Rep. Nikki Budzinski

Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution supports designating the week of September 21 through September 25, 2026, as National Falls Prevention Awareness Week to highlight fall risks among adults over age 65. The bill cites statistics showing that falls are a leading cause of injury and death in this demographic, resulting in significant medical costs for Medicare, Medicaid, and private payors. It recognizes the effectiveness of cost-effective prevention strategies such as exercise programs, medication management, and home hazard reduction. Additionally, the resolution encourages federal investments in these programs and acknowledges the collaborative efforts of government agencies, health care providers, and community organizations to reduce fall risks.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution designates September 17, 2026, as National Teach Ag Day to highlight the contributions of agricultural educators and the National FFA Organization. It formally recognizes the role these groups play in preparing students for leadership and career success in the agriculture sector. The bill also acknowledges the work of over 11,000 educators across the United States and its territories who teach about food and natural resources.

Maddy summaryThe Relief Without Delay Act ensures that FEMA can continue disaster relief operations and access its Disaster Relief Fund even if the government shuts down due to a lapse in appropriations. It requires FEMA to submit monthly public reports detailing how disaster funds are obligated and spent, while also mandating the Department of Housing and Urban Development to assess unmet housing needs after major disasters. Additionally, the bill directs NOAA and FEMA to improve tornado detection capabilities using new technologies like artificial intelligence and establishes a grant program for communities to build storm shelters and upgrade warning systems.

Gateway Partnership Act This bill authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to enter into a one-time agreement with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation to host private events at the Gateway Arch National Park and its buildings for a period of up to five years. The NPS manages the park, located in St. Louis, Missouri, and its buildings, such as the Arch Visitor Center and the Old Courthouse. The bill outlines the terms and conditions that must be included in the agreement. The bill also requires private events hosted at the park or its buildings to be consistent with the park's purposes and compatible with NPS programs. Such events may not (1) degrade the integrity, appearance, or purposes of the park; or (2) take place during times or in locations that prevent or disrupt public use or access to the park or its buildings. The NPS must charge a fee to cover the cost of wear and tear resulting from the private events. The NPS may recover all costs incurred as a result of the private events, including maintenance, utilities, administrative expenses, security, and personnel costs. The bill terminates the NPS's authority to enter and carry out an agreement with the foundation seven years after the enactment of this bill.

Maddy summaryThe 9-8-8 Implementation Act of 2026 expands federal funding and mandates insurance coverage for behavioral health crisis services, directly affecting individuals experiencing mental health or substance use emergencies as well as the providers who serve them. The bill authorizes grants to upgrade local lifeline call centers, build new crisis stabilization facilities, and train a larger workforce of behavioral health professionals. It requires Medicare, Medicaid, private group health plans, TRICARE, and other federal insurance programs to cover crisis response services with financial terms no more restrictive than standard medical care. Additionally, the legislation establishes a federal panel to develop training protocols for 9-1-1 dispatchers to better connect callers to appropriate crisis care rather than law enforcement responses.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require Medicare to cover early detection screening tests for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias starting January 1, 2028. It defines eligible tests as FDA-cleared genomic blood tests, blood product analyses, or equivalent medical imaging methods (like protein expression or whole genome sequencing) that detect pre-symptomatic or early-stage conditions. Medicare beneficiaries would receive this coverage without cost-sharing for these specific screenings. The bill amends Medicare coverage rules to explicitly include these tests under Section 1861(nnn) of the Social Security Act.

Maddy summaryHR 2004, titled "Tyler’s Law," requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study how often hospital emergency departments test for fentanyl during overdose cases (beyond standard drug tests), including associated costs, patient benefits/risks, and impacts on privacy and patient-physician relationships. The study must be completed within one year of the bill's enactment. Based on the study results, the Secretary must issue guidance within six months on whether emergency departments should routinely test for fentanyl, how to inform clinicians about test contents, and how such testing may affect future overdose risks and health outcomes. This bill directly affects hospital emergency departments and patients experiencing overdoses by shaping future testing protocols.

Maddy summaryHR 1266, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, adds xylazine - a veterinary sedative increasingly found in illicit drug mixtures - to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, regulating its use and trafficking. It directly affects veterinarians, animal owners, and manufacturers by allowing xylazine to be legally dispensed for animal use under specific veterinary prescriptions, while prohibiting non-veterinary human use. The bill includes transition periods (60 days for practitioners, 1 year for labeling) to ease compliance for manufacturers and practitioners, and requires the DEA and FDA to expedite necessary applications. It also mandates two congressional reports on xylazine's illicit use and trafficking patterns, and directs the Sentencing Commission to review penalties for offenses involving xylazine.