Rep. Joe Neguse

Correcting Guam's History in the PACT Act This bill expands eligibility for a presumption of service-connection for specified diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. Under the bill, service performed in Guam or its territorial waters between August 15, 1958, and July 31, 1980, provides a veteran who has a specified disease that is associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents with eligibility for a presumption of service-connection. (Under current law, the eligible time frame for service in Guam is between January 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980.)

Maddy summaryThe TRACK Act of 2023 requires federal agencies (including HHS, NIH, Defense, and Veterans Affairs) to create a public database tracking all government funding for biomedical research and development. It compiles specific details about contracts, grants, licensing agreements, and tax benefits related to drug, device, and therapy development - including funding amounts, recipient organizations, product names/prices, and patent information. The database must be searchable by the public within one month of the bill’s enactment and updated every two weeks. This directly affects federal agencies managing biomedical funding and the private companies, institutions, and researchers receiving that support. The goal is to increase transparency about how taxpayer dollars fund medical product development.

Maddy summaryThe Dental and Optometric Care Access Act of 2023 (DOC Access Act) requires health insurance plans covering dental and vision care to allow providers (like dentists and optometrists) to charge patients the usual and customary rate for uncovered services, with a specific rule limiting dental cleanings to the network fee even if it exceeds annual coverage limits. It prohibits plans from restricting providers' choices of laboratories or suppliers for patient care. This law directly affects dental and vision care providers and the health insurance plans that offer these services. The bill establishes concrete billing and coverage standards to improve access to necessary dental and vision care.

Maddy summaryHRES 230 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the service of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers across the U.S. It does not create new policies or funding but formally honors their contributions. The resolution highlights how these volunteers provide millions of service hours annually in areas like education, disaster response, and community support, while acknowledging their role in promoting volunteerism and national service. It specifically encourages public recognition during AmeriCorps Week and urges broader community involvement in service programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the "Hello Girls" - female telephone operators who served in the Army Signal Corps during World War I. They provided critical battlefield communications in France (connecting 26 million calls), wore military uniforms, and faced combat risks, but were denied veteran benefits for 60 years due to being classified as civilian contractors. The medal recognizes their pioneering service, devotion, and the decades-long struggle to gain military recognition. The award follows similar recognition for other WWII women veterans and aims to correct the historical injustice they faced.

Maddy summaryHR 1499, the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, requires airports receiving federal funding to pay covered service workers a minimum wage of at least $15 per hour (or higher if state/local laws or federal standards require it) and provide minimum fringe benefits. It directly affects workers in specific airport roles like security, ticketing, concessions, cleaning, and ramp services at small, medium, or large hub airports. The bill mandates annual certification from airport operators to verify compliance with these wage and benefit standards, tied to eligibility for federal airport grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It does not override stricter state or local laws but ensures minimum standards for workers supporting airport operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicaid to cover dental and oral health services for adults beginning in 2025, directly affecting low-income adults enrolled in Medicaid. It defines covered services to include preventive care, restorative treatments, dentures, implants, and emergency dental care. The bill increases federal funding for these services (100% FMAP for a 12-quarter period starting in 2025) and requires states to implement new quality measures tracking oral health outcomes and disparities. It also mandates reports on access barriers and creates outreach programs to improve culturally competent dental care for underserved populations.

Save Children's Coverage Act This bill allows states to provide for extended coverage under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) of children after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. It also allows for extended Medicaid coverage of certain low-income, formerly homeless, or formerly incarcerated adults. Specifically, after the emergency period ends, states may provide for continued Medicaid or CHIP coverage of children under the age of six until the child turns six or is no longer a resident of the state, whichever is earlier. For children ages 6 to 18, the state may provide for continued coverage for two years after the child is deemed eligible, until the child turns 19, or until the child is no longer a resident of the state, whichever is earlier. States may also provide for continued Medicaid coverage of adults whose income does not exceed 28% of the federal poverty line or who were homeless or incarcerated in a prison or psychiatric hospital within the two years prior to applying for Medicaid; coverage may be provided for 12 months after the individual is deemed eligible or until the individual is no longer a resident, whichever is earlier. The bill also requires states to annually review the demographics of Medicaid enrollees, including contact information, as a condition of receiving a waiver from Medicaid requirements (e.g., Section 1115 demonstration waivers) after the emergency period ends.

Maddy summaryHR 1328, the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2023, requires certain home-use medical devices (like blood pressure monitors and sleep apnea machines) to include nonvisual accessibility features - such as voice commands or audio feedback - by 2025. It directly affects blind or low-vision users who rely on these devices for independent, safe, and private care at home. The bill mandates that devices classified as Class II or III (and cleared via FDA processes) must meet accessibility standards ensuring equal usability for blind or low-vision individuals, with limited waivers allowed for manufacturers facing undue hardship. The FDA will develop and enforce these standards within two years, consulting with accessibility experts and blind users.

Maddy summaryThe Paycheck Fairness Act (HR 17) strengthens equal pay protections by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act. It prohibits pay discrimination based on sex, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The bill modifies employer defenses for pay differences to require demonstration that any disparity is job-related, consistent with business necessity, and accounts for the entire pay differential. It also prohibits employers from relying on wage history when making hiring decisions or setting pay, enhances penalties for violations, and requires the EEOC to collect compensation data disaggregated by sex, race, and national origin.