Rep. Kim Schrier

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to American individuals and organizations that rescued Jews and other refugees from Nazi persecution between 1933 and 1945. The legislation directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the creation and presentation of a single gold medal, which will be given to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for display and research. Additionally, the bill permits the Secretary of the Treasury to produce duplicate bronze versions of the medal for sale, with the proceeds funding the mint's public enterprise fund.

Maddy summaryThe Disaster Relief Integrity and Independence Act aims to prevent political bias in federal disaster aid and speed up the approval process for disaster declarations. It prohibits the President from making decisions about emergency funding or declaring major disasters based on the political affiliation of a state, territory, or locality. Additionally, the bill requires the President to respond to requests for major disaster declarations within 45 days, automatically approving any request that is not answered by that deadline. These changes directly affect state, tribal, and territorial governments by ensuring their disaster relief requests are handled fairly and without unnecessary delays.

Maddy summaryThe Primary and Behavioral Health Care Access Act of 2026 requires group health plans to cover three primary care visits and three behavioral health care visits per year without charging copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance. This mandate applies to plans governed by ERISA, the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code, affecting employees, retirees, and individuals with employer-sponsored or individual health insurance. The bill defines primary care visits as in-person appointments with designated providers like general practitioners or nurse practitioners, while behavioral health visits include services from a wider range of specialists such as psychologists and social workers. Additionally, the law ensures that these specific visits are subject to the same reimbursement rates and treatment limitations as any other covered medical service. These provisions would take effect for plan years beginning two years after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryHR 5408, the Faster Labor Contracts Act, requires employers to begin negotiating a first contract with a newly certified union within 10 days of written request. If no agreement is reached within 90 days, the parties must seek mediation, and if unresolved after 30 days of mediation, the dispute moves to binding arbitration by a three-member panel. The arbitration decision, based on factors like employer finances, industry standards, and cost of living, becomes binding for two years. This bill directly affects newly certified unions and their employers during initial contract negotiations, aiming to reduce delays that currently average 465 days.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to submit annual reports to Congress about pending hydropower license applications. Specifically, FERC must report on licenses where licensees notified them at least 3 years prior but haven't received new licenses yet, including details like notification dates, docket numbers, application status, and upcoming proceedings. The reports aim to increase transparency in the relicensing process for existing hydropower facilities. This directly affects FERC (which must provide the reports) and Congress (which receives them), with no direct impact on hydropower operators or the licensing outcome itself.

Maddy summaryHR 2860 reauthorizes the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative through 2032, continuing a program focused on protecting Puget Sound's marine ecosystem in Washington State. It maintains the existing Northwest Straits Advisory Commission (composed of local county representatives, Tribal governments, and state officials) and requires it to coordinate habitat restoration, monitor water quality, and collaborate with Tribal nations on conservation efforts. The bill authorizes $10 million annually (2026-2031) for the Commission to carry out its duties, including developing science-based restoration plans and reporting progress on benchmarks like habitat protection and water quality. It emphasizes collaboration with local communities, Tribal governments, and federal agencies like NOAA, without granting regulatory authority.

Maddy summaryThe Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women's Health Act directs the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services to expand research, education, and clinical care for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. Key provisions include funding grants for biomedical studies on specific health conditions, creating new research categories for menopausal symptoms, and establishing Centers of Excellence to improve professional training for healthcare providers. The bill also mandates a national public awareness program, the development of online educational resources, and the creation of a data dashboard to track health outcomes and address disparities among rural and underserved populations. These efforts are supported by authorized funding of $25 million for research and $10 million for public health promotion and training programs for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031.

Maddy summaryThe Celiac Safety Act of 2026 officially classifies gluten-containing grains as a major food allergen under federal law, directly impacting the food industry and individuals with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. This change requires manufacturers to label products containing wheat, rye, barley, or their crossbred hybrids with the same prominence as other major allergens like milk. The new labeling requirements will not take effect until 18 months after the law is enacted, giving businesses time to adjust their packaging and production processes.

Maddy summaryThe SCREEN for Type 1 Diabetes Act of 2026 directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to launch a national public awareness campaign focused on type 1 diabetes detection, screening, and management. This initiative will provide written materials and public service announcements across various media platforms, including social media and television, while consulting with health organizations, schools, and community groups to ensure the content is culturally and linguistically appropriate. The bill authorizes $5 million annually from 2027 to 2031 to fund grants for nonprofit entities and state or local health departments to distribute these resources and increase screening access in communities with high incidence rates. Additionally, the law requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress within one year detailing the campaign's activities and its impact on diabetes detection and management.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2026, aims to create more predictable payment adjustments for physicians and other healthcare providers under the Medicare program. It directly affects medical practices and providers who receive reimbursement for services through the physician fee schedule. The legislation increases a threshold for certain budget neutrality calculations from $20 million to $54.3 million in 2027, with automatic increases every five years thereafter. It also requires the government to correct payment estimates when actual service usage differs significantly from projections, mandates regular updates to cost calculations for practice expenses, and limits how much Medicare payment rates can change from year to year to a maximum of 2.5 percent.