This resolution recognizes Claudette Colvin as an integral figure of the civil rights movement and honors her actions leading to the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the related Supreme Court ruling that found segregation on buses to be unconstitutional.
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the proposed constitutional amendment known as the Equal Rights Amendment has been duly proposed by Congress and ratified by the states and is therefore valid as the Twenty-Eighth Amendment to the Constitution. (The proposed amendment prohibits the United States or any state from denying or abridging equal rights under the law on account of sex.)
Maddy summaryHRES 798 is a symbolic House resolution expressing the sense of Congress about the link between firearm violence and intimate partner violence, honoring victims like Gladys Ricart. It cites statistics showing firearms are used in 59% of intimate partner homicides, with women facing a 5x higher risk of being killed when an abusive partner has access to a gun. The resolution recommends specific policy actions, including strengthening background checks, restricting firearm access for those subject to domestic violence restraining orders, and supporting research on the disproportionate impact on Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic women. It does not create new law but urges Congress to advance related legislation like the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers Act. The resolution directly addresses the intersection of firearms and intimate partner violence affecting millions of women, particularly in marginalized communities.
Maddy summaryHRES 507 is a non-binding House resolution condemning legislative actions and violence targeting transgender and nonbinary individuals. It references 2021 state bills restricting transgender youth access to gender-affirming medical care, sports participation, and public facilities, alongside statistics on rising violence (44 transgender killings in 2020) and mental health impacts. The resolution formally condemns discriminatory legislation and violence, remembers victims of transphobic hate, and commits to advocating for the community’s safety. As a symbolic resolution - not a law - it expresses congressional disapproval but does not create new policies or alter existing laws.
This resolution expresses support for (1) equal rights and protections for all people, regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity; and (2) the designation of LGBTQ Equality Day on June 26 to commemorate Supreme Court decisions handed down on that day in 2003, 2013, and 2015. The resolution also acknowledges the need for further legislation to ensure that people in the United States are free from all forms of discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Maddy summaryHRES 490 is a symbolic House resolution (not a law) passed on June 22, 2021, that reaffirms the U.S. commitment to supporting refugees and displaced persons globally. It highlights the scale of the global displacement crisis (over 82 million forcibly displaced people in 2020) and emphasizes the importance of the U.S. refugee resettlement program as a tool for security, diplomacy, and humanitarian aid. The resolution calls on the Secretary of State to continue robust funding, uphold U.S. leadership in refugee protection, support host countries, and meet refugee admissions goals. It directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation and international humanitarian efforts, though it does not create new legal requirements or allocate funds.
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights are human rights and protected by the U.S. Constitution; (2) LGBTQIA+ Pride Month should be celebrated; and (3) all Americans should be treated equally regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Free Speech Protection Act This bill allows a natural person to bring a civil action against a person or entity that files a defamation claim against that natural person if (1) a court determines that liability is precluded for such defamation claim; and (2) the defamation claim is shown to be filed for the purpose of harassment, intimidation, or otherwise suppressing certain speech related to a matter of legitimate public concern.
Student Borrower Bankruptcy Relief Act of 2022 This bill allows student loans to be discharged in bankruptcy. Under current law, these loans are only dischargeable if such debt imposes an undue hardship on the debtor.
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation Protection Act of 2022 or the SLAPP Protection Act of 2022 This bill establishes a motion in federal courts to allow for the dismissal of a claim with prejudice if (1) that claim is shown to be based on the moving party's exercise of free speech, (2) the responding party cannot establish essential elements of the claim or that there is a genuine issue of material fact, and (3) no exception under this bill applies.
