Rep. Tim Walberg

Maddy summaryHR 5967, the Unemployment Integrity Act of 2023, requires unemployment claimants to participate in job-seeking activities to maintain benefits. Specifically, it mandates that claimants respond to work-related requests, attend reemployment interviews, and comply with reasonable requests like drug testing or skills assessments. The bill also requires states to conduct a study on increasing random audits of unemployment claims and mandates that states adopt these new requirements to receive federal funds for extended unemployment benefits. These changes apply to weeks beginning one year after the bill's enactment, with adjustments for states holding biennial legislative sessions. The law directly affects individuals claiming unemployment benefits by linking eligibility to active job-seeking participation.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a presumption that minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) containing cobalt and lithium, mined with child or forced labor, cannot be imported into the United States. It requires the U.S. government to develop an enforcement strategy to identify and block such imports, including monitoring supply chains and working with international partners. The bill mandates diplomatic efforts to address child and forced labor in the DRC's mining sector and establishes sanctions against foreign entities that facilitate or engage in such labor practices. The focus is on minerals critical for electric vehicles and electronics, which are heavily sourced from the DRC and processed in China, with specific attention to Chinese mining companies like China Molybdenum that dominate the DRC's cobalt sector.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Medicare from paying for certain custom-fitted or custom-fabricated orthotic and prosthetic devices delivered via "drop shipment" (direct shipping without in-person training from a qualified provider). It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries who need these devices, ensuring they receive necessary in-person fitting and training. The bill also expands which healthcare professionals (including physical therapists, occupational therapists, orthotists, and prosthetists) can prescribe these devices and updates definitions to clarify terms like "orthoses" and "prostheses." Final regulations implementing these changes must be issued within one year of the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act (HR 3882) updates U.S. trade law to better address international trade practices that disadvantage American businesses. It establishes special rules for handling multiple investigations of the same merchandise (called "successive investigations"), requiring the Commerce Department to consider previous injury determinations when making new findings. The bill also creates mechanisms to address market distortions from foreign government subsidies, including currency undervaluation, and strengthens procedures to prevent duty evasion through certification requirements for importers. These changes primarily affect foreign exporters of goods subject to U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, as well as U.S. importers of those goods.

Maddy summaryHR 2813, the Self-Insurance Protection Act, clarifies that stop-loss insurance purchased by employers with self-funded health plans is not considered "health insurance coverage" under federal law. This affects employers who self-fund employee health benefits, as it ensures stop-loss policies - which protect employers from unexpected high medical claims - remain exempt from state insurance regulations meant for traditional health insurance. The bill amends ERISA, the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to explicitly exclude stop-loss coverage from definitions of health insurance, preventing states from restricting its availability. This change aims to maintain employer access to stop-loss insurance as a financial risk management tool for self-funded health plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require Medicare to cover FDA-approved blood tests that screen for multiple cancers simultaneously (like breast, lung, or colorectal cancer) for beneficiaries. It directly affects Medicare recipients aged 65+ who could access these new screenings once per year, without prior authorization. The key provision adds "multi-cancer early detection screening tests" to Medicare's covered services under Part B, defining them as blood tests analyzing cell-free DNA, while maintaining existing coverage for standard screenings like mammograms. The bill does not change current coverage for individual cancer screenings but ensures Medicare keeps pace with new medical technology.

Maddy summaryHR 1795, the Homecare for Seniors Act, allows seniors to use funds from their Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to cover qualified home care services. It amends tax law to define "qualified home care" as contracts providing three or more specific personal assistance services (like help with eating, bathing, toileting, or medication) from a licensed provider. The bill directly affects seniors with HSAs who need in-home care, expanding their tax-free distribution options beyond traditional medical care. It also requires the federal government to run a public awareness campaign about these new eligible home care expenses. The changes apply to expenses paid after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThe HELLPP Act (HR 1634) amends Medicaid to recognize doctors of podiatric medicine (podiatrists) as physicians, enabling them to be reimbursed for services under Medicaid starting January 1, 2024. It also clarifies Medicare’s documentation requirements for therapeutic shoes for people with diabetes, mandating specific written certifications from a managing physician and a podiatrist to confirm medical necessity. These changes directly affect patients with foot conditions, especially those with diabetes, by improving access to podiatrist-provided care and coverage for therapeutic shoes. The bill includes a separate provision strengthening Medicaid program integrity through continuous levies on provider payments, but this does not alter patient coverage. All key provisions take effect on January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHR 1610 would modernize Medicare coverage for chiropractic care by removing the current restriction that limited beneficiaries to one chiropractic service per visit. It expands coverage to include all services provided by licensed chiropractors within their state-authorized scope, aligning Medicare with VA, military, and private insurance practices. The bill requires chiropractors to complete a Secretary-approved educational webinar to cover non-spinal services, while still allowing payment for spinal manipulation treatments without this requirement. This directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking chiropractic care and chiropractors seeking Medicare reimbursement for their services.

Maddy summaryHR 1377, the Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2023, directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce to enhance U.S. participation in global wireless standards bodies (like 3GPP and IEEE) for 5G and future networks. It requires equitably encouraging U.S. companies and stakeholders - excluding those deemed "not trusted" due to national security risks - to participate in these bodies. The bill mandates a 60-day briefing to Congress on implementation strategy and defines key terms, including "not trusted" (based on existing security determinations). This act focuses on facilitating U.S. industry involvement in setting wireless standards, directly affecting companies seeking to contribute to global 5G/6G network specifications.