Rep. Mark Pocan

Maddy summaryHR 1124, the Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2023, would eliminate the federal death penalty by repealing provisions in over 30 sections of U.S. Code that currently allow for capital punishment in various criminal offenses. The bill would affect anyone convicted of a federal crime that currently carries the death penalty, including murder during drug trafficking, terrorism, and other violent crimes. It would remove the death penalty as a sentencing option for these offenses and require resentencing for those already under a death sentence. The bill also makes related changes to military justice procedures that currently permit capital punishment.

Maddy summaryHR 1134, the People Over Pentagon Act of 2023, would reduce the U.S. Department of Defense's 2024 budget by $100 billion. It directly affects the Pentagon's funding, though it specifically preserves spending for the Defense Health Program, military personnel, and civil service pay and benefits. The bill mandates this cut while directing the Secretary of Defense to consider a 2021 Congressional Budget Office report on managing a smaller defense budget. It does not specify where the savings would be redirected, only requiring reallocation to address non-military national security priorities.

Maddy summaryThe PREP Civics and Government Act (HR 1133) amends the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 to explicitly include "civics and government" as a subject within the humanities. This change allows the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities to fund educational programs focused on civics and government through existing grant programs. The bill directly affects the Foundation’s funding priorities and organizations applying for humanities grants, such as schools, museums, and community groups offering civics education. It does not create new funding but expands eligibility for current humanities grants to cover civics and government content.

Maddy summaryHR 724, the Arctic Refuge Protection Act, repeals the existing oil and gas program for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and designates approximately 1.56 million acres of the refuge's coastal plain as federal wilderness. This bill directly affects the Arctic Refuge by permanently prohibiting oil and gas leasing and development in that specific area. The key mechanism is adding the designated land to the National Wilderness Preservation System under the Wilderness Act, requiring it to be managed for its natural conditions. This change legally protects the area from future fossil fuel extraction activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National Historic Site in Georgia as part of the National Park System. It specifically preserves the West Hunter Street Baptist Church (where Abernathy served as pastor during the civil rights movement) and honors his leadership role. The site cannot be formally established until the National Park Service acquires sufficient land (through donation or purchase), and requires a management plan within 3 years of funding. The bill directly affects the National Park Service, the State of Georgia, and local communities by designating this location for preservation and public interpretation.

Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act This bill withdraws approximately 234,328 acres of federal land and waters in a specified area in the Rainy River Watershed of Superior National Forest in Minnesota from entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. The area is adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Mining Protection Area. Land or interest in land within such area that is acquired by the United States shall be immediately withdrawn in accordance with this bill. The Forest Service is authorized to permit the removal of sand, granite, iron ore, and taconite from national forest system lands within such area if the removal is not detrimental to the water quality, air quality, and health of forest habitat within the Rainy River Watershed.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 99) is a non-binding statement supporting National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, observed annually on February 7. It directly addresses the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on Black communities in the U.S., citing data showing Black Americans face higher diagnosis rates, later care access, and greater mortality compared to other groups. The resolution encourages state/local governments and health agencies to promote HIV testing and awareness, supports the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, and advocates for culturally competent care and the "U=U" (Undetectable equals Untransmittable) messaging. It does not create new laws or allocate funding but urges recognition of existing disparities and community-led solutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides financial assistance to help low-income renters cover security deposits and moving costs. It directly affects families using housing choice vouchers (Section 8) and those receiving housing assistance through the HOME program. The law requires public housing agencies to use federal funds to pay for reasonable security deposits and moving expenses, and mandates that unused funds be returned to the agency for future use. It also directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to study alternatives to traditional security deposits and report findings to Congress within 180 days.

Maddy summaryHR 1075, the Baseball Diplomacy Act, removes U.S. restrictions that previously prevented Cuban professional baseball players from entering the U.S. on specific visas and keeping their earnings. It prohibits using embargo or immigration authorities (under the Foreign Assistance Act, Trading with the Enemy Act, and Immigration and Nationality Act) to block Cuban players from entering for baseball, earning income, or returning to Cuba with those earnings. The bill specifically applies to players entering on H-2B visas for professional baseball and limits their U.S. stay to the baseball season. It also ensures immigration authorities cannot deny these visas for baseball purposes, overriding prior restrictions under the Cuban Liberty Act.

Maddy summaryHR 1088, the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to honor Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress (1968) and the first Black candidate for a major party's presidential nomination (1972). The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike a gold medal featuring Chisholm's image, which will be presented by Congress and then permanently displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. Duplicate bronze medals may be sold to the public to cover production costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint fund. This bill commemorates Chisholm's legacy and achievements without creating new laws or affecting any current policies.