Rep. Brenda L. Lawrence

This resolution celebrates the contributions of small businesses in every U.S. community and supports the designation of National Small Business Week. Further, it supports efforts to provide small businesses with aid and assistance through certain programs and initiatives.

This resolution demands that Russia present credible evidence of wrongdoing against U.S. citizen Paul Whelan or immediately release him. It also demands that Russia provide unrestricted consular access to Whelan and to ensure that he and all other political prisoners are afforded due process and universally recognized human rights.

Armenian Genocide Education Act This bill requires the Library of Congress to maintain a public website and otherwise support educational initiatives to promote understanding about the Armenian Genocide.

This resolution recognizes that Black women are experiencing high, disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States and that Black Maternal Health Week is an opportunity to deepen the national conversation about Black maternal health.

Union Auto Workers Job Protection Act This bill requires that any bid for a contract relating to the assembly of a vehicle include information about each motor vehicle plant where the vehicles are to be assembled, including the mailing address of each motor vehicle plant; the average, minimum, and maximum hourly wage of hourly employees at each plant; the number of temporary nonpermanent employees at each plant; and disclosures of any National Labor Relations Act violations or Occupational Safety and Health Administration violations by such employer at each plant.

This resolution condemns the rape and assault of women by Russian forces in the occupied area of Bucha, Ukraine. The resolution condemns the deliberate disruption of the free flow of humanitarian aid that is harming innocent civilians, particularly women. The resolution also highlights the critical importance of ensuring women meaningfully participate in the planning and execution of humanitarian actions and the negotiation of peace agreements to meet their unique needs and to protect their human rights. Finally, the resolution calls on Vladimir Putin to condemn sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in this conflict; hold all perpetrators who commit acts of sexual and gender-based violence accountable; cease all hostilities, protect human rights, and allow unencumbered humanitarian access; and remove all Russian Armed Forces, and other armed groups, from Ukraine.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding resolution (HRES 1050) encourages Congress to adopt the Black Women Best (BWB) framework in policymaking to address systemic disparities affecting Black women. It does not create new laws but recommends using this framework - based on the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls' "An Economy for All" report - to center Black women's lived experiences in legislative decisions. Key issues highlighted include severe wealth gaps (Black women’s median wealth at $1,700 vs. $81,200 for White women), labor market discrimination, healthcare inequities, and housing barriers. The resolution specifically urges policymakers to prioritize frameworks like the BWB to develop more inclusive policies, without mandating any concrete legislative changes.

Maddy summaryHR 7477, the CERTS Tax Exemption Act, ensures that grants provided under the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act are tax-free for eligible transportation service providers. The bill directly affects companies and organizations providing transportation services that receive these specific federal grants. Key provisions state that grant amounts cannot be counted as taxable income, deductions related to grant-funded costs cannot be denied, and tax attributes (like basis increases) must be treated as tax-free for partnerships and S corporations. This change simplifies tax treatment for recipients by preventing unintended tax liabilities on relief funds.

Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2022 or the BURMA Act of 2022 This bill imposes sanctions pertaining to Burma (Myanmar) and addresses related issues. The President must impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on certain foreign persons (i.e., an individual or entity), including those that (1) knowingly operate in Burma's defense sector, (2) are responsible for or complicit in undermining Burma's democratic processes, or (3) are senior leaders in Burma's military or government. The Department of the Treasury must prohibit or impose strict conditions on certain accounts used to facilitate transactions for such sanctioned persons. The President may impose sanctions on Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise if such sanctions would support certain objectives, including reducing the Burmese military's ability to undermine democracy in Burma. Before removing certain foreign persons from a list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons (commonly known as the SDN list), the President must certify to Congress that the person in question has not knowingly engaged in certain activities, such as supporting terrorism. The bill authorizes Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development activities in Burma and the surrounding region to support democracy activists, humanitarian assistance, and reconciliation efforts. The State Department may (1) continue to assist organizations supporting political prisoners in Burma, and (2) provide assistance to entities investigating crimes against humanity. The President must direct U.S. representatives to the United Nations to vote and advocate for certain actions related to Burma, such as cutting off assistance to Burma's government.

Promoting Permanency Through Kinship Families Act This bill revises the requirements for states with respect to foster care and adoption assistance to promote kinship placements.