Rep. Pablo José Hernández

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 summaryThe Territory Health Revitalization Act (HR 5409) amends the Social Security Act to increase health funding for U.S. territories. It requires 5% of certain federal funds to be reserved for territories (like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands) instead of just the 50 states and D.C., and guarantees at least two grants to territory-based organizations each year. The bill removes a barrier that previously excluded the Northern Mariana Islands from eligibility. These changes take effect on October 1, 2025, directly affecting health programs in U.S. territories.

Maddy summaryThe FAMILY Act would establish a national paid family and medical leave insurance program that provides wage replacement benefits for workers needing time off for caregiving or medical reasons. It defines "qualified caregiving" to include caring for a family member with a serious health condition, personal medical needs, or recovery from violence (including domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking). Benefits would be calculated based on earnings, with a minimum monthly benefit of $580 and maximum of $4,000, administered by a new Office of Paid Family and Medical Leave within the Social Security Administration. Eligible individuals would need to have worked for at least 8 quarters in the previous year and file an application with required documentation, while existing state paid leave programs would continue to operate alongside this federal program.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program to assign traveling physicians to provide healthcare services to veterans residing in U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assign physicians for up to one year at VA facilities in these territories, requiring coordination with local medical providers to ensure quality care. Physicians assigned under this program would receive a relocation or retention bonus similar to existing federal employee incentives. The bill directly affects veterans in U.S. territories and VA healthcare operations there.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic resolution recognizes the victims, survivors, and thousands of Americans impacted by the September 11, 2001 attacks. It honors public servants who maintain national security and urges the government to uphold the Department of Homeland Security's mission. The resolution does not create new laws or change funding; it is a commemorative statement emphasizing the importance of counterterrorism efforts and honoring lessons from 9/11.

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 5085 exempts federal agencies from conducting environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for infill housing projects that meet specific criteria. These projects must be located on previously developed urban sites (under 20 acres, with 75% urban adjacency), pass required environmental assessments, and avoid high-risk wildfire/flood zones per FEMA data. The bill also shortens FEMA’s natural hazard risk assessment update cycle from every 5 to every 3 years. This directly affects federal agencies approving housing developments and developers seeking streamlined project approvals.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a barrier preventing most low-income students from accessing SNAP benefits. It amends the Food and Nutrition Act to explicitly allow students enrolled at least half-time in recognized higher education programs to qualify for SNAP, reversing a prior exclusion. The key change eliminates the previous requirement that students meet specific exceptions (now deleted) and adds a new eligibility category under Section 3(m)(5). This directly affects low-income undergraduate and graduate students at colleges and training programs who were previously ineligible. The changes take effect January 2, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill would create a single online hub for small businesses to find all necessary federal, state, and local permits and licenses. The Small Business Administration’s Director must establish and maintain this website within one year of enactment. The site will organize requirements by business location and type, simplifying how small business owners navigate complex regulatory systems. This directly affects small businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions, replacing scattered information with a centralized resource.

Maddy summaryHR 4814, the Supplemental Security Income Equality Act, extends federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to residents of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. It directly affects low-income seniors, disabled individuals, and children in these territories who currently cannot access SSI due to territorial status. Key provisions include removing exclusions from the definition of "state" in the Social Security Act, eliminating payment limits for territories, treating U.S. nationals equally with citizens for eligibility, and including territories in geographic definitions for SSI. The bill also grants the Social Security Commissioner authority to waive requirements to adapt the program to each territory's needs. This would create a concrete policy change, allowing these territories to participate in the federal SSI program.