Rep. Lauren Underwood

Maddy summaryHR 6751 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Roberto Clemente, a Hall of Fame baseball player and humanitarian, including 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins must feature Clemente's image and inscriptions like "Roberto Clemente" and "2027," with all sales including a surcharge ($5-$35 per coin) paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation. The foundation, which supports youth sports, education, and disaster relief programs, will use these funds for its mission, while the U.S. Treasury must recover all production costs. The coins will be sold exclusively in 2027, with no net cost to the government.

Maddy summaryThe Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women’s Health Act of 2024 would expand access to preventive cancer screenings (including breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer screenings) for women, with a focus on low-income women, women of color, rural communities, and underserved populations. It authorizes $20 million annually for grants to health care providers - such as family planning centers - to increase screenings and establishes a training program for health care providers on best practices and cultural competency to address racial disparities. The bill also mandates a study analyzing cancer screening rates and disparities by race, income, geography, and insurance status, with reports to Congress every five years. These provisions aim to improve early detection, reduce mortality, and address systemic barriers in women’s cancer care.

Maddy summaryThe Thyroid Disease CARE Act of 2024 directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct research on thyroid disease, with a focus on identifying and addressing health disparities affecting populations such as racial and ethnic minorities, women, and those with varying insurance coverage or geographic locations. It requires HHS to analyze data from Medicaid, Medicare, and other health programs to study gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes - particularly for thyroid cancer and persistent symptoms - and develop recommendations for improved care. The bill authorizes $30 million annually for research (2025-2029) and $3 million annually for a public awareness campaign to educate patients and healthcare providers about thyroid disease symptoms, treatment options, and early detection, especially during pregnancy. This legislation aims to enhance evidence-based care through research and outreach without altering existing patient benefits or insurance requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act to explicitly include substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder treatment in federal disaster relief funding. It expands access to addiction services for disaster survivors by requiring that mental health and counseling assistance programs funded under the Act cover these specific needs. Key provisions revise existing language to add "substance use disorder" and "alcohol use disorder" throughout the law, ensuring these services are directly eligible for disaster-related funding. The bill also mandates a federal report within 180 days to update application forms and guidance documents to reflect these changes, ensuring implementation aligns with the new provisions.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 133 designates November 25, 2024, as "Public Health Thank You Day" to recognize public health professionals. The resolution expresses Congress's support for their work in disease prevention, maternal care, mental health, and addressing health disparities. It has no legal effect or funding provisions - it solely serves to formally commend these professionals for their contributions. The bill directly affects public health workers nationwide, acknowledging their role in protecting community health.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal grant program to support teachers in high-need schools who maintain classroom roles while taking on formal leadership responsibilities. It provides funding for a year of intensive professional development (including coursework, coaching, and a credential) followed by 1-2 years of ongoing support from school and partnership leaders. Eligible teachers must be fully certified, have 3+ years of experience, and meet selection criteria focused on content expertise and leadership potential. The program aims to strengthen school-level instructional practices by developing teacher leaders who address specific school needs like curriculum design, data-driven instruction, and community engagement - without removing them from classrooms.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require most health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act to cover fertility treatments as an essential health benefit. It directly affects individuals enrolled in ACA-compliant health plans by mandating coverage for services like in vitro fertilization (IVF), embryo preservation, genetic testing, artificial insemination, and fertility-related medications. The law defines "fertility treatment and care" to include these medically appropriate services regardless of whether a person has been diagnosed with infertility. Coverage would begin for plan years starting one year after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThe VA Employee Fairness Act of 2024 modifies collective bargaining rules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). It removes existing subsections (b), (c), and (d) from the law governing VHA employee bargaining and renumbers the remaining provision. This change streamlines the collective bargaining framework but does not alter the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' existing authorities over incentive pay and expedited hiring. The bill directly affects VHA employees by changing how their collective bargaining rights are structured under federal law. The law remains neutral, focusing solely on procedural adjustments to the existing bargaining framework.

Maddy summaryHR 9773, the Copay Fairness for Veterans Act, eliminates copayments for specific preventive health services provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. It directly affects veterans who use VA services for preventive care, removing financial barriers for medications, hospital visits, and medical services related to prevention. The bill amends VA law to remove copays for medications that are part of preventive care, hospital care for preventive services, and defines covered services to include USPSTF-rated items, CDC-recommended immunizations, and VA-covered women’s preventive care like screenings and contraceptives. These changes apply to all veterans receiving VA care for the specified preventive services. The bill focuses solely on removing cost-sharing requirements for these defined services.

Maddy summaryThe National Food as Medicine Program Act of 2024 creates a federal grant program to help states implement or expand initiatives that provide medically prescribed, nutrient-rich food (like fresh produce or tailored meals) to address chronic health conditions and food insecurity. States must partner with healthcare providers and community organizations to offer these interventions, using locally-sourced, sustainably produced food grown through regenerative or organic methods. The program requires states to evaluate outcomes like reduced hospital visits and improved health metrics, with reports submitted to the federal government after three years. It directly affects state Medicaid programs and healthcare providers participating in these initiatives.