Rep. Jefferson Van Drew

Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2025 This bill provides continuing appropriations to the Coast Guard for pay and benefits when there is a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse. Under the bill, a  Coast Guard-specific funding lapse occurs when (1) a bill providing appropriations for the Coast Guard for a fiscal year has not been enacted before the beginning of that fiscal year, and no joint resolution providing continuing appropriations for the Coast Guard is in effect; and (2) a bill providing appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for the fiscal year has been enacted before the beginning of the fiscal year, or a joint resolution providing continuing appropriation for DOD is in effect.  If a Coast Guard-specific funding lapse occurs, the bill provides appropriations to the Coast Guard for pay and allowances for military members of the Coast Guard who perform active service or inactive-duty training; pay and benefits for certain civilian employees and contract employees; the payment of a death gratuity; payments for travel related to funerals, the dignified transfer of remains, and unit memorial services; and the temporary continuation of the basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Coast Guard dying on active duty. The bill generally provides the appropriations to the Coast Guard until the earlier of the enactment of specified Coast Guard appropriations legislation, the termination of the availability of appropriations for DOD, or two weeks after the beginning of the Coast Guard-specific funding lapse.

Maddy summaryThe American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act amends the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act to increase funding for victims of terrorism. It directs the transfer of approximately $1.5 billion from the Binance Holdings Limited case, plus 50% of excess unobligated balances from Department of Justice and Treasury forfeiture funds, into the Victims Fund. The bill establishes deadlines for agencies to deposit funds (within 30 days of receipt or 15 days after enactment), requires annual reports on fund activity, and authorizes annual payments to eligible claimants starting in 2026. This legislation directly affects terrorism victims who receive compensation from the fund and federal agencies that handle forfeited assets from terrorism-related cases.

Maddy summaryHR 1466, the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of 2025, creates uniform federal liability protection for individuals and entities involved with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) used in cardiac emergencies. It directly affects businesses, public venues, and organizations that own, manage, or use AEDs - especially those operating across multiple states where inconsistent state laws previously discouraged AED deployment. The bill shields users, property owners/managers, and AED owners from civil lawsuits for harm caused during emergency AED use, unless the harm resulted from gross negligence or willful misconduct. This preempts conflicting state laws, removing legal barriers to wider AED placement without requiring any new AED installations.

Maddy summaryHR 1505, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, establishes federal standards for collective bargaining rights for public safety officers (including police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel) in states that do not meet minimum requirements. The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) will determine after 180 days whether a state law "substantially provides" key rights, such as forming unions, negotiating wages/hours, and using binding arbitration to resolve disputes. If a state fails this assessment, federal bargaining rules apply within two years, but existing state laws with stronger protections remain valid. The bill explicitly respects state laws that exceed its standards and exempts small jurisdictions (under 5,000 population or 25 full-time employees).

Maddy summaryHR 1477 creates a new Animal Cruelty Crimes Section within the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division to enforce federal animal cruelty laws. This unit will coordinate with agencies like the FBI, USDA, and U.S. Marshals to investigate and prosecute cases, addressing current gaps in enforcement. The bill requires the unit to submit annual reports to Congress detailing prosecutions, convictions, and investigations where charges weren't filed. It does not change existing animal cruelty laws but establishes a dedicated federal unit to improve enforcement of current statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require states to create a simplified process for out-of-state healthcare providers to join Medicaid and CHIP programs. Qualified providers (those already enrolled in Medicare or another state's program with low fraud risk) could enroll without excessive screening and would be approved for five years. It directly affects children under 21 enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP by expanding access to providers outside their state, particularly in underserved areas. The change applies to all states' Medicaid programs but takes effect three years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Veterans Affairs grant program to fund peer-to-peer mental health support for veterans. It provides up to $250,000 per grant to eligible organizations (like veteran nonprofits, service groups, or state agencies) to hire veterans as peer specialists who host nonclinical support groups and offer 24/7 mental health assistance. The program prohibits grant recipients from collecting or reporting veterans' personal information. It directly affects veterans seeking accessible, nonclinical mental health support through peer-led services.

Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes the VA's Foreign Medical Program by removing the requirement that veterans must have a service-connected disability to receive overseas medical care. It directly affects veterans seeking medical treatment abroad through the VA, expanding eligibility to those needing care regardless of disability status. Key provisions include updating payment systems to allow electronic reimbursements to providers and assessing contracts with non-VA entities to build a broader care network. These changes aim to simplify access, reduce administrative burdens, and improve the delivery of foreign medical services for eligible veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Veterans Affairs (VA) coverage for veterans with permanent and total service-connected disabilities needing medical care outside the U.S. It allows the VA to pay for hospital care and medical services abroad if the care meets U.S. medical standards and uses FDA-approved medications. Key provisions include requiring direct deposit for faster reimbursements, enabling digital submission and tracking of forms via VA mobile apps, and mandating a VA report to Congress within two years on implementation. The policy directly affects veterans with qualifying disabilities seeking necessary medical treatment overseas, modernizing how the VA handles foreign medical coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects certain public safety workers - like police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel - from job loss or punishment for expressing personal opinions about work-related issues. It allows covered employees to sue employers if they face adverse actions (like termination) for speaking out on topics such as working conditions, safety equipment, pay, policies, or even political/religious views. However, the protection does not cover speech made while on duty, threats of violence, discrimination, disclosure of confidential personal information, or calls to withhold essential services. The law explicitly states it doesn’t override existing civil rights laws like 42 U.S.C. 1983.