Rep. Jill N. Tokuda

Maddy summaryHR 1619 requires schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to provide fluid milk substitutes (like soy or almond milk) upon request by a student or their parent/guardian. The bill removes the previous requirement that substitutions needed a medical authority's written statement for most dietary needs, instead allowing requests based on the student's or parent's request alone. It aligns the definition of acceptable substitutes with current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This change directly affects students with dietary restrictions, making it simpler for schools to accommodate their needs without extra medical documentation.

Maddy summaryThe HCBS Access Act requires states to cover home and community-based services (HCBS) under Medicaid for eligible individuals with disabilities or older adults who need these services to live in the community rather than in institutions. The bill establishes a 5-year implementation timeline for states to develop plans including individualized assessments to determine service needs and addressing workforce shortages for direct care professionals. Key provisions include expanding Medicaid coverage for HCBS, making permanent certain Medicaid provisions (spousal impoverishment protection and Money Follows the Person), and creating a grant program for states to implement these services. The bill directly affects over 53 million unpaid family caregivers and nearly 2.6 million direct care professionals by improving service access and addressing workforce challenges. It requires data collection on service access by demographics to address disparities and improve quality of care for vulnerable populations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 1444) amends the Superfund law to require the EPA to consider climate change impacts when planning cleanups at contaminated sites. It adds new language requiring the EPA to assess how climate-related disasters - like floods or storms - might affect cleanup sites, including projected changes due to climate change. The EPA must now evaluate whether existing cleanup plans remain protective as climate conditions evolve. This applies directly to all current and future Superfund site remediation efforts managed by the EPA.

Strengthening Medicaid Incentives for Licensees Enrolled in Dental Act or the SMILED Act This bill requires state Medicaid programs to implement certain measures to improve the participation of dentists and the processing of related claims under Medicaid. Specifically, states must assure the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that they will address dentist participation by improving eligibility verification and simplifying participation requirements and claims administration. States must also (1) use an electronic, integrated data collection system to credential participating dentists within 90 days of application receipt; and (2) develop procedures for conducting audits that are consistent with practice standards and that allow for improper claims to be rectified through claims adjustments.

Maddy summaryHR 1423, the 911 Community Crisis Responders Act of 2023, provides federal grants to states, tribes, and local governments to establish unarmed mobile crisis response teams. These teams respond to nonviolent 911 calls involving mental health, substance use, homelessness, or disabilities - instead of sending police - offering services like de-escalation, referrals to treatment, and transportation. The bill requires teams to operate in groups of two or more, avoid law enforcement oversight, and coordinate with 911 systems to triage calls. Grantees must collect data on call volumes, demographics, and outcomes like reduced ER visits, with reports submitted biannually to the Secretary and Congress.

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 summaryThis resolution supports designating the third week of March 2023 as "National CACFP Week" to raise public awareness of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The CACFP provides daily nutritious meals and snacks to over 4 million children and 138,000 adults in child care centers, adult day care homes, and after-school programs across the U.S. The resolution highlights the program's role in improving nutrition, reducing health disparities, and supporting vulnerable communities, particularly low-income families and rural providers. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to promote the CACFP's importance.

Maddy summaryHR 1591 amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to increase annual federal funding for impact aid programs that support school districts near military bases, national parks, and other federal properties. It authorizes specific, rising funding levels for four key areas: payments for federal land acquisitions ($90 million in 2024, growing to $150 million by 2029), basic payments to heavily impacted school districts ($1.6 billion in 2024, growing to $2.45 billion by 2029), payments for students with disabilities ($60 million in 2024, growing to $120 million by 2029), and school construction projects ($22.9 million in 2024, growing to $45.4 million by 2029). These appropriations represent incremental steps toward full federal funding for these aid programs, as specified in the bill's text. The bill directly affects school districts located near federal land, providing predictable annual funding increases for their operational and infrastructure needs.

Maddy summaryThe Success in the Middle Act of 2023 provides federal funding to improve middle grades education (grades 5-8) by requiring states to develop evidence-based improvement plans focused on student engagement, academic achievement, and transitions to high school. It targets schools serving high percentages of at-risk students, including those with chronic absenteeism, failing grades, or disabilities, by establishing early warning systems to identify students needing support. The bill authorizes $500 million to $650 million annually for 2024-2028 to support professional development for teachers, curriculum alignment, student support services, and data-driven interventions. It requires states to track metrics like chronic absenteeism, on-time promotion rates, and course failure rates to measure progress toward closing achievement gaps. The law aims to improve students' readiness for high school and postsecondary success by addressing challenges unique to the middle grades period.

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.