Rep. Jerry L. Carl

Maddy summaryThe America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act creates new funding mechanisms to support wildlife habitat conservation across the United States. It establishes a $300 million annual subaccount for states, territories, and the District of Columbia to restore habitat for species listed as threatened or endangered under federal or state law, and to prevent species from needing such listings, with at least 15% of funds dedicated to endangered species recovery. The bill also creates a $20 million annual account specifically for tribal wildlife conservation programs. Funds must be used for habitat restoration, species conservation, invasive species management, and must be tracked through annual reporting requirements to demonstrate effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThe FOCA Act of 2023 requires federal agencies to stop mandating or banning contractor agreements with labor organizations (like union contracts) in construction project bids and contracts. It directly affects federal contractors, subcontractors, and agencies managing construction projects funded by the government. The bill prohibits favoring or penalizing contractors based on their labor affiliation status, aiming to promote fair competition and reduce costs. It also mandates updates to federal contracting rules within 60 days of enactment to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Medicare payment rules to provide additional funding to hospitals in low-wage areas. It directly affects hospitals with Medicare payment rates based on local wages that fall below the 25th percentile nationally. The key provision increases these hospitals' Medicare payment rates by half the difference between their current rate and the 25th percentile rate, applied in a budget-neutral way. This adjustment applies to patient discharges on or after October 1, 2019, and aims to support financially struggling hospitals in low-wage regions.

Maddy summaryThe Pharmacists Fight Back Act (HR 9096) sets new rules for Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) working with federal health care programs like Medicare Part D and Medicaid. It requires PBMs to reimburse in-network pharmacies at a rate covering the drug's actual cost plus a small fee (capped at $25), and to reduce patient cost-sharing by at least 80% of rebates received from drug manufacturers. The bill bans PBMs from steering patients to specific pharmacies, charging patients more than pharmacies are paid, or using rebates to lower pharmacy payments after claims are processed. It also mandates public reporting of drug pricing data to improve transparency, ensuring patients and pharmacies receive fairer treatment under federal health programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic prior authorization systems by 2027 and publish detailed data on their approval and denial rates for medical services by 2026. It directly affects Medicare Advantage plans (private insurers offering Medicare coverage) and their enrollees (seniors 65+), mandating transparency about prior authorization decisions, processing times, and appeal outcomes. Key provisions include requiring plans to report annual statistics on request approvals/denials, average processing times, and use of technology, with this data published publicly by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The bill also sets timelines for plan responses to prior authorization requests and mandates reports to Congress on implementation and impacts.

Maddy summaryHR 8411, the Defending American Property Abroad Act, blocks U.S. government funding for activities involving foreign ports or terminals where a U.S. entity owns the land needed for access, and a foreign government has taken actions like nationalizing that land or nullifying a related contract. It requires the Homeland Security Secretary to designate such "prohibited property" within 60 days, then prohibits funding for vessels using these locations to import goods, dock, or receive maintenance. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress tracking designated properties, affected vessels, and the foreign actions triggering designations, along with assessments of economic and national security impacts. This directly affects U.S. businesses with foreign port access and U.S. agencies managing maritime activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require the U.S. to reimpose tariffs on steel imports from Mexico that were in effect before May 2019. The tariffs must remain in place for at least one year, and the U.S. Trade Representative and Commerce Secretary must certify that Mexico has fixed its trade practices before lifting them. The President may also add import limits to return steel imports from Mexico to pre-2019 trade levels. The bill directly affects Mexican steel exporters and aims to address claims that Mexico violated a 2019 trade agreement.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the proposed "Safe and Appropriate Foster Care Placement Requirements for Titles IV-E and IV-B" rule (published September 28, 2023). It directly affects federal foster care programs by blocking a specific rule that would have required states to consider religious beliefs when placing children in foster care. The key mechanism is a clear statutory ban on the rule's implementation, preventing it from taking effect. The bill does not create new requirements but stops the enforcement of this particular federal regulation.

Maddy summaryThe DRA of 2023 adjusts Medicare payment rates for specific durable medical equipment (DME) items that were part of the 2021 competitive bidding program but for which no supplier contracts were finalized. It directly affects DME suppliers and Medicare beneficiaries by establishing a new 2024 payment formula: 90% of the adjusted payment amount plus 10% of the unadjusted fee schedule for eligible items. The bill also extends a temporary transition rule for non-rural areas through December 31, 2024, while delaying a regulatory change until 2025. These provisions aim to stabilize payments for DME items that did not transition to standard pricing under prior rules.

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.