Rep. Jack Bergman

Maddy summaryThe Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update regulations within two years to encourage pilots and air traffic controllers to seek mental health care and disclose conditions without fear of losing medical clearance. It mandates annual reviews to improve the medical clearance process for mental health conditions - such as approving additional safe medications, enhancing examiner training, and reducing backlogs - and allocates $13.74 million yearly (2026-2029) to hire more aviation medical examiners. The bill also directs the FAA to implement recommendations from a mental health rulemaking committee and fund a public campaign to reduce stigma around mental health care in aviation. These provisions aim to support aviation workers' well-being while streamlining safety-related medical evaluations.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases federal funding for Impact Aid, which supports school districts that serve students on federal property (like military bases) or have high numbers of children with disabilities. It authorizes specific annual funding amounts for four key areas: payments for federal property acquisition, basic support for heavily impacted districts, aid for children with disabilities, and school construction. The funding grows incrementally each year from 2026 through 2031, with total annual amounts rising from $85 million to $250 million for property payments, and from $1.49 billion to $2.35 billion for basic district support. This directly affects school districts in communities with significant federal land or federal facility presence.

Maddy summaryHR 2808, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, restricts how consumer reporting agencies share credit reports during mortgage applications. It prevents agencies from sending these reports to third parties unless the request is tied to a firm credit offer and the recipient has either the homebuyer’s explicit written consent or is directly involved in the mortgage (like the lender, loan servicer, or the homebuyer’s bank holding an active account). This directly affects homebuyers applying for residential mortgages by limiting unsolicited sharing of their credit information. The law amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to strengthen privacy protections around mortgage-related credit data.

Maddy summary# Summary of Proposed FEMA Reform Legislation (FEMA Act of 2025) This comprehensive legislative document proposes significant reforms to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, with four main sections addressing: ## 1. Disaster Assistance Reforms - **Expanded eligibility** for assistance, including clarifying that absence of a fixed address doesn't disqualify individuals from sheltering assistance - **Improved rental assistance** with consideration of local post-disaster rent increases - **Direct assistance** for those unable to use financial assistance, with no requirement to show other assistance can cover costs (except insurance) - **Enhanced notices** for applicants, including documentation of denial decisions - **Clarification of displacement assistance** eligibility, stating insurance shouldn't be considered a duplication of benefits ## 2. Mitigation Program Enhancements - **Preapproved project mitigation plans** requiring states to develop plans with peer review processes - **Improved allocation of funds** with formulas prioritizing vulnerable communities, high-risk areas, and rural/economically distressed communities - **Resilient buildings** requirements for housing retrofits using the latest building codes - **Streamlined application processes** for hazard mitigation funds across multiple programs - **Study on mitigation benefits** to evaluate cost savings and effectiveness ## 3. Transparency and Accountability Measures - **Public dashboards** for both individual assistance (431) and public assistance (432) showing application status, approvals, denials, and funding - **Transparency requirements** for disaster declarations with detailed justifications for approvals/denials - **GAO studies** on numerous topics including: - Identity theft in disaster assistance (409) - Insurance utilization for public assistance facilities (410) - Wildfire management plans (411) - Effectiveness of alerting systems (412) - Cost savings of repair/rebuilding reforms (415) - **Prohibition on political discrimination** in assistance distribution ## 4. Workforce and Operational Improvements - **Study on workforce retention** in noncontiguous communities - **Pilot program** for preliminary damage assessments in remote communities - **Fast-moving disasters working group** to develop best practices for rapid response The legislation focuses on improving efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of disaster relief programs while prioritizing vulnerable populations and communities with higher risk of disasters. It also emphasizes data-driven decision making through required studies and reports to continuously improve disaster management policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal pay rules to provide hazard pay for specific federal firefighters. It requires that firefighters conducting prescribed burns (controlled fires for land management) and smokejumpers during training or operations receive the same hazard pay rate currently given to those fighting wildfires. The change applies to employees covered under Title 5 of U.S. Code, with implementation required within 90 days of enactment through Office of Personnel Management regulations. The policy directly affects federal wildfire management personnel performing these high-risk duties.

Maddy summaryHJRES 116 is a ceremonial resolution honoring 13 U.S. service members who died in the August 26, 2021, Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul's airport. It designates a National Day of Remembrance for those who perished during the Afghanistan withdrawal, expresses condolences to their families, and commemorates their service. The resolution does not create new policies or funding but formally recognizes their sacrifice and the role they played in saving lives during the evacuation. It directly affects the Gold Star families of the named service members and the broader public through this national acknowledgment.

Maddy summaryThe Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act enables tribal law enforcement officers who have contracted federal law enforcement duties under the Indian Self-Determination Act to enforce federal law on tribal lands. To qualify, officers must complete training comparable to Bureau of Justice Services employees, pass a background check, and receive certification from the Bureau. The bill also designates these officers as federal law enforcement officers for legal protections under the Federal Tort Claims Act and retirement benefits. Additionally, it requires the Attorney General to coordinate Department of Justice efforts to improve public safety in tribal communities through better data collection, training, and reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers the minimum age for participating in employer retirement plans like 401(k)s from 21 to 18 for certain young workers. It directly affects 18- to 20-year-olds who work at least 500 hours over two consecutive 12-month periods. The key provision amends ERISA and tax code rules to replace "21" with "18" in eligibility requirements for these plans. The changes apply to plan years starting one year after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes the process for seasonal agricultural workers who need commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). It requires the Transportation Secretary to create online systems for easy license renewal (Section 2(a)) and clarifies that farm equipment like tractors and harvesters ("implements of husbandry") are not subject to commercial vehicle weight calculations (Section 2(b)). It directly affects farm-related service industries and their seasonal employees who operate restricted CDL vehicles. The changes simplify administrative processes and remove regulatory barriers for agricultural operations.

Maddy summaryHR 1917, the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025, establishes a federal program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to mass-tag hatchery-reared fish in the Great Lakes. The program directly affects federal, state, and tribal fisheries agencies by providing data on hatchery fish versus wild fish populations through automated tagging. Key provisions authorize $5 million annually (2026-2030) to purchase tagging equipment, hire staff, and share collected data with partner agencies to inform management decisions about fish stocking, habitat restoration, and balancing predator-prey relationships. This data supports the economic stability of the Great Lakes fisheries sector, which contributes over $7 billion annually to the regional economy.