Rep. Nellie Pou

Maddy summaryThe HOLDBACKS Act requires primary ticket sellers to clearly disclose the total number of events and available tickets, along with total costs, at least seven days before sales begin. It prohibits sellers from withholding tickets to artificially inflate prices or mislead the public about availability. The Federal Trade Commission is authorized to enforce these rules as unfair or deceptive practices, with violations subject to existing FTC penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Newton, New Jersey, as the "Anthony 'Tony' J. Gallopo VA Clinic." It directly affects the clinic's official designation and all federal references to it, including documents and maps. The change takes effect upon the bill's enactment, with no policy or funding changes involved. As a ceremonial naming bill, it honors Anthony "Tony" J. Gallopo but does not alter VA services or benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.

Maddy summaryThe Reimbursable Screening Services Program Extension Act of 2026 extends and expands a federal program that reimburses states for conducting aviation security background checks. The bill directly affects federal and state agencies responsible for vetting airline employees by allowing the program to operate through fiscal year 2031 instead of ending in 2026. Additionally, it increases the maximum number of reimbursable screening services that can be provided annually from eight to 14. This legislation aims to maintain and slightly increase the capacity for background investigations without changing the underlying requirements for who must be screened.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit biennial reports to Congress assessing terrorism threats from foreign terrorist organizations and designated global terrorists operating in countries designated as major non-NATO allies. The reports must detail which terrorist groups are present in these allied nations, their activities including use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, efforts by allied governments to disrupt them, and the U.S. government's capability to monitor and prevent these threats. Classified assessments will be provided to congressional committees along with briefings, using existing definitions for terms like foreign terrorist organizations and major non-NATO allies established by current laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reorganize its Engagement, Liaison, and Outreach (ELO) Office within 120 days of enactment. It mandates a plan to eliminate redundant roles, centralize communication with priority law enforcement agencies (like state and local police), and improve information-sharing to reduce duplication across DHS. The plan must include cost-benefit analyses, staffing reassignments, a transition timeline, and assurances for continued support to State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) partners. DHS cannot expand the ELO Office’s budget or staff until this plan is approved and implemented.

Maddy summaryThe DHS Release Transparency Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to inform a designated contact person when a detained individual is released from Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, provided the person was held for more than 12 hours. Under this bill, individuals in custody can choose to name a contact and provide their information, with the government obligated to attempt notification at least twice. The law also mandates that translation services be available in the detainee's preferred language for both selecting a contact and receiving release notifications. Additionally, the act specifies that any information gathered under this process cannot be used for law enforcement purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a strategy to modernize the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) within one year of enactment. The strategy must address key areas like designating a DHS office to oversee NTAS, updating alert protocols and criteria, improving public access to alerts, and ensuring alerts effectively reach the public and emergency responders. DHS must also gather input from stakeholders and law enforcement during this process, with a separate report due from the Comptroller General two years later. The bill focuses on improving how terrorism alerts are structured and communicated, directly affecting DHS operations and the delivery of threat information to the public and emergency services.

Maddy summaryHR 7436 requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create standardized training for all new employees in the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA). This includes mandatory civil rights and privacy training (citing the Privacy Act of 1974), specialized training for analysts on intelligence standards, and open-source intelligence collection protocols. The bill also mandates tracking training completion, quarterly public lists of available advanced training from other agencies, and annual reports to Congress on implementation progress. It further requires a Comptroller General review comparing DHS training to other intelligence agencies within two years. The law directly affects OIA staff, including new hires and those in specific roles like open-source intelligence collection.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE VISITS Act requires DHS to annually analyze threats from foreign visitors seeking access to state/local government officials, information, facilities, or systems, and provide security guidance to affected governments. It mandates DHS to identify high-risk targets, offer tailored vetting assistance, and request debriefings after visits involving foreign nationals. The bill directly affects state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments by formalizing DHS support to mitigate security risks from foreign visitors. DHS must also research improved methods for sharing threat information with these governments. This policy change focuses on enhancing security awareness without restricting legitimate visits.