Rep. Debbie Dingell

Maddy summaryHR 33 would expand Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing services for beneficiaries, which are currently not covered under Medicare. The bill provides 100% coverage for preventive dental services in 2024, with basic dental services gradually increasing to 80% coverage by 2027. Vision coverage would include routine eye exams and corrective lenses at 80% coverage, while hearing services would cover hearing exams and hearing aids at 80% coverage. The bill includes specific limitations, such as two dental cleanings per year and one pair of glasses every 24 months, with the Secretary of Health and Human Services having authority to apply additional limitations or modify coverage based on medical recommendations. The changes would take effect on January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThe Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2024 provides $850 million in 2025 (increasing to $1.3 billion annually by 2028) for states, territories, and Indian tribes to prevent species from becoming endangered or to aid in recovering already-listed species. It establishes a $97.5 million annual Tribal Wildlife Conservation account and a $187.5 million annual Endangered Species Recovery Fund. The funds would support habitat restoration, species management, and conservation programs, with at least 15% of state funds dedicated to endangered species recovery. These resources are designed to supplement, not replace, existing conservation programs and help avoid the need for species to be listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Maddy summaryThe ProTECT Act of 2024 bans the hunting, taking, or importing of hunting trophies from species listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. It directly affects hunters, importers, and businesses involved in trading trophies of threatened species, which currently face fewer protections than endangered species. The bill extends existing prohibitions - previously limited to endangered species - to explicitly cover threatened species, including banning permits for such activities and defining "trophy" to include processed animal parts. This creates a uniform ban on trophy hunting and trade for all listed threatened species, closing a gap in current law.

Maddy summaryThe Firefighter Cancer Registry Reauthorization Act of 2023 reauthorizes the federal program established by the 2018 Firefighter Cancer Registry Act. It increases annual funding from $2.5 million to $5.5 million and extends the program through fiscal year 2028, replacing the previous 2018-2022 funding period. The registry collects voluntary cancer incidence data from firefighters to help researchers study occupational cancer risks in the profession. This ensures continued data collection to support efforts improving firefighter health and safety.

Maddy summaryHR 7438 directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including 100,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins will be sold to the public at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively), with all surcharge revenue paid to FWC2026 US, Inc. for U.S. soccer programs. These funds must support soccer initiatives, particularly in underserved communities and youth development, as specified in the bill. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued during 2026, with no net cost to the U.S. government.

Maddy summaryThe Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2024 enables victims of human trafficking to seek to vacate certain convictions or expunge arrests related to offenses they committed as a direct result of being trafficked. It establishes a court process where victims can file motions showing their criminal activity was trafficking-related, with courts required to find by preponderance of evidence that the offense was directly tied to trafficking. If granted, the court must expunge all related records, return any fines paid, and treat the individual as if the offense never occurred. The bill also adds a "human trafficking defense" that creates a presumption of duress for trafficking victims in prosecutions. It requires reports on implementation and training for U.S. attorneys on trafficking indicators.

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 summaryThis bill amends the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to improve federal coordination and research on harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. It requires the Interagency Working Group to develop a comprehensive Action Strategy every five years examining both marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms, their causes, ecological impacts, and potential solutions. The bill establishes a National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network to leverage existing systems and new technologies for better monitoring and forecasting, and creates a new "Event of Significance" fund to support assessments and mitigation for particularly severe events. These changes directly affect federal agencies like NOAA and EPA, state and local governments, Tribal communities, and industries like fisheries that rely on healthy water resources.

Maddy summaryHR 2892, the WARN Act, directs the Comptroller General to study how local alert systems deliver weather emergency information during events like storms or power outages. The study will evaluate different alert methods - including social media - and develop best practices for clearer, faster public notifications. It requires a report to Congress within one year, but the bill itself creates no new laws or directly affects any group. This is a procedural study bill focused on improving future emergency communication systems.

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.