Rep. James P. McGovern

Maddy summaryThe Armenian Genocide Education Act (HR 2803) establishes a Library of Congress program to support U.S. schools in teaching about the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. The program will develop educational resources, provide teacher training, and maintain an online resource center to help schools incorporate accurate historical information into curricula. It prioritizes schools without existing Armenian Genocide education programs, with $2 million authorized annually for five years. The Librarian of Congress will report yearly on the program’s activities to Congress.

Maddy summaryThe Community Broadband Act of 2023 removes state-level legal barriers that prevent local governments, cooperatives, or public-private partnerships from building or operating broadband networks. It prohibits states from banning or effectively blocking these entities from providing advanced internet services to residents or businesses. The bill requires public entities to treat all broadband providers fairly under local rules, without favoring their own services or affiliated companies. It specifically defines "public providers" (like cities or counties) and "cooperatively organized providers" (like member-owned co-ops) to clarify who this law protects. The law does not fund new networks but ensures existing state laws cannot block community-led broadband projects.

This resolution condemns the deliberate gas attacks on schoolgirls in Iran (up to 7,000 schoolgirls were poisoned in at least 290 attacks, according to human rights groups) and Iran's suppression of individuals participating in demonstrations. The resolution also urges the United States to initiate a formal process for an independent investigation and to work with the United Nations in investigating the gas attacks on schoolgirls in Iran.

This resolution urges (1) the President to issue a proclamation recognizing Earth Day; and (2) governments and people to continue building upon the Paris Agreement and other efforts to ensure that future generations inherit a livable, sustainable, and ecologically rich planet.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. government to support global nuclear disarmament by urging the U.S. to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, contingent on ratification leading to verified worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons under international control. If the President certifies that all nuclear-armed nations have begun verified, irreversible elimination under the treaty, the U.S. must redirect funds currently used for nuclear weapons programs to: (1) develop clean energy and retrain nuclear industry workers; (2) address social needs like healthcare, housing, and environmental restoration (including radioactive waste monitoring); and (3) encourage other nations to join the treaty. It directly affects U.S. federal funding streams, nuclear weapons industry workers, and federal agencies managing defense resources. The bill focuses on policy shifts in resource allocation rather than creating new programs or mandating specific disarmament timelines.

Maddy summaryThe Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act establishes new standards for Department of Homeland Security detention facilities, requiring them to meet or exceed the American Bar Association's Civil Immigration Detention Standards. The bill mandates annual, unannounced inspections by the DHS Inspector General, public reporting on facility compliance, and a phased-out timeline for private detention facilities (phasing out by 3 years after enactment). It prohibits solitary confinement for all detainees, requires community-based alternatives to detention for vulnerable individuals, and mandates detailed public reporting on facility conditions, staffing, and detainee demographics. The legislation directly affects all immigrants held in DHS custody, including children, vulnerable persons, and primary caregivers, with specific protections for these groups in detention procedures.

Maddy summaryHR 2777, the School Meals during School Closures Act, allows schools to continue providing meals during certain closures without following standard meal program rules. It directly affects schools and meal providers by enabling the Secretary to waive requirements under the National School Lunch Act for closures due to strikes (excluding employer lockouts), weather disasters, public health emergencies, unsafe facilities, construction, or other unanticipated events. The key provision creates a new waiver exception (added to Section 12 of the Act) that skips specific regulatory hurdles normally required for meal services during these closures. This change ensures students can still receive meals when schools close unexpectedly for covered reasons.

American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2023 This bill eliminates the five-year amortization requirement for research and experimental expenditures, thus allowing continued expensing of such expenditures in the taxable years in which they are incurred.

Maddy summaryHRES 269 is a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 30, 2023. It recognizes the federal government's duty to develop and implement a Transgender Bill of Rights to protect transgender and nonbinary people. The resolution outlines key provisions, including ensuring access to gender-affirming medical care, ending discrimination in employment and housing, and improving legal recognition of gender identity on government documents. It also calls for addressing systemic barriers in education, safety, and economic security faced by transgender and nonbinary individuals.

Maddy summaryHR 2725, the "Do No Harm Act," amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to clarify that RFRA does not apply when federal laws protect against discrimination or promote equal opportunity. It specifically exempts protections under the Civil Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, workplace benefits like leave, child labor safeguards, and healthcare access from RFRA challenges. The bill also clarifies that RFRA does not block private lawsuits between individuals, applying only to cases involving government entities. This amendment ensures that existing federal civil rights and workplace protections remain enforceable under RFRA.