Rep. Young Kim

Maddy summaryThe STRATA Act of 2026 establishes a new program within the Department of State to foster international partnerships focused on advancing critical minerals technologies, aiming to strengthen U.S. supply chains and national security. This initiative allows the Secretary of State to form alliances with allied and partner nations, universities, and private companies while explicitly prohibiting collaborations with designated countries of concern such as China and Russia. Key provisions include the creation of International Centers of Excellence for research and training, the development of a digital platform to connect stakeholders with funding opportunities, and the establishment of clear guidelines for intellectual property and data security within these partnerships. The program authorizes the use of specific funding sources to support joint projects in extraction, recycling, and manufacturing, with a requirement that all activities conclude within ten years of the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Main Street Capital Access Act reduces regulatory burdens for smaller banks, particularly those with less than $10 billion in assets. Key provisions include a 3-year phase-in period for new banks to meet capital requirements, lower leverage ratio requirements for rural banks (7.5% for the first 2 years), and a 30-day review process for business plan deviations. The bill also establishes an Office of Independent Examination Review, sets specific timelines for examinations (270 days) and reports (90 days), and creates a "least cost exception" for bank resolutions to prevent excessive concentration of the banking system. These changes aim to promote new bank formation, improve regulatory efficiency, and support community banking while maintaining financial stability.

Maddy summaryThe Geo POWER Act creates a new milestone-based financing program to support geothermal energy projects in areas with limited or no existing geothermal power generation, including regions near Indian lands. This program awards funding based on the achievement of specific technical and financial milestones rather than upfront capital, aiming to reduce risks for future projects. The initiative prioritizes projects that generate public data to characterize new geothermal resources and require a minimum electricity generation capacity of 30 megawatts. The Department of Energy must award financing to at least three different proposals across three different states, ensuring geographic diversity in project selection.

Maddy summaryThe Whale CHARTS Act of 2026 establishes a program to protect migratory whales and other large cetaceans through improved mapping, monitoring, and mitigation measures. It requires the creation of detailed, high-resolution maps of whale habitats, including calving grounds and migration routes, which will be integrated into vessel navigation systems to prevent collisions. The bill authorizes $8 million annually through 2030 for mapping, surveys, and a $10 million grant program to fund new detection technologies that reduce harmful interactions between whales and ocean users. It also mandates regular reporting to Congress on the program's effectiveness and progress in filling knowledge gaps about whale habitats.

Maddy summaryHR 2821, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, requires the FDA to update regulatory language within one year of enactment. It directs the agency to replace all references to "animal tests" with "nonclinical tests" in 22 specific sections of the Code of Federal Regulations related to drug development and approval processes. The bill also adds a definition for "nonclinical test" into relevant FDA regulations to align with prior legislative changes. This update applies directly to pharmaceutical manufacturers and FDA reviewers who follow these regulatory guidelines during drug development. The changes aim to modernize terminology without altering current testing requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 2004, titled "Tyler’s Law," requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study how often hospital emergency departments test for fentanyl during overdose cases (beyond standard drug tests), including associated costs, patient benefits/risks, and impacts on privacy and patient-physician relationships. The study must be completed within one year of the bill's enactment. Based on the study results, the Secretary must issue guidance within six months on whether emergency departments should routinely test for fentanyl, how to inform clinicians about test contents, and how such testing may affect future overdose risks and health outcomes. This bill directly affects hospital emergency departments and patients experiencing overdoses by shaping future testing protocols.

Maddy summaryHR 1266, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, adds xylazine - a veterinary sedative increasingly found in illicit drug mixtures - to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, regulating its use and trafficking. It directly affects veterinarians, animal owners, and manufacturers by allowing xylazine to be legally dispensed for animal use under specific veterinary prescriptions, while prohibiting non-veterinary human use. The bill includes transition periods (60 days for practitioners, 1 year for labeling) to ease compliance for manufacturers and practitioners, and requires the DEA and FDA to expedite necessary applications. It also mandates two congressional reports on xylazine's illicit use and trafficking patterns, and directs the Sentencing Commission to review penalties for offenses involving xylazine.

Maddy summaryThe FORMULA Act of 2026 requires the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to set strict limits on contaminants in infant formula, including heavy metals, microplastics, and synthetic pesticides. Manufacturers must test their products to meet these new standards and keep records of their testing for at least two years after the formula's shelf life expires. The law also mandates that the FDA report annually to Congress on any violations and the progress made in reducing contaminant levels in the domestic supply chain. These regulations will take effect 180 days after the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryHR 4288 would rename the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in San Jose, California, as the "Corporal Patrick D. Tillman VA Clinic." The bill directly affects this specific VA facility, updating all official references to it. The key provision requires the clinic to be designated by this new name in all federal records, documents, and maps following the bill's enactment. This is a procedural naming bill honoring Corporal Tillman, a former NFL player and Army Ranger killed in action in Afghanistan in 2004.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Medicare Premiums Reduction Act of 2026, aims to lower the income thresholds used to calculate extra monthly premiums for Medicare Part B. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries whose income exceeds specific limits, currently set at $85,000 for individuals and $170,000 for couples, by raising these limits to $171,000 and $205,000 respectively for the years 2027 and beyond. The legislation also adjusts the percentage of income used to determine these premiums, introducing new higher rates for those with modified adjusted gross income exceeding $205,000. By modifying the Social Security Act, the bill ensures that fewer high-income earners will be subject to the additional Part B surcharge starting in 2027.