Rep. Nikki Budzinski

Maddy summaryThe No Taxpayer-Funded Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2026 prohibits the use of federal money to pay specific settlements involving high-ranking government officials and their close associates. It bars payments to the President, Vice President, their immediate families, cabinet members, senior executive staff, political appointees, and individuals connected to these roles, as well as any entity owned by the President or Vice President. Additionally, the bill restricts settlements related to claims about the January 6 Capitol attack, foreign election interference, or previously dismissed lawsuits, while requiring Treasury reports for large settlements and allowing the government to seek repayment if rules are broken.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates federal programs to advance alternative protein production through biomanufacturing and bioprocessing. It authorizes $15 million annually for research centers focused on protein diversification, $50 million for grants to companies building food biomanufacturing facilities, and $25 million for workforce development programs. The bill also requires a national strategy on protein security coordinated across multiple federal agencies. These provisions aim to strengthen food supply chains, create jobs in the growing protein sector, and reduce reliance on foreign commodities. The bill explicitly excludes insect-based food production from its scope.

Maddy summaryThe USDA Loan Modernization Act (HR 6779) updates eligibility rules for USDA farm loan programs by lowering ownership thresholds from "majority" to "at least 50 percent" for real estate, operating, and emergency loans. It introduces new categories like "qualified operators" and allows farm businesses with complex ownership structures (e.g., 75% owned by qualified operators) to qualify. This directly affects farmers and farm entities applying for these loans, particularly those with partial ownership stakes or embedded entity structures. The bill modifies existing provisions under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act without creating new loan programs or changing loan terms.

Maddy summaryHR 3482, the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, requires the VA to replace its current process for scheduling community care appointments with a new IT system. The bill mandates that VA schedulers use this system to book appointments for veterans at non-VA providers participating in the Veterans Community Care Program, allowing them to view, search, and schedule appointments by care type, location, and date. Non-VA providers must be encouraged to join the program through VA outreach, including a public website with participation details. The new system must be implemented within 90 days for regulations and one year for full operation, with reporting requirements to Congress. This change directly affects veterans seeking community care and non-VA providers participating in the program.

Maddy summaryHR 3183, the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025, establishes a new Office of Falls Prevention within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to coordinate and improve falls prevention efforts for veterans. The bill mandates that VA healthcare facilities conduct annual falls risk assessments and provide fall prevention services by licensed physical or occupational therapists for veterans at risk, and requires biennial staff training on safe patient handling techniques. It also creates a pilot program to test home modifications for fall prevention and directs the VA to report on current falls prevention practices, including screening methods, home modification grants, and medication management risks. This legislation directly affects veterans at risk of falls, VA healthcare facilities, and providers delivering care under VA programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects funding and staffing at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It prevents the government from holding back or redirecting VA funds without new law, and requires the VA to notify Congress if funding shortfalls approach. The bill exempts the VA from hiring freezes through 2029, mandates reinstating veterans fired between 2025 and the bill’s enactment, and requires special legal authorization for layoffs (including probationary employees). The VA must also submit annual compliance reports to Congress.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores veterans' education benefits for periods spent at institutions later found to have fraud, closure, or approval issues. It prevents those periods from counting against a veteran's total benefit entitlement or lifetime limit. Educational institutions must repay the VA if they received benefits for veterans during these covered periods, including cases where courts found fraud or the school was closed for violations. The law applies to veterans using benefits under chapters 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, or 1606/1607 of title 38.

Dental Care for Veterans Act This bill expands eligibility for veterans for dental care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, the bill makes all veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system eligible for VA-provided dental services. Currently, only veterans who have a service-connected dental issue or meet other narrow criteria are eligible for certain dental services. The bill phases in eligibility over four years based upon existing eligibility, degree of service-connected disability or other disability, prisoner of war status, award of a Purple Heart, financial need, or VA health care eligibility.

Maddy summaryThe IMPACT to Save Moms Act directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to run a five-year demonstration project from 2027 to 2031, allowing states to test new payment models for maternity care under Medicaid and state child health plans. This initiative aims to improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals, with a specific focus on reducing disparities among groups that experience higher rates of maternal mortality and severe complications. To achieve these goals, the project requires states to consider alternative payment structures that account for pregnancy risk levels, include diverse care teams with training on bias, and address social factors affecting health. The bill also mandates that the federal government evaluate the project's impact on health outcomes and spending, and submit a final report to Congress with recommendations on whether to expand the program nationwide.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the House of Representatives' preference for a trade policy that prioritizes American workers, consumers, independent farmers, small businesses, and the environment over corporate interests. It calls for trade agreements to include binding labor and environmental standards, fair wage guarantees, and strict rules of origin to prevent companies from moving jobs overseas. The measure also supports strengthening domestic manufacturing requirements, maintaining tariffs against unfair trade practices, and ensuring that public procurement favors American-made goods. Additionally, it urges the inclusion of provisions to protect data privacy, regulate artificial intelligence, and ensure affordable access to medicine while preventing monopolies.