering abducted women and girls, account for missing persons, reduce stigma against survivors, and allow family reunifications. The resolution also urges the U.S. government to implement existing anti-terrorism strategies and track missing persons for inclusion in annual reports. This resolution directly affects the Nigerian government and the remaining 98+ Chibok girls still held captive, alongside other victims of Boko Haram's violence. It does not create new law but formalizes a call for coordinated action to address ongoing captivity and conflict in Nigeria's northeast region.

Maddy summaryHR 7973 establishes a $5 million annual grant program (2024-2028) through the Commerce Secretary to fund coral reef restoration in South Florida. It directly supports eligible entities like states, local governments, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and Mote Marine Laboratory to carry out restoration activities - such as growing new coral and relocating fragments - or reimburse past work done within the last five years. Grants are capped at $1 million per entity annually, with funding limited to specific South Florida areas including coastal waters and the Florida Reef Tract. The bill provides concrete federal funding for hands-on reef recovery efforts without altering existing regulations or creating new mandates.

Maddy summaryHRES 1127 is a symbolic House resolution commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and reaffirming U.S. policy toward Taiwan. It does not create new law but formally reiterates the U.S. commitment to Taiwan under the TRA framework, including regular defense transfers to support Taiwan's self-defense and advocacy for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations. The resolution highlights longstanding U.S.-Taiwan cooperation on trade, security, education, and global challenges like public health and cybersecurity. It specifically calls on the Secretary of State to advance Taiwan's international engagement and supports existing programs like the Taiwan Fellowship Program and the American Institute in Taiwan. As a procedural resolution, it expresses congressional support for current policy without altering legal obligations.