Rep. Marilyn Strickland

Maddy summaryHR 475 creates a federal grant program to help state, tribal, and local governments protect witnesses in serious criminal cases. It authorizes $30 million annually (2024-2028) for competitive grants to fund witness protection programs targeting cases involving homicide, serious violent felonies, drug offenses, gangs, or organized crime. Grants are awarded based on criteria like witness intimidation rates, unprosecuted cases due to intimidation, and local crime statistics. Recipients must report on their programs, leading to the development and nationwide sharing of best practices for witness safety, relocation, and financial/housing assistance.

Maddy summaryHRES 49 is a symbolic House resolution recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Lunar New Year in 2023. It formally acknowledges Lunar New Year's origins in China over 4,000 years ago, its celebration across East and Southeast Asia (including the Year of the Rabbit in Chinese tradition and Year of the Cat in Vietnamese tradition), and its observance by millions of Asian Americans and others in the U.S. The resolution expresses respect for Asian Americans and all global communities celebrating this holiday and extends well-wishes for a prosperous new year. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no legal effect or policy changes - it solely serves to affirm cultural recognition.

Maddy summaryHR 430, the Lunar New Year Day Act, would designate the Lunar New Year as a federal holiday by adding it to the official list of holidays observed by federal employees. This change would require federal offices to close and federal employees to receive a paid day off on the actual date of the Lunar New Year each year. The holiday would be observed annually on the date the Lunar New Year falls, which varies yearly based on the lunar calendar. This bill directly affects federal workers and operations, aligning with existing federal holiday practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the export or sale of petroleum products drawn from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to specific countries and entities, including China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and any nation under U.S. sanctions. It also bans exports to entities owned or controlled by these countries or the Chinese Communist Party. The Secretary of Energy must enforce this ban, though they may issue a national security waiver for specific exports. The bill requires the Secretary to issue implementing rules within 60 days of enactment. It directly affects the Secretary of Energy, oil exporters seeking to use the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and the listed countries/entities.

Maddy summaryHR 396, the Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act of 2023, defines "bump stock" as any device or modification that increases the firing rate of a semi-automatic weapon to mimic a machine gun. The bill amends federal tax and firearms laws to classify bump stocks as prohibited devices under the National Firearms Act, requiring existing owners to register them within one year of enactment. It directly affects individuals who currently own bump stocks by mandating registration to avoid future possession prohibitions. The law takes effect immediately for new sales but provides a one-year grace period for existing owners to comply with registration requirements.

Maddy summaryHRES 36 is a symbolic resolution supporting Korean American Day, introduced by multiple House members on January 13, 2023. It honors the 120th anniversary of the 1903 arrival of the first large wave of Korean immigrants to the U.S. and recognizes Korean Americans' contributions to U.S. society, economy, and the U.S.-South Korea alliance. The resolution urges all Americans to observe Korean American Day to appreciate these contributions but does not create new laws or affect any specific group through policy changes. It is a commemorative measure without binding requirements.

Protecting Homeowners from Disaster Act of 2023 This bill repeals the current limitation on tax deductions for personal casualty losses. Under current law, such losses are deductible in taxable years 2018-2025 only to the extent that they are attributable to a federally declared disaster.

Maddy summaryHR 308, the Rosa Parks Day Act, would designate Rosa Parks Day as a legal public holiday for federal employees and government operations. The bill amends Title 5 of the U.S. Code to add "Rosa Parks Day" to the list of federal holidays, placing it after Thanksgiving Day. This change would require federal offices to close on this designated day, affecting federal employees and standard government operations. The bill does not create new programs or alter existing laws beyond the holiday designation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires colleges to notify students receiving federal work-study aid about their potential eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It mandates that institutions send electronic notifications (via email or other digital means) to these students, explaining SNAP eligibility requirements, state-specific application processes, and including a document confirming their work-study status to satisfy SNAP eligibility rules. The bill directly affects undergraduate and graduate students participating in federal work-study programs who may qualify for food assistance but lack awareness of SNAP. The key mechanism is the standardized notification developed by the Education and Agriculture Departments, designed to streamline access to nutrition benefits for students facing food insecurity.

This resolution condemns all acts of political violence, as well as attacks on health care facilities, health care personnel, and patients. The resolution also states that all people have the freedom to access reproductive health care services and medical advice without fear of violence, intimidation, or harassment. Finally, the resolution calls on the Biden Administration to use all appropriate authorities to uphold public safety, protect health care facilities, and safeguard health care personnel and patients.