Rep. Eugene Simon Vindman

Maddy summaryThis bill allows physical therapists to use temporary replacement staff (locum tenens) under Medicare, similar to how physicians currently can. It directly affects physical therapists providing outpatient services and Medicare beneficiaries relying on those services. The key change modifies Medicare rules to apply the same provisions for physical therapy services as are already used for physician services. This means physical therapists can more easily fill temporary staffing gaps without disrupting patient care. The amendment applies to services provided after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryHR 1548, the "Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act," amends U.S. trade laws to strengthen enforcement of antidumping and countervailing duty regulations. The bill creates new rules for handling multiple investigations on the same merchandise (successive investigations), addresses market distortions in foreign countries that affect production costs, and improves mechanisms to prevent companies from circumventing existing duties. It also establishes procedures for investigating currency undervaluation as a form of subsidy and strengthens requirements for importers to certify compliance with trade laws. These changes primarily affect U.S. importers of foreign goods, foreign exporters, and the Department of Commerce, which administers these trade enforcement mechanisms.

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 summaryThe American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act amends the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act to increase funding for victims of terrorism. It directs the transfer of approximately $1.5 billion from the Binance Holdings Limited case, plus 50% of excess unobligated balances from Department of Justice and Treasury forfeiture funds, into the Victims Fund. The bill establishes deadlines for agencies to deposit funds (within 30 days of receipt or 15 days after enactment), requires annual reports on fund activity, and authorizes annual payments to eligible claimants starting in 2026. This legislation directly affects terrorism victims who receive compensation from the fund and federal agencies that handle forfeited assets from terrorism-related cases.

Maddy summaryHR 1506, the SWIM Act of 2025, creates a new tax deduction for basic water safety and swimming instruction. It allows taxpayers to deduct up to $500 annually (or $1,000 for joint returns or heads of household) for qualified water competency and safety lessons, including necessary equipment costing no more than $100 per item. The bill specifically defines eligible expenses as those for basic swimming instruction focused on safety - not competitive training - and requires lessons to meet this safety criterion. This change applies to tax years beginning after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 1466, the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of 2025, creates uniform federal liability protection for individuals and entities involved with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) used in cardiac emergencies. It directly affects businesses, public venues, and organizations that own, manage, or use AEDs - especially those operating across multiple states where inconsistent state laws previously discouraged AED deployment. The bill shields users, property owners/managers, and AED owners from civil lawsuits for harm caused during emergency AED use, unless the harm resulted from gross negligence or willful misconduct. This preempts conflicting state laws, removing legal barriers to wider AED placement without requiring any new AED installations.

More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act of 2025 or the MODERN WIC Act of 2025 This bill permanently allows individuals to remotely certify their eligibility for, and receive benefits through, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Specifically, the bill requires that a state agency allow an individual seeking a WIC certification, recertification, or a nutritional risk evaluation to do so by phone or through video teleconference, in addition to the in-person option. A state agency has 90 days to collect data for a nutritional risk evaluation for a remotely certified individual. Further, a state agency may consider an applicant who meets the income eligibility standards to be temporarily eligible on an interim basis to participate in the program and may certify the individual for immediate participation without waiting for a nutritional risk evaluation. The bill also allows states to provide benefits on WIC electronic benefit transfer cards through mail or remote issuance instead of requiring participants to pick up or reload benefits in person at a WIC office. Further, the Department of Agriculture must report to Congress about the use of remote technologies and other digital tools in the WIC program. Currently, individuals are generally required to be physically present to certify their WIC eligibility and receive benefits, with exceptions. The Food and Nutrition Service  has temporarily waived these requirements and allowed remote certification and benefits using authorities that were provided by laws that were enacted to address COVID-19.

Maddy summaryHR 1505, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, establishes federal standards for collective bargaining rights for public safety officers (including police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel) in states that do not meet minimum requirements. The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) will determine after 180 days whether a state law "substantially provides" key rights, such as forming unions, negotiating wages/hours, and using binding arbitration to resolve disputes. If a state fails this assessment, federal bargaining rules apply within two years, but existing state laws with stronger protections remain valid. The bill explicitly respects state laws that exceed its standards and exempts small jurisdictions (under 5,000 population or 25 full-time employees).

Maddy summaryHR 1477 creates a new Animal Cruelty Crimes Section within the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division to enforce federal animal cruelty laws. This unit will coordinate with agencies like the FBI, USDA, and U.S. Marshals to investigate and prosecute cases, addressing current gaps in enforcement. The bill requires the unit to submit annual reports to Congress detailing prosecutions, convictions, and investigations where charges weren't filed. It does not change existing animal cruelty laws but establishes a dedicated federal unit to improve enforcement of current statutes.