Rep. Jim Costa

Maddy summaryHRES 1618 is a non-binding resolution designating November 20-December 20, 2024, as "National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month." It expresses support for raising awareness about survivors of homicide victims and encourages communities to provide them with support services and resources. The resolution calls for promoting survivor-centered initiatives, addressing trauma through behavioral health services, and fostering community engagement to honor victims and support families affected by homicide.

Maddy summaryThe SWIFT Act (HR 9234) amends Social Security provisions to benefit widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses. It eliminates reductions in benefits for those claiming survivors benefits before retirement age due to disabilities. The bill increases the age limit for child-in-care benefits from 16 to 18 (or 19 for full-time students). It also creates new provisions allowing beneficiaries who delay claiming benefits to receive increased amounts. These changes apply to benefits payable on or after January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Medicare payment model for emergency medical services (EMS) that allows coverage when ambulance providers deliver critical care on-site without transporting patients to a hospital. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries receiving such on-site emergency care and ambulance providers who would previously not be reimbursed for non-transport services. The key provision requires Medicare to pay for these services at rates matching what would have been paid for transport, based on state protocols and emergency call responses, for a 5-year trial period. A report due 4 years after implementation will evaluate impacts on patient outcomes, system efficiency, and regional access.

Maddy summaryThe PROVE IT Act of 2024 directs the U.S. Energy Secretary to study and publicly report on the greenhouse gas emissions intensity of key U.S. manufactured products (like steel, aluminum, lithium batteries, and critical minerals) compared to those produced in "covered countries" (including the EU, China, and major trading partners). It requires a transparent methodology for calculating emissions data, identifies gaps in existing data, and establishes a public online database showing U.S. emissions advantages for these products. The bill also mandates an annual report on foreign countries using forced labor or human rights abuses in the production of critical minerals or rare earths. Importantly, it clarifies the study does not create new taxes, fees, or mandatory reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Blind Americans Return to Work Act of 2024 creates a 20-year demonstration project to help blind individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits return to work. It modifies how benefits are calculated for eligible participants - those with blindness-related disability benefits who earned income during the first 10 years of the program - by removing standard work-income limits. Specifically, benefits are reduced by $1 for every $2 earned above a threshold (including a set exempt amount and work-related expenses), but never below $0, and benefits won’t terminate due to earnings. Participants may also opt out after 10 years, and the program excludes standard trial work and termination rules.

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 summaryThe MEGOBARI Act directs the U.S. government to investigate and address democratic backsliding in Georgia. It requires reports within 90 days on Georgian corruption tied to Russian interests, sanctions evasion, and Russian intelligence assets, followed by potential sanctions against Georgian officials deemed responsible for undermining democracy or advancing Russian-style laws. The bill also establishes a U.S. democracy monitoring task force in Georgia and links additional U.S. aid - including trade negotiations, visa liberalization, economic packages, and defense support - to Georgia's progress toward fair elections and a free political environment. These provisions directly affect Georgia's government officials (who could face sanctions) and Georgia's eligibility for U.S. assistance. The bill does not impose new sanctions but mandates U.S. agencies to identify and sanction specific Georgian individuals under existing legal authorities.

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 (HR 7397) would define "essential health system" in federal law to specifically include certain hospitals serving high numbers of low-income patients. It targets non-Federal, non-profit hospitals that meet one of three criteria: having Medicaid disproportionate share status, serving at least 35% low-income Medicare patients, or receiving significant uncompensated care payments under Medicare. The definition applies to hospitals already designated under existing Medicaid and Medicare programs. This is a technical clarification to standardize how these hospitals are identified in federal statutes.

Maddy summaryHR 7142 (Alternatives to PAIN Act) requires Medicare Part D plans to cover non-opioid pain management drugs with no deductible and at the lowest copay level starting in 2025. It defines "qualifying non-opioid drugs" as FDA-approved medications that don’t act on opioid receptors (like certain NSAIDs or nerve pain treatments), excluding opioids and schedule I-III drugs. The bill prohibits Medicare plans from forcing patients to try opioids first (step therapy) or requiring prior approval for these non-opioid options. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries needing pain management, especially those seeking alternatives to opioids for post-surgical or acute pain. The policy change aims to improve access to non-addictive pain treatments while preserving doctors' authority to prescribe medically appropriate care.