Rep. Suzan K. DelBene

Maddy summaryHRES 831 is a symbolic congressional resolution supporting October as "National Domestic Violence Awareness Month." It does not create new laws or allocate funding, but formally expresses the House of Representatives' support for the goals of raising awareness about domestic violence. The resolution urges Congress to continue highlighting domestic violence's impact and backing programs that prevent and address it. It directly affects public awareness efforts and serves as a non-binding statement of congressional support for victims and advocacy organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates legal terminology in District of Columbia court codes to replace outdated and potentially stigmatizing terms. It specifically replaces "substantially retarded persons" and similar phrases with "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities" in three sections covering U.S. District Court, Superior Court, and Family Court jurisdiction. The change directly affects how DC courts formally reference individuals in legal contexts, aligning terminology with current standards. It is a purely procedural update to court codes with no new policy or funding provisions. The bill does not alter eligibility, rights, or court procedures - only the language used in the legal text.

Maddy summaryHR 5983, the Clean Water Act of 2023, redefines "protected water resources" under federal law to explicitly include all interstate and intrastate waters (such as intermittent and ephemeral streams), wetlands, and their tributaries. This directly affects federal agencies like the EPA, states managing water quality, and developers or landowners needing permits for activities near these waters. The bill eliminates the Supreme Court’s narrow "navigable waters" definition from Sackett v. EPA (2023), restoring protections for tens of millions of acres of wetlands and millions of miles of small streams. Key mechanisms require the EPA to annually review and adjust exclusions from protections based on scientific evidence, ensuring water bodies critical to drinking water, flood control, and ecosystems remain safeguarded.

Maddy summaryHRES 819 is a symbolic resolution recognizing the 5-year anniversary of the October 27, 2018, antisemitic attack at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue, which killed 11 people. It condemns antisemitism and references rising hate incidents, including the Anti-Defamation League’s 2022 report of record antisemitic activity (3,697 incidents). The resolution honors the victims, expresses solidarity with affected Jewish communities, and reaffirms the U.S. commitment to combatting hate and protecting religious freedom. As a procedural resolution (not a law), it has no binding effect but serves as a formal statement of congressional stance.

Maddy summaryThe All Students Count Act of 2023 amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to require states to collect and report detailed educational data for specific Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander subgroups, including Chinese, Filipino, Cambodian, Hmong, Samoan, and Chamorro communities. It mandates that states disaggregate student performance data by these specific ethnic subgroups rather than reporting only broad categories. This change directly affects public school systems and state education agencies, which must now collect and report data for these detailed groups as part of federal accountability requirements. The bill aims to address historical data gaps that obscured educational disparities affecting diverse communities, such as lower high school graduation rates or college enrollment among specific subgroups.

Maddy summaryHRES 814 is a symbolic resolution expressing support for recognizing October 2023 as "National Dyslexia Awareness Month." It calls on Congress, schools, and educational agencies to acknowledge dyslexia's educational impact and promote early screening and evidence-based interventions. The resolution highlights dyslexia as a common learning disability affecting 1 in 5 people, emphasizing its neurobiological basis and the need for accommodations to support affected individuals. It does not create new laws or allocate funding, serving solely as a formal expression of awareness.

Maddy summaryHRES 771 is a non-binding resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. It condemns Hamas' actions, affirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls for the immediate release of hostages. The resolution also urges enforcement of existing laws restricting aid to terrorists and sanctions against Iran for supporting Hamas. It does not create new policies or allocate funds, as it is a symbolic statement of congressional support.

Maddy summaryHRES 768 is a symbolic House Resolution expressing congressional support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks. It condemns Hamas' actions, reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, and calls for the immediate release of hostages. The resolution references the U.S. commitment to Israel's security through existing military aid programs, including the 2016 U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding, and emphasizes enforcement of laws like the Taylor Force Act to prevent U.S. aid from reaching terrorist groups. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new policy but serves as a statement of congressional support for Israel.

Maddy summaryThe Retirement Savings for Americans Act of 2023 would create a new government-administered retirement savings program called the American Worker Retirement Fund, designed to help workers without access to employer retirement plans. The program would automatically enroll eligible employees (those without existing retirement plans at work) at a 3% contribution rate (with an option to opt out), and provide a government match tax credit for contributions. Participants would have access to various investment options including government bonds, fixed income, and stock index funds, with funds in the account being non-forfeitable and not counting toward eligibility for public assistance benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a one-time $40,000 payment to former Air America employees who served at least five years during 1950-1976, or to their survivors (widows/widowers, dependents, or children). Additional $8,000 payments are provided for each full year of service beyond five years. The total funding is capped at $60 million, with claims due within two years of regulations being finalized. It does not create ongoing benefits or change Air America’s legal status, and payments are issued as a single lump sum.