Rep. Ilhan Omar

Maddy summaryHR 732, the "Save Medicare Act," renames the Medicare Advantage program to "Alternative Private Health Plan" in all federal references. This change directly affects private health plans sold under Medicare Part C, requiring all future materials to use the new name by plan years starting October 15, 2023. The bill also imposes a $100,000 civil penalty for any entity using "Medicare" in a plan's title after enactment. The transition period allows both terms to be used until the deadline to prevent confusion for beneficiaries and providers. The law focuses solely on terminology, not program benefits or funding.

Maddy summaryHR 716, the Fair COLA for Seniors Act of 2023, changes how cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated for Social Security and related benefits by using the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E) instead of the standard Consumer Price Index. This affects Social Security beneficiaries, veterans receiving disability compensation or survivor benefits, and federal retirees under the Civil Service and Military Retirement Systems. The bill requires that any COLA increase for Social Security also applies to these other benefits using the CPI-E, which better reflects inflation experienced by seniors. The change takes effect for benefit determinations starting September 2023.

Maddy summaryHR 549, the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act, removes waiting periods for disability and Medicare coverage for people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Specifically, it amends Social Security Act sections to allow immediate eligibility for disability insurance benefits (eliminating the standard waiting period) and immediate Medicare coverage (waiving the 24-month waiting period) for these patients. The bill directly affects individuals with metastatic breast cancer who would otherwise face delays in accessing critical benefits. These changes apply to applications filed or benefits beginning after the bill's enactment date. The law makes no other policy changes beyond these specific eligibility adjustments.

Maddy summaryThe EACH Act of 2023 would require federal health programs - including Medicaid, Medicare, the Indian Health Service, and TRICARE - to cover abortion services without restrictions. It repeals a provision in the Affordable Care Act that allowed states to limit abortion coverage in health insurance plans sold through state marketplaces. The bill also prohibits the federal government from restricting abortion coverage in private health insurance plans. This would directly affect millions of people, particularly low-income individuals and people of color, who are disproportionately enrolled in Medicaid and currently face barriers to abortion care due to coverage restrictions.

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 summaryThis bill provides tax relief for individuals affected by specific disasters by excluding certain compensation payments from taxable income. It covers wildfire relief payments for losses incurred in federally declared wildfires after 2014 (including expenses like repairs, lost wages, and emotional distress), and payments related to the February 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment (covering property damage, closing costs, and inconvenience). Payments already covered by insurance or other sources are excluded from this tax benefit. The relief applies to payments received during 2020-2025 for wildfires and from February 2023 onward for the East Palestine incident, with extended deadlines for related tax claims.

Maddy summaryHR 10314, the National Resilience and Recovery Fund Act, establishes a new trust fund in the U.S. Treasury to support disaster resilience and recovery efforts. The fund will be financed by taxes on crude oil and natural gas production from the Gulf of Mexico, environmental taxes on petroleum, and windfall profits taxes on oil producers. Funds will be allocated to four specific federal programs: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund, and Flood Mitigation Assistance. The bill also clarifies tax definitions for crude oil and sets a 10-cent-per-barrel tax rate for the National Resilience and Recovery Fund financing.

Maddy summaryHRES 1604 designates December 3 as National Chemical Disaster Awareness Day to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Bhopal chemical disaster and promote public awareness of chemical safety risks. This non-binding resolution does not create new laws but calls for the House to recognize Bhopal survivors' advocacy, urge the Department of Justice to address the Bhopal case (including actions related to Dow Inc. and India), and engage with survivors to improve understanding of chemical disaster prevention. The resolution highlights ongoing risks from hazardous facilities and disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities, emphasizing human rights and anti-discrimination principles in U.S. foreign policy. It serves as a symbolic gesture to honor victims and encourage proactive safety measures, without imposing regulatory requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. government to take specific actions to support peace in Sudan, including imposing sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and blocking humanitarian aid. It mandates the President to submit reports identifying those responsible for such actions and to impose sanctions against them, with exceptions for humanitarian aid. The bill establishes a Special Presidential Envoy for Sudan to coordinate U.S. diplomatic efforts and requires a comprehensive strategy to support civilian protection, humanitarian access, and inclusive peace processes. It includes specific provisions to empower Sudanese women and youth in peace processes and prohibits the sale of major defense equipment to countries supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) or Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Truth and Healing Commission to investigate the history and impacts of U.S. Indian Boarding School policies on Native American communities, including cultural, emotional, and physical effects on survivors, descendants, and tribal communities. The Commission will document these impacts through research, public meetings, and testimony, working with two advisory committees focused on Native American perspectives and Federal agency coordination. The Commission will operate for six years, with annual reports to Congress and a final report containing recommendations for Federal action. The bill also includes provisions for managing burial sites related to boarding schools and ensures the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act applies to remains found on Federal lands related to these schools.