Rep. Burgess Owens

Maddy summaryHR 1614 would amend Section 1834(m)(4)(E) of the Social Security Act to expand which healthcare providers can offer telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries. The bill directly affects Medicare patients and current healthcare providers (like nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical psychologists) who are currently excluded from providing telehealth under Medicare. The key change is modifying the legal language to explicitly include these additional providers in the list of eligible telehealth furnishers. This policy change would allow more Medicare beneficiaries to access telehealth services from a broader range of qualified healthcare professionals.

Maddy summaryHR 1633, the Workforce Reentry Act, creates federal grants to help formerly incarcerated individuals (ex-offenders) find and maintain jobs after release. It provides two funding mechanisms: pay-for-performance contracts (using at least 30% of funds) where grantees earn payments based on meeting specific job placement and earnings targets, and competitive grants for skills training, job placement, and mentoring services. Grantees must coordinate with existing workforce systems, use evidence-based programs, and cannot directly fund housing or treatment (only coordinate with other providers). The bill requires annual reporting on participant outcomes like program completion and employment rates, plus a 5-year independent evaluation to assess recidivism reduction and job success.

Maddy summaryThe PAR Act removes restrictions that previously prevented private golf courses and country clubs from using certain tax-advantaged funds for recreational purposes. It amends a specific tax code section by deleting the phrases "private or commercial golf course, country club" wherever they appear. This change directly allows those facilities to access funds they were previously barred from using under existing tax rules. The law applies to new tax obligations after enactment, with limited transitional rules for existing programs.

Maddy summaryThe Access Technology Affordability Act of 2025 creates a new tax credit for individuals who purchase technology designed to assist blind people, such as screen readers or braille displays. This credit covers up to $2,000 in expenses per three-year period for qualified access technology used by the taxpayer, their spouse, or a blind dependent. The credit adjusts for inflation after 2026 but does not apply to costs already covered by other tax benefits. The credit expires after 2030, with adjustments for cost-of-living changes starting in 2027.

Dentist and Optometric Care Access Act of 2025 or the DOC Access Act of 20 25 This bill prohibits private health insurance plans from setting rates for items and services, except for dental cleanings, provided by a doctor of optometry, of dental surgery, or of dental medicine (or an employer of such a doctor) for which the plan does not pay a substantial amount. Additionally, an agreement between a plan and such a doctor for limited scope dental or vision benefits may last longer than two years only with the prior acceptance of the doctor for each term extension. Plans also may not restrict such a doctor's choice of laboratories or suppliers. Such doctors may elect to waive the application of the payment amount and choice of laboratories provisions of this bill. The bill does not supersede state laws regarding health insurers and dental or vision benefit plans.

Maddy summaryHR 1502 authorizes the creation of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the volunteers and communities (primarily from Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas) who supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the medal, which will be presented to the individuals who contributed to the canteen’s operations and then permanently displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, Nebraska. It also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint. This is a commemorative measure recognizing historical service, not a policy change affecting current laws or programs.

Maddy summaryThe DEFUND Act of 2025 would terminate U.S. membership in the United Nations and all its affiliated bodies, including the World Health Organization, by repealing the legal foundations for U.S. participation. It requires the closure of the U.S. Mission to the UN, withdrawal from UN headquarters agreements, and the cessation of all U.S. financial contributions to the UN (except for termination costs). The bill also mandates that UN entities vacate U.S. government properties, revokes diplomatic immunity for UN officials in the U.S., and prohibits U.S. involvement in UN peacekeeping operations. Future U.S. re-entry into the UN would require Senate approval and a reservation allowing for immediate withdrawal.

Maddy summaryHJRES 36 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a specific Forest Service rule. It seeks to block the rule titled "Law Enforcement; Criminal Prohibitions" (published in the Federal Register on November 25, 2024), which would have governed how the Forest Service enforces criminal prohibitions on federal lands. If passed, the resolution would stop this rule from taking effect, directly affecting the Forest Service's law enforcement procedures under the Department of Agriculture.

Maddy summaryThe Downwinders Parity Act of 2025 amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to expand eligibility for compensation to people exposed to nuclear fallout from U.S. testing. It removes specific geographic restrictions (like townships 13-16 at ranges 63-71) and instead includes "all acreage in any county" where part is affected, making more downwinders eligible for benefits. The bill also extends the RECA trust fund deadline from 2024 to December 31, 2030, ensuring continued funding. This directly affects individuals and families living near nuclear test sites who were previously excluded due to narrow geographic criteria.

This concurrent resolution declares that Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over the air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings.