Rep. Jamaal Bowman

Maddy summaryHRES 114 is a resolution proposing to expel Representative George Santos from the U.S. House of Representatives, citing constitutional authority under Article I, Section 5, Clause 2. It directly targets Santos, who was a sitting member of the House at the time of introduction. The resolution follows the House's constitutional power to expel members for misconduct, though it does not specify the alleged violations. This procedural resolution was referred to the Committee on Ethics for review.

Maddy summaryHR 6451, the Mental Health Justice Act of 2023, provides $250 million in federal grants to states, tribes, and localities to hire mental health professionals as first responders for specific emergencies. It directs these professionals to replace police in situations involving mental health crises, substance use, or intellectual/developmental disabilities - such as when a 911 caller describes a mental health emergency or a first responder identifies someone needing mental health support. The bill requires grantees to train responders in de-escalation techniques, link individuals to community-based services (not incarceration), and report on outcomes like reduced arrests or use of force. It also mandates data collection on demographics and prevents funneling people into institutional settings, with annual reports to Congress on program effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHRES 886 is a non-binding House resolution supporting Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) by recognizing the epidemic of violence against transgender people and memorializing those lost in the year ending September 30, 2023. It specifically acknowledges the disproportionate impact of violence on transgender women of color, citing 33 documented deaths in the U.S. during that period (with estimates suggesting the actual number is higher due to underreporting). The resolution calls for Congress to prioritize studying and preventing such violence while affirming that all transgender people deserve dignity and respect. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funding but serves to raise awareness and honor victims.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic resolution (HRES 879) expresses the U.S. House of Representatives' support for designating November 20-December 20, 2023, as "National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month." It aims to raise public awareness about the needs of individuals who have lost loved ones to homicide, particularly highlighting impacts on Black and Latinx communities and survivors of intimate partner violence. The resolution calls for supporting survivors through services, research, and community-based responses, while encouraging the public to promote healing and address gun violence. It does not create new laws or allocate funding, but serves as a formal recognition of survivors' experiences.

Maddy summaryThe Climate Displaced Persons Act establishes a new admission pathway for individuals displaced by climate-related environmental disasters, defining "climate-displaced persons" as those compelled to leave their homes due to climate events like floods, droughts, or sea level rise who cannot safely return or integrate locally. The bill sets a minimum annual admission goal of 100,000 climate-displaced persons to the United States beginning in fiscal year 2024, requires the government to collect and analyze data on climate displacement, and mandates the creation of a Global Climate Change Resilience Strategy to address climate impacts on vulnerable populations. It also requires training for U.S. diplomats and immigration officers on climate displacement and establishes procedures for applications, including exemptions for unaccompanied children and cases of changed circumstances. The legislation aims to provide a structured humanitarian response to climate-driven displacement while acknowledging the U.S. historical responsibility for climate change.

Maddy summaryThe Confronting Police Violence Against Children Act of 2023 requires the National Institute of Justice to study all incidents where children under 18 were seriously harmed or killed by law enforcement officers over the past 15 years. The report must analyze demographic details (like age, race, disability status), officer training, incident circumstances, and whether children were in mental health crises, while gathering input from legal experts, medical professionals, and community groups. It will provide recommendations for preventing excessive force, improving officer training for youth interactions, and ensuring children receive help from mental health professionals instead of police. The goal is to inform future policies and training practices, not to enact immediate legal changes.

Veterans Service Organization Modernization Act of 202 3 This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide competitive grants to veterans service organizations for repairs or rehabilitation of existing facilities and for modernization of technologies.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the U.S. House of Representatives' support for designating October 2023 as "National Co-Op Month" to commend the cooperative business model. It highlights how member-owned cooperatives - spanning agriculture, utilities, credit unions, housing, and food systems - create jobs, strengthen rural communities, and provide economic benefits like lower costs and democratic member control. The resolution specifically acknowledges cooperatives' role in supporting farmers, rural infrastructure (like electricity and broadband), and affordable housing. It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes cooperatives' positive societal impact.

Maddy summaryHR 6204, the "See the Board Act," establishes a federal grant program to provide free eye care services to students in public elementary and secondary schools. The bill directs the Health and Human Services Secretary to fund nonprofit organizations that operate mobile eye clinics using portable equipment to deliver screenings, exams, and glasses directly at schools. This program covers costs for equipment, personnel, and operational expenses, targeting students in schools defined under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The initiative is authorized for fiscal years 2024 through 2029.

Maddy summaryHR 5976, the Youth Mental Health Research Act, establishes a new NIH research initiative led by the National Institute of Mental Health. The bill directs collaboration between three NIH institutes to coordinate research on youth mental health, focusing specifically on building community resilience for at-risk youth and improving how mental health services reach young people in schools, communities, and other settings where they live and work. It authorizes $100 million annually for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to fund this research. The bill does not create direct services but aims to generate evidence to inform future mental health support strategies for young people.