Rep. Wesley Bell

Maddy summaryHR 4244 prohibits Medicaid from covering conversion therapy, defined as any paid practice attempting to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. This applies to all Medicaid enrollees and providers starting in the first quarter after the law takes effect. The bill explicitly excludes supportive services like gender transition assistance or counseling focused on acceptance and coping. It directly affects Medicaid-funded healthcare providers who offer conversion therapy and enrollees who might otherwise access such services through Medicaid.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide $20.7 million in compensation ($10.398 million compensatory and $10.398 million punitive) to the two remaining living survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre - Viola Ford Fletcher and Lessie Benningfield Randle - as of May 1, 2025. It requires the Treasury Secretary to pay this amount within 30 days of verifying survivors' identities through a birth certificate, using the Judgment Fund. The payments would fully satisfy all federal claims related to the massacre, preventing future compensation for this specific harm. The bill cites historical precedents like Japanese internment reparations and 9/11 victim compensation to justify the approach, following the survivors' 2024 Oklahoma Supreme Court case dismissal.

Maddy summaryThe No Secret Police Act of 2025 requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other Department of Homeland Security officers working on border security or immigration enforcement to visibly display their official badges or uniforms and provide identification during detentions or arrests. It prohibits officers from wearing face coverings that conceal their face during these interactions. The bill also mandates that the Department report to Congress about tactical gear policies and research technology to improve badge visibility in different conditions like weather or lighting. These changes aim to increase transparency in immigration enforcement encounters.

Maddy summaryHRES 547 is a symbolic resolution recognizing June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month. It does not create new laws or directly affect any individuals or groups; instead, it encourages the public to observe the month through ceremonies and celebrations. The resolution affirms that Caribbean Americans' contributions are integral to U.S. history, progress, and cultural diversity. It supports the month's goals and highlights the community's longstanding role in American society, from historical figures like Alexander Hamilton to modern leaders like Kamala Harris. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal effect but serves to honor this cultural observance.

Maddy summaryThe CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 expands Medicare telehealth coverage by removing geographic restrictions that limited where patients could receive care, expanding the types of health care providers who can offer telehealth services, and eliminating the requirement for an in-person visit before receiving telemental health services. The bill includes specific provisions to support telehealth use for Native American health facilities, rural health clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers. It requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to collect and publish data on telehealth usage and impacts, and to develop resources to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and limited English proficiency. Program integrity measures are added to monitor telehealth billing practices and prevent fraud while maintaining coverage for telehealth services during public health emergencies.

Maddy summaryHR 4212, the SHADE Act, establishes a federal grant program to plant trees in historically underserved urban areas. It directly affects cities and communities in "redlined areas" (low-income neighborhoods historically denied loans) or "intra-urban heat islands" (city zones with high temperatures and low tree cover). The bill authorizes $50 million annually (2026-2036) for grants to states, local governments, tribes, or qualifying nonprofits to fund tree planting, maintenance for 5 years, and community engagement plans. Grants prioritize projects that avoid displacing residents and require planting non-invasive tree species suited to the local environment.

Maddy summaryThe Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace gendered terms like "husband and wife" with gender-neutral language such as "married couple" or "spouses" throughout tax law. This bill affects all married couples filing federal taxes by making the tax code consistent for all married couples regardless of gender. It makes over 30 specific changes to tax code sections, including replacing "his spouse" with "the individual's spouse" and updating references to marital status. The bill does not alter tax rates, deductions, or credits - it only updates language to be more inclusive. This is a technical language update to ensure the tax code treats all married couples equally without gendered references.

Maddy summaryHR 4149 requires the U.S. President to submit biannually a list of foreign individuals or entities undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina's stability, such as those forming illegal parallel institutions or obstructing the Dayton Peace Agreement. It mandates sanctions including asset freezes and visa bans for listed persons, with exceptions for humanitarian aid and national security. The bill specifically targets actions threatening Bosnia's territorial integrity, like those by Republika Srpska officials, and urges EU coordination to sanction figures like Milorad Dodik. Sanctions apply to individuals, their family members (unless they condemn the actions), and entities facilitating transactions for them. The law expires seven years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Women's Health Protection Act of 2025 would protect access to abortion services across the United States by prohibiting states from imposing restrictions that are more burdensome than those on comparable medical procedures. The bill directly affects people seeking abortion care and health care providers by banning restrictions such as mandatory in-person visits, requirements for specific tests, limitations on telemedicine, and rules based on a patient's reason for seeking abortion. It prohibits state laws that single out abortion for unnecessary restrictions while allowing post-viability abortions when necessary to protect a patient's life or health. The bill preempts conflicting state laws and provides enforcement mechanisms through private lawsuits and actions by the Attorney General.

Maddy summaryHR 4106, the Prevent Illegal Gun Sales Act, strengthens gun dealer oversight by requiring three annual compliance inspections (up from one) and increasing penalties for violations to up to five years in prison. It imposes $10,000 civil penalties per violation for unsafe gun storage or failures to maintain records, and mandates physical inventory checks if a dealer unlawfully transfers firearms or 10+ crime guns are traced to them. The bill allows the Attorney General to suspend or revoke dealer licenses for serious violations, including felony convictions, and requires dealers to maintain secure storage. These changes directly affect licensed gun dealers, manufacturers, and importers by tightening accountability for compliance with federal gun laws.