Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Maddy summaryS 21, the Community Wildfire Protection Act of 2023, amends the definition of "at-risk community" in the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 by removing the requirement that such communities must be "within or adjacent to Federal land." This technical adjustment clarifies that at-risk communities are defined solely by comprising a group, without geographic restrictions tied to federal land. The change affects how communities qualify for wildfire protection programs under existing law but does not alter program funding or eligibility criteria. It is a procedural update to legal language, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryS 24 establishes a federal grant program to address homelessness by funding housing and supportive services through two grant types: 5-year implementation grants (up to $25 million each) for direct services like housing and mental health care, and 1-year planning grants (up to $100,000 each) for community planning. Eligible applicants include local governments, tribes, and tribal organizations that must provide services for homeless individuals, families, and children - including mental health support, job training, and child-focused care - and report annually on outcomes like housing stability and school enrollment. The program is authorized to spend $1 billion annually from 2023-2028, with at least 5% of funds reserved for tribal entities. It requires grantees to meet specific service standards, such as trauma-informed care and case management ratios (1:20), and to coordinate with local agencies to identify at-risk populations.

Maddy summaryThis bill would ban the sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of most semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns meeting specific criteria defined as "assault weapons," as well as large capacity ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds. The ban would not apply to weapons already owned before enactment, or to certain types like bolt-action rifles, antique firearms, or weapons used by law enforcement. The bill would require identification markings on new assault weapons and magazines, require background checks for transfers of "grandfathered" weapons, and authorize federal buy-back programs for banned weapons through Byrne grants. It includes exemptions for military, law enforcement, and certain historical firearms.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the minimum age to purchase or possess certain firearms and large-capacity magazines from 18 to 21 years old. It specifically prohibits sales or transfers of "semiautomatic assault weapons" (including defined rifles, pistols, and shotguns with features like detachable magazines or specific attachments) and large-capacity magazines (holding more than 10 rounds) to anyone under 21. The bill directly affects individuals under 21 who would be barred from purchasing these items from licensed dealers. Limited exceptions exist for hunting, farming, military service, or self-defense, but the core change is a nationwide age restriction on these specific firearm types.

Katimiîn and Ameekyáaraam Sacred Lands Act This act takes approximately 1,031 acres of specified lands in Siskiyou and Humboldt Counties, California, into trust for the benefit of the Karuk Tribe. Land taken into trust may be used for traditional and customary uses for the benefit of the tribe. Additionally, the land taken into trust must allow for continued access by the Forest Service for managing the component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System that flows through the land. The Department of Agriculture must enter into a memorandum of understanding with the tribe to establish mutual goals for the protection and enhancement of the river values of such component. Further, the act prohibits gaming on the land taken into trust.

Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022 This act reauthorizes, updates, and expands federal efforts to address domestic trafficking, including to make permanent the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking; reauthorize various grants, activities, and programs that support victims of domestic trafficking; and expand research and reporting related to trafficking. TITLE I--COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES Subtitle A--Programs To Support Young Victims Who Are Vulnerable To Human Trafficking (Sec. 101) This section authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Department of Justice (DOJ), to award competitive grants to support collaboration between state child-welfare and juvenile-justice agencies to address the needs of dual-status youth and their families. The term dual-status youth means children who come into contact with both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. (Sec. 102) This section makes permanent the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. (Sec. 103) This section establishes a pilot program to provide funding for community-based organizations in underserved communities to support youth at risk of being trafficked. Subtitle B--Governmental Efforts To Prevent Human Trafficking (Sec. 121) This section requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress on federal contract supply chain oversight related to the prevention of trafficking in persons. (Sec. 122) This section expresses the sense of Congress that federal agencies should incorporate a module on human trafficking into staff training requirements; the training should teach employees how to prevent, identify, and report trafficking in persons; and agencies should inform all candidates for employment about the anti-trafficking provisions in the code of conduct of the agency. Additionally, this section requires officers and employees of executive branch agencies to be subject to minimum standards with respect to human trafficking, including a prohibition on engaging in human trafficking while employed by the federal government. (Sec. 123) This section requires the GAO to (1) study the accessibility of mental health services and substance use disorder treatment and recovery for survivors of human trafficking in the United States of various ages, and (2) report to Congress on the findings of the study and recommendations for increased accessibility and affordability for survivors of trafficking. (Sec. 124) This section directs the National Science Foundation to support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on the impact of online social media platforms on the maintenance or expansion of human trafficking. Subtitle C--Monitoring Child, Forced, and Slave Labor (Sec. 131) This section requires federal agencies and departments that receive appropriations to award anti-trafficking grants to report on obligations and expenditures of federal funds for the purpose of combating human trafficking and forced labor. (Sec. 132) This section expresses the sense of Congress that companies headquartered or doing business in the United States that are not small business concerns (e.g., companies with 500 or more employees) should adopt a written policy that prohibits trafficking in persons. (Sec. 133) This section revises criteria for considering a child to be a victim of child abuse and neglect and of sexual abuse. Specifically, it provides that a child shall be considered a victim of child abuse and neglect and of sexual abuse if the child is identified as being a victim of human trafficking. Currently, a child is considered a victim of child abuse and neglect and of sexual abuse if the child is identified as being a victim of sex trafficking or a victim of severe forms of trafficking in persons. (Sec. 134) This section establishes the sense of Congress that (1) DOJ has failed to meet its reporting requirements under Title IV of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2017, and (2) progress on critical data collection about human trafficking and crime reporting is in jeopardy as a result of the failure and must be addressed immediately. (Sec. 135) This section expresses the sense of Congress that (1) a person is qualified as a victim of child sex trafficking if the person is a victim, as a child, of human trafficking; and (2) all states and territories should evaluate whether to eliminate the requirement for third-party control to properly qualify a child as a victim of sex trafficking. (Sec. 136) This section expresses the sense of Congress that each state child welfare agency should report information on missing or abducted foster children and youth to the National Center on Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and to law enforcement for inclusion in the National Crime Information Center database. (Sec. 137) This section modifies the requirements for state plans for foster care and adoption assistance. The section specifies that the plans must require state child welfare agencies that report information on missing or abducted foster children and youth to the NCMEC and to law enforcement authorities to maintain regular communication and share information with the NCMEC and law enforcement agencies to provide a safe recovery of a missing or abducted child or youth. This includes sharing, where reasonably possible, a photo of the missing or abducted child or youth, a description of the child's physical features, and other health or risk factors (e.g., pregnancy status or vulnerability to being sex trafficked). TITLE II--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS This title reauthorizes activities and programs at various federal departments and agencies that support victims of trafficking in the United States. (Sec. 201) This section reauthorizes through FY2028 HHS and DOJ grants and programs to expand benefits and services to citizens and lawful permanent residents who are victims of severe forms of trafficking; Department of Labor activities to expand benefits and programs for victims of severe forms of trafficking; and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authority to investigate severe forms of trafficking in persons, including to establish a labor trafficking investigations team within DHS. (Sec. 202) This section authorizes amounts through FY2028 for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to strengthen enforcement of the prohibition on importing any product that was mined, produced, or manufactured by forced labor.

Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2022 This act authorizes the Colorado River Indian tribes (CRIT) to enter into agreements for the transfer or storage of a portion of its water allocation to be used in other locations in Arizona. The CRIT include four Indian tribes—the Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi, and Navajo. The reservation is located along the Colorado River in both Arizona and California. (Sec. 4) The CRIT is authorized to enter into an agreement to lease or exchange a portion of the CRIT's consumptive use of water for use off the reservation if the receiving facility is located in the Lower Basin of the Colorado River in Arizona and is not located in Navajo, Apache, or Cochise counties in Arizona. The term of a lease under this section must not exceed 100 years. (Sec. 5) The CRIT is authorized to enter into a storage agreement, including with the Arizona Water Banking Authority, for the storage of a portion of the consumptive use, or the water received under an exchange pursuant to an exchange agreement under this act, at one or more underground storage facilities or groundwater savings facilities off the reservation if the facility is located in the Lower Basin of the Colorado River in Arizona and is not located in Navajo, Apache, or Cochise counties in Arizona. (Sec. 6) The CRIT is authorized to enter into an agreement for water conservation or other methods for voluntarily leaving a portion of the CRIT reduced consumptive use in Lake Mead, which is located in Arizona and Nevada. If the conserved water is delivered, the delivery must be located in the Lower Basin of the Colorado River in Arizona and is not located in Navajo, Apache, or Cochise counties in Arizona. The term of an agreement under this section must not exceed 100 years. (Sec. 7) This section grants authority to the Department of the Interior to approve or disapprove of an agreement under this act. Interior is also authorized to enter into agreements with CRIT under this act, provided Interior pays fair market value for the reduced consumptive use. Among other requirements, Interior must ensure that water agreements under this act do not permanently alienate any portion of the CRIT water allocation. (Sec. 8) Interior, when approving an agreement under this act, must ensure that such agreement complies with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and other federal environmental laws. (Sec. 9) The CRIT must enter into an agreement with the state of Arizona prior to entering into an agreement under this act. The agreement with Arizona must outline all notice, information sharing, and collaboration requirements. (Sec. 10) Interior must enter into an agreement with the state of Arizona and the CRIT describing the procedural, technical, and accounting methodologies for an agreement under this act. (Sec. 11) This section reserves the CRIT's allocated water rights, including by ensuring that no agreement reduces or limits the right of the CRIT to use the remaining portion of their allocation. (Sec. 12) This section prohibits an agreement under this act from interfering with an allottee's water rights. (Sec. 13) This section establishes that the CRIT is entitled to all consideration from an agreement under this act. (Sec. 14) The United States has limited liability against claims under this act, except for those relating to the above environmental requirements.

Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021 This act provides for the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley. After it is awarded, the medal shall be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act of 2022 This act directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop scenario-based training curricula (or identify existing curricula) that includes topics such as alternatives to the use of force, de-escalation tactics, and safely responding to an individual experiencing a mental, behavioral health, or suicidal crisis. The act also directs DOJ to make grants to states for costs associated with providing the training to law enforcement officers or mental health professionals.

Iran Hostages Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the 53 hostages of the Iran Hostage Crisis (November 4, 1979-January 21, 1981) in recognition of their bravery and endurance throughout their captivity.