Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky

Maddy summaryHR 6988, "Jane's Law," creates a federal criminal offense for intentionally traveling across state lines to avoid paying court-ordered property settlements exceeding $5,000 to a spouse or former spouse following divorce or separation. The bill specifically targets individuals who evade these legally mandated payments by moving interstate, making it punishable by up to two years in prison, fines, or both. Upon conviction, courts must order mandatory restitution equal to the unpaid amount. This law directly affects people who fail to comply with state or tribal court orders for spousal property division, expanding federal jurisdiction beyond existing child support enforcement.

Maddy summaryHR 6981, the Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act of 2024, makes it a federal crime for unauthorized armed groups (defined as 3+ people with a command structure for public combat, security, or law enforcement-like activities) to engage in specific actions like patrolling, interfering with government operations, or intimidating people. It directly affects private paramilitary organizations not covered by exceptions, such as the National Guard, historical reenactment groups, or authorized training programs. Key provisions prohibit armed activities across state lines or using interstate commerce, with penalties including fines, up to 5 years in prison for causing bodily injury, and life imprisonment if death results. The law also allows the government or affected individuals to seek court orders to stop violations and seize related property.

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 allocates $7 billion in funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) during fiscal year 2024. The ACP provides subsidies to low-income households to help cover the cost of internet service and connected devices like laptops or tablets. This funding ensures the program can continue supporting eligible households throughout the year, with the money remaining available until fully spent. The bill extends existing program funding without changing eligibility criteria or service requirements.

Maddy summaryThe TRUTH in Labeling Act requires most packaged foods sold in the U.S. to display standardized front-of-package labels highlighting added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat content. These labels must be consistently placed, visually distinct, and large enough to read easily, based on guidelines from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue these labeling regulations within two years of enactment and then report to Congress on whether the labels have increased the availability of products with low- or no-calorie sweeteners, with a follow-up report required three years later. This affects food manufacturers who must comply with the labeling rules and aims to help all consumers - especially those with lower nutrition literacy - make more informed choices.

Maddy summaryThe Public Banking Act of 2023 establishes a federal framework for public banks owned by state, tribal, or community entities. It creates a process for chartering public lending banks (which provide financial services to public entities) and public payment banks (which focus on payment services), while requiring democratic governance with community representation on boards. The bill sets specific lending preferences prioritizing environmental justice communities, quality job creation, and worker protections, while prohibiting loans to fossil fuel companies, private prisons, and tobacco industries. It also creates grant and incubator programs to help establish these banks and establishes public deposit insurance for them, fundamentally changing how public banking institutions operate in the United States.

Maddy summaryThe WARM Act of 2023 creates a national menopause public awareness program through the CDC, allocating $70 million for 2025-2028 to increase understanding of menopause symptoms, related health conditions, and treatment options through culturally competent educational materials. It provides $31.7 million for grants to train health care providers (including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists) in managing menopausal symptoms, with priority given to institutions serving rural, Tribal, and other underserved communities. The bill also establishes regional centers of excellence to develop evidence-based curricula for health professions schools to improve menopause education. The program requires reports to Congress by 2025 and 2026 on implementation and effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThe Restore Honor to Service Members Act of 2023 establishes a Department of Defense "Tiger Team" to improve outreach to veterans with certain discharge statuses (specifically those discharged under "former section 654" before 2011, often related to policies like the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" era). The team will collaborate with the VA, veterans' groups, and other stakeholders to identify eligible veterans, share contact information, and guide them through the existing review process under Section 527 of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill requires the team to submit regular progress reports to Congress and a final report within three years, tracking how many veterans successfully changed their discharge status to "honorable" through the review process. This focuses on streamlining access to an existing review mechanism, not creating new benefits or altering discharge standards.

Maddy summaryHR 6416, the "Russian War Crimes in Ukraine Tax Act," imposes a 100% tax on interest and dividends earned from frozen Russian and Belarusian sovereign assets held abroad. This tax revenue is directed into a new Ukraine Reconstruction Trust Fund, which must be used for Ukraine's reconstruction, humanitarian aid, economic development, and transparent governance. The bill requires U.S. financial institutions to withhold this tax from qualifying income and overrides international treaty obligations to ensure implementation. It also mandates annual reports on fund usage to Congress, specifying that all revenues from the tax must support Ukraine's recovery efforts as defined in the legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes and extends funding for programs addressing substance use disorders and opioid addiction, including residential treatment for pregnant and postpartum women, first responder training, and community recovery initiatives. It increases funding levels for these programs, adds xylazine to Schedule III of controlled substances, and requires a study on remote monitoring for patients prescribed opioids. The bill also expands Medicaid coverage requirements for medication-assisted treatment and mandates reporting on mental health condition data alongside substance use disorder data, directly affecting individuals with substance use disorders, healthcare providers, and state and tribal governments.

Maddy summaryThe Rent Relief Act of 2023 creates a new refundable tax credit for renters whose rent exceeds 30% of their adjusted gross income. It directly affects low-to-moderate income renters in their principal residence, with credit percentages ranging from 100% (for incomes under $25,000) down to 0% (for incomes over $100,000). The credit is limited to rent within HUD's fair market rent guidelines, and the IRS will make monthly advance payments starting July 2024 for eligible taxpayers who elect this option. The bill requires no additional tax filing for the credit but includes $50 million for outreach to help eligible households enroll.