Resident Education Deferred Interest Act or the REDI Act This bill allows borrowers in medical or dental internships or residency programs to defer student loan payments until the completion of their programs.
Maddy summaryHR 2024 establishes the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics (JTF-ISN), a federal coordination body uniting agencies like the DEA, FBI, Treasury, and Homeland Security to combat synthetic narcotics trafficking. It mandates the task force to share intelligence, develop joint operations against trafficking networks (particularly targeting Chinese involvement), and coordinate with state/local law enforcement. The bill explicitly prohibits the task force from targeting personal drug use or low-level dealers, focusing instead on disrupting large-scale trafficking and financial crimes related to illicit synthetic narcotics. The Director, appointed by the President, must report biannually to Congress on strategies, funding needs, and enforcement actions.
Maddy summaryThis bill would expand Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing services for beneficiaries 65 and older (and some younger people with disabilities), effective January 1, 2026. It would provide 100% coverage for preventative dental services in 2026, with basic and major dental services gradually increasing to 80% coverage by 2029. Vision benefits would include 80% coverage for annual eye exams and specific limits on eyeglasses, frames, and contact lenses ($100 per year for lenses, $100 every two years for frames, $200 every two years for contacts). Hearing services would include 80% coverage for hearing exams and hearing aids, with a limit of one hearing aid per ear every 48 months. The bill also adds oral health professionals to the United States Preventive Services Task Force to help guide coverage decisions.
Maddy summaryHR 1990, the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2025, amends tax rules for businesses to make research and development (R&D) costs more flexible. It allows companies to deduct R&D expenses immediately as business costs (instead of capitalizing them) or to spread these costs over a minimum 60-month period. The bill clarifies which R&D expenses qualify, excludes land improvements and mineral exploration costs, and ensures companies can claim R&D tax credits without conflict with expense treatment. This directly affects businesses that conduct R&D, changing how they account for these costs on tax returns starting for 2022 taxable years.
American Teacher Act This bill establishes grants to increase the minimum salary of public elementary and secondary school teachers. It also authorizes a national campaign regarding the value of the teaching profession. First, the bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award four-year grants to state educational agencies (SEAs) and, through them, subgrants to local educational agencies to establish a minimum annual salary of $60,000 (to be adjusted annually for inflation) for these teachers. Second, the bill directs ED to award grants to eligible SEAs to provide cost-of-living adjustments to the annual base salary of teachers. Finally, the bill authorizes ED to carry out a national campaign to (1) increase awareness about the importance of teachers and the value of the teaching profession, (2) encourage secondary school and college students to consider teaching as a professional career, and (3) diversify the pool of individuals who enter the teaching profession.
Maddy summaryThe Kangaroo Protection Act of 2025 prohibits the commercial import, sale, or distribution of kangaroos and kangaroo products (like leather goods) within the United States. It directly affects businesses or individuals engaged in importing or selling items made from the western grey kangaroo, eastern grey kangaroo, common wallaroo, or red kangaroo. Violations carry fines up to $10,000, up to one year in prison, or both, with each violation treated as a separate offense. The Secretary of Commerce will develop implementing regulations, effective 180 days after enactment.
Maddy summaryHR 1934 (ProTECT Act of 2025) prohibits trophy hunting and importing trophies of threatened wildlife species within the U.S. and into the U.S., extending protections currently limited to endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. It amends the law to ban taking (hunting) or importing trophies of species listed as threatened, and blocks permits for such activities, closing a loophole where threatened species lacked these safeguards. The bill defines "trophy" broadly to include recognizable animal parts or derivatives obtained under hunting authorization. This directly affects hunters, importers, and wildlife trade businesses dealing with threatened species.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal for actor James Earl Jones to recognize his career achievements in theater and film. It directs the Treasury Secretary to strike a gold medal bearing his name, which will be presented to his son, Flynn Earl Jones, following Jones' passing. The bill also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs. As a ceremonial honor with no policy changes, it does not affect legislation or government operations.
Maddy summaryHR 1918, the Farewell to Foam Act of 2025, prohibits the sale of most foam food containers, packaging peanuts, and foam coolers starting January 1, 2028. It directly affects restaurants, grocery stores, food vendors, manufacturers, and retailers who sell these items, excluding medical coolers used for drugs or medical products. The bill imposes escalating civil penalties for violations: $250 for the second offense, $500 for the third, and $1,000 for fourth or subsequent violations, with reduced penalties for small businesses under specific revenue thresholds. Enforcement is led by the EPA Administrator, with states allowed to enforce under federal guidelines.
Maddy summaryHR 1954, the "Do No Harm Act," amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to clarify that RFRA does not override specific federal laws protecting against harm. It explicitly exempts provisions related to anti-discrimination (like the Civil Rights Act), workplace protections (wages, leave, collective activity), child safety, and healthcare access from RFRA's requirements. The bill ensures RFRA cannot be used to challenge government programs or contracts that provide these essential protections. It also clarifies that RFRA applies only to disputes involving government as a party, not private disputes between individuals. This change preserves existing legal safeguards while modifying RFRA's scope.
