Rep. Angie Craig

Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2025 This bill expands certain health professional programs and Medicare covered services to include physical therapists. Specifically, the bill expands the National Health Service Corps to include physical therapists and provides for the designation of specific health professional target areas for physical therapists under the program. The bill also expands covered services of rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers under Medicare to include physical therapy services. The bill increases funds for FY2025 for the corps and requires a certain amount of funds to be used for student loan repayments for participating physical therapists in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.

Maddy summaryHR 5660, the Pay Our Military Act, ensures military personnel and support staff receive pay during a government funding gap in fiscal year 2026. It appropriates funds from the Treasury to cover pay and allowances for active-duty troops, reservists, Department of Defense civilian employees, and contractors supporting military operations, if Congress hasn’t passed regular funding by then. The funding remains available until either regular appropriations are enacted or January 1, 2027, whichever comes first. This is a temporary measure to prevent disruptions in military pay during budget negotiations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents federal agencies from terminating employees during a government shutdown caused by a lapse in discretionary funding. It prohibits removals of civil service employees at any agency affected by a funding gap, and if an employee is wrongfully removed, they can return to their job with back pay once funding resumes. The law directly protects all federal employees covered by the civil service system during shutdowns. It applies automatically to any funding lapse, requiring automatic reinstatement without needing separate legal action.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires home medical devices like blood pressure monitors and sleep apnea machines to include nonvisual accessibility features (such as screen readers or audio feedback) so blind or low-vision users can operate them independently and safely. It sets a standard that devices must be as effective for these users as for sighted individuals, applying to Class II/III devices cleared under FDA's 510(k) process for home use. The FDA must issue proposed regulations within one year and final rules within two years of enactment, with manufacturers needing to comply one year after the final rule takes effect. Devices may qualify for waivers only if compliance would cause a "fundamental alteration" or "undue hardship" for the manufacturer, though the bill emphasizes accessibility can often be integrated without extra cost during design.

Maddy summaryThe Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2025 would establish a federal grant program to fund school-based mental health services for students in grades K-12, particularly those experiencing trauma, grief, suicide risk, or violence. It directly affects schools (including Bureau of Indian Education schools), students, and community mental health providers through partnerships that must include school districts and local mental health entities. Key provisions require services to be culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, and integrated with positive behavioral supports, with grants capped at $2 million per award for 5 years (renewable) and funded at $300 million annually for 2027-2028. Recipients must report annually on program outcomes, ensure equitable access across urban and rural areas, and comply with privacy laws like HIPAA and FERPA.

Maddy summaryThis resolution condemns the use of federal regulatory agencies (like the FCC) or lawsuits to suppress lawful speech critical of political parties or the President, specifically referencing concerns about tactics mirroring authoritarian practices. It does not create new laws but formally warns that such actions undermine First Amendment protections and democratic norms. The resolution directly affects media organizations, journalists, and public discourse by calling on government agencies to avoid using their power for political retaliation. It reaffirms the House’s commitment to protecting free expression and urges officials to refrain from pressuring media to silence criticism.

Maddy summaryHR 5521, the Peace Corps Volunteers Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025, authorizes a single Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded to the Peace Corps organization. The medal recognizes all volunteers who served between August 1961 and December 2026, commemorating their 65-year contributions to global development and international relations. The award, to be presented by September 22, 2026, will be displayed at Peace Corps headquarters and other relevant locations. This symbolic honor acknowledges volunteers' work in sectors like education, health, and community development across 140+ countries.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Welles Remy Crowther, a volunteer firefighter and equities trader who died saving others during the September 11, 2001, attacks. The medal, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be given to Crowther’s mother, Alison Crowther, following a formal presentation by congressional leaders. The bill also permits the U.S. Mint to sell bronze duplicates of the medal at cost to cover production expenses. It is a purely commemorative measure with no legislative or regulatory impact.

Maddy summaryHR 5529, the Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act, changes how veteran disability payments are treated when determining eligibility for low-income housing programs. Specifically, it amends the tax code to exclude disability compensation or pension payments (under 38 U.S.C. chapters 11 or 15) from income calculations for low-income housing tax credits and residential rental project bonds. This means disabled veterans applying for these housing assistance programs will not have their disability benefits counted as income, potentially making them eligible for more housing options they otherwise might have been disqualified from. The bill directly affects disabled veterans seeking affordable housing through these federally supported programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Defense to restore access to all curricula, books, and learning materials previously available at Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools by 30 days after enactment, and prohibits new restrictions until the 2026-2027 school year. It adds new procedural requirements for future directives affecting DODEA schools, mandating advisory committee reviews and congressional notice before changes to curricula or materials. The bill also nullifies specific executive orders (including those restricting "radical indoctrination" or "gender ideology") that impacted DODEA schools and directs a study on creating an independent body to oversee DODEA curricula. It directly affects military-connected students and schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity.