Rep. Bennie G. Thompson

Maddy summaryHR 2668, the DART Act of 2025, expands federal funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program to support state and local diversion and rehabilitation programs instead of incarceration. It allows JAG funds to cover pre-arrest diversion, specialty courts, and post-release rehabilitation services, directly affecting local justice systems and individuals facing the criminal justice system. The bill creates a National Diversion and Rehabilitation Clearinghouse to share evidence-based practices, provide technical assistance, and promote trauma-informed approaches. These changes aim to reduce recidivism by addressing root causes like addiction and mental health, shifting focus from incarceration to treatment and community-based solutions.

Maddy summaryThe Tax Fairness for Workers Act (HR 2671) would allow certain employees to deduct work-related expenses directly from their gross income. Specifically, it creates an above-the-line deduction for union dues (amending IRC Section 62(a)(1)) and reinstates a deduction for other out-of-pocket work costs like uniforms or tools (amending IRC Section 67(g)), effective for 2025 tax years. This directly affects union members and workers with significant job-related expenses who previously could not deduct these costs. The bill removes the prior limitation that barred these deductions, making them available without needing to itemize. The policy change simplifies tax filing for affected workers by treating these expenses as deductible business costs.

Maddy summaryHR 2195, the Feed Hungry Veterans Act of 2025, would expand eligibility for food assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to more veterans. It adds four new qualifying categories to the existing rules: veterans with a "catastrophically disabled" determination under military disability law, veterans under 65 receiving a pension, and veterans meeting specific combined disability rating thresholds. The bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act to include these new groups in SNAP eligibility, directly affecting veterans who currently may not qualify under existing disability rating criteria. The changes would take effect on October 1, 2030.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 2102 (Major Richard Star Act), allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both full military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation simultaneously, without the previous offset that reduced retired pay. It directly affects veterans already eligible for both benefits due to combat-related injuries, removing the requirement that their retired pay be reduced by the disability compensation amount. The key provision amends Title 10 and Title 38 to eliminate the offset rule (sections 5304 and 5305 of Title 38) for these veterans. The change applies to payments starting after the bill’s enactment date, effective for all qualifying veterans. This is a policy change to increase financial support for affected veterans, not a new benefit.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires private health insurance plans to cover insulin for people under age 26 without deductibles, capping out-of-pocket costs at $35 per 30-day supply or 25% of the negotiated price (whichever is lower). It mandates coverage of multiple insulin types and formulations (like rapid-acting, long-acting, and premixed) to ensure access to various treatment options. The rule applies to employer-sponsored plans, ACA marketplace plans, and similar coverage starting in 2026. It directly affects young adults (up to age 26) managing diabetes who rely on private insurance for insulin.

Maddy summaryThe IDEA Full Funding Act (HR 2598) mandates specific annual federal funding levels for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), directly affecting schools and students with disabilities nationwide. It requires the federal government to appropriate either a fixed dollar amount or a specified percentage (increasing annually from 4.5% to 40%) of a calculated total - based on the number of eligible students and average per-pupil costs - starting in fiscal year 2026 through 2035. The bill sets clear, escalating funding targets, with the higher of two calculated amounts (dollar figure or percentage) becoming available for obligation each fiscal year. This establishes a binding financial commitment to address long-standing underfunding of special education services under IDEA.

Maddy summaryHR 2553, the Capping Prescription Costs Act of 2025, limits out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs under health insurance. It sets a $2,000 annual cap per individual or $4,000 per family for covered prescriptions starting in 2026, with annual adjustments based on the medical care CPI. The bill applies directly to people with employer-sponsored group health plans, individual health insurance plans, and plans covered under the Affordable Care Act. It requires insurers and plan sponsors to ensure cost-sharing for prescriptions does not exceed these limits, effective for plan years beginning January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThe Heating and Cooling Relief Act (HR 2486) expands the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help low-income households struggling with energy costs. It increases funding to cover all eligible households (those with incomes up to 250% of poverty level or 80% of State median income), sets a goal that no household should spend more than 3% of income on energy, and requires states to operate assistance programs year-round. The bill includes new protections against utility shutoffs for 2 years after assistance is received, prohibits late fees during the 6 months following assistance, and mandates weatherization and energy efficiency improvements in low-income housing. It also requires states to develop extreme heat response plans and addresses the $21 billion in residential utility arrears as of September 2024.

Maddy summaryHR 2527, the Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children Act of 2025, provides federal grants to states, territories, tribes, and urban Indian organizations to establish statewide vision screening and intervention programs for children. The bill requires grantees to implement vision screenings in medical, home, educational, and early learning settings, develop data systems for tracking outcomes, and improve access to care for underserved children in rural and low-income communities. It also authorizes technical assistance grants through the CDC to help develop screening systems, share best practices, and conduct research on vision care programs. The bill allocates $5 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2030 to fund these activities, targeting early detection to prevent vision-related learning and developmental challenges.

Save America's Forgotten Equines Act of 2025 or the SAFE Act of 2025 This bill permanently prohibits the slaughter of equines (e.g., horses and mules) for human consumption. (Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill extends the prohibition to equines.) Specifically, this bill prohibits a person from knowingly (1) slaughtering an equine for human consumption; or (2) shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption. The bill subjects a violator to a fine. The bill applies to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. However, it does not apply to an activity carried out by an Indian for a religious ceremony. As background, in recent years, the appropriations acts have prohibited the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using federal funds to inspect horses before they are slaughtered for human consumption. Therefore, there are currently no USDA-inspected horse slaughter facilities in the United States.