Rep. Michelle Steel

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to issue guidance within one year on providing Medicare-covered behavioral health services (like mental health counseling) via telehealth to beneficiaries with limited English proficiency. The guidance must cover best practices for using interpreters during telehealth visits, integrating multi-person video platforms, helping patients learn to use telehealth tools, and offering materials (like appointment reminders) in multiple languages. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries who face language barriers accessing telehealth services. The bill sets standards for providers but does not change Medicare coverage rules.

Maddy summaryThe Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act of 2023 makes several key changes to ocean shipping regulations. It requires the Federal Maritime Commission to collect and publish data on marine terminal operations and equipment dwell times at major ports, and establishes new complaint mechanisms against shipping exchanges for anticompetitive practices. The bill prohibits U.S. port authorities from using Chinese logistics platforms like LOGINK and mandates an independent study of the Shanghai Shipping Exchange. These provisions primarily affect ocean common carriers, port authorities, and shipping exchanges operating in U.S. foreign commerce.

Maddy summaryHR 7770, the Rosie the Riveter Commemorative Coin Act, authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell three commemorative coins honoring women who worked on the U.S. home front during World War II. It specifies $5 gold coins (max 50,000), $1 silver coins (max 400,000), and half-dollar coins (max 750,000), all to be issued between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Each coin sale includes a surcharge ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollar), with all surcharge funds directed to the Rosie the Riveter Trust for maintaining the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and educational programs. The coins will feature designs reflecting the legacy of diverse women workers and must meet specific weight, diameter, and composition standards.

Maddy summaryHRES 1080 is a congressional resolution expressing that the U.S. and partner nations must coordinate to address humanitarian crises faced by North Koreans in China, particularly forced labor, trafficking, arbitrary detention, and forced repatriation. It directly affects North Korean refugees (especially women and girls) and U.S. import policies, urging action to stop seafood imports from China processed using North Korean labor - citing reports that such labor fuels North Korea’s nuclear program. Key mechanisms include enforcing the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (which bans goods made with North Korean labor), pressuring China to comply with refugee conventions, and using sanctions authorities like the Global Magnitsky Act against Chinese officials. The resolution calls for diplomatic coordination with allies and UN action to protect refugees and end forced labor practices.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding resolution expresses the House's support for in vitro fertilization (IVF) access, noting that 19% of women in the U.S. face infertility challenges. It states IVF is necessary for those unable to conceive naturally, emphasizes policies enabling family growth, and recognizes "life is precious." The resolution does not create new laws or change regulations but symbolically affirms the House's position on IVF as a vital medical option for individuals struggling with infertility. It was introduced by Rep. Chavez-DeRemer and others on February 29, 2024.

Maddy summaryThe Uyghur Policy Act of 2023 establishes a U.S. Special Coordinator for Uyghur Issues within the State Department to coordinate policy and advocate for the protection of Uyghur cultural, religious, and linguistic identity in Xinjiang. It authorizes $250,000 annually for Uyghur human rights advocates to speak at public diplomacy events in Muslim-majority countries and mandates Uyghur language training for U.S. diplomats. The bill also directs the U.S. government to support United Nations monitoring of Xinjiang human rights issues and oppose efforts to block discussions of Xinjiang at the UN. These provisions focus on diplomatic advocacy and information-sharing, not direct sanctions or enforcement actions against China.

Maddy summaryHR 7448 requires the Coast Guard to implement a 2021 restructuring plan for anchorages in San Pedro Bay to address proximity to underwater pipelines, effective within one year of enactment. It mandates a study identifying all anchorage areas within one mile of pipelines, with a report to Congress within two years detailing relocation options and recommendations. The bill also directs the Coast Guard to add audible/visual alarms in vessel monitoring systems for pipeline proximity alerts and develop procedures to notify pipeline operators of potential incursions. Annual reports on these measures must be submitted to relevant congressional committees. The law directly affects Coast Guard operations in the Los Angeles-Long Beach Vessel Traffic Service area and pipeline safety protocols.

Maddy summaryHR 7411, the Recover Pride in Service Act, requires the Department of Defense to automatically upgrade all military discharges based solely on sexual orientation to honorable status without veterans needing to apply. It directly affects veterans discharged under such policies, including those separated before September 20, 2011. Key provisions include amending review procedures to eliminate documentation requirements for veterans seeking review, establishing a Defense Outreach Unit to notify affected veterans within 60 days, and mandating a 5-year timeline for full implementation. The bill also requires annual progress reports to Congress on discharge upgrades and final reports detailing outcomes like the number of upgrades completed.

Maddy summaryHR 7239, the Drug-Free Social Media and Digital Communities Act of 2024, makes it a federal crime to distribute controlled substances using social media or online platforms. It doubles standard penalties for first offenses, including imprisonment terms, fines, and supervised release, with a minimum 1-year sentence (except for small marijuana amounts), and triples penalties for repeat offenses with a minimum 3-year sentence. The law specifically targets "interactive computer services" like social media platforms, internet access providers, and educational institution services. It directly affects individuals selling drugs online and requires platforms enabling such activity to face stricter legal consequences under federal drug laws.

Maddy summaryHRES 1003 is a symbolic resolution recognizing the contributions of Vietnamese Americans. It acknowledges that approximately 800,000 Vietnamese refugees resettled in the U.S. after the Vietnam War and that over 1.7 million Vietnamese Americans now live in the U.S., forming the fourth largest Asian American group. The resolution highlights their achievements in fields like business, education, the military, and public service, as well as their support for democracy and cultural diversity. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal effect or direct impact on policy or individuals.