Rep. Wesley Bell

Maddy summaryThe ALERT Act (HR 7613) requires the Federal Aviation Administration to improve aviation safety through several key measures. It mandates the evaluation and potential implementation of enhanced collision avoidance systems (ACAS-Xa) for commercial aircraft and ACAS-Xr for rotorcraft, with specific deadlines for rulemaking and installation. The bill establishes committees to develop recommendations for safety technology requirements, requires safety risk assessments for air traffic controllers, and addresses operational procedures at high-traffic airports like Ronald Reagan Washington National. These provisions affect air carriers, air traffic controllers, rotorcraft operators, and Department of Defense aircraft operations. The act aims to enhance situational awareness and reduce midair collision risks through technology upgrades and improved safety protocols.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses support for designating April 2026 as Parkinson's Awareness Month to raise public awareness about the condition. It directly affects individuals living with Parkinson's disease, their caregivers, and organizations working to improve care and research. The bill does not change laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight the disease's impact and encourage continued research and community support. It recognizes the millions of people affected and acknowledges the importance of clinical trials and quality-of-life improvements for patients and their families.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 17-member Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of the Office. This commission, composed primarily of medical professionals and former high-ranking executive officials, would be activated by a concurrent resolution of Congress. Its duty would be to conduct a medical examination of the President to determine if they are mentally or physically unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office due to conditions such as illness, disability, or substance use. Following the examination, the commission would report its findings and a declaration on the President's capacity to Congress and the Vice President, with any refusal by the President to undergo examination taken into consideration.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates federal law to prohibit excluding military members from assignments or career fields based on their gender, affecting all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. It requires the Secretary of Defense to submit annual reports detailing changes to occupational standards and data on involuntary reclassifications or separations, broken down by military job and gender. The legislation also modernizes how the military evaluates job requirements, mandating that standards be based on scientifically rigorous assessments of technical, tactical, cognitive, and physical abilities rather than gender. Additionally, it directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a full review of ground combat unit effectiveness to Congress and requires an independent audit of that review within 180 days.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally acknowledges historical and ongoing injustices in women's healthcare, particularly affecting marginalized groups such as Black, Indigenous, immigrant, LGBTQ+, disabled, and low-income women. It highlights specific issues including dismissed pain, lack of bodily autonomy, and past medical abuses like non-consensual sterilization and coercive contraceptive testing. The bill calls for patient-centered care, expanded research, and stronger protections for reproductive and gynecological health, while urging the federal government to address systemic bias in medical settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study on barriers that prevent patients from accessing pain management during gynecologic procedures. The study will examine factors such as insurance coverage, provider training, and resource availability, and will include input from patients, medical professionals, and health equity experts. Within 24 months of enactment, the Secretary must submit a report with findings and recommendations to relevant congressional committees. The bill does not change current laws or funding but establishes a research requirement to inform future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would create a federal paid leave program allowing employees to take up to 96 hours of paid time off each year for reproductive health needs, including menstrual care, endometriosis, fertility treatments, and pregnancy-related procedures. It applies to private employers with at least five employees and certain government workers, requiring employers to grant this leave upon request without requiring employees to find replacements during their absence. The legislation prohibits retaliation against employees who use this leave and establishes enforcement mechanisms through the Department of Labor, including civil penalties for violations. Employers with existing paid leave policies that already cover these reproductive health reasons would not need to provide additional leave under this bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the National Institutes of Health to expand research into Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a severe mood and physical condition affecting 5 to 8 percent of women and people assigned female at birth. It requires the agency to collect data on PMDD prevalence, economic impact, and treatment barriers while ensuring diverse populations are included in studies. The legislation also funds public awareness campaigns and grants to train healthcare professionals in diagnosing and treating the condition. Additionally, the bill mandates a report to Congress within two years detailing progress on research, education, and access to care.

Maddy summaryThis resolution recognizes the critical roles of FEMA, CISA, and TSA in protecting the United States while expressing concern that recent workforce reductions have weakened their ability to carry out these missions. It highlights specific staffing cuts at each agency, including FEMA's loss of over 3,000 positions, CISA's 29 percent workforce reduction, and TSA officers leaving during government shutdowns. The measure calls on the administration to halt unauthorized personnel reductions, provide a detailed accounting of all cuts made since January 2025, and submit a permanent nomination for the FEMA Administrator.

Maddy summaryThe Maternal Vaccination Act amends the Public Health Service Act to expand a federal campaign focused on increasing vaccination rates among pregnant and postpartum individuals and their children. This legislation directly affects public health programs by updating language to explicitly include these populations and directing funding toward outreach efforts that address disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups. Key provisions modify existing sections of the Public Health Service Act to broaden the campaign's scope and increase the authorized funding amount from $15 million to $17 million per fiscal year for the period 2027 through 2031. The bill aims to improve vaccination equity by ensuring federal resources specifically target maternal and pediatric immunization efforts.