Rep. Val T. Hoyle

Maddy summaryHR 2918, the Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2023, amends the Fair Housing Act to explicitly protect survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking from housing discrimination. It adds "survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or severe forms of trafficking" as a protected class under the law, prohibiting landlords and housing providers from refusing to rent, evicting, or charging more based on this status. The bill also clarifies that discrimination based on survivor status - including denial of housing due to protective orders, shelter stays, or prior incidents - is illegal. This directly affects survivors who face barriers like denied rentals, evictions, or higher costs when seeking safe housing, addressing documented discrimination reported by 67% of survivors in New York studies. The law preserves survivors' ability to pursue other discrimination claims under the Fair Housing Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of federal funds to develop or deploy autonomous weapons systems that lack meaningful human control for nuclear weapon launches or target selection. It directly affects federal agencies, particularly the Department of Defense, by banning spending on such systems for nuclear purposes. The key provision requires human oversight over target selection and launch decisions, aligning with existing U.S. policy and international law requiring human control in nuclear command. The bill does not ban autonomous systems generally but specifically restricts their use in nuclear contexts where human judgment is mandated.

Maddy summaryHRES 324 is a non-binding House resolution expressing support for library staff across public, school, academic, and special libraries. It recognizes these workers as essential community resources providing access to information, internet services, and social support - especially for underserved populations - and highlights their expanded roles during crises like the opioid epidemic and pandemic. The resolution calls for adequate funding, protects staff from threats while performing their duties, supports their right to unionize, and upholds the public’s right to free access to library resources. It does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges these priorities during National Library Week.

Maddy summaryThe Child Labor Exploitation Accountability Act requires U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) contractors to annually disclose if they or their subcontractors faced serious labor violations - including child labor violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act - in the past three years. Contractors with such violations must report corrective steps, and those failing to address issues or repeating violations face a five-year ban from USDA contracts (including the year of listing and the next four years). The law mandates annual reports to Congress tracking the number of contractors on the ineligible list and the program's effectiveness. This policy directly affects agricultural businesses and suppliers contracting with the USDA, aiming to enforce labor compliance through financial consequences.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to clarify and preserve the hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community in Oregon. It ensures the existing 1986 "Grand Ronde Hunting and Fishing Agreement" remains in effect until replaced by new government-to-government agreements between the tribe and Oregon, requiring mutual consent for any changes. Future agreements cannot alter tribal rights (including treaty or aboriginal rights), limit Oregon’s ability to negotiate separately with other tribes, or be used in court to modify tribal treaty rights. All rights under new agreements would derive solely from Oregon’s authority, not tribal sovereignty.

Maddy summary# Summary of the National Apprenticeship Act of 2023 This proposed legislation establishes a comprehensive framework to modernize and expand apprenticeship programs in the United States, creating a National Apprenticeship System designed to address current workforce needs and increase opportunities for underrepresented populations. ## Key Provisions ### System Framework - Establishes clear quality standards for apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and youth apprenticeship programs - Requires programs to meet specific criteria including: - Minimum 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning (with flexibility for some occupations) - Structured related instruction (minimum 144 hours per year for time-based programs) - Progressive wage scales - Safety training and equipment - Equal opportunity for participation ### Program Types - **Apprenticeship Programs**: Time-based, competency-based, or hybrid models for full-time workers - **Pre-apprenticeship Programs**: Designed to prepare individuals without meeting minimum qualifications for apprenticeship - **Youth Apprenticeship Programs**: For high school students, integrating academic and work-based learning ### Diversity & Inclusion Requirements - Requires programs to actively recruit and support nontraditional apprenticeship populations: - Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities - Long-term unemployed - Individuals impacted by the criminal or juvenile justice system - Foster and former foster youth - Individuals with barriers to employment ### Registration & Oversight - Requires formal registration of programs with a registration agency - Mandates annual performance data collection and reporting - Establishes procedures for program review, technical assistance, and deregistration ### Grant Program (Title II) - Authorizes $4 billion over five years ($400M-$800M annually) for competitive grants - Funds will support: - Creation and expansion of apprenticeship programs in high-demand sectors - Encouraging employer participation, particularly with small- and medium-sized businesses - Supporting intermediaries (national and local) - Strengthening educational alignment with secondary and postsecondary systems ### Evaluation Requirements - Mandates independent evaluations of grant programs - Requires collection of disaggregated data by program type and demographic factors - Focuses on measuring outcomes including: - Program completion rates - Employment rates in related fields - Wage growth - Increased participation of underrepresented groups ### Conforming Amendments - Repeals outdated sections of the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to align with the new apprenticeship system This legislation represents a significant investment in workforce development, aiming to create a more inclusive, high-quality apprenticeship system that responds to 21st-century labor market needs while expanding opportunities for historically underrepresented groups.

This resolution urges (1) the President to issue a proclamation recognizing Earth Day; and (2) governments and people to continue building upon the Paris Agreement and other efforts to ensure that future generations inherit a livable, sustainable, and ecologically rich planet.

Maddy summaryHR 2785, the REEF Act, amends a 2020 law to change when certain payments from the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Account take effect. It retroactively applies changes to these payments as if they had been in place before the national emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic ended. This directly affects railroad workers who receive unemployment benefits through this account, ensuring they receive payments under the revised timing. The bill's key change is making the effective date of these payment rules apply retroactively from before the pandemic emergency period.

Maddy summaryHR 2715, the Keep Our PACT Act, mandates increased federal funding for two key education programs. It requires specific annual funding levels for Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (which supports high-poverty schools) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), guaranteeing students with disabilities access to a high-quality education. The bill sets mandatory funding amounts that rise each year, with IDEA funding gradually increasing to reach 40% of the national average per-pupil expenditure for students with disabilities by fiscal year 2033. This directly affects school districts receiving Title I funds and states administering IDEA services for students with disabilities. The bill fulfills a prior commitment made under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004.

Maddy summaryThe Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2023 strengthens the Americans with Disabilities Act's requirement that individuals with disabilities receive long-term services and supports in community settings rather than institutions. It defines "community-based" services to include specific housing options where individuals with disabilities can live independently with maximum control over their lives, including access to integrated housing, employment, and community participation. The bill requires states to develop transition plans to move people from institutional settings to community-based services within 12 years, with measurable annual targets for reducing institutionalization. It establishes enforcement mechanisms through the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services to ensure compliance with these requirements.