Rep. Bill Foster

Maddy summaryThe Energy Bills Relief Act aims to lower household energy costs and accelerate the development of low-cost, clean energy by modifying federal tax credits, expanding weatherization programs, and streamlining permitting processes. Key provisions include restoring tax incentives for renewable energy projects, increasing funding for low-income heating assistance, and requiring federal agencies to treat wind, solar, and storage projects with the same procedural fairness as oil and gas projects. The bill also establishes new incentives for upgrading the electricity grid, such as tax credits for transmission lines and grants for wildfire prevention measures, while creating mechanisms to ensure utilities serve public interests and protect consumers from price volatility.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to cover abortion care, counseling, and related medication as part of standard hospital and medical services for eligible veterans and certain dependents. It amends VA healthcare law to explicitly include these services under existing coverage for veterans qualifying under section 1703 and dependents eligible under section 1781(a). The policy directly affects veterans and their dependents enrolled in VA healthcare programs by expanding covered benefits to include abortion-related care. This is a concrete policy change to VA healthcare benefits, not a broader abortion law.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Working Americans' Tax Cut Act, proposes two main tax changes: it would create an alternative maximum tax rate of 25.5% for individuals earning less than 175% of a cost-of-living exemption (approximately $46,000 for single filers), and it would impose a progressive surcharge on high-income taxpayers earning over $1 million. The alternative tax would cap the total tax liability for low- and middle-income earners at 25.5% of their income above a basic living threshold, while the surcharge would add 5%, 10%, and 12% taxes on income brackets above $1 million, $2 million, and $5 million respectively. Both provisions would apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and include inflation adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index.

Maddy summaryHRES 1107 is a House resolution urging the President to issue a proclamation flying the U.S. flag at half-staff to honor Rev. Jesse Jackson. The resolution recognizes his civil rights leadership, including founding the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and his presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988, which advanced racial equality and economic justice. This symbolic gesture directly affects the President (as the one who would issue the proclamation) and the public, who would observe the flag at half-staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026, requires most health insurance plans to cover HIV prevention medication without charging patients any out-of-pocket costs. It directly affects people with private insurance, government health programs like Medicare and Medicaid, military health care, and the Indian Health Service. The law mandates that insurance companies cannot require pre-approval for these medications, cannot charge deductibles or copayments for them, and cannot deny or charge higher premiums for life, disability, or long-term care insurance based on someone taking HIV prevention medication. The bill also creates a new public education campaign to increase awareness about HIV prevention options and provides federal funding to states and community organizations to expand access to these services.

Maddy summaryHRES 1106 is a non-binding House resolution honoring the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., a prominent civil rights leader and activist. The resolution recognizes his lifelong work in advancing equality through organizations like Operation PUSH, his leadership in the anti-apartheid movement, and his historic presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988. It expresses condolences to his family and calls on all Americans to continue his legacy of promoting civil rights and unity. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Direct File Act of 2026, would establish a government-run online system allowing taxpayers to prepare and file their individual income tax returns for free. The legislation prohibits the Treasury Department from entering into agreements that restrict its ability to provide tax preparation or filing services, and it voids any existing contracts with such restrictions. The program would use IRS data to simplify filing, include customer support, be available in multiple languages, and allow users to file even if they are not required to. It also enables taxpayers in participating states to file state and local returns alongside their federal returns, with funding provided to states that meet certain standards.

Maddy summaryThe DISCLOSE Act of 2026 aims to increase transparency in election spending and prevent foreign influence. It expands the ban on foreign money to cover federal, state, and local elections, including ballot initiatives and judicial nominations, and criminalizes using corporations to conceal these funds. The bill mandates that organizations spending over $10,000 on campaign-related activities, such as independent expenditures or judicial nomination advocacy, disclose their beneficial owners and top donors. Additionally, it establishes new "Stand By Every Ad" disclaimers for political communications, requiring the highest-ranking official to approve the message and, for certain ads, list their top funders. These provisions directly affect non-candidate organizations, individuals involved in political and judicial nomination spending, and foreign nationals.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Medical Records Access Fairness Act of 2026, would require health care providers to give patients free copies of their medical records unless specific exceptions apply. Under the new rules, patients could be charged fees only if they request duplicate records already provided in the same year or a non-electronic version of records already available online. The legislation also allows providers to send medical records to other health care providers in any usable format when requested by the patient. Health care providers would not be required to provide free copies to attorneys representing the patient. The Department of Health and Human Services would have six months to create regulations implementing these changes, with the rules taking effect 180 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual stipend for books, supplies, and educational materials under the Post-9/11 GI Bill from $1,000 to $1,400, effective immediately. It also establishes a new automatic annual adjustment starting in fiscal year 2026, tying stipend increases to inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Specifically, the stipend will rise each year by the percentage difference between the current CPI and the previous year’s CPI. This directly affects veterans using the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for their education expenses.