Rep. W. Gregory Steube

Maddy summaryThe Telehealth Expansion Act of 2023 modifies the Internal Revenue Code to require health insurance plans to cover telehealth services without applying deductibles. It directly affects high deductible health plans (HDHPs) and their enrollees, ensuring telehealth visits aren’t counted toward annual deductibles. The key provision creates a "safe harbor" (Section 223(c)(2)(E)) so plans won’t lose HDHP status for excluding telehealth deductibles. This change applies immediately upon enactment and affects all plans offering telehealth services. It does not create new funding or services but adjusts tax code requirements for existing coverage.

Maddy summaryHR 3956, the Veterans Protection from Fraud Act, amends federal criminal law to increase penalties for fraud committed against veterans. It directly affects veterans (defined under Title 38) of any age by adding them to a list of protected groups eligible for enhanced penalties under existing fraud statutes. The key provision modifies Section 2326(2) of Title 18 to include "targeted veterans" as a category subject to stricter sentencing when fraud is specifically directed at them. This change strengthens existing penalties without creating new crimes, making fraud against veterans a more severe offense under current federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the threshold for businesses to report payments to independent contractors and vendors from $600 to $5,000 annually. It directly affects small businesses and self-employed individuals who receive payments below the new $5,000 level, reducing their reporting burden. The bill also adds an inflation adjustment mechanism to keep the threshold updated annually, rounding increases to the nearest $100. These changes apply to payments made after December 31, 2023, under tax code sections governing Form 1099 reporting and backup withholding.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the POW/MIA Memorial and Museum under construction in Jacksonville, Florida, as the "National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum." It requires the museum to submit a detailed report to Congress within 90 days, including its five-year budget, organizational structure, bylaws, and accreditation status. The designation may be withdrawn if the museum is not operational within five years of enactment or if the required report is submitted late. The bill formalizes an existing project honoring over 224,000 service members captured or unaccounted for since World War II, without creating new policies or affecting public programs.

Freights First Act This bill eliminates Amtrak's preference over freight transportation in using a rail line, junction, or crossing if such rail line, junction, or crossing is located within 50 miles of a port or rail yard. Currently, Amtrak's priority status does not apply if there is an emergency.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits higher education accreditation bodies from considering an institution's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies or the racial composition of its students, faculty, or staff when evaluating accreditation. It directly affects all colleges and universities seeking or maintaining accreditation, with specific exemptions for religiously controlled institutions (e.g., those with religious missions, doctrinal requirements, or financial ties to religious organizations). The law adds a new requirement that accreditors must disregard DEI factors and racial composition, while also creating a legal pathway for institutions to sue if accreditation is denied based on these prohibited considerations. Religious institutions meeting defined criteria (like divinity schools or those with religious charters) are exempt from the "free inquiry" requirements related to DEI.

VA Canine Reporting Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to report on the average time it took to provide a veteran with a service or guide dog in the prior year. The report must also include legislative recommendations to reduce such wait time.

Maddy summaryThe Disaster Assistance Fairness Act helps condominiums and housing cooperatives (types of residential common interest communities) access federal disaster aid more easily after major disasters. It requires the President to issue rules allowing debris removal from these communities when state or local officials determine the debris threatens safety, health, or economic recovery. The bill also expands federal funding to cover repairs of essential shared areas (like roofs, elevators, and electrical systems) in these communities, provided owners can document their share of costs. This change applies to disasters declared after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryHRES 448 is a non-binding House resolution honoring Daniel Penny of West Islip, New York, for intervening during a subway incident on May 1, 2023. It recognizes Penny for apprehending Jordan Neely, who was threatening passengers on an F Train in Manhattan, including allegedly throwing trash and making violent threats. The resolution states Penny acted "with disregard for his personal well-being" to protect fellow commuters. It specifically rejects claims labeling Penny a "White supremacist" or "vigilante," calling such descriptions "without basis in fact." As a commemorative resolution, it has no legal effect and solely serves to publicly commend Penny's actions.

Maddy summaryHR 3712, the Digital Dollar Pilot Prevention Act, prohibits the Federal Reserve from testing or implementing a digital dollar without new congressional approval. The bill amends the Federal Reserve Act to explicitly block the Fed and its banks from launching any pilot program for a central bank digital currency (a digital form of U.S. dollars issued directly by the Federal Reserve) or partnering with private entities for such testing. This directly affects the Federal Reserve System, preventing it from moving forward with any digital dollar initiatives until Congress passes a separate law authorizing them. The law aims to halt potential development of a Fed-issued digital currency until lawmakers address its implications through new legislation.