Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

Maddy summaryHR 10337, the Expanding the Health Care Workforce Act, creates a federal grant program to develop health care career pathways for high school students. It provides grants to hospitals partnering with secondary schools to establish structured work-based learning programs, requiring students to complete 20-100 hours of hands-on training in hospitals over five years, with specific hour requirements per grade. Priority is given to projects serving medically underserved communities, and grants must expand existing programs in 25% of cases. The program mandates annual reporting on student outcomes, including graduation rates, health care workforce entry, and post-secondary enrollment, with a final evaluation report to Congress after five years. This initiative directly affects secondary school students in underserved areas and participating hospitals through new educational partnerships.

Maddy summaryThe FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act requires FEMA to reimburse local governments and electric cooperatives for interest paid on qualifying disaster recovery loans. A qualifying loan must be used for FEMA-covered activities with at least 90% of proceeds dedicated to those purposes. Reimbursement covers the lesser of actual interest paid or what would have been paid at the prime interest rate, as defined by the Federal Reserve. This relief applies to interest accrued in the seven years preceding the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurers and group health plans from imposing arbitrary time limits on reimbursement for anesthesia services. It requires payments to be based solely on medical necessity as determined by the attending anesthesiologist or licensed provider, not preset duration caps. Medicaid must also comply, ensuring anesthesia services (including through managed care) cannot be denied payment for exceeding time limits. The Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General will conduct audits and submit annual reports to Congress on compliance.

Maddy summaryHR 10304, the No Radioactive Roads Act of 2024, requires the EPA to revise regulations governing the use of phosphogypsum (a byproduct of fertilizer production containing uranium and radium) in road construction. It mandates that any future use must undergo case-by-case EPA approval, with strict limits: no project may increase an individual's lifetime cancer risk above 9.1 per 100,000, and applicants must detail exposure risks to workers, residents, and environmental pathways. The bill also requires public disclosure of all approval requests and detailed monitoring plans for water contamination and ecological impacts throughout a project's lifecycle. This directly affects road construction projects, workers, nearby communities, and environmental regulators, ensuring new uses meet the EPA’s established safety threshold.

Maddy summaryHR 6751 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Roberto Clemente, a Hall of Fame baseball player and humanitarian, including 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins must feature Clemente's image and inscriptions like "Roberto Clemente" and "2027," with all sales including a surcharge ($5-$35 per coin) paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation. The foundation, which supports youth sports, education, and disaster relief programs, will use these funds for its mission, while the U.S. Treasury must recover all production costs. The coins will be sold exclusively in 2027, with no net cost to the government.

Maddy summaryThe Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women’s Health Act of 2024 would expand access to preventive cancer screenings (including breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer screenings) for women, with a focus on low-income women, women of color, rural communities, and underserved populations. It authorizes $20 million annually for grants to health care providers - such as family planning centers - to increase screenings and establishes a training program for health care providers on best practices and cultural competency to address racial disparities. The bill also mandates a study analyzing cancer screening rates and disparities by race, income, geography, and insurance status, with reports to Congress every five years. These provisions aim to improve early detection, reduce mortality, and address systemic barriers in women’s cancer care.

Maddy summaryThe Thyroid Disease CARE Act of 2024 directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct research on thyroid disease, with a focus on identifying and addressing health disparities affecting populations such as racial and ethnic minorities, women, and those with varying insurance coverage or geographic locations. It requires HHS to analyze data from Medicaid, Medicare, and other health programs to study gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes - particularly for thyroid cancer and persistent symptoms - and develop recommendations for improved care. The bill authorizes $30 million annually for research (2025-2029) and $3 million annually for a public awareness campaign to educate patients and healthcare providers about thyroid disease symptoms, treatment options, and early detection, especially during pregnancy. This legislation aims to enhance evidence-based care through research and outreach without altering existing patient benefits or insurance requirements.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution supports the goals of World AIDS Day by encouraging efforts to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, aiming for zero new infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths. It specifically urges sharing of U=U (Undetectable=Untransmittable) information and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to prevent transmission, and calls for increased funding for HIV prevention, treatment, and research - particularly for communities disproportionately affected by HIV, such as racial minorities, men who have sex with men, and transgender individuals. The resolution commends existing programs like PEPFAR and the Ryan White CARE Act while advocating for expanded testing, antiretroviral treatment, and comprehensive prevention services, including a National PrEP Program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. government to take specific actions to support peace in Sudan, including imposing sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and blocking humanitarian aid. It mandates the President to submit reports identifying those responsible for such actions and to impose sanctions against them, with exceptions for humanitarian aid. The bill establishes a Special Presidential Envoy for Sudan to coordinate U.S. diplomatic efforts and requires a comprehensive strategy to support civilian protection, humanitarian access, and inclusive peace processes. It includes specific provisions to empower Sudanese women and youth in peace processes and prohibits the sale of major defense equipment to countries supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) or Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in West Palm Beach, Florida, as the "Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center." The change updates all federal references - including laws, regulations, maps, and documents - to reflect the new name. It directly affects the facility's official identity and veteran services documentation. The bill is procedural and does not alter healthcare services or funding.