Rep. Suzan K. DelBene

Maddy summaryHCONRES 22 is a symbolic resolution recognizing the persistent gender pay gap in the U.S., documenting that women earn significantly less than men across racial groups (e.g., Black women earn 67 cents for every dollar earned by White men). It highlights the economic impact of this disparity, noting women lose over $958 billion annually in wages and face barriers like occupational segregation and workplace harassment. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the issue and reaffirms Congress’s commitment to addressing the gap. It references specific Equal Pay Days (e.g., March 14 for all women) to underscore the time women must work to earn what men did the previous year.

Maddy summaryHR 1510, the Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2023, removes work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. It directly affects approximately 6.1 million people, including many Black, Hispanic, and Native American households disproportionately impacted by food insecurity (with rates 2-4x higher than White households), as well as families with children and individuals with health barriers to employment. The bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act by striking provisions requiring work for SNAP eligibility and related administrative requirements. This change aims to prevent vulnerable households from losing critical food assistance during the pandemic and beyond.

Maddy summaryHRES 200 is a non-binding House resolution condemning two mass shootings in California: 11 victims in Monterey Park (January 21, 2023) at a Lunar New Year celebration and 7 victims in Half Moon Bay (January 23, 2023) at a farm. It honors all victims - primarily Asian-American seniors and immigrant farmworkers - expresses condolences to their families, and reaffirms the House’s commitment to supporting Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. The resolution specifically addresses the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic and recognizes the vulnerability of immigrant communities. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally condemns the violence and affirms solidarity.

This resolution calls for the federal government to establish a national biodiversity strategy, which must include a goal of conserving at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters to protect biodiversity and address climate change by 2030 and other goals necessary to reduce the threats to biodiversity.

Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act of 2023 This bill establishes programs and requirements to support the inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in clinical research. For example, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to align the Food and Drug Administration's regulations for human subjects in clinical trials with other departmental regulations for pregnant women in clinical research. The bill also establishes (1) a national online clearinghouse with information about clinical trials that enroll pregnant and lactating women, (2) an advisory committee to help coordinate federal activities with respect to clinical research for pregnant and lactating women, and (3) an educational campaign on the importance of including pregnant and lactating women in clinical research. The National Institutes of Health must also prioritize certain research projects on new and existing medications for pregnant and lactating women based on need, feasibility, and the potential impact of the research.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires airlines to train flight crews and maintenance staff on identifying and responding to cabin smoke/fume incidents, implement a standardized reporting system for such events, and install real-time air quality monitors to detect dangerous contaminants like carbon monoxide. It directly affects airline crews, maintenance technicians, and passengers by mandating new safety protocols and equipment on commercial flights. Key provisions include annual training on fume sources and health impacts, detailed incident reports covering flight details and symptoms, and public databases of reported events (with personal information redacted). The law also mandates aircraft manufacturers to include monitoring procedures in flight manuals and requires the FAA to investigate incidents involving health symptoms. These changes aim to improve cabin air safety through better detection, reporting, and response systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows asylum seekers not in detention to obtain work authorization 30 days after filing their asylum application, provided their application isn't deemed frivolous. It directly affects individuals seeking asylum in the U.S. who are awaiting a final decision on their case. The authorization remains valid until the asylum application receives a final denial, including any administrative or court appeals. This changes the prior system where many asylum seekers faced prolonged work restrictions while their cases were processed.

Maddy summaryHR 1322 expands federal retirement benefits to include specific non-traditional law enforcement roles. It adds IRS employees focused on tax collection, U.S. Postal Inspection Service staff, Department of Veterans Affairs police officers, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized property specialists to the definition of "law enforcement officer" under federal retirement systems. Current employees in these newly covered positions must elect to pay deposits for past service to receive full retirement credit, while their agencies must contribute additional funds for that past service. The bill also temporarily prevents mandatory separation for current law enforcement officers for three years after enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 1321, the "More Homes on the Market Act," increases the tax exclusion for gains from selling a primary residence. It doubles the exclusion amount from $250,000 to $500,000 for single filers and from $500,000 to $1,000,000 for married couples filing jointly. The bill also adds automatic annual inflation adjustments to these amounts starting in 2023, ensuring the exclusion keeps pace with rising costs. This change directly affects homeowners who sell their primary residence and meet the ownership and use requirements under current tax law. The policy modifies the Internal Revenue Code to make selling a home less financially burdensome for qualifying homeowners.

Maddy summaryThe Military Spouse Hiring Act expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include military spouses. Employers who hire a spouse of an active-duty military member - certified by a local agency as meeting eligibility requirements on the hiring date - can claim this tax credit. The credit reduces the employer's federal tax liability for hiring such individuals. This provision applies to new hires after the bill's enactment date.