Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky

Maddy summaryHR 932 repeals two key congressional authorizations for military force in Iraq: the 1991 resolution (Public Law 102-1) and the 2002 resolution (Public Law 107-243). This bill removes the legal foundation that has permitted U.S. military operations in Iraq for over two decades. It directly affects the executive branch’s authority to conduct military actions under these specific resolutions, requiring future operations to seek new congressional approval. The repeal is a procedural change that would end the statutory basis for ongoing military engagement in Iraq without altering other laws or policies.

Presidential Tax Transparency Act This bill requires the President, the Vice President, and certain candidates for President and Vice President to disclose federal income tax returns for the ten most recent taxable years. The returns must be disclosed to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which must make the returns publicly available after redacting information that is necessary for protecting against identity theft, such as Social Security numbers. If the tax returns are not disclosed to the FEC as required by this bill, the Internal Revenue Service must provide the returns to the FEC upon receiving a written request from the FEC.

This resolution condemns Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin Corridor to Nagorno-Karabakh (also known as Artsakh). The resolution calls on the U.S. government to work with international partners to deploy observers to explore opportunities for security and peaceful development. The resolution also calls on the President to (1) suspend military and security assistance from the United States to Azerbaijan, and (2) fully enforce a U.S. law prohibiting certain bilateral assistance to Azerbaijan until Azerbaijan takes demonstrable steps to cease all offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

This resolution condemns the attack against Brazil's government institutions on January 8, 2023. The resolution opposes any attempt to overturn Brazil's 2022 election results and calls for the U.S. government to cooperate with requests for assistance from Brazilian authorities investigating the attack.

Maddy summaryHR 866, the Equal COLA Act, changes how cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated for federal retirees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). It requires that each year's COLA be based on the exact percent change in the price index from the previous year's base quarter, rounded to the nearest 0.1%, effective December 1. This applies to all FERS annuities starting before, on, or after the bill's enactment date, ensuring a standardized calculation method for retirees' annual adjustments.

Maddy summaryHR 882, the American Teacher Act, requires states to ensure full-time teachers in public elementary and secondary schools earn at least $60,000 annually (adjusted for inflation), with part-time teachers receiving proportional pay. It provides federal grants to states to fund these salary increases, mandating sustainability plans beyond the 4-year grant period and prioritizing schools in high-poverty areas. The bill also includes cost-of-living adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index and funds a national campaign to promote teaching as a career. It explicitly states grant funds must supplement existing education budgets without reducing current teacher pay or state loan forgiveness programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands paid family and medical leave for federal employees by increasing total entitlement from 12 to 26 weeks annually. It modifies existing laws to cover all federal workers (including those at the GAO, USPS, Library of Congress, and congressional staff), replacing "parental leave" with broader "family and medical leave" and adding 14 additional weeks for qualifying events like childbirth, adoption, or serious health conditions. Employees who already used paid leave under other programs will have their new entitlement reduced by the days already taken. The changes apply immediately to most federal employees, with specific timelines for agencies like the Veterans Affairs Department and District of Columbia courts.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HRES 55), not a policy bill. It formally recognizes Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) for their 150+ year service in providing anesthesia care across the U.S., including in rural areas, military facilities, and during public health emergencies like the pandemic. The resolution thanks CRNAs for their "incredible, selfless, and dedicated service" and encourages the public and healthcare stakeholders to acknowledge their work during National CRNA Week (January 23-28, 2023). It has no legal effect or policy changes - it is purely symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryThe Better Care Better Jobs Act (HR 547) aims to improve access to home and community-based services (HCBS) for Medicaid beneficiaries by providing states with planning grants and enhanced federal funding. States that develop approved HCBS infrastructure improvement plans will receive a 10 percentage point increase in federal Medicaid funding for HCBS services, with additional incentives for self-directed care programs. The bill requires states to address barriers to access, expand workforce development, improve payment rates for direct care workers, and track demographic data on service utilization. It also establishes quality measurement requirements and mandates regular reporting on progress toward improving HCBS access and quality.

Maddy summaryHR 770, the ESP Family Leave Act, amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to create specific eligibility rules for education support professionals and school support staff in public schools and public higher education institutions. It changes the standard FMLA work-hour requirement (1,250 hours) to a new threshold: these workers qualify if they've worked at least 60% of their expected monthly hours for the previous school year. Employers must maintain records of each employee's expected monthly hours, and the bill defines "education support professionals" to include roles like paraeducators, secretaries, custodians, food service workers, security staff, and health support staff. The bill directly affects these support staff members, making it easier for them to qualify for FMLA leave under the revised hours calculation.