Rep. Brittany Pettersen

Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act This bill expedites payment of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and eligibility for Medicare coverage for those with metastatic breast cancer (i.e., breast cancer that has spread to other sites in the body). Specifically, the bill eliminates the 5-month waiting period for SSDI benefits and the subsequent 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage for individuals with metastatic breast cancer. Under current law, individuals generally must wait 5 months after the onset of disability to begin receiving SSDI benefits and an additional 24 months to become eligible for Medicare.

Resident Education Deferred Interest Act or the REDI Act This bill allows borrowers in medical or dental internships or residency programs to defer student loan payments until the completion of their programs.

Maddy summaryHR 2081, the Donut Dollies Congressional Gold Medal Act, authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the 627 women who served as Red Cross volunteers in the Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas (SRAO) program during the Vietnam War. The bill directs the Treasury Secretary to design and strike the medal, which will be presented by Congress and then given to the Smithsonian Institution for display. It also allows the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs, with proceeds going to the U.S. Mint fund. This commemorative act recognizes the volunteers' service supporting over 280,000 troops through recreation programs across Vietnam from 1965 to 1973.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to transition its workforce from a special personnel management system to the standard federal personnel system under Title 5 of the U.S. Code by December 31, 2025. It protects TSA employees by ensuring no reduction in pay, benefits, or retirement rights during the transition, while preserving collective bargaining rights for screening agents. The legislation also mandates consultation with labor unions during the process and requires several reports on workforce issues including recruitment, harassment policies, and workplace safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how individual investors in mutual funds (regulated investment companies) are taxed on certain dividends. It allows investors to defer paying tax on capital gain dividends that are automatically reinvested in additional fund shares through a dividend reinvestment plan. The deferred tax is recognized later when the investor sells shares or upon their death. It also establishes that shares acquired through this reinvestment are treated as held for over one year from the start, potentially qualifying for long-term capital gains rates. The rule applies only to individual investors (not estates, trusts, or dependents claimed by others).

Maddy summaryHR 2042 establishes the Space National Guard as a reserve component of the Space Force, specifically for seven states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New York, and Ohio). It transfers existing Air National Guard space units - like the 213th Space Warning Squadron in Alaska and the 137th Space Warning Squadron in Colorado - to this new structure, while prohibiting additional personnel or new facilities. The bill requires the Secretary of the Air Force to implement the change within one year and provide annual reports to Congress on its status, missions, and funding. This reorganization officially recognizes these state-based units as part of the Space Force reserve without creating new military capabilities or infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHR 2047, the Pink Tariffs Study Act, requires the Treasury Secretary to conduct a study analyzing how U.S. import tariffs impact different consumer groups. The study must examine whether tariffs are regressive (burdening lower-income consumers more), show gender bias (like higher tariffs on women's clothing vs. men's), and break down effects by gender, family type (e.g., single-parent households), and income level. It mandates the study be completed within one year of the bill's enactment and submitted to Congress. This bill directly affects all U.S. consumers by focusing on how tariff policies may unequally impact them based on these demographic and economic factors.

Maddy summaryHR 1990, the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2025, amends tax rules for businesses to make research and development (R&D) costs more flexible. It allows companies to deduct R&D expenses immediately as business costs (instead of capitalizing them) or to spread these costs over a minimum 60-month period. The bill clarifies which R&D expenses qualify, excludes land improvements and mineral exploration costs, and ensures companies can claim R&D tax credits without conflict with expense treatment. This directly affects businesses that conduct R&D, changing how they account for these costs on tax returns starting for 2022 taxable years.

Maddy summaryThe Feed Our Families Act of 2025 ensures SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits continue for 90 days during the first government funding lapse in a fiscal year. It appropriates emergency funds from the Treasury to cover SNAP operations for the initial 90 days of a lapse in discretionary appropriations for the program. These funds are held in reserve and can only be used to maintain SNAP program services during that period. The bill directly affects millions of low-income households relying on SNAP benefits by preventing immediate disruptions during early government shutdowns.

Maddy summaryTim's Act establishes pay parity for Federal wildland firefighters employed by the Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, and Tribal Firefighters. It creates special base pay rates that increase General Schedule base rates by specific percentages (1.5% to 42%) based on job grade, and provides incident response premium pay at 450% of hourly rate for qualifying wildfire incidents. The bill also establishes rest and recuperation leave after firefighting operations, requires a public cancer database tracking environmental exposure, and creates a mental health support program for firefighters. Additionally, it addresses retirement benefits, disability annuities, and creates a casualty assistance program for families of firefighters injured or killed in the line of duty.