Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents health insurance plans from charging extra out-of-pocket costs for prenatal services when a pregnancy ends in miscarriage or stillbirth before delivery. Specifically, if a plan covers prenatal care as part of a bundled childbirth payment and a loss occurs, the plan cannot require additional deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments for those prenatal services beyond what would have been charged for a full birth. It applies to group and individual health plans covering such bundled payments, effective January 1, 2025. The law directly affects pregnant individuals experiencing pregnancy loss and their health insurance providers.

Maddy summaryThe Rail Worker and Community Safety Act establishes a minimum 2-person crew requirement for most freight trains (with exceptions for smaller carriers or specific low-risk operations), mandates new safety regulations for hazardous materials transportation including advance notification to emergency response agencies, and requires rail carriers to provide employees with earned paid sick time (1 hour for every 30 hours worked). The bill also sets a minimum requirement of 425 federal rail safety inspectors with specialized expertise across various safety domains, along with additional funding for hiring and compensation. These provisions directly affect rail carriers, rail workers, and communities near rail operations, aiming to enhance rail safety and worker protections through concrete policy changes.

Maddy summaryHRES 754 is a symbolic House resolution recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of Latinas in the United States. It highlights Latinas' roles in business (owning over 2 million businesses), military service (45,710 active duty), arts (Oscar-winning artists like Rita Moreno), and public service, while noting persistent challenges like the 57-cent pay gap. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally honors these contributions and acknowledges the need for further progress toward equality. It was introduced by multiple representatives and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

Maddy summaryHRES 753 is a non-binding resolution commemorating the fifth anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi's murder in 2018 and calling for accountability from the Saudi government. It urges Saudi Arabia to ensure accountability for those responsible for his killing, release wrongfully detained individuals (including human rights defenders), lift travel bans on dissidents, and respect freedoms of assembly, association, and press. The resolution acknowledges U.S. sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act targeting 17 Saudi officials linked to Khashoggi's murder. As a symbolic congressional statement, it does not impose new legal obligations but expresses support for accountability and human rights.

Maddy summaryHR 5827, the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act, grants tenants in federally assisted housing the right to form and join tenant organizations to address housing issues without fear of retaliation. It directly affects tenants receiving tenant-based rental assistance (like Section 8 vouchers) and tenants in low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) properties. Key provisions require public housing agencies and property owners to recognize tenant organizations, allow protected activities (such as leafleting and door-to-door outreach), and prohibit retaliation - while establishing an enforcement protocol for complaints and quarterly reporting to Congress. The bill also mandates annual notifications to tenants about their organizing rights and includes specific protections for LIHTC properties through owner compliance requirements and fines for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts federal funding for any commemoration of former presidents who were twice impeached by the House of Representatives or convicted of crimes related to their presidential duties. It prohibits creating monuments, naming federal properties (like parks or buildings), or using federal funds for state/county properties bearing such presidents' names. The bill also revokes retirement benefits under the Former Presidents Act (except Secret Service protection) and blocks burial at Arlington National Cemetery for these individuals. These restrictions apply only to presidents meeting the specific legal criteria outlined in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill replaces "Columbus Day" with "Indigenous Peoples’ Day" as the official federal holiday observed on the second Monday in October. It directly affects federal government operations and all federal documents, rules, or laws that previously referenced "Columbus Day" by automatically updating those references to "Indigenous Peoples’ Day" upon enactment. The key mechanism is a simple amendment to federal law (5 U.S.C. § 6103(a)) to change the holiday name and a provision ensuring all existing federal references to Columbus Day are legally treated as referring to Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead. This is a procedural change to federal holidays and references, not a new policy or program.

Maddy summaryHR 5797, the Protecting Immigrants From Legal Exploitation Act of 2023, targets fraud in immigration services by imposing criminal penalties on individuals who falsely claim legal authority or defraud immigrants. It makes it a federal offense to execute schemes involving false promises about immigration services (up to 10 years in prison) or falsely represent oneself as an attorney (up to 15 years), requiring full reimbursement to victims. The bill mandates that immigration service providers (non-lawyers charging fees) identify themselves and disclose fees when assisting applicants, and allows immigrants to withdraw fraudulent applications without penalty. It also requires government agencies to create outreach programs educating immigrants on legitimate legal services and establish procedures for corrected filings.

Maddy summaryThe Eviction Protection Act of 2023 establishes a new Office of Eviction Prevention within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This office, led by a career-appointed Director, will administer a new Eviction Protection Grant Program, coordinate eviction prevention strategies across federal agencies, and develop a national eviction database while protecting tenant privacy. The bill directly affects renters (including those in federally subsidized housing), housing providers receiving HUD assistance, and local governments through its focus on preventing both court-ordered evictions and illegal "self-help" evictions like lockouts or utility shutoffs. It authorizes $100 million annually for fiscal years 2024-2028 to fund the grant program and the office's operations, including technical assistance for grantees and tenant education initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires websites and applications used by public entities, businesses, and employers to be accessible to people with disabilities. It directs the Department of Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to establish accessibility standards within 24 months, with special consideration for small businesses. The law defines accessibility as websites that are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for people with disabilities. It also creates a technical assistance center to help entities comply and provides grants to small businesses to fix inaccessible websites. The bill aims to ensure equal digital access for people with disabilities, building on existing ADA protections.