Rep. Jim Costa

Maddy summaryThe Air America Act of 2025 authorizes one-time payments of $40,000 to individuals who worked for Air America or its affiliated companies for at least five years during 1950-1976, or to their surviving spouses, children, or dependents. Additional payments of $8,000 per full year beyond five years are allowed. The program is capped at $60 million total funding, with claims required within two years of final regulations. Payments are a single lump sum with no ongoing benefits, and the bill explicitly states it does not create new entitlements beyond this one-time award.

Maddy summaryHR 2098, the "Deliver for Democracy Act," requires the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to meet specific on-time delivery targets for periodicals (including newspapers) to receive annual rate increases. The bill mandates that the Postal Regulatory Commission must confirm USPS achieved either a 95% on-time delivery rate for periodicals or a 2-percentage-point improvement over the prior year before authorizing new rates. It also requires the Postmaster General to submit annual public reports tracking on-time delivery performance for newspaper mail in-county and out-of-county, using stakeholder feedback and alternative data methods if needed. Additionally, the bill directs the GAO to study alternative pricing options for periodicals and submit a report within two years.

Maddy summaryHR 2106, the Expanding Medical Education Act, provides federal grants to establish or expand medical and osteopathic medicine schools in underserved areas. It prioritizes institutions in regions with no existing medical schools or minority-serving institutions, targeting recruitment of students from rural, low-income, and underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds. The bill requires grantees to develop curricula focused on care for underserved populations and modernize facilities. Recipients must report annually on student demographics and program outcomes, with public reports to Congress every five years tracking impacts on healthcare access and workforce diversity.

Maddy summaryHR 2151, the Seizure Awareness and Preparedness Act, creates a federal grant program to support schools in managing epilepsy and seizure disorders among students. It directly affects students with these conditions and their schools by requiring funded training for staff on emergency care plans, individualized health plans, and seizure recognition. Key provisions mandate that schools develop written emergency and health care plans with medical providers and parents, train all staff (including bus drivers) every two years on seizure response, and ensure proper communication between schools and families. The bill allocates $34.5 million over five years (2026-2030) to supplement, not replace, existing school funding for these programs.

Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder Act of 2025 or the HELPER Act of 2025 This bill establishes a program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide mortgage assistance to law enforcement officers, elementary and secondary school teachers, firefighters, or other first responders. Specifically, these individuals may be eligible for a first-time mortgage on a primary family residence with no down payment. Instead, the mortgage is subject to a one-time, up-front mortgage insurance premium.

Maddy summaryHRES 216 is a resolution condemning the leadership of the House Republican Conference for allowing a social media post that falsely questioned the immigration status and patriotism of Congressman Adriano Espaillat (Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus). The resolution specifically names House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and other top Republican leaders as responsible for the post. It characterizes the post as xenophobic and inappropriate, stating such rhetoric violates the standards of conduct expected of members of Congress.

Maddy summaryHRES 219 is a resolution recognizing four fellowship programs that support diversity in U.S. foreign affairs careers. These programs - the Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellowship, Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship, William D. Clarke, Sr. Diplomatic Security Fellowship, and Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship - help recruit underrepresented groups, including minority and economically disadvantaged students, for roles in diplomacy and development. The resolution emphasizes that these statutorily mandated programs strengthen national security and foreign policy by building a more diverse workforce for agencies like the State Department and USAID. It also notes these programs have historically drawn from over 500 colleges and all 50 states.

Maddy summaryThe Access to Family Building Act establishes legal rights for individuals seeking fertility care and health care providers offering assisted reproductive technology (ART) services. It prohibits states or localities from imposing unreasonable restrictions on ART access - such as excessive costs, health barriers, or arbitrary limitations - that don’t advance safety or health outcomes. The bill allows patients, providers, or insurers to sue to enforce these rights, while explicitly preserving state health/safety regulations that protect patient safety. It does not override existing state insurance laws or require changes to medical facility safety standards. This bill directly affects patients pursuing fertility treatment, fertility clinics, and health insurers covering ART services.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act This bill expedites payment of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and eligibility for Medicare coverage for those with metastatic breast cancer (i.e., breast cancer that has spread to other sites in the body). Specifically, the bill eliminates the 5-month waiting period for SSDI benefits and the subsequent 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage for individuals with metastatic breast cancer. Under current law, individuals generally must wait 5 months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits and an additional 24 months to become eligible for Medicare.

Maddy summaryHR 2033, the Military Spouse Hiring Act, expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include spouses of active-duty military personnel. It adds "qualified military spouse" as an eligible category for the tax credit, meaning employers who hire such spouses can claim the credit. A "qualified military spouse" is defined as someone certified by a local agency as married to an active-duty service member at the time of hire. The credit applies to hires occurring after the bill's enactment date. This directly affects military spouses seeking employment and employers hiring them, providing a tax incentive to encourage their hiring.