Rep. Jefferson Van Drew

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) Congress should conduct investigations to determine the impacts of offshore wind development, (2) Congress should use the findings of the investigations to develop legislation to mitigate potential negative environmental or economic impacts of such development, and (3) a moratorium should be placed on leasing and construction of offshore wind farms along the Atlantic coast until the investigations and their findings are presented to Congress and the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a four-year pilot program providing free dental care to 1,500 veterans with type 2 diabetes who are enrolled in VA care but lack access to VA dental coverage, are aged 40-70, and have gum disease (periodontitis). It requires enrollment at five VA facilities, with one-third of participants having mild gum disease and two-thirds having moderate to severe cases, and mandates annual dental evaluations and health outcome tracking. The program aims to determine if timely dental treatment correlates with reduced complications from chronic conditions, collecting data for a congressional report. It does not change existing VA dental benefits but tests whether improved periodontal care lowers long-term healthcare costs for this specific veteran group.

Maddy summaryHR 2630, the Safe Step Act, requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to establish a clear, transparent process for patients or their doctors to request exceptions to medication step therapy protocols. These protocols typically force patients to try cheaper drugs first before covering more expensive alternatives. The bill mandates that plans must approve exceptions when prior treatments failed, delay would cause serious harm, a treatment is unsafe, or a patient is stable on a previously approved drug, with strict 72-hour (or 24-hour in emergencies) decision timelines. It also requires plans to publish the exception process online and limit documentation requests to only necessary medical information. This law directly affects health insurers, employers offering health plans, and patients using step therapy for prescription drugs.

Maddy summaryThis bill terminates the national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020, under the National Emergencies Act. It ends the executive branch's authority to use emergency powers related to that specific declaration. The resolution passed both chambers in early 2023 and took effect April 10, 2023, without creating new policies or affecting specific groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Medicaid coverage for incarcerated individuals during the 30 days preceding their release from public institutions. It directly affects people transitioning from prisons or jails back into communities by extending health coverage during this critical period. The key mechanism amends the Social Security Act to remove a Medicaid exclusion for this 30-day window. Additionally, it requires an 18-month report analyzing correctional healthcare standards, current discharge practices, and the potential impact of this coverage extension on post-release health access.

Helping Kids Cope Act This bill establishes programs within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support pediatric behavioral health care. Specifically, HRSA must award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible health care providers for (1) integrating and coordinating pediatric behavioral health care within communities, and (2) pediatric mental health and substance use disorder workforce training. Additionally, HRSA must award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to hospitals or rural health clinics that predominately treat individuals under age 21 for expanding their capacity to provide pediatric behavioral health services. Recipients may use awards for constructing or modernizing sites of care and enhancing digital infrastructure, telehealth capabilities, or other improvements to patient care infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHR 1839, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, makes the illicit use and distribution of xylazine a federal crime by adding it to the Controlled Substances Act. The bill broadly defines xylazine to cover numerous chemical variants and prohibits human use or non-licit distribution, while preserving legitimate veterinary and pharmaceutical uses. It requires tracking xylazine in drug supply chains and mandates two reports to Congress within 1 and 4 years on its prevalence, sources, and whether it should be rescheduled. The bill directly affects individuals distributing or using xylazine illicitly, including as an additive to drugs like fentanyl, and aims to address its public health risks. Congress declared illicit xylazine an "emerging drug threat" under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the law governing Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for uniformed service members stationed in the U.S. It changes the calculation method so that BAH amounts must equal the actual monthly cost of adequate housing in each location, as determined by the Secretary of Defense. This directly affects active-duty service members and their families who receive BAH for housing. The key provision replaces the previous formula with a requirement that BAH payments match local housing costs for members in the same pay grade and dependency status. The change ensures BAH reflects current housing expenses rather than an older calculation method.

Maddy summaryHRES 271 designates March 30, 2023, as "National Beauty and Wellness Education Appreciation Day" to recognize educators who train students for licensed careers in the beauty and wellness industry, including cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, and massage therapists. The resolution highlights that these educators prepare graduates for in-demand occupations projected to grow 11-22% by 2031, supporting an industry generating over $100 billion in annual sales and employing 2.3 million workers. It emphasizes the role of state-licensed training programs in meeting industry demand and ensuring professionals meet health, safety, and technical standards. This is a ceremonial resolution with no new legal requirements or funding.

Maddy summaryThe ALIGN Act (HR 2406) permanently allows businesses to deduct the full cost of qualified equipment and machinery in the year of purchase, rather than spreading the deduction over multiple years. This applies to property placed in service after September 27, 2017, directly affecting businesses that make capital investments in eligible assets like manufacturing equipment or commercial facilities. The bill eliminates the previous requirement to depreciate these costs over time, reducing taxable income in the purchase year. It makes a temporary 2017 tax provision permanent, impacting businesses across various industries that purchase qualifying property.