Rep. Susie Lee

Maddy summaryHRES 1537 is a non-binding House resolution condemning Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, including 7 Americans still held captive. It calls on Hamas to immediately surrender, cease attacks, and release all hostages unconditionally, while reaffirming Israel's right to self-defense. The resolution also urges international organizations to condemn Hamas' actions and address the global surge in antisemitism following the attacks. As a symbolic statement, it does not create new laws or alter policy but expresses congressional position. The bill specifically references the ongoing captivity of seven U.S. citizens: Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judith Weinstein Haggai, Omer Neutra, and Keith Siegel.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a process for state education agencies to access specific demographic data about military members and applicants who graduated high school in their state. It requires the Defense and Homeland Security Secretaries to establish a confidential data-sharing system within 18 months, enabling states to integrate information like education level, military branch, rank, AFQT test scores, and graduation details into their education databases. The data includes details for both active service members (e.g., separation dates, military specialty) and applicants denied military service. All data sharing must comply with strict privacy laws to protect individual information, with no new data collection mandated beyond existing military records.

Maddy summaryHRES 1504 designates October 2024 as Filipino American History Month to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Filipino Americans to the United States. The resolution urges the American public to observe the month through educational programs and activities highlighting the community's early settlements, military service (including World War II veterans' contributions), and roles in healthcare, labor movements, and other fields. As a non-binding congressional resolution, it formally recognizes Filipino American heritage without creating new legal obligations or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to speed up geothermal energy projects in areas already studied or developed for energy use. It removes the requirement for full environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for geothermal exploration and development in these specific locations, directly affecting geothermal energy developers and companies seeking to expand operations. The key change adds "geothermal" to existing exemptions for "gas" in the law, so projects in previously studied areas no longer need the same level of environmental analysis as new developments. This applies only to areas where prior studies or development have already occurred, not to entirely new sites.

Maddy summaryThe DISPOSE Act authorizes the U.S. government to partner with Colombia, Mexico, and Peru to safely destroy chemicals used in illegal drug production. It requires the State Department, in coordination with Justice and Defense, to create a detailed implementation plan within 90 days - including timelines, budgets, and measurable goals - and provide annual progress reports to Congress on chemical destruction efforts. The initiative aims to prevent these chemicals from re-entering drug manufacturing, free storage space for future seizures, and reduce environmental harm from hazardous waste.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new presumption that veterans who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range since January 1, 1972, were exposed to radiation and toxins during their service. It directly affects veterans assigned to duty at this Nevada site, including airspace above it, by establishing that such exposure is assumed without requiring individual proof. Key provisions include adding onsite military work at the Nevada site to the list of "radiation-risk activities" and specifically covering lipomas and tumor-related conditions as service-connected disabilities for these veterans. The change simplifies the process for qualifying veterans to receive VA disability benefits related to these health conditions.

Maddy summaryThe Artsakh Revenue Recovery Act of 2024 would establish a U.S. fund to compensate Armenians displaced from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) after Azerbaijan's military assault in September 2023. It requires the U.S. government to seize Azerbaijani sovereign assets held in the United States if Azerbaijan fails to compensate displaced Armenians for lost revenue from businesses, property, and employment. The bill creates a claims process through which displaced Armenians can submit claims for compensation for revenue lost since September 2023, with the fund paying claims if Azerbaijan does not compensate within 90 days. The Artsakh Revenue Recovery Fund would operate for up to one year after a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is signed or until all claims are paid.

Maddy summaryHR 6033, the SPEAK Act of 2024, creates a task force within the Department of Health and Human Services to address telehealth barriers for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). The task force - comprising healthcare providers, tech vendors, language services, and patient advocates - will assess current obstacles and develop best practices for improving access to telehealth platforms, video interpretation, and digital patient portals. Within 90 days of each annual report, the Secretary must publish a public website sharing these best practices, including guidance on integrating interpreters and making telehealth instructions accessible. The bill directly affects LEP patients and healthcare providers who serve them, aiming to make digital health tools more usable through concrete, evidence-based recommendations.

Maddy summaryThe Apex Area Technical Corrections Act (HR 1504) amends the 1989 Apex Project, Nevada Land Transfer and Authorization Act to update its legal framework for land transfers in Southern Nevada. It adds the City of North Las Vegas and the Apex Industrial Park Owners Association as authorized recipients for land transfers (replacing Clark County as the sole recipient), and exempts certain mineral sales on the Apex Site from competitive bidding requirements. The bill also requires environmental compliance for all land transfers under the Act, aligning with federal environmental laws. These changes directly affect the City of North Las Vegas - a predominantly minority community that has faced economic hardship - and the private stakeholders managing the Apex Industrial Park.

Maddy summaryThe TIPS Act repeals the lower minimum wage for tipped workers, requiring employers to pay the standard federal minimum wage (instead of a reduced rate that relied on tip credits) and mandating that all tips go directly to employees - except for allowed tip pooling among staff who regularly receive tips. It also creates a new tax deduction for qualified tips received in traditional tipped occupations (like food service, hospitality, and custodial work), limited to individuals with adjusted gross income under $112,500. This deduction applies to both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers, with reporting requirements for tips via employer statements. The bill modifies tax forms to accommodate this change, effective for tax years starting after December 2024.