Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy

Washington, D.C. Admission Act This bill provides for the establishment of the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, and its admission into the United States. The state is composed of most of the territory of the District of Columbia (DC), excluding a specified area that encompasses the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court building, federal monuments, and federal office buildings adjacent to the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol. The excluded territory shall be known as the Capital and serve as the seat of the government of the United States, as provided for in Article I of the Constitution. The state may not impose taxes on federal property except as Congress permits. The bill provides for the DC Mayor to issue a proclamation for the first elections to Congress of two Senators and one Representative of the state. The bill eliminates the office of Delegate to the House of Representatives. The bill applies current DC laws to the state. DC judicial proceedings and contractual obligations shall continue under the state’s authority. The bill also provides for specified federal obligations to transfer to the state upon its certification that it has funds and laws in place to assume the obligations. These include maintaining a retirement fund for judges and operating public defender services.  The bill establishes a commission that is generally comprised of members who are appointed by DC and federal government officials to advise on an orderly transition to statehood.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1627) is a ceremonial measure honoring the late former President Jimmy Carter, Jr. It expresses the House's appreciation for his public service and deep sympathy to his family following his death on December 29, 2024. The resolution does not create new laws or policies; it simply directs the Clerk to transmit a copy to Carter's family. It commemorates his life, legacy, and work as a diplomat, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and advocate for human rights, without implementing any concrete policy changes.

Maddy summaryHR 8662, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act, requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to conduct a feasibility study on whether to count commuting time between employees' regular work locations and airport parking/transit stops as on-duty hours. The study, due within 270 days of enactment, must examine commute times at different airport sizes (small, medium, large hubs), current commuting patterns, potential employee and agency benefits, mobile reporting methods, and costs - including retirement pay implications. The bill directly affects TSA employees working at airport locations and mandates the study be submitted to relevant congressional committees. This procedural bill does not change current policy but sets a process for evaluating a potential adjustment to how commute time is treated.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to explicitly prohibit the President from using emergency powers to impose import taxes (tariffs), tariff-rate quotas, or other import quotas. It directly affects the President's authority under this law, removing a potential tool for trade restrictions during emergencies. The key provision inserts a new subsection (c) clarifying that the President cannot impose such import barriers through emergency authority. This is a procedural change to existing law, not a new policy affecting specific industries or individuals.

Maddy summaryThe Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of 2024 would expand dental coverage under Medicare and Medicaid by adding "oral health services" as a covered benefit. Starting in 2025, Medicare would cover 100% of preventive dental services and 80% of other services. Medicaid would require states to cover oral health services for adults (with some exceptions), including mobile dental services to overcome access barriers, and would increase federal funding for these services by 15 percentage points. The bill also creates new programs to expand the dental workforce through training, loan repayment, and partnerships with dental schools, with specific provisions for veterans, prisoners, and Indian Health Service.

Maddy summaryHR 8796, the "Stop Comstock Act," removes outdated restrictions from federal law that previously banned the distribution of materials related to contraception and abortion as "obscene" or "indecent." The bill amends Title 18 and the Tariff Act by deleting references to "indecent," "immoral," "unlawful abortion," and "procuring abortion" from provisions governing obscene materials. It clarifies that the law only prohibits "obscene materials" in commerce, eliminating broad restrictions on reproductive health information. This directly affects internet platforms, healthcare providers, and individuals sharing reproductive health resources by removing legal barriers to their distribution.

Maddy summaryThe Essential Caregivers Act of 2024 requires nursing homes and similar facilities to allow residents to designate essential caregivers who provide emotional support or assistance with daily activities. During emergencies when regular visitation is restricted, facilities must permit at least one essential caregiver access to residents daily and cannot deny access without following specific procedures. Facilities may deny access for a maximum of 7 days during emergencies (or 14 days with state approval), and must provide a written explanation and appeal process if access is denied. The bill establishes a 48-hour appeal process for residents and caregivers to challenge denials, with facilities required to prove violations during appeals. This law applies to Medicare skilled nursing facilities, Medicaid nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, and certain inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Architect of the Capitol to create a time capsule for the U.S. Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary of independence). Congressional leadership will determine its contents, including representative materials about the Semiquincentennial, copies of key legislative milestones, and a message to future Congress. The capsule will be sealed on the Capitol's West Lawn by July 4, 2026, and remain unopened until July 4, 2276, when it will be presented to the 244th Congress for their consideration. The bill is procedural and does not affect citizens or change existing laws.

Maddy summaryThe Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2023 repeals a 2018 payment adjustment for Medicare home health agencies, restoring prior payment rates for 2024 and subsequent years. It requires the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to analyze how home health agencies' financial performance affects access to care, including reviewing spending and utilization data across Medicare, Medicaid, and other payers. Starting in 2025, the bill mandates home health agencies to report detailed data on visit volumes and payments by payer source (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurers) through updated cost reports. This data will help MedPAC assess payment policy impacts on access to home health services for Medicare beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryThe Social Security 2100 Act would significantly enhance Social Security benefits for millions of Americans by increasing monthly payments for retirees, disabled workers, widows/widowers, and children. Key provisions include raising the minimum benefit for long-term low earners, improving cost-of-living adjustments using a more accurate index, eliminating the 5-month waiting period for disability benefits, and extending child benefits to age 26. The bill also changes how Social Security taxes are calculated by applying them to income above $400,000 and establishes a unified Social Security Trust Fund to manage program finances. Most provisions would apply to benefits payable from 2025 through 2034, affecting all current and future Social Security beneficiaries.