Rep. Jim Costa

Maddy summaryThe Protect America's Workforce Act cancels an executive order issued on March 27, 2025, that excluded certain groups from federal labor-management relations programs, making it legally unenforceable. It also ensures that all collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and labor unions, which were active as of March 26, 2025, remain fully effective until their agreed terms expire. This directly affects federal agencies, labor unions, and the employees covered by these agreements. The bill prevents federal funds from being used to implement the canceled executive order while preserving existing labor agreements.

Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act This act provides for the award of Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team in recognition of the team's achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.

Maddy summaryHR 6640, the Build Now Act, sets a strict one-year deadline for completing environmental reviews on federally permitted Central Valley Project (CVP) enhancement projects. This affects project applicants seeking permits for infrastructure like groundwater recharge, aquifer storage, or water source substitution systems. If agencies miss the deadline, they must either grant an extension with the applicant's approval or deny the permit. Applicants denied due to timeline failures can reapply immediately, and agencies must share prior review data to expedite new applications. The bill streamlines the review process under existing laws (NEPA and the Endangered Species Act) without altering water policy.

Maddy summaryThe Central Valley Water Solution Act (HR 6641) authorizes over $830 million in federal funding for water infrastructure projects across California's Central Valley. It directly supports agricultural water districts and communities by financing groundwater banking systems, canal repairs, water treatment plants, and reservoir construction to improve water storage, quality, and conveyance. Key provisions include $830 million for fixing subsidence in the Delta-Mendota Canal, $850 million for the San Luis Canal/Aqueduct, and $300 million for groundwater banking programs across multiple districts. These projects aim to enhance drought resilience, restore water delivery capacity, and support conjunctive use of surface and groundwater resources.

Maddy summaryThe Safer Schools Act of 2025 establishes a 5-year federal pilot program providing grants to public schools for security risk assessments and physical security upgrades. Public schools that have experienced violent incidents involving multiple people are prioritized for both types of grants. Schools receiving assessment grants must first identify vulnerabilities, while improvement grants fund specific security measures like panic alarms linked to local police, with federal funds covering up to 50% of costs. The program allocates $600 million total ($100M-$300M annually), requiring schools to submit financial reports and post-implementation safety surveys, with annual congressional reports tracking outcomes.

Maddy summaryHR 6639, the Water Agency and Transparency Enhancement Review (WATER) Act, requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce to identify major water-supply and storage projects in California subject to the Endangered Species Act or National Environmental Policy Act. The bill mandates they designate federal officials to identify unnecessary regulatory delays or costs ("unduly burdens") on these projects and develop plans to suspend, revise, or rescind such regulations. It directly affects California water projects (including surface/ground storage and aquifer recharge) and the federal agencies managing their environmental reviews. The key mechanism is a streamlined review process to remove regulatory obstacles without compromising legal protections.

Maddy summaryHR 6575, the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act, extends enhanced premium tax credits for health insurance through 2026, directly benefiting millions of lower and middle-income Americans purchasing coverage through the ACA marketplace. The bill modifies income thresholds for premium subsidies, creating new income tiers that maintain or increase financial assistance for households earning up to 1,000% of the poverty level. It includes provisions to prevent fraud in health insurance exchanges by imposing civil penalties on agents and brokers who provide false information, and requires transparency in pharmacy benefit manager contracts to improve drug pricing accountability. The legislation also extends the annual open enrollment period for health insurance exchanges for the 2026 plan year, allowing more time for people to enroll or change coverage.

Maddy summaryThe Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act extends and modifies premium tax credit rules to make health insurance more affordable for people with household incomes up to 700% of the poverty line, with specific provisions for different income tiers. The bill requires pharmacy benefit managers to pass through 100% of rebates to health plans, establishes transparency requirements for drug pricing, and creates mechanisms to prevent fraud in health insurance exchanges. It also extends the annual open enrollment period for 2026 and allows qualified Exchange enrollees to establish health savings accounts, with options to prepay annual premiums or direct part of their premium tax credit into a health savings account.

Maddy summaryHR 6041, the Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act, creates a new grant program to help rural communities coordinate federal, nonprofit, and private investments. It provides multiyear grants (2-5 years) to partnerships - including local governments, nonprofits, tribes, and institutions - that serve rural areas, with priority given to economically distressed regions, areas with high poverty, and communities historically underserved by federal programs. Grants require at least 25% non-Federal matching funds (with waivers available for tribes or high-poverty areas) and fund activities like reducing duplicate federal efforts, leveraging private investment, and developing strategic community plans. The bill also updates the Rural Partners Network to streamline federal coordination and improve access to funding for rural communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 6469) requires the U.S. State Department, in coordination with the FCC and Treasury, to submit a report within 120 days of enactment assessing internet access options in Iran. The report must evaluate the feasibility of using direct-to-cell wireless technology to expand internet access there, including technical, security, and regulatory considerations. It also analyzes how drone-based systems and signal jamming could affect such technology, surveys Iranian telecom providers (including state ownership and foreign investment), and examines broader implications for communications freedom. The bill does not enact new policy but mandates a government review of potential technological solutions.