Rep. Kathy Castor

Creating Access to Residency Education Act of 2022 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to award matching funds to teaching hospitals or other graduate medical education training programs for medical residency training programs in states where there are fewer than 44 medical residents per 100,000 people. Recipients must cover one third of the costs for primary care residency training programs and one half of the costs for programs in other fields.

The Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027, increases funding for, and modifies the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. This program supports home visits for expectant and new parents who live in communities that are at-risk for poor maternal and child health outcomes. Changes to the program include setting out requirements for allocating program funds; increasing the percentage of funds reserved for tribal entities; establishing a publicly available dashboard that reports program outcomes; requiring activities to reduce unnecessary data collection, reporting, and other administrative requirements of the program; and allowing for virtual home visits (provided certain conditions are met). The bill also reduces funding for the Medicare Improvement Fund.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HRES 1505) that formally recognizes the 50th anniversary of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), established by the 1972 Consumer Product Safety Act. It does not create new laws or regulations; instead, it expresses the House's appreciation for the CPSC's historical role in preventing injuries and deaths through safety standards (e.g., reducing refrigerator-related child deaths by 98% and pediatric poisonings by 80%). The resolution acknowledges the CPSC's work under multiple statutes but contains no binding policy changes or new requirements. It serves purely as a ceremonial acknowledgment of the agency's 50 years of service.

Build Housing with Care Act of 2022 This bill establishes a competitive grant program to support co-located childcare and housing facilities. It also requires the Government Accountability Office to study the availability and affordability of childcare for residents of public housing. Specifically, the Department of Housing and Urban Development must award the grants to eligible entities, which include community development financial institutions, public housing authorities, licensed childcare providers, government entities, housing developers, and consortia of such entities. Entities must use the grants for designing, planning, constructing, acquiring, renovating, or otherwise supporting new or existing facilities where childcare and housing providers are on the same premises.

Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act This bill provides for coverage without prior authorization requirements of annual lung cancer screenings under Medicaid, Medicare, and private health insurance for individuals for whom screenings are recommended under U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. It also expands Medicaid coverage of counseling and pharmacotherapy for cessation of tobacco use to all individuals, rather than only pregnant women.

Enhancing Electric Grid Resilience Act This bill modifies requirements under the Federal Power Act to allow certain interstate or offshore wind transmission facilities to charge their customers fees that are commensurate with the estimated anticipated benefits provided by the facilities.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1491) is a ceremonial measure recognizing the 75th anniversary of Everglades National Park, celebrated on December 6, 2022. It highlights the park’s ecological significance, including its role in providing freshwater to 10 million Floridians and supporting diverse habitats. The resolution expresses support for continued funding to advance the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan but does not create new laws or alter existing policies. As a symbolic gesture, it has no direct impact on regulations, budgets, or affected groups.

Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers Act or the INFORM Consumers Act This bill requires online marketplaces (e.g., Amazon) to collect and verify certain contact and financial information from third-party sellers whose transactions and related revenues exceed specified thresholds. Subject to certain exceptions, online marketplaces must clearly and conspicuously disclose the contact information of certain high-volume third-party sellers to consumers and must also provide consumers with methods to report suspicious activity on the marketplace. The bill provides the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general with the authority to enforce these requirements.

Lymphedema Treatment Act This bill provides for Medicare coverage of lymphedema compression treatment items. Specifically, the bill provides for coverage of standard and custom fitted gradient compression garments and other approved items that are prescribed by a physician or other specified health care professional to treat lymphedema.

Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2022 or the PAST Act of 2022 This bill addresses the practice of soring horses. The soring of horses includes various actions taken on horses' limbs to produce higher gaits that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness. Specifically, the bill expands soring regulation and enforcement at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions, including by establishing a new system for inspecting horses for soring. In addition, the bill increases penalties for violations.