Rep. Paul Tonko

Maddy summaryThe Close the Medigap Act of 2025 would prohibit Medigap insurance issuers from denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on health status, pre-existing conditions, genetic information, or other factors. It requires insurers to spend a minimum percentage of premiums on health care claims and improves the Medicare Plan Finder website to provide clearer information about coverage options, out-of-pocket costs, and guaranteed issue requirements. The bill applies to Medigap policies effective January 1, 2026, with full implementation by 2031, and requires Medigap brokers to disclose payments they receive from insurers. These changes would directly affect Medicare beneficiaries, particularly those with pre-existing conditions who have historically faced barriers to obtaining affordable supplemental coverage.

Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act This bill protects and preserves approximately 225,504 acres of federal land and waters in a specified area in the Rainy River Watershed of Superior National Forest in Minnesota from certain mining, such as sulfide-ore copper mining. (The area is upstream from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.) Specifically, the bill withdraws those acres from  entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. However, the Forest Service is authorized to permit the removal of sand, granite, iron ore, and taconite from national forest system lands within such area if the removal is not detrimental to the water quality, air quality, and health of forest habitat within the Rainy River Watershed. Land or interest in land within such area that is acquired by the United States must be immediately withdrawn in accordance with this bill.

Maddy summaryHR 576 makes Executive Order 14096 legally binding by codifying it into federal law. This order directs federal agencies to prioritize environmental justice, focusing on communities disproportionately affected by pollution and environmental hazards. The bill requires agencies to integrate environmental justice considerations into their decision-making processes, directly affecting federal departments managing environmental programs. It transforms an executive directive into a permanent legal requirement, ensuring continued focus on equitable environmental policies.

Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2025 This bill expands Medicare coverage of chiropractic services to include all services provided by chiropractors, rather than only subluxation corrections through manual manipulation of the spine.

This bill increases the annual limit on the tax credit for qualified railroad track maintenance expenses (also referred to as the short line railroad tax credit) and expands eligibility for claiming the credit. Under current law, the tax credit is limited each tax year to $3,500 multiplied by the sum of the number of miles of railroad track owned or leased by the taxpayer (miles owned or leased) and the number of railroad track miles assigned to the taxpayer by a Class II or III railroad (miles assigned). This bill increases the annual limit to $6,100 multiplied by the sum of miles owned or leased and miles assigned. The $6,100 amount used in the calculation of the tax credit limit is adjusted for inflation for tax years beginning after 2025. The bill also expands eligibility for the tax credit to include gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2024. Under current law, the tax credit is limited to gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2015.

Maddy summaryThe Inaugural Fund Integrity Act regulates donations to official presidential inaugural committees. It prohibits these committees from accepting money from corporations, foreign nationals, or donations made under another person's name. Individuals can donate up to $50,000 annually (adjusted for inflation), and committees must disclose all donations over $1,000 within 24 hours, plus detailed final reports showing all spending over $200. Unused funds may still be transferred to tax-exempt charities. This applies to inaugural committees organizing the 2029 and later presidential inaugurations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, or sex characteristics in military service. It requires that eligibility for military service and all personnel policies consider only an individual's ability to meet job-specific military standards, banning the use of race, color, national origin, religion, or gender-related factors. The law directly affects all current and prospective members of the Armed Forces by mandating that military occupational standards apply equally to everyone. It amends Title 10 of the U.S. Code to establish these protections as a formal requirement for all military personnel policies.

Maddy summaryHR 429, the Rosie the Riveter Commemorative Coin Act, authorizes the U.S. Treasury to mint and sell three types of commemorative coins ($5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar) to honor women who worked on the U.S. home front during World War II. The coins will be sold at face value plus surcharges ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, $5 for half-dollar), with all surcharge revenue directed to the Rosie the Riveter Trust to support the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and related educational programs. The coins must be issued between January 1, 2028, and December 31, 2028, in specified quantities (50,000 gold, 400,000 silver, 750,000 half-dollar), with all costs covered by the sales revenue to avoid net government expense.

Maddy summaryHR 433, the Department of Education Protection Act, prohibits the use of federal funds to reorganize the Department of Education. Specifically, it blocks any spending from current fiscal year appropriations on activities that would decentralize the department, reduce staffing, or alter its structure, responsibilities, or authority relative to its organization as of January 1, 2025. The bill directly affects the Department of Education by preventing structural changes to its existing offices and operations. This is a procedural measure focused solely on preserving the current departmental framework, not on changing education policy or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires colleges and universities to establish a policy for awarding posthumous degrees to students who were enrolled in a degree program, died before completing it, and were in good academic standing at the time of death. It amends the Higher Education Act to mandate this institutional policy and updates accreditation standards to ensure they do not consider the number of posthumous degrees awarded. The policy must be implemented within one year of the law's enactment. This directly affects higher education institutions by changing their degree-issuance procedures for deceased students meeting specific criteria.