Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar

Maddy summaryThe Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act creates a new H-2C visa program for non-agricultural workers in jobs that remain unfilled after employers recruit U.S. workers. Employers must advertise positions for 30 days, pay prevailing wages, and register positions with the government before hiring H-2C workers, with a numerical cap of 65,000 positions in the first year. The bill includes worker protections against wage theft, prohibits treating workers as independent contractors, and requires employers to pay fees directly rather than deducting them from wages.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a federal crime to knowingly distribute non-consensual intimate images of adults (without consent, not in public, and not a matter of public concern) or images of minors in nude states (with intent to abuse/humiliate). It defines prohibited content, imposes penalties including up to 5 years in prison, and requires forfeiture of assets used in violations. Exceptions cover law enforcement, legal reporting, and service providers who don’t actively promote such content. The law directly affects victims of non-consensual image sharing and individuals distributing prohibited content.

Small-business Procurement Utilization Reform Act or the SPUR Act This bill raises from 23% to 25% the government-wide goal for participation by small businesses in procurement contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit for expenses related to "qualified access technology for the blind" under the Internal Revenue Code. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $2,000 per year (adjusted for inflation) for costs paid for hardware, software, or IT that converts visual information into formats usable by blind individuals, covering the taxpayer, their spouse, or a dependent who is blind. The credit is limited to $2,000 over any three consecutive tax years per blind individual and expires after 2028. It directly affects blind individuals and their families who purchase qualifying assistive technology. The credit cannot be claimed for expenses already covered by other tax deductions or credits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. government agencies to develop strategies to combat "transnational repression" - actions by foreign governments or their agents to intimidate, coerce, or harm diaspora and exile communities outside their home countries. It mandates the State Department to create an interagency strategy, amend annual country reports to include information on transnational repression tactics, and provide training for diplomatic and law enforcement personnel. The bill also establishes sanctions against foreign governments or individuals responsible for transnational repression, including blocking property and denying visas. These provisions directly affect diaspora communities facing foreign government harassment and U.S. agencies tasked with protecting them.

This resolution encourages the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to continue its work in educating the public about the dangers of antisemitism and the origins of the Holocaust, congratulates those responsible for the creation of the museum, condemns antisemitism, supports educational and community-based programs that counter antisemitism and hate, and supports the designation of a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Day.

Maddy summaryHRES 425 is a non-binding House resolution designating July 19, 2023, as "Glioblastoma Awareness Day" to increase public recognition of glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. It directly supports patients, caregivers, and families affected by the disease, which has a low 5-year survival rate (6.9%) and no effective screening methods. The resolution encourages greater public awareness, honors those impacted by the disease, and urges continued research investments, including through the Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network. It does not create new laws or alter funding but serves as a symbolic statement to advance understanding and support for glioblastoma research.

This resolution supports the designation of Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Day. This is a rare genetic disorder that causes a variety of symptoms, including developmental delays and extreme appetite; it can lead to obesity and related complications.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that AM radio receivers be included as standard equipment in all new motor vehicles (such as cars and trucks) sold in the United States, with a rule to be issued by the Department of Transportation within one year. The rule must ensure AM radio is easily accessible on the dashboard and allows manufacturers to use digital AM radio technology instead of traditional AM. During the one-year period between the bill's enactment and the rule's effective date, manufacturers must clearly label vehicles without AM radio. The bill also directs a study to evaluate whether an alternative system could deliver emergency alerts as reliably as AM radio across the country, especially during crises.

This resolution calls for the immediate extradition or rendering of convicted criminals William Morales, Joanne Chesimard, and others receiving safe harbor in Cuba to the United States. The resolution also urges the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and international community to continue to press for the immediate return of all fugitives from justice to the United States.