Rep. Cori Bush

Maddy summaryThis bill would establish the Civilian Climate Corps, a national workforce program that would employ and train 50,000 to 400,000 young adults annually through 2028 to work on climate-related projects. The program would provide participants with a minimum living allowance of $17 per hour, health care benefits, and $25,000 in educational benefits per term of service. It would require 50% of projects to be located in under-resourced communities (with 10% specifically in Indian country) and ensure at least 50% of participants come from these communities. The Corps would focus on climate resilience, clean energy infrastructure, environmental remediation, and creating career pathways in the growing clean economy sector.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office within the Department of Justice to address racial disparities in missing and murdered Black women and girls cases. The Office will collect data on case resolution times, coordinate with law enforcement, and create a public dashboard tracking these cases. It also creates grants for community organizations to provide culturally appropriate services, prevention programs, and training for law enforcement targeting violence against Black women and girls. The bill directly affects Black women and girls who are victims of violence and their communities, focusing on improving data collection and support systems rather than changing criminal laws.

Maddy summaryThe Better CARE for Animals Act of 2023 amends the Animal Welfare Act to strengthen enforcement of animal welfare standards. It gives the Attorney General authority to bring civil cases for violations, including seeking penalties up to $10,000 per day per violation and injunctions to remove or relocate animals. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture and Attorney General to coordinate through a new Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on repeat violators. These changes directly affect dealers, exhibitors, and enforcement agencies by expanding civil enforcement tools and clarifying jurisdiction over rule violations.

Maddy summaryThe John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023 would strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by updating the criteria for which states and localities must obtain federal preclearance before changing voting practices. It would establish new standards for proving vote dilution and vote denial by requiring courts to consider historical discrimination, racial polarization in voting, and whether voting practices disproportionately burden minority voters. The bill would also require states and localities to provide public notice of voting changes and share demographic data about polling locations. These changes would primarily affect jurisdictions with a history of voting rights violations, aiming to prevent discriminatory voting practices before they take effect.

Maddy summaryThe Humane Cosmetics Act of 2023 bans cosmetic animal testing in the United States, prohibiting companies from conducting or contracting such testing after its enactment (effective 1 year later). It also bans selling or transporting cosmetics developed using animal testing conducted after that date within U.S. interstate commerce. The law directly affects cosmetic manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers operating in the U.S. market, requiring them to use non-animal testing methods for safety evaluations. Exceptions exist for foreign regulatory requirements or when no alternative testing methods are available for specific ingredients.

Maddy summaryThe No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act would deny tax deductions for employers who attempt to influence employees' decisions about union activities, including unfair labor practices like firing workers for organizing or using captive audience meetings. It targets expenses related to union-busting tactics, such as consulting fees and other costs used to sway workers' opinions about collective bargaining. Employers would need to report these expenses on tax returns and would no longer be able to deduct them from taxable income. The bill aims to prevent employers from using tax-deductible expenses to influence union elections, aligning with existing rules that deny tax deductions for political spending. It would apply to expenses incurred in taxable years beginning 240 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Green Ribbon Act of 2023 establishes a voluntary program to recognize schools and institutions meeting three environmental goals: graduating environmentally literate students, reducing emissions from buildings/operations, and achieving a net positive environmental impact on students and staff. It creates a federal award program where schools can earn recognition through State nominations, with $10 million authorized for fiscal years 2024-2029 to fund grants, honorariums ($10,000 per award), and technical assistance. The program directly affects K-12 schools, tribal schools, and institutions of higher education, requiring States to allocate at least 40% of grant funds to underresourced schools. Key provisions include updated criteria aligning with EPA and CDC health standards, annual reporting requirements, and a new Office of School Infrastructure within the Department of Education.

Maddy summaryHR 5436, the Expand Emergency Housing Act, modifies housing funding rules to expand emergency assistance. It waives a public service expenditure cap for fiscal year 2024 funds dedicated to preventing, preparing for, and responding to homelessness and emergency rental assistance. The bill also requires HUD to revise regulations so emergency grant payments (up to 6 consecutive months) provided to individuals or families do not count as "income payments" for eligibility purposes. This directly benefits people facing housing instability by making emergency aid easier to access without reducing their eligibility for other assistance programs.

Maddy summaryHR 5433, the Child Care Stabilization Act, provides $16 billion annually from 2024 to 2028 to stabilize the child care sector through grants administered by the Health and Human Services Secretary. It directly affects licensed child care providers by offering stable funding to cover operating costs, while supporting higher wages for early educators without raising family fees. Key provisions include expanding access to high-quality, affordable care - especially for infants/toddlers, rural communities, and children with disabilities - and addressing shortages in underserved areas. The funding builds on existing American Rescue Plan resources, aiming to strengthen the child care workforce and increase available options for working families.

Maddy summaryHR 5341, the Family Farmer and Rancher Tax Fairness Act of 2023, ensures that certain pandemic relief payments made to farmers and ranchers under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and related legislation are not counted as taxable income. Specifically, it excludes payments described in sections 1006(e) of the ARP Act and 22006 of Public Law 117-169 from gross income for recipients. This means eligible farmers and ranchers receiving these payments will not owe income tax on them, and it prevents related tax adjustments that would otherwise reduce deductions or basis. The bill directly affects agricultural businesses that received these specific federal payments during the pandemic.