Rep. Hillary J. Scholten

Maddy summaryThe PHARA Act of 2025 requires the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to immediately release all required funding for existing research grants and rapidly pay pending reimbursements. It prohibits NIH from terminating active research grants (entered after the bill's enactment) solely due to shifting agency priorities or program goals, and mandates new termination clauses requiring 90 days' written notice and attempts to amend terms before ending agreements. This directly affects researchers and institutions receiving NIH grants, ensuring funding continuity for ongoing projects. The bill aims to prevent abrupt halts in scientific research by restructuring grant termination processes.

Maddy summaryHR 3932 (Rural Upgrades for Road Access and Local Growth Act of 2025) reserves 30% of surface transportation grant funds annually for mid-sized rural communities (10,000-75,000 residents), ensuring dedicated funding regardless of urban status. It also accelerates the grant approval process by reducing processing timelines from 60 days to 3 days for applications and decisions. This directly affects rural counties and towns in the specified population range, as well as the Transportation Department managing the program. The bill makes concrete changes to fund allocation and administrative speed, aiming to improve road access in underserved rural areas.

Maddy summaryThe Paving the Way for American Industry Act amends a provision of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to require that yellow organic pigments used in road, highway, and airport surface markings must be manufactured entirely within the United States. Specifically, it mandates that the entire manufacturing process - from combining materials through the chemical reaction forming the pigment - must occur domestically, including the creation of new molecular structures. This requirement applies immediately to pigments in water-based paints for surface markings, with full implementation for all formulas starting two years after the bill's enactment. The Office of Management and Budget must update relevant guidance within 90 days to reflect this change.

Maddy summaryHR 3931, the Kids on the Go Act of 2025, requires states to appoint a "Safe routes to school coordinator" for transportation projects. If a state hires such a coordinator, the federal government will cover 95% of eligible project costs under the relevant transportation program (previously a lower percentage). This bill directly affects state transportation agencies and school districts receiving federal funds for safe routes to school initiatives. The key change is the increased federal funding rate tied to the coordinator position, aiming to improve student safety during school commutes. The bill does not mandate hiring but offers a significant funding incentive for states that choose to implement this role.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 503) is a non-binding expression of support for designating June 11, 2025, as "World Franchise Day." It does not create new laws or directly affect any individuals or businesses; instead, it symbolically recognizes franchising's economic role. The resolution cites franchising's history (tracing to Benjamin Franklin and Isaac Singer), its current scale (830,876 U.S. establishments supporting 8.8 million jobs), and its contribution to the economy (nearly 3% of GDP). It is a procedural resolution, not a policy change, meant to acknowledge franchising's significance as a business model.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires private firearm transfers between individuals to go through a licensed dealer who must conduct a background check. It applies to most private sales but includes exceptions for transfers between family members (like parents and children), law enforcement, emergencies preventing harm, and temporary loans at shooting ranges or for hunting. Dealers must provide background check notices in both English and Spanish. The law aims to prevent prohibited individuals from obtaining firearms through private transactions while maintaining existing state authority on firearm laws.

Maddy summaryThe RNs for Rural Health Act of 2025 expands Medicare coverage to allow rural health clinics to bill for "personalized prevention plan services" when provided directly by licensed registered nurses (RNs). This change specifically affects rural health clinics and their patients in underserved areas, enabling RNs to deliver these services without requiring physician supervision for billing purposes. The bill amends Medicare law to include RNs as eligible providers for these specific preventive services, treating them the same as physician-provided services under existing coverage rules. The policy change applies to services furnished on or after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThe Apprenticeship Infrastructure Tax Credit Act of 2025 creates a tax credit for employers hiring apprentices in infrastructure-related occupations, offering $3,000 per apprentice annually (or $6,000 for veterans, National Guard/reserve members, or military spouses). The credit applies for two consecutive tax years for apprentices enrolled in registered programs meeting federal standards, with a total cap of $5 billion. It specifies infrastructure occupations including construction, installation/maintenance, production, and IT roles, requiring employers to verify apprentices are new hires reported via W-2, not 1099 contractors. The Department of Labor will issue eligibility certificates to employers based on program data, and credits will be tracked and reported annually to ensure the $5 billion cap is not exceeded.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare coverage for mental health services provided by clinical social workers to seniors in skilled nursing facilities. It removes an exclusion that previously prevented these services from being covered under Medicare's skilled nursing facility payment system. The bill specifically adds defined mental health service codes (including those for assessment and treatment) to Medicare's coverage, ensuring seniors can access these services without additional barriers. These changes will take effect for services provided on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHR 3757, the Pride In Mental Health Act of 2025, provides $20 million annually (2026-2030) to fund grants for mental health services targeting LGBTQ+ youth, including nonbinary, intersex, and Two Spirit youth, and their families/caregivers. The bill mandates grantees to provide trauma-informed care, cultural competency training, school bullying prevention guidelines, and evidence-based practices while explicitly prohibiting the use of funds for conversion therapy or its promotion. It also requires the federal government to restore mental health reports on LGBTQ+ youth, conduct a national survey measuring mental health distress, and produce a report on mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth in foster care. The law directly affects these youth populations by expanding access to tailored mental health resources and data collection, with funding administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.