Rep. Mike Kennedy

Maddy summaryThis bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion (known as the "Black Panthers"), the first predominantly Black armored unit in World War II's European Theater. It recognizes their combat service from 1944-1946, including key roles in the Battle of the Bulge and breaking the Siegfried Line, despite facing racial prejudice during and after the war. The medal will be displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. The bill commemorates the battalion's 130,000 enemy casualties inflicted, 50% casualty rate, and their 1978 Presidential Unit Citation. It does not create new laws or affect current policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows physical therapists to use temporary replacement staff (locum tenens) under Medicare, similar to how physicians currently can. It directly affects physical therapists providing outpatient services and Medicare beneficiaries relying on those services. The key change modifies Medicare rules to apply the same provisions for physical therapy services as are already used for physician services. This means physical therapists can more easily fill temporary staffing gaps without disrupting patient care. The amendment applies to services provided after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryHR 1502 authorizes the creation of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the volunteers and communities (primarily from Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas) who supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the medal, which will be presented to the individuals who contributed to the canteen’s operations and then permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a commemorative measure recognizing historical service, not a policy change affecting current laws or programs.

Maddy summaryHR 1492 amends the Social Security Act to extend the negotiation period for standard drug manufacturers under the federal drug pricing program. Specifically, it changes the timeframe from 7 years to 11 years for small-molecule drugs (like traditional pills) to negotiate prices with the government, aligning it with the existing 12-year period for complex biologic drugs (like insulin or monoclonal antibodies). This adjustment directly affects pharmaceutical companies that produce small-molecule drugs, giving them a longer window to negotiate pricing terms. The bill makes this change effective as if it had been part of the 2022 law that established the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require states to create a simplified process for out-of-state healthcare providers to join Medicaid and CHIP programs. Qualified providers (those already enrolled in Medicare or another state's program with low fraud risk) could enroll without excessive screening and would be approved for five years. It directly affects children under 21 enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP by expanding access to providers outside their state, particularly in underserved areas. The change applies to all states' Medicaid programs but takes effect three years after enactment.

Maddy summaryHJRES 36 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a specific Forest Service rule. It seeks to block the rule titled "Law Enforcement; Criminal Prohibitions" (published in the Federal Register on November 25, 2024), which would have governed how the Forest Service enforces criminal prohibitions on federal lands. If passed, the resolution would stop this rule from taking effect, directly affecting the Forest Service's law enforcement procedures under the Department of Agriculture.

Maddy summaryThe Downwinders Parity Act of 2025 amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to expand eligibility for compensation to people exposed to nuclear fallout from U.S. testing. It removes specific geographic restrictions (like townships 13-16 at ranges 63-71) and instead includes "all acreage in any county" where part is affected, making more downwinders eligible for benefits. The bill also extends the RECA trust fund deadline from 2024 to December 31, 2030, ensuring continued funding. This directly affects individuals and families living near nuclear test sites who were previously excluded due to narrow geographic criteria.

Maddy summaryHR 479, the Healthy SNAP Act of 2025, revises which foods are eligible for purchase using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. It prohibits SNAP benefits from being used for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts like cakes or pies. The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish regulations within 180 days designating specific foods that contain nutrients lacking in U.S. diets, promote health based on nutrition science, and align with cultural eating patterns, while limiting fat, sugar, and salt. The Secretary must also review and update these designations at least every five years to reflect current science, and states may substitute culturally appropriate foods if nutritionally equivalent. This directly affects SNAP recipients and the program's food eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHR 1279 would require certain Medicaid recipients (excluding those under 18, over 65, pregnant, caregivers, or in education/health programs) to complete 80 hours monthly of work, community service, or approved work programs to maintain Medicaid eligibility. This applies to individuals who fail to meet this "community engagement requirement" for three consecutive months, triggering a loss of federal Medicaid funding for that month. States would verify compliance using existing databases (like payroll records) before requesting additional proof. The bill does not change Medicaid eligibility criteria but ties federal funding to this new activity requirement for qualifying individuals.

Alternatives to Prevent Addiction In the Nation Act or the Alternatives to PAIN Act This bill reduces cost-sharing and prohibits the imposition of certain utilization requirements under the Medicare prescription drug benefit for certain non-opioid pain management drugs. Specifically, the bill requires such drugs to be covered without a deductible and to be placed on the lowest cost-sharing tier (if any). The bill also prohibits the imposition of prior authorization requirements (i.e., requiring prior approval from a plan) or step therapy requirements (i.e., requiring the use of alternative drugs before a drug is covered under a plan) with respect to such drugs.