Rep. Yvette D. Clarke

Maddy summaryThe Safer Heat Act of 2023 requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to establish a mandatory safety standard for portable heating devices, directly affecting manufacturers and consumers. The standard must include an automatic shut-off feature at hazardous temperatures, either matching or exceeding existing voluntary safety standards. The CPSC must develop this rule through public consultation and can periodically update it to enhance safety. This law aims to reduce fire risks associated with portable heaters by mandating specific safety features in product design.

Maddy summaryHR 782 prohibits state officials from interfering with abortion services provided across state lines. It specifically blocks states from restricting: (1) out-of-state patients traveling for legal abortions, (2) providers offering such services, (3) assistance for travel or care, or (4) the interstate shipment of FDA-approved abortion drugs. The bill allows the federal Attorney General or affected individuals to sue violators for injunctions, damages, and attorney fees. It directly affects patients seeking care in other states, healthcare providers, transportation services, and pharmacies handling FDA-approved abortion medications. The law focuses on preventing state laws from blocking access to legally permitted abortion services.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates the federal government to develop a comprehensive strategy specifically targeting drug trafficking routes through the Caribbean into the United States, including ports of entry, maritime corridors, and air routes. The strategy must define agency roles, detail required resources, and ensure legitimate trade and travel are not hindered. It specifically requires plans to reduce drug-related violent crime in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with recommendations for additional federal assistance or authorities needed by local law enforcement. The bill creates a procedural requirement for this planning document but does not allocate new funding or change existing laws.

Maddy summaryHR 926 would require the Supreme Court to establish a code of conduct for justices within 180 days of enactment, along with procedures for handling ethics complaints against them. The bill mandates minimum disclosure standards for gifts, income, and reimbursements received by justices and their law clerks, and requires justices to recuse themselves when they or their family received gifts from parties in a case. It would also require parties and amici curiae to disclose gifts given to justices and lobbying contacts related to justices' nominations, and establish a judicial investigation panel to review complaints against justices. The legislation aims to increase transparency in Supreme Court ethics processes and provide clearer recusal standards for justices.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes significant changes to US corporate tax rules to prevent tax avoidance through foreign operations. It requires corporations to calculate foreign income tax liabilities country-by-country, limits interest deductions for large international financial reporting groups, and modifies rules for "inverted corporations" (where US companies move tax residence abroad). The bill also creates new rules treating foreign corporations managed primarily in the US as domestic corporations for tax purposes. These changes aim to close tax loopholes related to outsourcing and foreign tax planning.

Maddy summaryHR 971, the Black History Matters Act, directs the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to study Black history education in public elementary and secondary schools. The 3-year study will identify which schools require Black history curriculum, assess teaching quality through discussions and materials, and analyze how schools measure student understanding. It does not change school requirements but will produce a report for Congress on the current state of Black history education, including coverage of topics like slavery, Reconstruction, and systemic racism. The bill specifically defines "Black history education" as teaching the history of African Americans, including struggles against racism and discrimination. This is a procedural study bill, not a policy requiring new educational mandates.

Presidential Tax Transparency Act This bill requires the President, the Vice President, and certain candidates for President and Vice President to disclose federal income tax returns for the ten most recent taxable years. The returns must be disclosed to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which must make the returns publicly available after redacting information that is necessary for protecting against identity theft, such as Social Security numbers. If the tax returns are not disclosed to the FEC as required by this bill, the Internal Revenue Service must provide the returns to the FEC upon receiving a written request from the FEC.

This resolution condemns Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin Corridor to Nagorno-Karabakh (also known as Artsakh). The resolution calls on the U.S. government to work with international partners to deploy observers to explore opportunities for security and peaceful development. The resolution also calls on the President to (1) suspend military and security assistance from the United States to Azerbaijan, and (2) fully enforce a U.S. law prohibiting certain bilateral assistance to Azerbaijan until Azerbaijan takes demonstrable steps to cease all offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Maddy summaryHR 866, the Equal COLA Act, changes how cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated for federal retirees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). It requires that each year's COLA be based on the exact percent change in the price index from the previous year's base quarter, rounded to the nearest 0.1%, effective December 1. This applies to all FERS annuities starting before, on, or after the bill's enactment date, ensuring a standardized calculation method for retirees' annual adjustments.

Maddy summaryHR 882, the American Teacher Act, requires states to ensure full-time teachers in public elementary and secondary schools earn at least $60,000 annually (adjusted for inflation), with part-time teachers receiving proportional pay. It provides federal grants to states to fund these salary increases, mandating sustainability plans beyond the 4-year grant period and prioritizing schools in high-poverty areas. The bill also includes cost-of-living adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index and funds a national campaign to promote teaching as a career. It explicitly states grant funds must supplement existing education budgets without reducing current teacher pay or state loan forgiveness programs.