Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez

Maddy summaryHRES 303 is a symbolic House resolution designating April 2023 as "Care Worker Recognition Month" to honor care workers in the U.S. It specifically recognizes home care workers supporting older adults and people with disabilities, childcare workers, and early educators. The resolution highlights how these workers enable families to remain in the workforce and emphasizes the importance of their roles in community care. This is a non-binding expression of support with no new policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryThe Ending PUSHOUT Act of 2023 aims to reduce discriminatory school discipline practices that disproportionately push students of color, particularly girls of color, out of school. It requires schools to collect detailed data on disciplinary actions disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability status, and other factors to identify patterns of overuse and discrimination. The bill provides grants to schools to implement trauma-informed practices, restorative approaches, and mental health supports instead of exclusionary discipline, while prohibiting out-of-school suspensions for minor infractions in early grades and banning practices like corporal punishment and certain restraints. It also establishes a joint task force with diverse representation to study discipline disparities and recommend solutions to prevent students from being pushed out of schools. The legislation seeks to create safer school environments by addressing the root causes of discipline issues rather than relying on punitive measures.

Maddy summaryHR 2665 delays Medicaid payment reductions for safety net hospitals by two years, changing the effective date from 2024 to 2026 under Section 1923(f)(7)(A) of the Social Security Act. This bill directly affects hospitals that serve high numbers of low-income and uninsured patients, providing them with additional time before facing reduced federal Medicaid payments. The key mechanism is a technical amendment to existing law, postponing an already scheduled payment adjustment without altering funding levels or eligibility. As a procedural bill, it does not create new programs or change hospital requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Fairness to Freedom Act of 2023 guarantees the right to government-funded legal counsel for immigrants facing removal, exclusion, deportation, or bond proceedings who cannot afford private representation. It establishes the Office of Immigration Representation to oversee this system, with Local Boards in each region managing appointments and ensuring quality representation through public defender organizations, community defender organizations, and attorney panels. The bill requires counsel to be appointed within 24 hours for detained individuals, ensures continuous representation through all proceedings, mandates minimum funding based on a prosecution-defense ratio, and prohibits using appointed counsel as a basis for public charge determinations.

Freedom to Decide Act This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress to (1) affirm that federal law authorizes the distribution of medication abortion, including by mail, as stated in a 2022 Department of Justice memorandum; and (2) condemn restrictions on the access and coverage of reproductive health care, including medication abortion.

Maddy summaryThe Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2023 amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to improve services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and family violence. The bill authorizes $270 million annually for fiscal years 2024-2028, with specific allocations including 12.5% for Tribal grantees, 2.5% for culturally specific services, and funds for national hotlines and resource centers. It establishes a national domestic violence hotline, a National Indian Domestic Violence Hotline, and resource centers for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian populations, requiring all services to be trauma-informed, culturally relevant, and accessible to underserved populations including racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and Tribal communities. The bill also mandates a study on financial stability support for survivors of domestic violence.

Eliminating Paperwork for Startups Act This bill requires the Internal Revenue Service to allow the election relating to property transferred in connection with services (i.e., to include in gross income the amount of such property in the year of transfer) to be made in electronic form.

Maddy summaryHR 2630, the Safe Step Act, requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to establish a clear, transparent process for patients or their doctors to request exceptions to medication step therapy protocols. These protocols typically force patients to try cheaper drugs first before covering more expensive alternatives. The bill mandates that plans must approve exceptions when prior treatments failed, delay would cause serious harm, a treatment is unsafe, or a patient is stable on a previously approved drug, with strict 72-hour (or 24-hour in emergencies) decision timelines. It also requires plans to publish the exception process online and limit documentation requests to only necessary medical information. This law directly affects health insurers, employers offering health plans, and patients using step therapy for prescription drugs.

Maddy summaryHJRES 54 proposes a constitutional amendment stating that only natural persons (human beings) have rights protected by the U.S. Constitution, explicitly denying constitutional rights to corporations, limited liability companies, and other artificial entities. It would require governments to regulate or restrict corporate political contributions and spending to ensure equal access to elections, mandate public disclosure of all political spending, and clarify that campaign finance rules do not violate the First Amendment. This amendment directly affects corporations and other artificial entities by removing their constitutional standing in legal challenges and subjecting their political activities to stricter government oversight. If passed, it would fundamentally change how corporations interact with election laws and constitutional protections, though it preserves press freedom under Section 3. The bill is a proposed amendment requiring ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures to become part of the Constitution.

Maddy summaryThe School Meals Expansion Act (HR 2567) amends the National School Lunch Act to make it easier for schools to provide free meals to all students. It lowers the income threshold to 25% (from a higher previous rate) and increases the eligibility multiplier to 2.5 for school years starting July 1, 2023. This means school districts with 25% or more students from low-income families can now qualify for full federal funding to offer free meals to all students without requiring individual applications. The bill directly affects local school districts that choose to participate in the community eligibility program under the National School Lunch Act.