Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks

Maddy summaryThe PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends federal research funding for preterm birth prevention and care through fiscal years 2025-2029, replacing the prior 2019-2023 period. It requires the HHS Secretary to establish an interagency working group within 18 months and mandates a National Academies study on preterm birth costs, risk factors, and prevention strategies. The study must assess neonatal intensive care costs, long-term family expenses, and opportunities for early detection and support. It also analyzes targeted research for at-risk pregnancies, state program best practices, and precision medicine approaches starting in pregnancy. This bill directly affects preterm infants, their families, and federal health agencies through these research and coordination mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThe HALT Fentanyl Act (HR 27) creates a new category of Schedule I controlled substances for "fentanyl-related substances" defined by specific chemical modifications to fentanyl. This law directly affects researchers, medical professionals, and law enforcement by expanding the legal definition of fentanyl-related substances to include many structurally similar compounds. Key provisions include streamlined registration processes for research on these substances, allowing researchers to conduct studies with expedited procedures if related to FDA-approved drug development or government-funded research. The bill requires the Attorney General to issue implementing rules within six months and includes penalties for violations involving these substances.

Maddy summaryThe Diagnostics Testing Preparedness Plan Act of 2025 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create and regularly update a national plan for rapidly developing, distributing, and scaling diagnostic testing during public health emergencies, such as pandemics or bioterrorism threats. The plan must detail processes for test development, validation, and distribution - prioritizing new technologies like at-home and point-of-care tests - and coordinate with states, tribes, private manufacturers, and labs. The Secretary must release the initial plan within one year of enactment and update it every three years. This policy directly affects federal emergency response readiness, aiming to streamline testing access during crises by improving coordination and domestic capacity.

Maddy summaryHR 1131 exempts certain family farms and small businesses from being counted as assets when calculating financial need for federal student aid under the Higher Education Act. Specifically, it amends the law to exclude the net value of a family farm where the family resides and small businesses (with ≤100 employees) owned by the family from need analysis calculations. This change directly affects students from qualifying family farm or small business households when applying for federal financial aid. The exemption applies to need analysis conducted for award years beginning after the bill's enactment date. The bill modifies Section 480(f)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to implement this policy change.

Maddy summaryHR 1086, the Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025, increases funding for two key U.S. Department of Agriculture export programs to boost agricultural trade. It raises the Market Access Program budget from $255 million to $489.5 million annually and doubles the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program base funding from $200 million to $400 million, with cooperator funding increasing from $34.5 million to $69 million. These changes, effective through 2029, address years of stagnant funding while aiming to counter competitive disadvantages from foreign agricultural export programs. The bill directly supports U.S. agricultural producers - from apple growers to seafood exporters - by expanding access to international markets through these programs.

Maddy summaryHR 1046, the Marc Fischer Memorial Act, requires the Bureau of Prisons to implement digital mail scanning technology at all federal prisons to detect fentanyl and other synthetic drugs in inmate mail. It mandates a strategy within 90 days of an evaluation, including 100% scanning of all mail, digital copies of mail to inmates within 24 hours, and physical mail delivery within 30 days for non-contaminated items. The bill directly affects federal prison staff, inmates, and the Bureau of Prisons by aiming to reduce drug-related overdoses and alleviate staff workload tied to mail processing. Implementation must be completed within three years, with annual reports tracking detected drugs and strategy efficiency. The legislation focuses on concrete technological and procedural changes to enhance safety, referencing a successful pilot program at two facilities.

Maddy summaryHR 1057, the Safe Passage on Interstates Act of 2025, creates a new federal criminal offense for intentionally obstructing interstate highways. It makes it illegal to deliberately delay traffic, stand near vehicles, or endanger movement on interstates with the intent to block normal use. The bill directly affects individuals who engage in such obstruction, with penalties including fines up to $15,000 or imprisonment up to 20 years (or life if death results). Exceptions cover lawful activities authorized by federal, state, or local governments. This bill amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to establish specific penalties for highway obstruction.

Maddy summaryThe ORPHAN Cures Act (HR 946) adjusts how the government calculates approval timelines for certain rare disease treatments under the Drug Price Negotiation Program. It clarifies that periods when a drug was previously designated as an "orphan drug" (for rare diseases) won't count toward the timeline for price negotiations. The bill also broadens the definition of "rare disease" to cover multiple conditions simultaneously, aligning with existing federal law. This directly affects manufacturers of orphan drugs by potentially extending their exclusivity periods before price negotiations begin.

Maddy summaryThe Medicaid Program Improvement Act requires states to regularly verify and update the addresses of Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) enrollees using reliable data sources, starting January 1, 2026. States must act on any address changes obtained through these sources, ensuring records remain accurate. Managed care organizations contracting with states must also transmit address information they receive directly from enrollees to the state. This applies to all 50 states and the District of Columbia, aiming to improve data accuracy for program administration.

Maddy summaryHR 1007, the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025, clarifies how the Department of Education enforces Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to address discrimination against Jewish individuals. It requires the Department to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating complaints involving discrimination based on actual or perceived Jewish ancestry or ethnic characteristics. This affects Jewish students and communities in K-12 schools and colleges receiving federal funding, as it ensures antisemitism is assessed under existing civil rights protections. The bill does not create new laws but specifies that the IHRA definition - already used by the Department since 2018 - must be applied in Title VI enforcement cases.