Rep. Susie Lee

Maddy summaryThe VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to schedule appointments for enrolled veterans during the same phone call when they request care. This applies to veterans enrolled in the VA healthcare system who contact the VA by phone to request appointments. The law mandates that the VA must complete the scheduling during the call - without delay or future scheduling - regardless of the appointment date. The requirement takes effect 120 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends tax law to allow charitable organizations to fund collegiate housing projects without losing their tax-exempt status. Specifically, it permits 501(c)(3) charities to make grants for building, improving, or maintaining housing properties where full-time students live, as long as the housing is connected to a college or university. Grants cannot fund fitness facilities, and the bill clarifies that housing must primarily serve students (not incidental social activities). It directly affects charitable organizations and universities seeking tax-qualified funding for student housing infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThe Veterans Equal Access Act (HR 2431) allows Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care providers to give recommendations and opinions to veterans about participating in state-legal marijuana programs. It directly affects veterans living in states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, or federally recognized tribes where marijuana is permitted under state law. The bill requires the VA Secretary to authorize VA physicians and staff to provide these recommendations, complete related forms, and override any conflicting federal restrictions that previously prohibited such advice. This change enables veterans to receive guidance from VA providers regarding state marijuana programs without fear of VA disciplinary action.

Maddy summaryThe Panama Canal Zone Veterans Act of 2023 creates a presumption that veterans who served in the Panama Canal Zone between 1958 and 1999 (or until the last military member left) and developed specific illnesses are automatically eligible for VA benefits without needing to prove a direct link between their service and the condition. It lists 16 illnesses, including prostate cancer, lung cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and several other cancers, as qualifying for this presumption due to presumed exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange during service. The VA will use regulations based on medical evidence to determine which illnesses qualify under this provision. This change directly affects veterans who served in the Panama Canal Zone during the covered period and later developed one of the listed conditions.

Maddy summaryHR 2602, the Small Business Child Care Investment Act, reclassifies eligible nonprofit child care centers as "small business concerns" under federal loan programs. This allows organizations meeting specific criteria - like state licensing, 501(c)(3) tax status, and non-discrimination policies - to access SBA Section 7(a) loans and Title V financing. The bill requires loan guarantees for amounts over $500,000 but eliminates denial of loans solely due to religious activity (per First Amendment protections). It mandates annual SBA reports tracking loan numbers and amounts provided to these child care providers. The law directly affects nonprofit child care centers serving children from birth to school age.

Maddy summaryHR 2416 reauthorizes a federal grant program under the Public Health Service Act that supports partnerships between military and civilian medical providers to improve trauma care readiness. It extends the program's funding period from fiscal years 2019-2023 to 2024-2028. This change ensures continued financial support for existing trauma readiness initiatives at military treatment facilities and civilian hospitals. The bill directly affects military medical programs and participating civilian healthcare systems that receive these grants. It does not create new requirements but maintains current grant operations through 2028.

Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2023 This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for qualifying hospitals, including hospitals in rural areas and health professional shortage areas. Current law provides for an increase of up to 200 positions per fiscal year beginning in FY2023, with a total increase of 1,000 positions; each hospital may receive up to 25 additional positions. Current law also provides for an additional increase of up to 200 positions for FY2026, with at least 100 of these positions for psychiatry or related specialties; each hospital may receive up to 10 additional positions. The bill provides for an additional increase of 2,000 positions per fiscal year from FY2025-FY2031; during this period, each hospital may receive up to 75 additional positions in total under the bill and current law. Additionally, one-third of the positions that are made available under the bill must be allocated to hospitals that are already operating above applicable resident limits. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on strategies to increase the diversity of the health professional workforce, including with respect to representation from rural, low-income, and minority communities.

Maddy summaryThe Women's Health Protection Act of 2023 would protect access to abortion services by prohibiting states from imposing restrictions that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures. The bill would ensure people can obtain abortion services before fetal viability without unnecessary limitations like mandatory waiting periods or biased counseling, and after viability when necessary to protect the patient's life or health. It would preempt state laws that conflict with these protections and allow for civil enforcement actions to challenge restrictive state laws. This bill directly affects people seeking abortion services (including transgender and nonbinary individuals who can become pregnant), health care providers, and states that have implemented abortion restrictions.

Maddy summaryHR 2539 permanently extends the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program, which incentivizes private investment in low-income communities. The bill directly affects community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and investors who fund projects in designated low-income areas by ensuring the credit remains available beyond 2025. Key provisions include automatically adjusting the credit amount annually for inflation starting in 2024 and clarifying that the credit can be used to offset alternative minimum tax liability. This maintains the program’s effectiveness in channeling capital to underserved neighborhoods without changing eligibility or funding levels.

Maddy summaryHR 2482 requires the Secretary of Defense to study how accessible mental health care is for active-duty military members, specifically examining provider availability on bases, inpatient services, and potential improvements. This study directly affects active-duty service members by assessing their current access to mental health support. The bill mandates a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment, detailing the findings and recommendations. It does not change existing policy but gathers data to inform future decisions.