Rep. Michael R. Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes two grant programs to support construction and manufacturing apprenticeship colleges. It provides up to $500,000 per college for community outreach (e.g., connecting with high schools, rural businesses, and workforce boards) and student support services (e.g., academic advising, mental health resources, childcare). The grants target increasing enrollment and completion rates for underrepresented groups, including rural students, first-generation college students, and minorities. Funding of $5 million annually (2026-2030) requires colleges to report on program outcomes like retention rates and diversity metrics. The law directly affects apprenticeship colleges offering work-based training in construction and manufacturing fields.

Maddy summaryHR 1522, the Federal Retirement Fairness Act, changes federal retirement rules to include temporary employees' service after January 1, 1988, in retirement benefit calculations. It directly affects temporary federal employees (including U.S. Postal Service workers) and Members of Congress who served after that date. The bill removes a previous cutoff date in retirement law, allowing their temporary service to count toward retirement eligibility. This means eligible temporary workers can now have their full service period considered when calculating retirement benefits.

Maddy summaryThe PAPER Act requires banks and credit unions (covered entities) to give customers the option to receive paper copies of their monthly statements, rather than forcing them to use digital versions only. It prohibits these financial institutions from making digital statements a condition for accessing their services. The law applies specifically to depository institutions and credit unions as defined in federal banking laws, ensuring consumers can choose their preferred statement format without penalty.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires a nonpartisan review of rising costs for transit buses in the U.S. The Comptroller General will analyze factors driving high manufacturing and procurement costs, compare U.S. prices to other countries, and examine how supplier challenges affect federal transit programs like the Low/No Emission Grant Program. The review will assess strategies such as joint state procurement that might reduce costs and speed up delivery. The findings will be reported to Congress within 18 months, but the bill itself does not change funding or directly alter bus procurement processes.

Maddy summaryHRES 584 is a symbolic resolution affirming U.S. support for Montenegro's EU accession process. It recognizes Montenegro's progress in meeting EU standards, its NATO membership since 2017, and its cooperation with the U.S. (including Maine's National Guard partnership). The resolution urges the U.S. President and Secretary of State to advocate for Montenegro's EU membership without additional conditions and support broader Western Balkans integration. It does not create new laws or alter U.S. policy but formally endorses Montenegro's path toward EU membership as a strategic partner.

Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025 This bill expands Medicare coverage of intensive behavioral therapy for obesity. Specifically, the bill allows coverage for therapy that is provided by (1) a physician who is not a primary care physician; or (2) other health care providers (e.g., physician assistants and nurse practitioners) and approved counseling programs, if provided upon a referral from, and in coordination with, a physician or primary care practitioner. Currently, such therapy is covered only if provided by a primary care practitioner. The bill also allows coverage under Medicare's prescription drug benefit of drugs used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss management for individuals who are overweight.

Maddy summaryThe CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 expands Medicare telehealth coverage by removing geographic restrictions that limited where patients could receive care, expanding the types of health care providers who can offer telehealth services, and eliminating the requirement for an in-person visit before receiving telemental health services. The bill includes specific provisions to support telehealth use for Native American health facilities, rural health clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers. It requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to collect and publish data on telehealth usage and impacts, and to develop resources to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and limited English proficiency. Program integrity measures are added to monitor telehealth billing practices and prevent fraud while maintaining coverage for telehealth services during public health emergencies.

Maddy summaryHR 4149 requires the U.S. President to submit biannually a list of foreign individuals or entities undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina's stability, such as those forming illegal parallel institutions or obstructing the Dayton Peace Agreement. It mandates sanctions including asset freezes and visa bans for listed persons, with exceptions for humanitarian aid and national security. The bill specifically targets actions threatening Bosnia's territorial integrity, like those by Republika Srpska officials, and urges EU coordination to sanction figures like Milorad Dodik. Sanctions apply to individuals, their family members (unless they condemn the actions), and entities facilitating transactions for them. The law expires seven years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how federal Bureau of Prisons employees in the "Rest of U.S." pay locality receive compensation. It directs that employees whose official worksite is in "Rest of U.S." be treated as working in the nearest other pay locality (within 200 miles) with the highest comparability payment, rather than the default "Rest of U.S." rate. This adjustment applies to all Bureau of Prisons employees, including prevailing rate staff, and takes effect 180 days after enactment. The change directly affects federal correctional officers and staff working in remote locations currently covered by the "Rest of U.S." pay rate.

Maddy summaryHRES 481 is a symbolic resolution condemning recent antisemitic attacks in the U.S., specifically referencing the June 1, 2025, Boulder, Colorado, assault on a Jewish community gathering and other incidents like the May 2025 Washington, D.C., embassy shooting. It formally recognizes a pattern of violence targeting Jewish individuals and institutions, including attacks during religious events. The resolution calls on law enforcement to thoroughly investigate and prosecute such incidents and urges elected officials to publicly oppose antisemitism and politically motivated violence. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funding but serves to affirm congressional stance against antisemitism.