Rep. Jay Obernolte

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Medicare rules to improve payment for air ambulance services. It requires air ambulance providers to submit detailed cost and revenue data every three years (including fixed costs per base, utilization rates, and revenue) to the Medicare Secretary. The Secretary must then revise fee schedules based on this data and stakeholder input, aiming to better align payments with actual costs. A separate provision mandates the GAO to study average operating costs, payment adequacy, geographic variations, and make recommendations within one year of data collection starting. The bill directly affects Medicare beneficiaries using air ambulances and the providers operating those services.

Maddy summaryThe AMERICA DRIVES Act (HR 4661) allows commercial trucks equipped with Level 4 or Level 5 automated driving systems (ADS) to operate interstate without a human driver onboard or a remote operator. It directly affects commercial trucking companies and autonomous vehicle manufacturers by preempting state laws requiring human drivers and mandating the Department of Transportation (DOT) to update regulations by 2027. Key provisions include revising rules around hours of service, drug testing, and driver licensing to apply to driverless vehicles, while defining ADS based on industry standards (SAE J3016). The bill ensures regulatory parity for ADS-equipped trucks and excludes automated technologies from width calculations under safety standards.

Maddy summaryThe LIFT Act of 2025 streamlines regulations for drone and eVTOL (electric air taxi) operations in the U.S. It requires the Transportation Secretary to create new safety rules enabling routine drone flights beyond visual range (BVLOS) within six months and use AI to speed up approval requests for drone waivers. The bill also establishes a 3-year pilot program giving grants to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to test eVTOL operations - prioritizing projects using U.S.-manufactured drone technology and focusing on applications like medical response and cargo transport. This directly affects drone operators, local governments implementing air mobility projects, and U.S. drone manufacturers by accelerating regulatory approvals and funding for safe integration into national airspace.

Maddy summaryHR 4698, the PAAW Act, prohibits the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from conducting or funding research that causes significant pain or distress to dogs or cats. This directly affects NIH-funded studies involving these animals, specifically banning research assigned to USDA-defined severe pain categories (D or E). The law takes effect 90 days after enactment and relies on existing USDA pain classification standards under the Animal Welfare Act. It creates a clear policy change limiting NIH research involving dogs and cats when severe pain is anticipated.

Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers Act of 2025 or the Veterans' ACCESS Act of 2025 This bill addresses the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care matters. Among other provisions regarding the VCCP, the bill establishes in statute access standards that determine when a veteran is eligible to receive non-VA care through the VCCP, requires the VA to notify veterans regarding their eligibility for care within two business days after the VA is aware the veteran is seeking care, and extends the deadline for the submittal of claims under the VCCP by health care entities and providers. The VA must address its mental health treatment programs by establishing a standardized screening process to determine whether a veteran satisfies criteria for priority or routine admission to a mental health residential rehabilitation treatment program or a program for residential care for mental health and substance abuse disorders, tracking the performance of medical facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks in meeting the requirements for mental health treatment screenings and timely admission to treatment programs under such screenings, and establishing an appeal process for when a veteran is denied admission to a covered treatment program or is accepted into a program but not offered bed placement in a timely manner. Additionally, the VA must establish an online self-service module for veterans to request and manage appointments, track referrals, and appeal and track decisions related to requests for care.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal transit grant rules to incentivize local housing policies near transit. It defines "pro-housing policies" as actions removing regulatory barriers (like eliminating parking minimums or streamlining approvals for multi-family housing) and adds a 1-point scoring boost in grant evaluations for projects demonstrating such policies within walking distance of transit. Local governments and developers seeking federal transit capital grants can earn this boost by documenting these policies, with HUD consulted to assess expected housing outcomes. The policy directly affects how transit projects are scored for funding, aiming to align housing production with transit access.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require federal political campaigns to obtain explicit, active consent from donors before charging them repeatedly for contributions. It prohibits campaigns from using pre-checked boxes or passive actions (like failing to uncheck a box) as valid consent for recurring donations. Campaigns would need to send clear receipts showing the next charge date and provide simple cancellation methods upon request. The law directly affects donors to federal election campaigns and the campaigns themselves, mandating transparent handling of recurring payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 2-year pilot program to create or strengthen state-based nursing workforce centers, funded with $1.5 million annually for 2026-2027. It requires states to match federal funds at a 1:4 ratio (e.g., $1 state funding for every $4 federal) and directs centers to analyze nursing data, address shortages, and develop retention strategies for nurses across all practice settings. Centers must report annually on initiatives like workforce planning, scholarship programs, and efforts to improve rural recruitment, with the goal of reducing nursing shortages and improving geographic distribution. The program targets state agencies, nursing boards, schools of nursing, and community organizations working directly with nursing workforce data and education.

Maddy summaryHR 1766, the NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act, creates a new Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The office, led by an Associate Administrator, will coordinate cybersecurity and privacy policies, promote innovation in communications technologies, and develop market-based strategies for internet access, digital inclusion, and network security. It will conduct studies on public internet usage, foster collaboration between security researchers and service providers, and advise the NTIA on cybersecurity policy matters. This procedural bill establishes a dedicated unit to streamline policy development but does not directly change laws affecting specific groups.

Maddy summaryHR 4382 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics/Paralympics and 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics/Paralympics. It specifies gold, silver, and half-dollar coin designs with defined mintage limits (e.g., up to 100,000 $5 gold coins for each event), all bearing inscriptions like "2028" or "2034" and standard coin features. A surcharge ($5-$50 per coin) is added to sales, with all funds directed to the respective Olympic committees to support event hosting and legacy programs like youth sports. The bill ensures no net cost to the government by requiring surcharge revenues to cover all design, production, and marketing expenses before funds are disbursed.