Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky

Maddy summaryThe Gun Theft Prevention Act requires licensed firearm dealers to implement specific security measures, including locked cabinets, security systems, and site hardening, to prevent gun thefts. It mandates annual security plan certifications with inventory reconciliation, employee background checks before firearm possession, and 30-day reporting of stolen firearms to authorities. The bill increases inspections (annual for high-risk dealers, triennial for others) and establishes civil penalties of up to $20,000 for violations. These requirements apply to all federally licensed gun dealers nationwide, with a one-year transition period for implementation, while maintaining state law authority over firearm dealing.

Maddy summary# American Privacy Rights Act of 2024: Summary The American Privacy Rights Act of 2024 (APRA) is a comprehensive federal privacy law that would establish a uniform national privacy standard in the United States, preempting most state privacy laws while preserving certain state protections. Key provisions include: ## Core Privacy Rights - **Individual rights**: Consumers gain the right to access, correct, delete, and port their personal data - **Data minimization**: Requires companies to collect only necessary data for specified purposes - **"Do Not Sell or Share" option**: Creates a national "Do Not Sell or Share" mechanism - **Sensitive data protections**: Includes specific requirements for biometric, genetic, and health information ## Key Definitions - **Covered data**: Personal information that identifies or relates to an individual - **Sensitive covered data**: Includes biometric information, health information, precise geolocation, financial account numbers, and more - **Covered entity**: Businesses that collect or process covered data ## Enforcement Framework - Creates a new FTC privacy bureau within the Federal Trade Commission - Allows both federal and state enforcement (with coordination) - Establishes a private right of action for individuals - Creates a Privacy and Security Victims Relief Fund - Includes a "pilot program" for privacy-enhancing technologies ## Children's Privacy Protections - **COPPA 2.0**: Major amendments to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 - Requires "verifiable consent" (not just parental consent) for collecting children's data - Prohibits targeted advertising to children without explicit consent - Establishes new requirements for educational applications - Creates a "common verifiable consent mechanism" option ## Data Broker Requirements - Requires data brokers to register with the FTC - Mandates a publicly available website with clear privacy notices - Creates a "Do Not Collect" and "Delete My Data" request system - Prohibits selling data for stalking, harassment, or fraud ## Preemption Provisions - Preempts most state privacy laws but preserves: - Consumer protection laws - Employee privacy laws - Student privacy laws - Data breach notification requirements - Health privacy protections - Certain criminal laws related to privacy The law would take effect 180 days after enactment, with most provisions phased in over time, and includes specific provisions for children's privacy protection that would supersede some existing state laws while preserving others.

Maddy summaryHR 8830, the High Court Gift Ban Act, sets strict limits on gifts federal judges may accept. It prohibits judges from receiving gifts valued over $50 from a single source in a year, unless the total from that source stays under $100 annually. Key exceptions include gifts paid for by the judge, gifts from relatives, honorary degrees from educational institutions, and public opportunities available to all federal employees. The bill also outlines enforcement mechanisms, requiring the Judicial Conference to refer violations to the Attorney General for civil or criminal penalties. This directly affects all federal judges, including Supreme Court justices and lower court judges, by restricting gifts from sources that may have business before them.

Maddy summaryThis resolution, introduced around World Refugee Day, expresses congressional support for U.S. efforts to protect refugees and displaced persons globally and within the United States. It highlights that over 117 million people are displaced worldwide, references the U.S. resettling 60,000 refugees in fiscal year 2024, and calls on federal agencies to maintain the Refugee Admissions Program, uphold asylum protections, and support host countries. The resolution does not create new laws but reaffirms existing commitments to refugee resettlement, safety, and integration through current programs.

Ending Corporate Greed Act  This bill imposes a tax through 2026 on certain corporations (corporations other than regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, or S corporations) that have average annual gross receipts for a three-year period of at least $500 million. The tax is 95% of what are deemed excess profits for a taxable year.

Maddy summaryThe Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024 would double Federal Pell Grants, increasing the maximum award to $10,000 for the 2025-2026 academic year with annual inflation adjustments, and make Pell Grants a fully mandatory program rather than requiring annual appropriations. It would expand eligibility for students with negative student aid indexes (those with the lowest expected family contributions), provide Pell Grant eligibility for "Dreamer" students protected under DACA, and restore eligibility for students who previously lost it due to academic progress issues. The bill would also increase the total semesters of Pell Grant eligibility from 12 to 18. These changes would directly affect millions of undergraduate students, particularly students of color who currently rely on Pell Grants, with 3 in 5 African American students and half of Latino students depending on these grants. The bill would take effect for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Maddy summaryHR 8732, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act, would establish new labor protections for domestic workers including nannies, housekeepers, and caregivers who work in private homes. The bill requires written agreements between employers and domestic employees, provides earned sick days, ensures fair scheduling practices, and prohibits unfair wage deductions for cash shortages or communications. It also creates a Domestic Employee Standards Board to recommend workplace standards and establishes a National Domestic Employee Hotline for assistance. The bill specifically targets domestic workers who have historically been excluded from labor protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Civil Rights Act, benefiting an estimated 2.2 million domestic workers in the U.S. who are disproportionately women of color and immigrants.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal jury selection laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It updates definitions in Title 28 of the U.S. Code by adding "sexual orientation and gender identity" to the protected characteristics under "sex" and defining key terms like "gender identity" and "sexual orientation." The changes directly affect federal jury pools by requiring courts to consider these factors when selecting jurors and preventing discrimination in the process. The law clarifies that discrimination based on these characteristics - including associations with others who share them - is prohibited during jury selection. This is a concrete policy change to expand anti-discrimination protections in federal jury service.

Maddy summaryHR 5012 (SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023) authorizes federal funding to improve stillbirth research and data collection. It provides $5 million annually for states to collect standardized stillbirth data (including risk factors) while protecting privacy, $1 million annually for developing public educational materials and data collection guidelines, and $3 million annually for medical fellowships training pathologists in perinatal autopsy and stillbirth research. The bill directly affects state health departments, medical professionals (like obstetricians and pathologists), and families who experience stillbirth by improving data quality for future research. It requires federal reports on guidelines and program effectiveness within five years but does not provide direct medical care or financial assistance to families.

Maddy summaryHR 537 authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor 60 diplomats who saved Jewish lives during the Holocaust by issuing visas and passports against their governments' orders, risking expulsion and personal danger. The medal will be presented to the next of kin of these diplomats, alongside representatives from their home countries, and permanently displayed at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The bill also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This legislation recognizes the diplomats' humanitarian actions without creating new government programs or altering existing laws.