Rep. Jamie Raskin

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 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.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1271) is a symbolic gesture expressing the House's support for designating June 7, 2024, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and June 2024 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or policies but urges the public to wear orange, raise awareness about gun violence, and focus on community safety during summer months when such incidents often increase. The resolution references statistics on gun-related deaths and honors victims like Hadiya Pendleton, who was killed in 2013. It directly affects the public by calling on individuals and communities to participate in awareness activities. This is a non-binding, commemorative measure with no direct legal impact on legislation or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the GOSAFE Act, prohibits the sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices (those holding more than 10 rounds). It defines "gas-operated" firearms as those using gas from fired cartridges to cycle the action, and requires the Attorney General to maintain a list of prohibited firearms. Manufacturers must seek approval for new semi-automatic firearms before selling them to civilians, and the bill creates a fund to support buy-back programs for prohibited firearms and devices. Violations could result in fines up to $5,000 or 12 months in jail, with harsher penalties for those who commit other federal crimes while in possession of prohibited firearms.

Maddy summaryHRES 1260 is a non-binding resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' support for designating May 2024 as "Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Awareness Month." It recognizes progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) as a rare neurodegenerative disease affecting approximately 30,000 Americans, with no known cure and symptoms including cognitive decline, balance issues, and speech difficulties. The resolution specifically supports raising public awareness, encourages research for better treatments and a cure, and commends efforts by patients, families, and organizations working to improve PSP care. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or allocate funding but aims to increase visibility for this under-recognized condition.

Maddy summaryThe George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2024 establishes a National Police Misconduct Registry to track complaints and disciplinary actions against officers, requiring all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to report use-of-force incidents with racial, gender, and age data. It bans chokeholds and carotid holds in police encounters, prohibits no-knock warrants in drug cases, and reforms qualified immunity to make it harder for officers to avoid accountability for misconduct. The bill mandates body cameras for federal officers, requires independent investigations of officer-involved shootings, and creates new data collection systems to monitor racial profiling and use-of-force patterns. It also includes provisions for civilian oversight boards, improved officer training on de-escalation and implicit bias, and restrictions on military equipment transfers to local police departments. This law affects all law enforcement agencies receiving federal funding under programs like Byrne and COPS grants.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the National Alzheimer's Project Act through 2035 (extending the previous deadline of 2025) and adds new requirements to promote healthy aging and reduce Alzheimer’s risk factors. It mandates the program to provide information on healthy behaviors that may lower cognitive decline risk and expands the advisory group to include representatives from agencies like the Department of Justice, FEMA, and Social Security Administration, plus experts with diverse clinical trial experience. The bill directly affects Alzheimer’s research, care programs, and the federal advisory group overseeing national efforts. Key changes include requiring annual evaluations instead of initial ones and adding a focus on reducing health disparities in Alzheimer’s initiatives.

Maddy summaryHR 8521, the Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes the presentation of a gold medal to Joan Trumpauer Mulholland in recognition of her civil rights activism during the 1960s. The bill directly honors her as a key figure who participated in sit-ins, Freedom Rides, and the Jackson Movement, risking arrest and personal danger to challenge segregation. The key mechanism requires the Treasury Secretary to strike a gold medal and sell bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a ceremonial honor with no policy changes or direct effects on legislation or constituents.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 616) condemns the Taliban's ongoing human rights abuses in Afghanistan, specifically targeting women, girls, religious minorities (including Hazaras and Sikhs), and ethnic groups. It expresses support for Afghans who assisted U.S. missions and calls for the U.S. government to halt Taliban violence and address systemic repression. Key mechanisms include urging the State Department to assess potential crimes against humanity, developing strategies to support human rights defenders, and expediting refugee processing for Afghans with Special Immigrant Visas. The resolution does not impose new legal requirements but formalizes congressional stance and policy guidance. It directly affects U.S. foreign policy implementation toward Afghanistan.