Rep. Paul A. Gosar

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts health savings accounts (HSAs), Archer MSAs, health flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, and retiree health accounts from covering most abortion expenses. It prohibits these accounts from reimbursing costs for abortions unless the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest, or the woman faces a life-endangering physical condition (as certified by a physician). The policy change directly affects individuals using these specific health accounts who seek abortion coverage, excluding all other abortion-related expenses from tax-advantaged reimbursement. The exceptions are narrowly defined to cover only cases involving rape/incest or severe health risks to the woman.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a requirement for ambulatory surgical centers participating in Medicare to report the COVID-19 vaccination status of their healthcare workers. Specifically, it directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise Medicare regulations (42 CFR §§ 416.300-416.330) within 45 days of enactment to eliminate this reporting mandate. The change directly affects ambulatory surgical centers that receive Medicare funding, removing a specific administrative burden related to employee vaccination data. The bill focuses solely on modifying existing reporting rules, with no new funding or program requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 6177 prohibits federal funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for researchers involved in studies or experiments involving minors that: (1) affirm a minor's gender identity differing from their sex assigned at birth, (2) provide medical/surgical services to help minors disassociate from their biological sex, or (3) use social interventions for the same purpose. The bill directly affects researchers seeking HHS grants for such studies, requiring them to certify they have never led such projects. It defines "sex" biologically at birth (based on reproductive biology and genetics) and "minor" as anyone under 18. The law bans funding for any federally-supported research meeting these criteria, regardless of the study's focus.

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 Maximum Pressure Act (HR 6114) is a legislative proposal that would maintain and expand U.S. sanctions against Iran. The bill would codify existing sanctions, require Iran to meet 12 specific conditions before sanctions could be lifted (including ending support for terrorism, releasing hostages, and ending nuclear enrichment), and expand sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and missile programs. It also establishes new reporting requirements for the U.S. government to monitor Iran's activities and the impact of sanctions. The legislation would require congressional review before any sanctions could be lifted or modified, preventing the executive branch from unilaterally easing restrictions.

Maddy summaryHR 5713, the Homeland Security Fentanyl Enforcement Act, authorizes Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents and designated state/local officers to enforce drug laws related to fentanyl trafficking under the Controlled Substances Act for five years. It requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review and report on coordination between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and HSI in drug investigations within 18 months, including whether investigations followed established coordination policies. The bill mandates the Homeland Security Secretary and Attorney General to address any coordination failures found in the GAO report, prioritizing existing interagency task forces. This bill focuses on improving interagency coordination to combat fentanyl smuggling by transnational criminal organizations, without altering DEA's core authorities or creating new drug penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility to cover more health plans and health care sharing ministries, allowing individuals with these plans to contribute to HSAs. It significantly increases annual HSA contribution limits to $10,800 for individuals and $29,500 for families (up from $3,850/$7,750), effective 2024. The bill also permits HSA funds to pay for periodic provider fees and health care sharing ministry costs (including administrative fees), and reduces penalties for non-qualified distributions to 10%. These changes directly affect HSA account holders who use non-traditional health coverage or share medical expenses through ministries.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid/CHIP programs to deny health insurance subsidies, coverage, and related benefits to individuals with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. Specifically, it excludes people lawfully present only due to the 2012 DHS memo granting deferred action from eligibility for ACA subsidies, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The bill requires states to remove DACA recipients from enrollment in health plans and rescind any existing waivers that allowed such coverage. It directly affects approximately 800,000 DACA recipients who currently qualify for ACA subsidies and Medicaid/CHIP under existing rules.

Maddy summaryHR 3611, the Kazakhstan Permanent Normal Trade Relations Act of 2023, makes Kazakhstan's existing "normal trade relations" (NTR) status permanent by removing the need for annual U.S. presidential reviews under the Trade Act of 1974. This bill directly affects U.S. trade policy with Kazakhstan, ending the requirement for the President to annually determine whether Kazakhstan meets emigration freedom standards (which it has satisfied since 1997). The key provision allows the President to formally extend permanent NTR treatment to Kazakhstan's products, eliminating the current annual review process. Once enacted, Kazakhstan would automatically receive the same most-favored-nation tariff rates as other NTR countries, streamlining trade without further congressional action.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funding for gender transition procedures - including hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgeries like genital reassignment - across all federal programs and health plans. It exempts procedures for medical conditions (such as disorders of sex development) and treatment of complications arising from such procedures. The bill also blocks Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions for health plans covering these services, though individuals may purchase separate non-federal-funded coverage. State and private insurers can still offer such coverage using their own funds, but federal subsidies cannot be applied to it.