Rep. Barbara Lee

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 35 (Close the Medigap Act of 2023), prohibits Medicare supplemental insurance (Medigap) insurers from denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on health status, pre-existing conditions, genetic information, or age. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries (particularly those with pre-existing conditions) and requires insurers to offer guaranteed issue coverage starting January 1, 2024, with full implementation by 2029. Key mechanisms include banning health-based pricing discrimination, requiring insurers to spend at least 65% of individual policy premiums on healthcare (increasing to align with NAIC recommendations), and improving transparency on the Medicare Plan Finder website. The bill does not change Medicare Part A/B benefits but ensures broader access to supplemental coverage without health-related barriers.

Maddy summaryThe Assuring Medicare’s Promise Act of 2023 directs that taxes collected under the net investment income tax (a tax on investment income for high earners) be added to the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, which helps finance Medicare Part A benefits. It modifies the tax code to include certain business income of high-income individuals (with modified adjusted gross income over $400,000 for single filers or $500,000 for joint filers) in the tax base, but includes a phase-in mechanism to limit immediate tax increases. This bill primarily affects high-income taxpayers and aims to strengthen Medicare’s financial stability by increasing trust fund revenue.

Maddy summaryHR 33 would expand Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing services for beneficiaries, which are currently not covered under Medicare. The bill provides 100% coverage for preventive dental services in 2024, with basic dental services gradually increasing to 80% coverage by 2027. Vision coverage would include routine eye exams and corrective lenses at 80% coverage, while hearing services would cover hearing exams and hearing aids at 80% coverage. The bill includes specific limitations, such as two dental cleanings per year and one pair of glasses every 24 months, with the Secretary of Health and Human Services having authority to apply additional limitations or modify coverage based on medical recommendations. The changes would take effect on January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans the use of hydrofluoric acid (HF) at U.S. petroleum refineries to prevent mass casualty incidents. It prohibits new refineries from using HF starting immediately and requires existing refineries (currently using HF at ~40 facilities) to switch to safer alternatives within 5 years. The law includes a $37,500 civil penalty for violations and explicitly blocks the EPA from granting waivers. This directly affects refineries using HF and protects communities within 25 miles of these facilities, where over 14 million people live near HF-using refineries.

Maddy summaryHR 1361 establishes a federal grant program to fund community gun buyback initiatives. It authorizes $360 million annually (2022-2024) for states, local governments, and licensed gun dealers to conduct buybacks using "smart prepaid cards" loaded with 125% of a firearm's market value. The program prohibits using these cards to purchase guns or ammunition, requires recycling collected firearms within 60 days, and bans resale. It directly affects communities through local programs and licensed dealers participating in the buyback system, with criminal penalties for misusing the cards in firearm transactions.

Maddy summaryThe ProTECT Act of 2024 bans the hunting, taking, or importing of hunting trophies from species listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. It directly affects hunters, importers, and businesses involved in trading trophies of threatened species, which currently face fewer protections than endangered species. The bill extends existing prohibitions - previously limited to endangered species - to explicitly cover threatened species, including banning permits for such activities and defining "trophy" to include processed animal parts. This creates a uniform ban on trophy hunting and trade for all listed threatened species, closing a gap in current law.

Maddy summaryHR 1584, the Plum Island National Monument Act, establishes Plum Island, New York, as a national monument to protect its natural ecosystems, historical sites, and cultural heritage. The bill designates the Secretary of the Interior as the managing agency, requiring coordination with other federal departments through written agreements for lands within the monument area. It mandates the development of a management plan within three years of funding, which must then be submitted to specific congressional committees. This act directly affects the federal management of Plum Island and sets the framework for conservation and public access to the site.

Maddy summaryHR 7438 directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including 100,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins will be sold to the public at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively), with all surcharge revenue paid to FWC2026 US, Inc. for U.S. soccer programs. These funds must support soccer initiatives, particularly in underserved communities and youth development, as specified in the bill. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued during 2026, with no net cost to the U.S. government.

Maddy summaryHR 6751 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Roberto Clemente, a Hall of Fame baseball player and humanitarian, including 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins must feature Clemente's image and inscriptions like "Roberto Clemente" and "2027," with all sales including a surcharge ($5-$35 per coin) paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation. The foundation, which supports youth sports, education, and disaster relief programs, will use these funds for its mission, while the U.S. Treasury must recover all production costs. The coins will be sold exclusively in 2027, with no net cost to the government.

Maddy summaryThe Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women’s Health Act of 2024 would expand access to preventive cancer screenings (including breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer screenings) for women, with a focus on low-income women, women of color, rural communities, and underserved populations. It authorizes $20 million annually for grants to health care providers - such as family planning centers - to increase screenings and establishes a training program for health care providers on best practices and cultural competency to address racial disparities. The bill also mandates a study analyzing cancer screening rates and disparities by race, income, geography, and insurance status, with reports to Congress every five years. These provisions aim to improve early detection, reduce mortality, and address systemic barriers in women’s cancer care.