Rep. Suzanne Bonamici

Maddy summaryHR 7770, the Rosie the Riveter Commemorative Coin Act, authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell three commemorative coins honoring women who worked on the U.S. home front during World War II. It specifies $5 gold coins (max 50,000), $1 silver coins (max 400,000), and half-dollar coins (max 750,000), all to be issued between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Each coin sale includes a surcharge ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollar), with all surcharge funds directed to the Rosie the Riveter Trust for maintaining the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and educational programs. The coins will feature designs reflecting the legacy of diverse women workers and must meet specific weight, diameter, and composition standards.

Maddy summaryHR 7781, the AI PLAN Act, requires Treasury, Homeland Security, and Commerce secretaries to jointly submit annual reports to Congress on AI risks in financial crimes, fraud, and misinformation. These reports must detail interagency efforts to protect financial markets, businesses, and supply chains, including specific risks like deepfakes, voice cloning, election interference, and synthetic identities. Within 90 days of each report, the agencies must also provide legislative recommendations and best practices for mitigating these AI-driven threats. The bill focuses on creating a structured reporting process for federal agencies, not on enacting new regulations or funding.

Maddy summaryHRES 1095 is a symbolic resolution expressing congressional support for designating March 2024 as "Music in Our Schools Month." It recognizes music's cultural importance, its long history in U.S. schools, and the unequal access to music education faced by students in underserved communities (including urban/rural schools and schools with high percentages of Black, Hispanic, or Native American students). The resolution does not create new laws, allocate funding, or mandate school actions - it simply affirms the value of music education and calls for greater support. This non-binding resolution was introduced by multiple representatives and referred to the Education Committee.

Maddy summaryHR 7722, the Blue Ocean Energy Innovation Act of 2024, establishes a Department of Energy program to fund research and development of "blue energy technologies" - renewable energy systems or greenhouse gas capture systems operating in aquatic environments. The program directly affects the Department of Energy, national laboratories, and industries like maritime transportation, algae biofuels, and ocean tourism by providing funding to improve these technologies, reduce costs, support coastal job creation, and address unique marine environment challenges. Key mechanisms include creating a dedicated "Blue Economy Center of Excellence" at a national lab, requiring cross-agency coordination with agencies like NOAA and the Maritime Administration, and authorizing $1.5 billion over 10 years (2024-2034) for R&D. The bill aims to advance ocean-based renewable energy while supporting ecosystem restoration and workforce development, without replacing existing funding.

Maddy summaryThe Stop Spying Bosses Act (HR 7690) requires employers to disclose all workplace surveillance practices to employees, including what data is collected, how it's collected, where it's stored, and how it affects employment decisions. It prohibits employers from using surveillance to monitor union activities, health information, political views, off-duty activities, or to make employment decisions based on irrelevant personal characteristics. The bill establishes a new Privacy and Technology Division within the Department of Labor to enforce these rules, giving employees the right to request and correct their personal data collected through workplace surveillance. Employers face penalties for violations, including fines up to $50,000 per violation for retaliation against whistleblowers who report surveillance abuses.

Maddy summaryHRES 1077 is a ceremonial resolution designating the third week of March 2024 as "National CACFP Week" to raise awareness of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). It recognizes CACFP’s role in providing nutritious meals to over 4 million children and 138,000 adults daily in childcare centers, after-school programs, and adult care homes. The resolution urges continued support for strengthening CACFP but does not create new policies or funding. It directly affects no individuals or entities - it is a symbolic congressional acknowledgment of CACFP’s existing benefits.

Maddy summaryHRES 1079 is a symbolic House resolution condemning Russia's claimed suspension of the New START nuclear arms control treaty, which the U.S. considers legally invalid. It calls on Russia to immediately return to full compliance with New START, including resuming inspections and data sharing, and emphasizes the importance of arms control for global stability. The resolution urges the Biden administration to continue arms control talks with Russia and China to prevent a nuclear arms race. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change U.S. policy but expresses congressional support for maintaining the New START framework, which limits Russia's nuclear arsenal to 1,550 warheads.

Maddy summaryThe Opportunities for Success Act of 2024 increases annual federal funding for work-based learning programs at colleges and universities, with appropriations rising from $1.5 billion in 2025 to $2.5 billion by 2029. The bill defines work-based learning to include internships, apprenticeships, cooperative education, and research positions, and establishes a funding formula that prioritizes institutions with high completion rates for Pell Grant recipients. It requires institutions to use specific portions of funds to support students with exceptional need and to ensure work-based learning positions align with students' career goals. The legislation also creates a pilot grant program for developing new work-based learning opportunities and mandates regular reporting on program effectiveness to track outcomes for participating students.

Maddy summaryHR 7634, the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, prohibits plastic pellets and pre-production plastic materials from being discharged into water through wastewater, spills, or runoff from specific facilities. It directly affects plastic polymer production facilities, plastic molding and forming facilities, and any point source (like packaging or transport operations) handling plastic pellets. The bill requires the EPA to issue a final rule within 60 days of enactment banning these discharges and updating all relevant wastewater, stormwater, and performance standards in permits and regulations. This creates a legal requirement for facilities to prevent plastic pellet pollution in waterways, targeting a major source of ocean plastic pollution.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCONRES 97) recognizes the gender wage gap, noting that women working full-time earn 84 cents for every dollar earned by men. It highlights racial disparities (e.g., Latinas earn 57 cents, Black women 69 cents) and the economic impact of the gap, including $965 billion in annual lost wages for women. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the issue and reaffirms Congress’s commitment to addressing wage inequality.