Rep. William R. Keating

Maddy summaryHR 4704, the ROTOR Act, requires the Defense Health Agency to study cancer rates among military helicopter pilots and aviation support personnel. It directly affects service members who served as rotary-wing aircrew (pilots or support staff) since 1961 and receive VA healthcare. The bill mandates a two-phase study: first, comparing cancer prevalence/mortality for 12 specific cancers (like lung, prostate, and breast cancer) between these service members and the general population; second, if increased rates are found, investigating potential causes like aircraft toxins, radiation exposure, or other service-related hazards. The study will use existing VA and cancer registry data, with findings reported to Congress within two years.

Maddy summaryH.J. Res. 108 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove legal immunity for federal officials, including the President, from criminal prosecution for actions taken while performing official duties. It would prohibit the President from granting pardons to themselves and eliminate the defense that "official authority" excuses violations of federal or state law (with limited exceptions for certain congressional actions). If ratified, this amendment would require Congress to pass implementing laws to enforce these changes. The proposal is currently in the House Judiciary Committee and requires approval by three-fourths of state legislatures to become part of the Constitution.

Maddy summaryHR 4606, the Ally’s Act, requires private health insurance plans (including employer-sponsored plans and individual coverage) to cover hearing implants and related services. It directly affects people with hearing loss who need cochlear implants, bone conduction devices, or external sound processors, as determined by a physician or audiologist. The bill mandates coverage for devices, maintenance, repairs, upgrades every 5 years, hearing assessments, surgery, and rehabilitation - without separate cost-sharing or stricter limits than other medical services. Insurers cannot deny coverage if a provider deems the service medically necessary. The law applies to all applicable health plans and takes effect for plan years beginning January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurers from denying coverage, canceling policies, or increasing premiums based solely on a person's status as a living organ donor. It directly protects living organ donors by preventing insurance discrimination unrelated to actual health risks. The bill also requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to update public educational materials about organ donation benefits, risks, and insurance impacts within six months of enactment. These materials will include information on the new insurance protections established by the bill. The law relies on state insurance regulators for enforcement of the insurance provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies and strengthens the 340B drug discount program, which allows community health centers, hospitals, and clinics (covered entities) to purchase medications at discounted prices. It explicitly requires drug manufacturers to offer these discounts regardless of where drugs are dispensed (including through contracted pharmacies) and prohibits manufacturers from adding conditions that restrict how covered entities use these discounts - such as limiting delivery locations or demanding extra data. The bill also establishes civil penalties of up to $2 million per day for manufacturers who violate these rules, and allows covered entities to file claims for violations. This directly affects safety-net providers who rely on 340B savings to access specialty drugs (like cancer treatments) for patients in underserved communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and federal employee leave rules to clarify that recovery from organ donation surgery qualifies as a "serious health condition." It directly affects private-sector workers covered by the FMLA and federal civil service employees. The key change adds "including recovery from surgery related to organ donation" to the definitions of serious health conditions in both the FMLA and federal leave statutes. This ensures eligible employees can use their existing family and medical leave benefits to recover after donating an organ, without requiring new leave entitlements.

Maddy summaryHR 1522, the Federal Retirement Fairness Act, changes federal retirement rules to include temporary employees' service after January 1, 1988, in retirement benefit calculations. It directly affects temporary federal employees (including U.S. Postal Service workers) and Members of Congress who served after that date. The bill removes a previous cutoff date in retirement law, allowing their temporary service to count toward retirement eligibility. This means eligible temporary workers can now have their full service period considered when calculating retirement benefits.

Maddy summaryHR 4482, the Stop NOAA Closures Act, imposes a temporary moratorium on closing, suspending, or limiting access to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) facilities, effective until a report is submitted to Congress by January 21, 2029. The bill requires NOAA and the General Services Administration to submit detailed reports to specific congressional committees before any future facility closure, suspension, lease termination, or consolidation - outlining cost-benefit analyses, service impacts, and justification. Exceptions apply only for emergencies posing immediate threats to personnel safety. This bill directly affects NOAA's facility management decisions and mandates congressional oversight for future closures.

Maddy summaryThe Silver Shield Act of 2025 establishes a new U.S. government program to monitor how foreign countries use American military equipment and services. It requires the U.S. to obtain written agreements from recipient nations before arms sales, prohibiting the use of U.S. weapons to commit civilian harm or violate international humanitarian law (like genocide or war crimes). The program mandates 180-day investigations into alleged violations and automatically makes violators ineligible for future U.S. arms transfers. This directly affects foreign governments receiving U.S. military aid, adding accountability measures to existing arms export rules.

Maddy summaryHR 4506, the Securing Global Telecommunications Act, requires the U.S. Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy within 90 days to promote secure telecommunications infrastructure globally. The strategy must address mobile networks, data centers, 6G technology, and satellite systems, focusing on countering untrusted vendors (like Huawei) and supporting U.S. and allied "trusted" technology providers. It mandates reports on Chinese and Russian influence at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and opportunities for multilateral cooperation with allies to finance secure infrastructure projects. The bill directly affects U.S. agencies (State Department, FCC, USAID), foreign countries using telecommunications infrastructure, and global technology standards at the ITU.