Rep. Melanie A. Stansbury

Maddy summaryThe Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2026 mandates that Medicaid programs cover a range of dental and oral health services for adults starting in 2027, including dentures, implants, and treatments for pain and emergencies. To help states afford this expansion, the bill provides 100 percent federal funding for these specific services for a 12-quarter period beginning in 2027, while allowing states the option to add extra dental benefits if they choose. In addition to expanding coverage, the legislation requires the federal government to develop standardized quality measures to track adult oral health outcomes and report on disparities based on race, ethnicity, and other demographics. The bill also directs the creation of an outreach program to help eligible adults find care and establishes a timeline for a comprehensive report on access barriers and reimbursement issues.

Maddy summaryThe CDC Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness Act amends the Public Health Service Act to formally include Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations in state and local public health emergency planning. It establishes a new funding stream that provides at least 10 cooperative agreements annually to these entities, with a minimum award amount determined through consultation and no requirement for matching funds. The bill also grants the CDC Secretary the authority to waive certain program regulations, except those related to labor standards and the environment, after consulting with Tribes to ensure effective program delivery. Additionally, the legislation requires the Secretary to conduct a review and submit a detailed report to Congress on the implementation and success of these tribal health initiatives within two years of enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals in the criminal justice system by restricting financial incentives for states that use restraints on pregnant inmates. Under the bill, states receiving federal justice grants would face a 25 percent funding penalty if they fail to implement laws limiting the use of shackles on pregnant individuals, with those withheld funds redirected to compliant states. The legislation also directs the Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice to create and fund programs in at least six federal facilities and across various state and local prisons that provide specialized prenatal care, mental health support, and reentry assistance. These programs are designed to address specific health disparities, particularly for racial and ethnic minority groups, by offering culturally competent care, nutrition counseling, and opportunities to maintain contact with newborn children. Additionally, the act requires an independent oversight organization to monitor program implementation and mandates a Government Accountability Office report to analyze maternal and infant health data within the correctional system.

Maddy summaryThe FAIR Credit Act amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to improve the accuracy of consumer credit reports and provide relief to specific groups of borrowers. It directly affects consumers, creditors, and credit reporting agencies by changing how adverse information is reported and how certain debts are handled. Key provisions include shortening the time most negative credit items remain on a report from ten to seven years and requiring the removal of fully paid or settled debts after 45 days. The bill also prohibits medical debt from appearing on credit reports, offers credit restoration for victims of predatory mortgage lending and deceptive education programs, and allows victims of economic abuse to have related adverse information removed. Additionally, the legislation expands protections against identity theft by enhancing fraud alert options, mandating free credit monitoring for certain vulnerable groups, and ensuring that inquiries resulting from fraud do not negatively impact credit scores.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE CATTLE Act requires the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior to coordinate federal efforts to prevent, monitor, and eradicate New World screwworm - a pest that attacks livestock and wildlife - across federal lands managed by agencies like the National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service. It mandates joint surveillance protocols, outbreak response plans with state officials, and science-based strategies to protect livestock industries and food supply chains. The bill also requires annual reports to Congress detailing interagency progress, outbreak responses, and recommendations for improving pest control until screwworm is contained south of Panama. This legislation directly affects federal land managers, livestock producers, and the broader agricultural economy by establishing a formal federal framework for addressing this specific animal health threat.

Maddy summaryThe AADAPT Act reauthorizes and expands Project ECHO grants to improve Alzheimer’s and dementia care through technology-enabled training. It specifically funds grants for healthcare providers in rural, frontier, or medically underserved areas to enhance early diagnosis, quality care, and provider retention for dementia patients. The bill authorizes $1 million annually (2027-2032) for these dementia-focused training programs, requiring funds to supplement - not replace - existing resources. This directly supports primary care providers licensed to serve underserved communities, using collaborative online learning to address care gaps.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens the Epstein Files Transparency Act by giving state attorneys general and victims the legal right to sue the U.S. Attorney General if they unlawfully withhold, redact, or delay access to investigation records. It requires the Justice Department to provide unredacted copies of documents to state officials for use in investigations and to victims personally, while allowing redactions only to protect the privacy of other victims. The legislation also mandates that courts expedite these cases, removes common legal excuses for hiding documents, and imposes criminal penalties on federal employees who obstruct compliance. Additionally, it grants Members of Congress the authority to request full access to records and to file lawsuits if the Attorney General fails to comply within a set timeframe.

Maddy summaryThe Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 requires nursing homes, long-term care hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and intermediate care facilities to allow two chosen family members or friends to visit residents during times when regular visitation is suspended. These essential caregivers must agree to follow the facility's existing safety and infection control rules, which are no more restrictive than those applied to staff. While facilities can limit access for the first seven days of a suspension or deny entry if a caregiver shows symptoms of a serious infectious disease, they cannot block visits for end-of-life care. Additionally, the bill mandates that complaints about denied access to essential caregivers be investigated and resolved within three days.

Maddy summaryHR 5880, the "Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act," requires manufacturers and distributors of pill-making machines (like tableting machines) and their critical parts (such as punches and dies) to affix permanent serial numbers to these items. It mandates that these businesses report transactions involving such machines to the Attorney General and maintain records of the serial numbers. The law prohibits tampering with or knowingly distributing machines with removed or altered serial numbers. This directly affects manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of these specific pill-production machines and parts, aiming to improve tracking of equipment used in illicit drug manufacturing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.