Rep. Pramila Jayapal

Maddy summaryThe Tax on Wall Street Speculation Act would impose a tax on certain financial transactions involving securities like stocks, bonds, and derivatives. The tax rate would vary depending on the security type, ranging from 0.005% for derivatives to 0.5% for stocks and bonds. Transactions occurring on U.S. trading facilities or involving U.S. persons would be subject to the tax, with payment responsibilities falling on trading facilities, brokers, or parties to the transaction. The bill also includes a credit against income tax for eligible individuals who pay the transaction tax, with income limits of $50,000 for single filers. The tax would apply to transactions after December 31, 2023.

Maddy summaryHR 4133, the Private Prison Information Act of 2023, requires federal agencies (covered agencies) using private or state/local facilities to house federal prisoners to treat related records as agency records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This means information about conditions, operations, or contracts at these non-Federal facilities must be disclosed to the public under FOIA rules, just as if held by a federal prison. Private prison operators (applicable entities) and state/local governments with federal contracts must maintain these records in searchable formats and include FOIA compliance as a binding term in all relevant contracts. The bill explicitly prohibits agencies from withholding such information unless specific FOIA exemptions apply or law forbids disclosure. It does not override state or local open records laws.

Maddy summaryThe College for All Act of 2023 would create a federal-state partnership to eliminate tuition and required fees for eligible students at public community colleges and 4-year institutions. It would provide federal funding to cover tuition costs for students from families earning up to $125,000 annually (or $250,000 for married couples) at public institutions, with states gradually increasing their financial contribution over time. The bill also includes provisions to support historically Black colleges and universities, minority-serving institutions, and expands Pell Grant eligibility to include Dreamers. States would be required to maintain funding levels for higher education and implement specific reforms to improve student outcomes, including transfer pathways and support services.

Maddy summaryHR 4021, the Fair and Open Skies Act, amends U.S. aviation law to require that the Department of Transportation consider labor standards when reviewing international air transport agreements. Specifically, it adds "preventing the undermining of labor standards" as a mandatory factor in the public interest test for approving such agreements under 49 U.S.C. § 40101. This change directly affects international airlines seeking to operate flights to or from the U.S. and the DOT, which must now evaluate whether proposed agreements could weaken U.S. labor protections. The bill updates existing provisions by replacing outdated language about "agreements with the United States Government" and explicitly including labor standards in the evaluation criteria.

North Pacific Ocean Protection Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing a lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in the following areas of the Outer Continental Shelf: the Washington/Oregon planning area, the Northern California planning area, or the Central California planning area.

Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing or renewing a lease or any other authorization for the exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or any other mineral in the Arctic Ocean, including the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas.

Maddy summaryThe CARE Act of 2023 strengthens protections for child farmworkers by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act. It raises minimum age requirements (restricting 14-15 year olds to family farms outside school hours, and limiting 16-17 year olds to family farm work outside school hours), repeals a waiver allowing children in hand-harvest labor, and increases penalties for violations (up to $60,115 for serious injury or death). The bill requires employers to report work-related injuries or deaths of child farmworkers under 18 and mandates annual reports to Congress on child farmworker safety data. It also prohibits children under 18 from working as pesticide handlers, directly affecting an estimated 100,000+ child farmworkers in the U.S.

Maddy summaryThe GLOBE Act of 2023 requires the U.S. Department of State to document and report on violence and discrimination against LGBTQI people worldwide in annual country reports, with specific requirements to identify countries criminalizing LGBTQI status. It establishes a Special Envoy for LGBTQI Human Rights to coordinate U.S. government efforts internationally and creates targeted sanctions against foreign officials responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI individuals, including denying visas and imposing financial penalties. The bill also includes provisions to improve U.S. foreign assistance programs to better support LGBTQI communities, reform immigration processes to better protect LGBTQI asylum seekers, and ensure inclusive policies in diplomatic and consular settings. These measures aim to advance LGBTQI rights globally through diplomatic, financial, and policy mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits children under 18 from having direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves on farms. It amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to explicitly add "tobacco-related agriculture" to the list of occupations where minors cannot work, alongside manufacturing and mining. The law directly affects young workers in tobacco farming by banning their hands-on involvement with crops and processed tobacco. This change updates existing labor protections to specifically cover tobacco farming operations. The policy would require farms to adjust employment practices to exclude minors from these tasks.

Maddy summaryHR 3985 establishes a new Office within the U.S. Department of State to monitor and combat Islamophobia abroad. The bill requires the State Department to appoint a Special Envoy who will coordinate efforts to track Islamophobic incidents globally and mandate specific reporting in three key State Department documents. These reports must detail physical violence against Muslims or Muslim institutions, hate propaganda in media, government responses, religious freedom protections, and anti-bias education efforts in foreign countries. The provisions apply to annual human rights, foreign assistance, and religious freedom reports, requiring detailed descriptions of Islamophobia occurrences and governmental actions. The new reporting requirements become effective 180 days after the bill's enactment.