Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon

Washington, D.C. Admission Act This bill provides for the establishment of the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, and its admission into the United States. The state is composed of most of the territory of the District of Columbia (DC), excluding a specified area that encompasses the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court building, federal monuments, and federal office buildings adjacent to the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol. The excluded territory shall be known as the Capital and serve as the seat of the government of the United States, as provided for in Article I of the Constitution. The state may not impose taxes on federal property except as Congress permits. The bill provides for the DC Mayor to issue a proclamation for the first elections to Congress of two Senators and one Representative of the state. The bill eliminates the office of Delegate to the House of Representatives. The bill applies current DC laws to the state. DC judicial proceedings and contractual obligations shall continue under the state’s authority. The bill also provides for specified federal obligations to transfer to the state upon its certification that it has funds and laws in place to assume the obligations. These include maintaining a retirement fund for judges and operating public defender services.  The bill establishes a commission that is generally comprised of members who are appointed by DC and federal government officials to advise on an orderly transition to statehood.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 4955) names a Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, as the "Henry Parham VA Clinic." It directly affects the Monroeville VA clinic by changing its official name to honor Henry Parham, an African-American soldier who served in the segregated 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion during the D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944. The bill makes no policy changes or funding adjustments - it only updates the clinic’s official designation and all references to it in government records to reflect this new name. The renaming commemorates Parham as the last surviving African-American combat veteran of the D-Day landings, who later volunteered at VA facilities in Pittsburgh.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 4-year transitional coverage period for Medicare to automatically cover "breakthrough medical devices" - new FDA-prioritized devices approved after March 2021 - as "reasonable and necessary" for treatment. During this period, these devices qualify for additional payments under Medicare's hospital and outpatient payment systems without requiring separate approval. After the 4-year period, Medicare must develop regular coverage based on additional data, with automatic coverage for all approved uses if no action is taken within two years. The bill requires Medicare to assign unique codes for these devices within three months of FDA approval and to update payment systems regularly. It also includes special provisions for "specified breakthrough devices" that lack existing Medicare benefit categories, requiring reports on their impact and cost to Congress.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 1097 (Everett Alvarez, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023), authorizes the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Everett Alvarez, Jr., in recognition of his service as a U.S. Navy pilot and Vietnam War prisoner of war. It directly honors Alvarez, who was the first U.S. pilot shot down in the Vietnam War, spent over 8.5 years in captivity, and later served in the Peace Corps and Veterans Administration. The bill’s key mechanism is directing the U.S. Mint to strike a gold medal bearing his name and image, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. It does not create new policies or affect any group beyond the honoree.

Maddy summaryHR 10540, the Health and Location Data Protection Act of 2024, prohibits data brokers from selling, sharing, or transferring individuals' location data or health data without explicit consent. It directly affects companies that collect and sell personal data (data brokers), banning the commercial use of sensitive health information (like medical treatments or conditions) and location tracking data. Key exceptions include HIPAA-compliant health data sharing, newsworthy publications, and disclosures with valid user authorization. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce the law, with violations subject to civil penalties up to 15% of a company’s annual revenue.

Maddy summaryThe True Justice Act of 2024 creates a federal grant program to fund public defender services for individuals arrested for criminal offenses, including their first court appearance. It provides grants to states, local governments, and public defender offices to cover legal representation costs and training for attorneys on best practices. The bill authorizes $50 million annually (2025-2029) for these grants, with funding amounts based on the size of the justice system and technology/training needs. This directly affects public defenders and the individuals they represent in post-arrest criminal cases across participating jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThe PAID Act prohibits former federal officials from making substantial investments or taking managerial roles in businesses if they know a foreign government or political party has a significant investment in that business. This restriction applies for four years after any communication with the foreign entity and covers investments exceeding $25,000 or 1% of the business's value. Exceptions allow investments held through employer retirement plans or trusts, and officials must divest or leave such roles within 120 days if they discover the foreign connection. The law targets potential conflicts of interest by limiting financial ties between former government officials and foreign-influenced businesses.

Maddy summaryHRES 1618 is a non-binding resolution designating November 20-December 20, 2024, as "National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month." It expresses support for raising awareness about survivors of homicide victims and encourages communities to provide them with support services and resources. The resolution calls for promoting survivor-centered initiatives, addressing trauma through behavioral health services, and fostering community engagement to honor victims and support families affected by homicide.

Maddy summaryHR 9774, the Health Care Affordability Act of 2024, would expand premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act for households earning between 150% and 400% of the federal poverty level. It modifies the sliding scale calculation to reduce the percentage of monthly insurance premiums these households must pay, with the lowest out-of-pocket costs for those near 400% of poverty. This directly affects individuals and families purchasing health insurance through marketplace plans who qualify for these tax credits. The changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Social Security Act to include peer-to-peer mentoring services in key child welfare programs. It requires family preservation, support, reunification, and adoption services to incorporate mentoring by individuals with direct lived experience as caregivers, foster parents, or birth parents who navigated similar family crises. The policy change allows states to use existing federal funds for these peer mentoring services, which directly support caregivers at risk, foster parents, and birth parents working toward family reunification. The amendments apply to programs under Title IV of the Social Security Act, effective for fiscal years after enactment.