Rep. Jill N. Tokuda

Maddy summaryHR 6858, the Social Security Overpayment Relief Act, limits the Social Security Administration's ability to recover overpayments made to beneficiaries. It amends Sections 204 of Title II (retirement/disability benefits) and 1631(b) of Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) to prohibit recovery of overpayments older than 10 years from the date the Commissioner identifies the overpayment. This directly affects individuals who received Social Security or SSI benefits in error more than a decade ago, preventing the government from seeking repayment for those old overpayments. The key provision sets a clear 10-year limit on recovery efforts, applying to both retirement/disability and SSI programs. The bill makes a concrete change to existing recovery rules without altering benefit eligibility or payment amounts.

Maddy summaryThe Preserving Seniors’ Access to Physicians Act of 2023 increases the Medicare payment adjustment rate for physicians from 1.25% to 4.62%, directly affecting doctors who treat Medicare patients (primarily seniors). It also reduces the funding for the Medicaid improvement fund from $5,796,117,810 to $3,973,117,810. These changes impact Medicare providers and Medicaid programs, with the Medicare adjustment aimed at supporting physicians adjusting to payment changes. The bill does not specify how the Medicaid funding reduction relates to its stated goal of preserving seniors' access to physicians.

Maddy summaryThe FOREST Act of 2023 prohibits U.S. imports of products made from commodities (palm oil, soybeans, cocoa, cattle, and rubber) produced on land where illegal deforestation occurred after the law's enactment. Importers must file declarations demonstrating they've assessed supply chain risks of illegal deforestation, with stricter requirements for products from countries identified in action plans. The law establishes a process to identify countries without adequate deforestation protections and requires them to develop action plans with specific benchmarks for compliance. It creates a fund using import penalty revenue to provide foreign assistance to help countries eliminate illegal deforestation and includes procurement preferences for federal contracts with suppliers demonstrating deforestation-free supply chains.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends federal welfare program eligibility to the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), granting its residents access to the same family assistance benefits previously available only to U.S. states. It authorizes an annual federal grant of $1.631 million to the CNMI for its family assistance program, requiring the territory to submit a 3-year plan outlining benefit delivery, avoiding duplicate aid, and promoting employment opportunities for recipients. The bill also adjusts matching grant formulas to include the CNMI ($2.131 million annually) and provides $5 million for initial child support program development. These changes directly affect CNMI residents and its government by integrating the territory into federal welfare administration under existing Social Security Act provisions.

Maddy summaryThe ARCC Act provides $100 million in federal funding to help apprentices and pre-apprentices in job training programs cover childcare costs. It authorizes competitive grants to 10 states, which must distribute monthly stipends of at least $500 per dependent child directly to eligible childcare providers on behalf of participants in these programs. The bill prioritizes individuals from historically underrepresented groups (based on race, ethnicity, or gender) and ensures stipends are tax-free while not affecting eligibility for other federal benefits. States must report on participation, program completion rates, and demographic data, with the Secretary later summarizing program impacts for Congress.

Maddy summaryHR 6063, the Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2023, modifies unemployment insurance rules to provide benefits for workers unable to work due to strikes or lockouts. It directs that unemployment compensation begins 14 days after a strike starts, or earlier if permanent replacements are hired, a lockout begins, or the dispute ends. The bill directly affects workers participating in labor disputes by making them eligible for benefits under these specific conditions, rather than requiring them to meet standard job search requirements. This change is implemented through amendments to the Internal Revenue Code and Social Security Act.

Maddy summaryThe Disaster Relief Medicaid Act creates a new Medicaid program for survivors of major disasters, providing continuous health coverage for up to two years after a disaster is declared. It establishes simplified eligibility requirements with no documentation needed, allowing individuals with income up to 133% of the poverty level (or their home state's standard) to qualify, including those who received FEMA assistance or lost employment due to the disaster. The law requires states to provide medical assistance equivalent to what would be provided in the survivor's home state, with 100% federal funding for all costs during the relief period. It also includes special provisions for pregnant individuals, children born during the relief period, and expanded mental health services.

Maddy summaryHR 5819, the COMPLETE Care Act, incentivizes Medicare primary care providers to integrate behavioral health services by increasing payments for specific services (like mental health and substance use disorder support) during 2025-2027. Providers using designated HCPCS codes for integrated care would receive 125-175% of standard payment rates, with the percentage declining annually. The bill also requires these providers to report on integration quality measures and mandates technical assistance for practices adopting integrated models, funded through new appropriations for 2024-2027. It directly affects Medicare-participating primary care practices serving beneficiaries needing mental health or substance use services.

Maddy summaryThe Climate Resilience Workforce Act establishes a coordinated federal system to build a workforce for climate resilience, directly affecting workers in climate-related sectors and prioritizing frontline communities (low-income, communities of color, Tribal communities) and populations facing employment barriers (undocumented individuals, formerly incarcerated people). Key mechanisms include grant programs for state and local climate resilience planning, job creation grants requiring 40% of jobs to go to frontline communities and populations facing barriers, and minimum labor standards including $15/hour wages (increasing annually), employer-paid health insurance, and protections against discrimination. The bill creates an Office of Climate Resilience, a Climate Resilience Equity Advisory Board, and a Center for the Climate Resilience Workforce to define climate resilience sectors and ensure equitable hiring practices. It also removes employment barriers through immigration status protections, criminal record reforms, and drug testing policy changes for climate resilience workers.

Maddy summaryThe End Diaper Need Act of 2023 creates a federal program that will provide free diapers and incontinence supplies to low-income families with infants, toddlers, medically complex children (3+ years old with chronic health conditions), and low-income adults with disabilities. It allocates $200 million annually from 2024-2027 to fund this assistance through states and community organizations, making medically necessary diapers eligible for reimbursement through health savings accounts and other health benefit programs. The legislation requires integration with existing services like Medicaid, WIC, and TANF, and includes annual reporting requirements and an evaluation of the program's effectiveness within two years.