Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar

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.

Maddy summaryHRES 1114 is a non-binding House resolution expressing support for recognizing "National Police Week" as a way to honor law enforcement officers across the United States. The resolution acknowledges the service and sacrifices of law enforcement officers, particularly those who have died in the line of duty, and specifically references 619 officers who died in 2021 as listed in the resolution. This resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds but serves as a symbolic gesture to encourage public recognition of law enforcement personnel. It calls for Americans to observe National Police Week by honoring officers and raising awareness about their essential role in community safety. The resolution was introduced by multiple members of Congress and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Maddy summaryHRES 924 is a symbolic resolution designating February 2022 as "National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month." It does not create new laws or allocate funding but expresses congressional support for raising awareness about teen dating violence, which the resolution cites as affecting teens through physical, sexual, psychological, and stalking behaviors. The resolution references CDC data showing high rates of teen dating violence (e.g., 44.3% of teens experienced violence, 15.6% experienced two types) and calls on schools, communities, and families to observe the month with awareness activities. It focuses on promoting existing prevention efforts like education and healthy relationship programs without proposing new policy changes.

Maddy summaryHRES 566 is a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). The resolution recognizes CAP's 80 years of service, including its roles in disaster response (such as Hurricane Katrina, the Deepwater Horizon spill, and the COVID-19 pandemic), search and rescue operations, support for the U.S. Air Force, and youth aviation education programs. It honors CAP's contributions as a volunteer organization with over 10,000 trained members and assets like 560 aircraft, which have impacted millions of Americans through community support and emergency services.

Visitor Visa Wait Time Reduction Act This bill requires the Department of State to report to Congress on the average waiting time to get a visitor visa interview at each diplomatic or consular post.  For each post where the average waiting time is longer than 300 days, the State Department must temporarily reassign personnel at that post to shorten the waiting time.

Enhancing DHS Drug Seizures Act This bill addresses various issues related to border security. For example, the bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to waive reimbursement for the salaries of DHS employees providing training to foreign-vetted law enforcement or national security units under an agreement with the Department of Defense; authorizes U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide air and marine support to foreign governments for certain operations, such as an operation to stop illegal drugs from entering the United States; and makes it a crime to destroy or significantly damage physical or electronic devices (e.g., fences or cameras) used by the federal government to control a U.S. international border with the intent to achieve certain goals relating to securing financial gain and breaking federal laws.

Preventing Underhanded and Nefarious Iranian Supported Homicides Act of 2022 or the PUNISH Act of 2022 This bill extends sanctions and national emergencies related to Iran established by specified executive orders and limits the authority of the President to waive sanctions related to Iran. The bill requires the Department of State to periodically report whether Iran or any foreign person has supported specified activities, including murder or politically motivated detention in Iran of a U.S. citizen.

Strengthening Entry Visa Enforcement and Restrictions Act of 2022 or the SEVER Act of 2022 This bill directs the President to deny an individual's admission to the United States as a representative to the United Nations if the individual is subject to sanctions regarding Iran and may pose a threat to U.S. national security interests.

Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act This bill revises various statutes with respect to violent crimes and establishes new criminal offenses. For example, the bill (1) increases the statutory maximum penalty for carjacking, and (2) establishes enhanced criminal penalties for certain federal drug offenses involving the manufacture or distribution of candy-flavored controlled substances or similar products for minors.

Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act This bill makes the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death a first degree murder. An individual who is guilty of first degree murder by distributing fentanyl is subject to death or life in prison.