Rep. Josh Harder

Maddy summaryThe GLOBE Act of 2025 aims to advance global LGBTQI human rights by requiring the U.S. State Department to document and report on violence and discrimination against LGBTQI people worldwide. It establishes a permanent Special Envoy for LGBTQI rights at the State Department and creates an interagency group to coordinate U.S. government responses to threats against LGBTQI populations. The bill authorizes sanctions against foreign individuals responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI people, including banning them from entering the United States. It also includes provisions to improve U.S. foreign assistance programs to better protect LGBTQI rights and makes changes to immigration policy to better protect LGBTQI asylum seekers.

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 4169, the Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2025, creates a new federal crime for schemes to defraud veterans of their benefits. It adds Section 1352 to Title 18, making it illegal to knowingly execute or attempt to execute a scheme to defraud an individual of veterans' benefits or to obtain such benefits fraudulently for them. The law specifically defines "veterans' benefits" as any federal benefit for veterans, dependents, or survivors, and sets penalties of fines, up to 5 years in prison, or both. This directly affects veterans and their families by strengthening legal tools to prosecute fraudsters targeting their benefits.

Maddy summaryHR 4167, the Expanding Access to Lending Options Act, amends the Federal Credit Union Act to extend the maximum time federally chartered credit unions can hold mortgage loans from 15 years to 20 years (or longer by NCUA regulation). This change directly affects federally chartered credit unions by allowing them to offer longer-term mortgage products to members. The key provision modifies Section 107(5) of the Federal Credit Union Act, specifically updating the time limit for mortgage loans held by credit unions. The bill also includes a non-binding sense of Congress statement emphasizing safety and soundness in NCUA oversight, but the core policy change is the extended mortgage holding period.

Maddy summaryHR 4153, the STRONG Act, increases maximum loan limits for two key Small Business Administration (SBA) programs. It raises the cap for standard 7(a) loans from $3.75 million to $7.5 million (and the threshold for higher amounts from $5 million to $10 million), and doubles the cap for development company loans from $5 million to $10 million (for both standard and higher thresholds). These changes directly affect small businesses seeking SBA financing by allowing them to access larger loans for growth, expansion, or recovery. The bill modifies specific provisions in the Small Business Act and Small Business Investment Act to expand access to capital.

Maddy summaryThe Women's Health Protection Act of 2025 would protect access to abortion services across the United States by prohibiting states from imposing restrictions that are more burdensome than those on comparable medical procedures. The bill directly affects people seeking abortion care and health care providers by banning restrictions such as mandatory in-person visits, requirements for specific tests, limitations on telemedicine, and rules based on a patient's reason for seeking abortion. It prohibits state laws that single out abortion for unnecessary restrictions while allowing post-viability abortions when necessary to protect a patient's life or health. The bill preempts conflicting state laws and provides enforcement mechanisms through private lawsuits and actions by the Attorney General.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates federal funding for community-based violence intervention programs in high-violence areas, targeting communities with 35+ homicides annually or 20+ homicides with rates double the national average. It establishes grants for community organizations to implement trauma-informed violence interruption strategies, hospital-based programs for injured patients, and job training for "opportunity youth" (16-25 year olds not in school or work). The legislation authorizes $300 million in 2026, increasing to $700 million annually through 2033, with requirements for evidence-based approaches that reduce violence without contributing to mass incarceration. It creates a National Community Violence Response Center to coordinate data collection, research, and best practices for these programs. The focus is on prevention through economic opportunity, trauma care, and community-driven interventions rather than traditional law enforcement approaches.

Maddy summaryThe Caring for Survivors Act of 2025 increases monthly dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses of veterans. It changes the calculation method from a fixed $1,154 to 55% of a specific veteran compensation rate, effective six months after enactment. The bill also reduces the required continuous disability rating period for survivors from 10 years to 5 years, and provides a proportional payment for cases where the rating period is shorter than 10 years. Surviving spouses of veterans who died before January 1, 1993, receive the greater of their current benefit or the new calculation. This directly affects surviving spouses eligible for benefits under Title 38, U.S. Code, particularly those with veterans who died prior to 1993.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits transplant centers and healthcare providers from denying organ transplants or related services solely based on a patient's disability. It requires covered entities to make reasonable modifications to policies (like considering a patient's support network or using communication aids) and to avoid denying care due to lack of auxiliary aids. The law applies to all transplant stages - including evaluation, listing, and post-transplant care - and explicitly states it complements, rather than replaces, existing disability rights laws like the ADA. It allows medical considerations only if a physician determines a disability is medically significant to the transplant, after individual evaluation.

Maddy summaryHR 4079, the Safer Response Act of 2025, updates federal training for first responders to address evolving substance use challenges. It amends the Public Health Service Act to expand training content beyond opioids to include heroin and other drugs, and modifies requirements for medical devices used in response training. The bill increases annual funding for this program from $36 million (2019-2023) to $57 million (2026-2030). These changes directly affect first responders receiving federally funded training, ensuring their protocols cover a broader range of substances and use approved medical devices.