Rep. Jodey C. Arrington

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes federal funding for graduate medical education (GME) programs at children's hospitals through fiscal year 2028. It prohibits payments to any children's hospital that provided gender-affirming care to minors during the previous fiscal year (with a special rule for 2024 payments covering July-September 2023). The bill defines "gender-affirming care" as specific medical treatments like surgeries or puberty-blocking medications for gender transition, but excludes care for certain medical conditions or gender dysphoria treatment not classified as such. This directly affects hospitals receiving GME funding that serve minors, potentially impacting their federal support if they provided the specified care. The policy change modifies existing funding rules without altering broader healthcare access for minors.

Maddy summary# Summary of Proposed Higher Education Act Amendments This document outlines significant proposed amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965, primarily as part of the "College Cost Reduction Act." The key elements include: ## Accreditation Reform - Major overhaul of accreditation standards, requiring accrediting agencies to demonstrate independence from trade associations - New requirements for accrediting agencies to assess student achievement outcomes, including median value-added earnings relative to median total price charged - Introduction of an "Alternative Quality Assurance Experimental Site Initiative" to test non-accredited institutions - Protections for religious institutions, including a new process for appealing accreditation decisions related to religious mission - Removal of "litmus tests" that would require institutions to support specific political viewpoints ## Student Success Initiatives - Establishment of "Postsecondary Student Success Grants" to increase participation, retention, and completion rates for high-need students - Focus on evidence-based practices, with tiered requirements (tier 1, 2, and 3 reforms) - Mandatory inclusion of high-need student populations (low-income, first-generation, military-connected, etc.) - Requirements for institutions to report on completion rates, retention rates, and student demographics ## Regulatory Changes - Repeal of numerous existing regulations including: * Closed school discharges * Borrower defense to repayment * Pre-dispute arbitration * False certification requirements * Ability-to-benefit rules * Financial responsibility regulations - New restrictions on incentive compensation for recruiters - Changes to third-party servicer definitions and regulations ## Transfer and Credit Policies - New requirement that institutions cannot deny transfer credit based solely on the source of accreditation - Requirements for transparent transfer policies - Changes to reverse transfer policies ## Other Key Provisions - Modifications to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) - New definitions for "total price" and "value-added earnings" - Changes to the process for institutions to change accrediting agencies - New requirements for institutions to report on student outcomes The overall focus of these proposed amendments is to reduce regulatory burden on institutions, promote transparency, improve student outcomes (particularly for high-need students), modernize accreditation processes, and protect religious institutions' rights in accreditation decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would change how Social Security benefits are calculated for public servants who worked in jobs not covered by Social Security (such as many state and local government positions). It replaces the current Windfall Elimination Provision with a new formula that accounts for both covered and noncovered earnings when calculating benefits, rather than reducing benefits based on noncovered employment. The bill would provide additional monthly payments of $100 for some affected individuals and $50 for others, starting 270 days after enactment. It also requires Social Security account statements to show noncovered earnings and directs the Social Security Administration to study ways to improve information sharing with state pension systems about noncovered pensions. The changes would apply to benefits payable starting January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Department of the Interior and Agriculture to maintain a "no net gain" in federal land ownership within any state each fiscal year. Specifically, the agencies cannot acquire more land (or interests in land) than they dispose of in that state, with annual inventories and reports to Congress tracking land holdings by interest type (e.g., fee title, easements). If the federal government acquires more land than it disposes of in a state, the President must transfer sufficient federal land to that state within 24 months to balance the totals. The bill explicitly states that such land transfers do not trigger major federal environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Maddy summaryHR 9999, the "No Budget, No Recess Act," requires Congress to adopt a budget resolution by April 15 each year or face restrictions on congressional travel. It directly affects all Members of Congress (including delegates and commissioners) by prohibiting official travel during a defined period starting after April 15 if no budget resolution is adopted. The bill limits travel except for returning to Washington, D.C., travel within the National Capital Region, or responding to national security events. This policy change aims to incentivize timely budget passage by restricting non-essential travel for lawmakers if the budget process stalls.

Maddy summaryThe Water Delivery Transparency Act requires the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to seek input from Texas stakeholders - including agricultural producers, government entities, and irrigation districts - when drafting minutes about the 1944 Rio Grande water treaty. Key mechanisms include holding at least five public forums (three in the Rio Grande Valley), establishing an online submission portal, and publishing a detailed report within 180 days summarizing input and how it will shape the draft minutes. This process aims to increase transparency in decisions affecting shared water resources along the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill directly impacts Texas water users and local governments involved in Rio Grande water management.

Maddy summaryHR 9950, the "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act," authorizes three gold medals to be awarded to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team for their historic victory over the Soviet Union during the Winter Olympics. The medals, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be presented by Congress to honor the team's achievement, which revitalized American morale during the Cold War. One medal will be displayed at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, one at the USA Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minnesota, and one at the U.S. Olympic Museum in Colorado Springs. The bill also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs. This is a ceremonial honor, not a policy change, directly recognizing the team members and their legacy.

Maddy summaryHR 7032, the Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act, amends the 1974 Congressional Budget Act to give the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) clearer authority to quickly obtain data from executive branch agencies. The bill removes barriers to CBO requests by allowing data sharing "with or without written agreement," while requiring the CBO to maintain required confidentiality levels. It also prevents future laws from limiting this authority unless specifically referenced. The law directly affects the CBO and federal agencies that provide budget-related data, aiming to improve the CBO's ability to analyze government spending.

Maddy summaryThe Abundant American Resources Act of 2024 requires federal agencies to conduct studies on the economic value of minerals in specific public lands and waters. The Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management must each complete a study within three years to estimate the dollar value of minerals like oil, gas, and metals in designated onshore and offshore areas. These studies exclude National Parks and certain pre-2000 national monuments but include co-managed areas and lands withdrawn from mining or leasing. The bill does not authorize new resource extraction or change existing laws - it only mandates data collection for future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 9798) proposes a new short title for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. It would amend Public Law 117-169 to insert "This Act may be referred to as the Lied about Inflation and Energy Dependence Act of 2022 or the LIED Act of 2022" before Title I. The bill does not change the substance or provisions of the existing law. It is purely a procedural change to the law's official short title.