Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an exemption from annual visa caps for foreign nationals who earned a U.S. doctoral degree (or terminal degree in fields without doctoral options) from an accredited U.S. institution. To qualify, they must have a job offer in their field paying above the median wage for that occupation in their area, and meet labor certification requirements. It also allows doctoral students on F-1 visas to pursue permanent residency while studying, removing barriers to dual intent under current immigration rules. The bill directly affects international doctoral students and graduates seeking permanent residency in the U.S. who meet these specific educational and employment criteria.

Maddy summaryThe Protect Our Hospitals Act (HR 4807) repeals a specific provision (Section 71115 of Public Law 119-21) that altered Medicaid provider tax rules. This bill restores the prior tax structure for Medicaid providers, including hospitals and clinics that accept Medicaid, returning them to the tax treatment that existed before the change. As a result, these providers will no longer be subject to the modified tax rules enacted by the repealed provision. The bill does not affect Medicaid eligibility, benefits, or coverage - it solely reverts a tax policy change without introducing new requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Medical Debt Relief Act of 2025 would prevent medical debt from being reported as negative information on credit reports. It defines medical debt as any debt related to medical services, products, or devices and prohibits credit reporting agencies from including such debt - even if sent to collections - in credit reports. The bill also requires the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to update regulations within one year to ban creditors from using medical debt when making credit decisions. This change directly affects consumers with unpaid medical bills and alters standard credit reporting practices.

Maddy summaryThe College Transparency Act requires the federal government to create a new student data system that collects and shares information about college enrollment, costs, completion rates, and post-graduation outcomes. This system will directly affect colleges and universities (which must submit data), students (whose information is collected with privacy protections), and families (who will access the data to make informed education decisions). The bill mandates the development of a public website providing customizable, aggregate data on student demographics, costs, and outcomes, while prohibiting the collection of sensitive information like health records or political affiliation. The system aims to reduce reporting burdens on institutions by consolidating data collection and making information more transparent for prospective students. It includes strong privacy and security requirements to protect student information, with the data system to be developed within four years of the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a barrier preventing most low-income students from accessing SNAP benefits. It amends the Food and Nutrition Act to explicitly allow students enrolled at least half-time in recognized higher education programs to qualify for SNAP, reversing a prior exclusion. The key change eliminates the previous requirement that students meet specific exceptions (now deleted) and adds a new eligibility category under Section 3(m)(5). This directly affects low-income undergraduate and graduate students at colleges and training programs who were previously ineligible. The changes take effect January 2, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $50 million annually for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct research on firearms safety and gun violence prevention, beginning in fiscal year 2026 through 2031. The funding is in addition to existing CDC appropriations and would support studies under the Public Health Service Act. It does not create new regulations or directly affect individuals, but aims to expand research into causes and prevention strategies for gun violence. The bill focuses solely on enabling CDC research, without proposing policy changes or restrictions.

Maddy summaryHR 4796, the Restoring Essential Healthcare Act, repeals a provision that blocked Medicaid payments to certain healthcare providers during a specific period. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who received care from these providers between the enactment of the prior law (Public Law 119-21) and this bill's enactment. The key provision retroactively restores Medicaid payments for services already provided during that blocked period, treating the payment restriction as if it never existed. This change ensures eligible individuals and providers receive reimbursement for covered care delivered during the prohibited timeframe.

Maddy summaryHRES 613 is a symbolic House resolution expressing support for designating July as "Disability Pride Month." It directly affects people with disabilities by raising public awareness of their contributions and challenges, referencing CDC data showing 70 million U.S. adults live with disabilities. The resolution calls on the public and organizations to celebrate Disability Pride Month in July and actively work to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities, aligning with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This is a non-binding gesture focused on recognition, not policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill transitions individuals with disabilities from segregated employment under special certificates (which allow subminimum wages) to competitive integrated employment with fair wages. It creates grant programs for states and employers to facilitate this transition, requiring employers to pay at least minimum wage (increasing over time) and providing necessary supports. The bill phases out special certificates entirely within 4 years, while ensuring individuals with disabilities receive ongoing support during the transition. It also establishes evaluation requirements to track progress and ensure compliance with the new standards.

Maddy summaryHR 4763, the PTO Act, requires most employers to provide employees with at least 1 hour of paid annual leave for every 25 hours worked, with a maximum of 80 hours per year. It applies to private-sector workers and certain government employees, protecting their right to use paid leave for any purpose without disclosing the reason. The bill mandates employers to maintain health benefits during leave, allow carryover of up to 40 hours of unused leave, and pay out unused leave upon separation. It also prohibits employers from discriminating against employees for using paid leave or requiring them to find replacements while on leave. The law includes enforcement mechanisms, allowing employees to file complaints with the Department of Labor or pursue private lawsuits.