Rep. Addison P. McDowell

Maddy summaryHRES 711 is a non-binding House resolution honoring victims of Hurricane Helene and expressing support for affected communities in western North Carolina, specifically North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, one year after the hurricane struck on September 27, 2024. It formally recognizes the storm’s devastation - including loss of life, displaced families, and damaged infrastructure - while extending condolences to victims’ families and gratitude to first responders and recovery efforts. The resolution affirms the House’s commitment to supporting ongoing recovery and encourages federal agencies to collaborate with Congress on rebuilding. As a symbolic gesture with no new policy or funding, it focuses solely on commemoration and solidarity.

Maddy summaryHR 5401, the Pay Our Troops Act of 2026, ensures military personnel, civilian Defense workers, and supporting contractors receive pay during government funding gaps in fiscal year 2026. It appropriates emergency funds for active-duty service members, reserves, and their supporting personnel (including Coast Guard staff under DHS) if regular appropriations aren't enacted by the end of the fiscal year. The bill provides necessary pay and allowances during any period when full-year funding is unavailable, covering both active service and support roles. Funding expires when regular appropriations are passed, a funding resolution is enacted, or January 1, 2027, whichever comes first. This is a procedural measure to prevent pay delays for military and support staff during fiscal year 2026 funding lapses.

Maddy summaryHRES 706 is a procedural resolution that, if passed, would remove Ms. Omar from the House Committees on the Budget and Education and Workforce. It directly affects her committee assignments for the current congressional term, changing her role in those committees. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Carter and others and referred to the Committee on Ethics for review. This is a purely administrative change to committee membership, not a policy or law.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic resolution (HRES 700) condemns the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a conservative campus advocate and founder of Turning Point USA, who was killed on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University. It expresses the House's deepest condolences to Kirk’s family, including his wife and children, and honors his work promoting civil discourse among college students. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a formal expression of the House’s stance on the incident. It directly affects no individuals or groups through legislative action, as it is purely a ceremonial statement.

Maddy summaryHRES 695 is a commemorative resolution honoring Charlie Kirk, a conservative speaker and Turning Point USA leader, following his assassination on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. The resolution condemns the attack, offers condolences to his family, and recognizes first responders. It reaffirms the First Amendment right to peaceful assembly and emphasizes that violence cannot silence democratic participation. This non-binding resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a symbolic tribute to Kirk's memory and the principles of democratic engagement.

Maddy summaryThe RESULTS Act (HR 5269) changes how Medicare calculates payment rates for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. It requires Medicare to collect data on private payor rates for widely available non-Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory Tests (non-ADLTs) from a qualifying independent claims data entity (a national nonprofit organization meeting specific criteria) rather than relying on data reported directly by laboratories. For tests where data is unavailable, the bill establishes default payment rates based on previous years' rates adjusted for inflation. The law also requires Medicare to publicly explain payment rates with supporting data, affecting Medicare beneficiaries, clinical laboratories, and private payors that provide services covered by Medicare.

Maddy summaryHR 5252, the HOPE Act, amends the 21st Century Cures Act to allow states and tribes using federal grant funds to purchase and distribute public access opioid overdose reversal kits. These kits contain opioid reversal medication and clear instructions for use. The bill specifically permits grant funds previously designated for prevention to also cover acquiring, making available, and maintaining these kits. It directly affects state and tribal health agencies administering the relevant federal grants.

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 summaryHR 5121, the Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act, prohibits accrediting agencies from considering race, color, sex, or national origin when evaluating institutions or their leadership composition. It directly affects colleges and universities by requiring accrediting bodies to cease imposing or considering such factors in accreditation decisions. The bill adds new provisions to the Higher Education Act, banning agencies from setting standards related to student/faculty diversity metrics or leadership demographics, and mandates that institutions retain the right to adopt lawful policies on these matters. Institutions harmed by accreditation decisions violating these rules may pursue civil action under the amended law.

Maddy summaryHR 5116, the "Empower Parents to Protect their Kids Act," requires all K-12 schools receiving federal funds to obtain parental consent before accommodating a student's gender identity that differs from their sex assigned at birth. The bill prohibits schools from changing student names/pronouns, facilitating gender transition, hiding such information from parents, or encouraging gender transition without parental involvement. Schools must publicly post policies ensuring compliance and provide written policies to families. Parents or the Attorney General can sue schools for violations, seeking injunctions, fees, or compensation for harm caused by unconsented gender transition efforts.