Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy

Maddy summaryHR 2880 provides due process protections for federal employees who are promoted to career positions (in the competitive service, excepted service, or Senior Executive Service) and serve under a probationary period. It requires these employees to be covered by existing federal employment laws, including special protections for Department of Veterans Affairs staff. The bill also allows employees removed from such positions between January 20, 2025, and the law's enactment to be reinstated to their former or equivalent role with backpay. Political appointees are excluded from these protections and reinstatement provisions.

Maddy summaryHR 2855, the Protecting Medical Research Funding Act, prevents the U.S. government from delaying, moving, or redirecting existing federal funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) without new specific legislation passed after this bill's enactment. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to annually certify to Congress that NIH funding is not being improperly redirected, with these certifications due 30 days after the bill passes and each year thereafter. The bill directly affects how NIH funds are managed, ensuring they cannot be reprogrammed for other purposes without explicit new congressional approval. This is a procedural safeguard focused solely on protecting existing NIH appropriations from administrative changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to strengthen the role of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. It requires the DHS Secretary to assign permanent staff and dedicated resources to support the officer's duties, ensuring they have consistent capacity to address civil rights concerns. The bill directly affects DHS agencies and the public interacting with them, as it mandates structural support for the officer's oversight role. The key change is the requirement for permanent staffing and resources, moving beyond temporary arrangements to provide ongoing civil rights oversight within DHS.

Maddy summaryHR 2837 establishes an Advisory Council under the Department of Health and Human Services to improve access to existing resources for victims of gun violence. The council, composed of federal agency heads and appointed victims/support professionals, will assess needs, identify effective programs, and compile a public resource hub with contact information for medical, financial, mental health, legal, and government support services. It requires a detailed report within 180 days of enactment and a follow-up report within two years, focusing on gaps in current assistance and coordination. The bill directly affects individuals defined as victims of gun violence (including those wounded, threatened, witnessing incidents, or related to victims) and aims to connect them to existing federal, state, and nonprofit resources without authorizing new funding. The council will sunset after five years.

Maddy summaryHR 2888, the "Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act," terminates specific executive orders imposing tariffs (EOs 14257, 14193, and 14194) and requires congressional approval for new tariffs or trade restrictions. It directly affects the President, who can no longer unilaterally impose or increase tariffs without Congress passing a joint resolution approving the action. Key mechanisms include mandating a formal joint resolution process for tariff decisions (with limited exceptions for existing antidumping duties and trade agreements) and applying expedited congressional procedures. This bill shifts authority from the executive branch to Congress for major trade policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents the U.S. government from diverting, delaying, or reassigning federal funds specifically designated for the National Weather Service and Great Lakes programs without new congressional approval. It directly affects NOAA’s operations in these areas by requiring that existing appropriations cannot be altered without explicit new legislation referencing this bill. The law mandates annual certification from NOAA’s Administrator to five congressional committees confirming compliance with these funding protections. This is a procedural measure focused on safeguarding current funding streams, not creating new programs or altering weather service operations.

Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform Act of 2025 or the SOAR Act of 2025 This bill establishes certain requirements with respect to the payment and provision of supplemental oxygen and related services under Medicare. For example, the bill provides for separate payments, indexed to inflation, of oxygen and related equipment, supplies, and services under Medicare (rather than under the competitive acquisition program). It also specifically covers services that are provided by respiratory therapists under Medicare and provides for an additional payment adjustment for these services. Additionally, the bill (1) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to develop an electronic template for providers to use when prescribing oxygen and related equipment, supplies, and services; and (2) establishes certain rights for beneficiaries receiving these items and services, such as the right to choose their suppliers and to receive clear communications and be informed about the services provided.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 315) is a purely commemorative measure that formally recognizes the 159th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866. It acknowledges the historical significance of the 1866 Act as the first federal law defining citizenship and affirming equal legal protection for all Americans, regardless of race. The resolution highlights the Act's role as a foundational precedent for the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no legal effect or policy impact on any individuals or groups.

Maddy summaryHR 2762 establishes a new Title X Clinic Fund to expand federal funding for family planning clinics. It appropriates $512 million annually (2026-2035) for clinic grants and $50 million for infrastructure like construction and equipment. The bill requires clinics receiving this funding to provide nondirective pregnancy counseling, ensuring patients receive neutral information about all options - including prenatal care, adoption, and termination - upon request. This directly affects Title X clinics nationwide and the low-income patients they serve, primarily by increasing financial support and standardizing counseling practices.

Maddy summaryHR 2767, the BRAIN Act, aims to advance brain tumor research and improve patient care by requiring the NIH to create a public database of tumor samples collected with federal funding. It authorizes $50 million annually for a Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network to accelerate treatment development and $10 million for cellular immunotherapy research (including CAR-T therapies) targeting brain tumors. The bill also mandates a national awareness campaign to increase understanding of cancer clinical trials and biomarker testing, plus $5 million yearly for pilot programs studying survivor care coordination and follow-up services. Additionally, it directs the FDA to issue guidance ensuring brain tumor patients can access clinical trials. These provisions directly affect patients, researchers, and healthcare providers focused on brain tumors and rare cancers.