Sen. Adam B. Schiff

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.

Maddy summaryHR 268, the District of Columbia Legislative Home Rule Act, removes congressional oversight of local District of Columbia laws by eliminating the 30-day review period and disapproval resolution process. It amends the DC Home Rule Act to strike Section 602(c) (requiring congressional review) and repeal Section 604 (allowing congressional disapproval resolutions), meaning the DC Council and Mayor can enact laws without federal intervention. This directly affects DC's local government, allowing it to pass legislation without Congress blocking it through disapproval. The changes apply to all DC laws enacted after the start of the 118th Congress.

Same Day Registration Act of 2023 This bill requires states with a voter registration requirement to make same-day voter registration available at the polling place on any day voting is permitted.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing Congress and the states to (1) regulate and impose reasonable viewpoint-neutral limitations on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections; and (2) regulate and enact public campaign financing systems, including those designed to restrict the influence of private wealth by offsetting the raising and spending of money by candidates and others with increased public funding. The amendment grants Congress and the states the power to implement and enforce this amendment by legislation. They are allowed to distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such entities from spending money to influence elections.

Maddy summaryHR 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, would admit Washington, D.C. as the 51st state, named "Washington, Douglass Commonwealth," granting its residents full representation in Congress with two Senators and one Representative. The bill establishes procedures for admission, including elections for state officials, with the state initially having one Representative until the next congressional apportionment. It would create a "Capital" area (including the White House, Capitol, and other key federal buildings) that remains under federal jurisdiction as the seat of the U.S. government, while the rest of the District becomes the new state. The bill also includes provisions to ensure continuity of federal services, property management, and legal procedures during the transition to statehood.

End Dark Money Act This bill repeals in FY2023 the restriction on the use of funds by the Internal Revenue Service to issue any regulation or guidance relating to the standard for determining whether certain nonprofit civic organizations are being operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare.

Maddy summaryHR 208, the Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2023, restricts where research facilities can obtain dogs and cats for laboratory use. It requires facilities to source animals only from licensed breeders, registered shelters meeting specific criteria, owners who've had the pet over a year, or other research facilities - banning purchases from pet stores or random sources. The bill amends the Animal Welfare Act to define permissible sources and imposes $1,000 fines per violation for non-compliance. It affects research facilities, shelters, and breeders by changing their legal sourcing options for animals used in research. The changes take effect 90 days after the bill becomes law.

Sami's Law This act addresses safety requirements for passengers and drivers of ride-sharing companies (e.g., Uber, Lyft, or taxicabs). The act requires the Government Accountability Office to submit to Congress a biennial report that includes the results of a study regarding (1) the incidence of fatal and non-fatal physical assault and sexual assault in the preceding two calendar years on drivers by passengers of ride-sharing vehicles and on passengers by drivers of such vehicles, (2) the nature and specifics of any background checks conducted on prospective drivers of ride-sharing vehicles, and (3) the safety steps taken by ride-sharing companies related to rider and driver safety.

American Music Fairness Act of 2022 This bill establishes that the copyright holder of a sound recording shall have the exclusive right to perform the sound recording through an audio transmission and addresses other related issues. (Currently, the public performance right only covers performances through a digital audio transmission in certain instances, which means that nonsubscription terrestrial radio stations generally do not have to secure a license to publicly perform a copyright-protected sound recording.) Under the bill, a nonsubscription broadcast transmission must have a license to publicly perform such sound recordings. The Copyright Royalty Board must periodically determine the royalty rates for such a license. When determining the rates, the board must base its decision on certain information presented by the parties, including the radio stations' effect on other streams of revenue related to the sound recordings. Terrestrial broadcast stations (and the owners of such stations) that fall below certain revenue thresholds may pay certain flat fees, instead of the board-established rate, for a license to publicly perform copyright-protected sound recordings.

Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act of 2022 This bill establishes a variety of requirements to reduce carbon emissions and protect oceans, coastal habitats, marine mammals, and fish populations from climate change and other threats.