Rep. Cori Bush

Maddy summaryHRES 1468 is a non-binding resolution recognizing the significant pay disparity faced by disabled women in the U.S. workforce. It cites data showing disabled women earn, on average, 50 cents for every dollar earned by nondisabled men, with even starker gaps for disabled women of color (e.g., 44 cents for disabled Latinas). The resolution highlights systemic barriers like occupational segregation, the subminimum wage, and lack of support services contributing to these inequities. It does not create new laws or affect any group directly, but formally acknowledges these disparities and reaffirms the House’s commitment to addressing wage gaps. This is a symbolic recognition, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryThe Homes Act of 2024 would establish a new Housing Development Authority within the Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop permanently affordable housing. The Authority would acquire properties and convey them to eligible entities (including community land trusts, tenant organizations, and public housing agencies) under strict requirements for permanent affordability, climate resilience, and community control. The bill would set rents at 25% of household income, limit annual rent increases to 3% or the Consumer Price Index, and require "just-cause" evictions with tenant protections. It would also create a tenant right to purchase their rental properties through a "first look" process and prioritize housing for underserved communities and families experiencing homelessness.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. government to immediately restore funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), reversing a temporary funding pause. It repeals two appropriations acts that halted payments and requires the Secretary of State to resume UNRWA funding under existing authorities. The legislation specifically aims to support UNRWA’s critical humanitarian work - providing shelter, education, healthcare, and aid to Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan - during an acute famine risk in Gaza. It also mandates quarterly reports to Congress on UNRWA’s implementation of reforms from an independent review, ensuring accountability for its humanitarian mission.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Medicaid and CHIP rules to let eligible out-of-state healthcare providers enroll without extra state screening. It applies to providers already in Medicare or their home state program, with low fraud risk, serving children under 21 with complex medical conditions. Providers would receive 5 years of enrollment under this streamlined process, eliminating state-level barriers. The change directly affects children seeking specialized care across state lines and the providers who serve them.

Maddy summaryThe American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2024 provides down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers, expands Fair Housing Act protections to include gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, source of income, and veteran status, and makes significant reforms to the Community Reinvestment Act to improve access to credit in underserved communities. The bill also provides housing loan benefits for direct descendants of veterans who served between 1944 and 1968, increases accessibility requirements for housing constructed with federal funds, and includes estate tax changes for high-value estates. It aims to address housing affordability, reduce discrimination in housing, and improve access to credit in underserved communities.

Maddy summaryHRES 1448 is a non-binding House resolution stating that the House believes every person has the right to emergency health care, including abortion care, during medical emergencies. It specifically addresses concerns that abortion restrictions force medical providers to choose between treating patients in life-threatening situations or risking criminal charges. The resolution highlights that such restrictions disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, people of color, immigrants, low-income individuals, and LGBTQI+ patients. It does not change existing laws but expresses congressional support for ensuring access to emergency care without legal barriers. The resolution was introduced by multiple House members and referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Maddy summaryThe Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act of 2024 would require major fossil fuel companies that emitted more than 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide between 2000 and 2022 to pay a tax based on their historical emissions. The tax revenue would fund a new Climate Fund that would provide $15 billion annually for disaster response and resilience programs through FEMA, $6 billion for clean air initiatives, and mandate 40% of funds support environmental justice communities. The fund would finance climate resilience projects including climate-resilient infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, and support for vulnerable communities affected by climate change. Companies could pay the tax over nine years, and the bill explicitly states it does not affect existing legal claims against polluters for climate-related damages.

Maddy summaryHRES 1436 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. It recognizes suicide as a preventable public health crisis by citing statistics from the CDC, VA, and SAMHSA showing rising suicide rates across age groups, including veterans and adolescents. The resolution formally supports designating September as "National Suicide Prevention Month" and September 10, 2024, as "World Suicide Prevention Day." It does not create new policies, allocate funding, or directly affect any individuals - its purpose is solely to express congressional support for suicide prevention awareness and efforts.

Maddy summaryHR 8492 prohibits wildlife killing contests - events where participants kill animals for cash, prizes, or entertainment - on all federal public lands managed by agencies like the National Park Service or U.S. Forest Service. It specifically bans contests targeting species such as coyotes, foxes, and bobcats, except for field trials with hunting dogs, contests for deer/birds (Galliformes/Anatidae), or agency-led invasive species control. The law requires federal agencies to issue implementing regulations within a year of enactment. It directly affects organizers, sponsors, and participants of such contests on federally managed lands, while allowing states to maintain stricter rules.

Maddy summaryHR 8096, the Future of Water Act of 2024, amends the Commodity Exchange Act and related law to prohibit the trading of water, water rights, or water-related financial products (like indices or data) as commodities for future delivery. This change directly affects commodity markets, futures traders, and entities seeking to create financial instruments based on water resources. The bill adds specific language to existing statutes to explicitly exclude water and water rights from being traded as future commodities, preventing their inclusion in futures contracts or related financial products. It does not alter water management, rights, or usage rules, only restricting their financial speculation in commodity markets.