Rep. Mike Quigley

Partnership and Cooperative Transparency with Ukraine Act or the PACT with Ukraine Act This bill establishes the Special Envoy for Partnership with Ukraine and two entities to evaluate U.S. assistance to Ukraine. The special advisor shall support the official U.S. diplomatic presence in Ukraine and be responsible for bolstering the U.S.-Ukraine relationship. The special envoy shall also serve as a primary advisor to the President on issues including (1) cultural preservation, (2) economic opportunity, (3) post-conflict reconstruction, and (4) promoting peace in Ukraine. Next, the bill establishes the Commission on Cooperative Transparency with Ukraine. The commission is responsible for examining aspects of U.S. financial and material aid to Ukraine, including the effectiveness and any misuse or waste of such aid. The bill authorizes the commission to subpoena, take testimony, and collect evidence for carrying out its responsibilities. The commission must report to Congress on a quarterly basis. Finally, the bill establishes the Ukraine Oversight Interagency Working Group within the U.S. Agency for International Development. The working group must report monthly to Congress about U.S. aid to Ukraine. Specifically, the report must detail how much aid was provided, the amount expended or destroyed, the amount used, the time elapsed between the receipt of aid and its expenditure, and instances of misuse.

Maddy summaryHR 4963, the Tax Fairness for Workers Act, would restore tax deductions for certain employee expenses. It creates an above-the-line deduction for union dues and expenses paid by wage-earning employees, and allows miscellaneous itemized deductions for other work-related expenses (like uniforms or supplies) that were previously disallowed after 2017 tax law changes. These provisions directly affect employees who pay union dues or incur qualifying job-related costs. The bill amends specific sections of the Internal Revenue Code to make these deductions available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022. It does not change tax rates or provide new benefits, only reinstating previously eliminated deductions for eligible workers.

Chyna Gibson Stop the Transgender Murder Epidemic Act of 2023 or the Chyna Gibson STME Act of 2023 This bill establishes a commission to address various issues facing gender-nonconforming, gender-expansive, and transgender women of color. The commission must be comprised of 13 members who are qualified based on their education, training, activism, or experience, particularly in the field of transgender studies and human rights. The commission may hold hearings and must report its findings and recommendations to Congress no later than 18 months after its first meeting.

Maddy summaryThe Break the Cycle of Violence Act establishes federal grants to fund community-based violence intervention programs in areas disproportionately affected by gun violence, particularly communities of color. It authorizes $300 million for 2024, increasing to $700 million annually through 2031, for evidence-informed strategies including trauma-responsive care, violence interruption, and economic opportunities for opportunity youth (ages 16-25 not in school or employment). The bill requires grantees to implement culturally competent services targeting individuals at high risk of violence or victimization, with a focus on reducing gun violence without contributing to mass incarceration. It creates a National Community Violence Response Center to coordinate data collection, research, and best practices for community violence prevention. The legislation also includes provisions for job training and workforce development programs through the Department of Labor to connect opportunity youth with in-demand occupations.

Maddy summaryHR 1776, the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2023, would amend U.S. foreign assistance law to strengthen global tuberculosis (TB) programs. The bill requires U.S. assistance to align with the World Health Organization's End TB Strategy, aiming to reduce TB deaths by 95% and incidence by 90% by 2035. It mandates annual reporting on TB diagnosis and treatment progress, prioritizes research for new diagnostics and treatments, and emphasizes integrating TB services into primary health care. The legislation affects U.S. government agencies, global health partners, and countries with high TB burdens, particularly focusing on low- and middle-income nations.

Maddy summaryHR 4893, the Scientific Integrity Act, requires federal agencies that fund, conduct, or oversee scientific research to adopt policies preventing political interference in science. The bill mandates these agencies to prohibit suppression or distortion of research findings, establish Scientific Integrity Officers to enforce policies, and implement training and reporting systems. It directly affects scientists and engineers employed by or contracted with covered agencies (like the EPA or NIH), ensuring their work remains free from political pressure. Key mechanisms include annual public reporting on misconduct complaints, whistleblower protections, and requiring scientific conclusions to be based on evidence, not ideology.

Maddy summaryHR 4889, the Raise the Wage Act of 2023, would gradually increase the federal minimum wage for most workers to $15.50 per hour by 2027, with specific annual targets: $9.50 starting in 2023, rising to $11.00 after one year, $12.50 after two years, and $15.50 after four years. It would also phase out the separate lower minimum wage for tipped employees (starting at $6.00/hour) by aligning their pay with the regular minimum wage by 2028, while requiring employers to let workers keep all tips. The bill includes similar phased increases for workers under 20 and transitions toward fairer wages for workers with disabilities under special certificates, which would sunset after 2028. Future annual increases after 2028 would tie the minimum wage to the median hourly wage of all workers.

Maddy summaryHR 4157, the "Not Just a Number Act," requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to produce annual reports on veteran suicide rates and their connection to VA healthcare and benefits. The reports must break down suicide rates by age, gender, and race, and examine how engagement with VA services (like Vet Centers, healthcare enrollment, benefits claims, and housing loans) correlates with suicide trends. The bill also mandates a VA toolkit for state/local coroners to improve veteran suicide death reporting, and a study on creating a dedicated VA suicide prevention office. These measures aim to standardize data collection and identify effective prevention strategies, directly affecting VA operations, congressional oversight, and veteran care systems.

Maddy summaryThe SHADE Act creates a federal grant program to plant trees in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods, primarily targeting redlined areas (former HOLC "hazardous" zones) and overburdened areas (where at least 35% of households are low-income, or 40% identify as minority/tribal, or 40% are limited English proficiency). Eligible entities - like cities, tribes, or nonprofits - must submit applications with 5-year plans, community input strategies, and evidence of housing policies preventing displacement. Grants cover tree planting, maintenance for 5 years, and training, with $50 million annually authorized through 2034. The bill directly affects communities facing environmental inequities by linking tree planting to neighborhood revitalization efforts.

Maddy summaryH.J.Res. 25 would remove the 1979 deadline for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which was originally proposed in 1972. This bill directly affects states that ratified the ERA after the deadline (such as Nevada, Illinois, and Virginia in 2017-2018) by making their ratifications legally valid. The key provision states that the ERA is valid as part of the Constitution if ratified by three-fourths of states, regardless of the original deadline. The bill does not create new rights but aims to finalize the constitutional amendment process by eliminating the time limit.