Rep. Jay Obernolte

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1362) to explicitly include broadband internet access service infrastructure under protections against destruction. It directly affects entities that operate or damage broadband facilities, such as internet service providers, infrastructure owners, and individuals who might intentionally destroy such infrastructure. Key changes expand the definition of protected "means of communication" to specifically cover broadband facilities and broaden liability to include "any other person or entity" beyond government-controlled systems. The amendment removes the prior exemption for infrastructure used in "military or civil defense functions," ensuring all broadband infrastructure receives equal legal protection. This strengthens existing penalties for damaging broadband networks but does not create new regulatory requirements for service providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends veterans' vocational rehabilitation law to allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to approve non-degree flight training courses as part of rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities. It removes a previous requirement that such training must be part of a college degree program. The change directly affects veterans seeking flight training as a career path, enabling them to access VA funding for standalone flight certification courses. The policy takes effect for programs approved on or after August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHR 2694, the Election Results Accountability Act, sets strict deadlines for states to count ballots and certify results in federal elections. It requires states to count at least 90% of ballots within 72 hours of polls closing and complete full counting with official certification within two weeks. Exceptions apply for major disasters, cyberattacks, technical issues, or recounts, but states missing deadlines risk losing federal election administration funds unless they submit a compliance plan. This bill directly affects all states administering federal elections, aiming to standardize and expedite the certification process while maintaining flexibility for genuine emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 2102 (Major Richard Star Act), allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both full military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation simultaneously, without the previous offset that reduced retired pay. It directly affects veterans already eligible for both benefits due to combat-related injuries, removing the requirement that their retired pay be reduced by the disability compensation amount. The key provision amends Title 10 and Title 38 to eliminate the offset rule (sections 5304 and 5305 of Title 38) for these veterans. The change applies to payments starting after the bill’s enactment date, effective for all qualifying veterans. This is a policy change to increase financial support for affected veterans, not a new benefit.

Maddy summaryHR 2639, the Telehealth Access for Tribal Communities Act of 2025, permanently expands Medicare telehealth coverage for services provided by Indian health programs and urban Indian organizations. It allows these services to be delivered from any location within the U.S. (including patients' homes) starting April 1, 2025, and includes audio-only telehealth as a covered option. This directly affects tribal communities by removing location restrictions and expanding access to remote healthcare through their existing Indian health programs. The bill modifies Medicare rules to make these telehealth flexibilities permanent, ensuring continued coverage for eligible tribal patients.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $250 million annually for four years to help schools on federally impacted lands (like tribal reservations and military bases) improve aging infrastructure. It creates two grant types: formula grants for schools with no bond capacity and competitive grants prioritizing schools with urgent safety issues like unsafe buildings or lack of clean water. Local schools must contribute 10-25% of project costs based on their "learning opportunity threshold," with the highest-priority schools receiving full federal funding. Funds can be used for construction, renovation, and repair to meet safety standards and improve learning environments. The bill addresses the significant infrastructure challenges reported by 65% of schools with facilities in poor condition.

Maddy summaryThe IDEA Full Funding Act (HR 2598) mandates specific annual federal funding levels for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), directly affecting schools and students with disabilities nationwide. It requires the federal government to appropriate either a fixed dollar amount or a specified percentage (increasing annually from 4.5% to 40%) of a calculated total - based on the number of eligible students and average per-pupil costs - starting in fiscal year 2026 through 2035. The bill sets clear, escalating funding targets, with the higher of two calculated amounts (dollar figure or percentage) becoming available for obligation each fiscal year. This establishes a binding financial commitment to address long-standing underfunding of special education services under IDEA.

Maddy summaryHR 2582, the Expanding Partnerships for Innovation and Competitiveness Act, creates a nonprofit organization called the Foundation for Standards and Metrology to support the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The Foundation will work with researchers, universities, industry, and nonprofits to advance measurement science, technical standards, and technology commercialization to enhance U.S. economic security. It will be governed by a Board of Directors with 11 appointed members representing diverse stakeholders, and must become financially self-sustaining within five years. The Foundation will conduct studies, support research facilities, facilitate commercialization of federally funded research, and report annually to Congress on its activities and financial status. The bill authorizes $500,000-$1,250,000 annually from NIST's budget to fund the Foundation starting in fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryHR 2509, the COMPLETE Care Act, creates Medicare payment incentives for primary care providers who integrate specific behavioral health services into their practice. It directly affects Medicare providers offering services identified by HCPCS codes 99484, 99492, 99493, 99494, G2214, and G0323 (covering models like Collaborative Care and Primary Care Behavioral Health) during 2027-2029. The bill increases Medicare payments for these services to 125-175% of standard rates (phasing down from 175% in 2027 to 125% in 2029) and waives budget neutrality rules to fund these higher payments. Additionally, it requires the HHS Secretary to provide technical assistance to primary care practices adopting these models by 2026, with dedicated funding for 2025-2029.

TAP Promotion Act This bill requires that pre-separation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program include a presentation that promotes the benefits available to veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill also requires the VA to annually report on the presentation to (1) identify veterans service organizations that participate, (2) provide the number of members of the Armed Forces who attend, and (3) provide any recommendations for changes to the presentation.