Rep. Thomas R. Suozzi

Maddy summaryHR 158, the CLEAN Elections Act, requires all states to use nonpartisan independent commissions - composed of equal numbers from the two largest political parties and excluding elected officials - to draw both congressional and state legislative district boundaries. This applies starting with the redistricting cycle following the 2020 census for congressional districts and the first post-enactment cycle for state legislative districts. States must certify this process to the federal Election Assistance Commission to continue receiving federal funds for election administration. The bill aims to reduce partisan influence in redistricting by mandating independent, nonpartisan commission oversight.

Maddy summaryThe Let America Vote Act (HR 155) requires states to allow voters not registered with a political party (unaffiliated voters) to vote in primary elections for federal, state, and local offices, but not in more than one party's primary for the same election. It prohibits states from sharing unaffiliated voters' personal information with political parties for fundraising and prevents states from treating such voters as affiliated with a party after they cast a primary ballot. The bill also bans noncitizens from voting in any taxpayer-funded election for public office (including federal, state, and local races) and ties federal election funding to states' certification of compliance. To support implementation, the bill provides transition grants equal to 2% of a state's federal election funds for four years to cover costs related to these changes.

Maddy summaryHR 138, the Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act of 2025, expands tax-advantaged health savings by allowing taxpayers to use funds in Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) to cover medical expenses for their parents, not just their spouse. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to explicitly include parents as eligible dependents under these accounts, removing prior restrictions. This change directly affects caregivers - primarily adult children supporting aging parents - who will now have greater flexibility to use pre-tax funds for their parents' medical care. The provisions apply to expenses incurred after December 31, 2024, and aim to reduce out-of-pocket costs for family caregivers.

Maddy summaryHR 170, the USPS Subpoena Authority Act, would expand the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) ability to issue subpoenas during investigations into specific violations. The bill allows the Postmaster General to subpoena documents and testimony related to offenses like postal regulation breaches, mail fraud under Title 18, other federal laws listed in the Postal Service's authority, or Controlled Substances Act violations involving mail. It clarifies that subpoenas can require production of relevant records and testimony from custodians, but exempts investigations under section 3005(a) from requiring testimony. The bill also restricts approval of subpoenas to the General Counsel, a Deputy General Counsel, or the Chief Postal Inspector.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax incentive for upgrading fire sprinkler systems in existing high-rise residential buildings. It amends the tax code to treat qualifying sprinkler retrofits as 15-year property, allowing building owners to deduct costs faster through accelerated depreciation. The incentive applies only to retrofits meeting NFPA 13 standards in buildings with occupiable floors over 75 feet above fire department access, installed in residential properties placed in service before the retrofit. This directly affects owners of qualifying older high-rise buildings seeking to modernize fire safety systems.

Maddy summaryThe Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2023 expands Medicare coverage for obesity treatment by allowing a wider range of healthcare providers - including nurse practitioners, dietitians, psychologists, and community-based counseling programs - to deliver intensive behavioral therapy for obesity, provided they coordinate with primary care providers. It also adds Medicare Part D coverage for medications used to treat obesity or for weight loss management in overweight individuals with related health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. These changes directly affect Medicare beneficiaries, particularly older adults (65+), who face higher obesity rates and associated costs, including $50 billion annually in Medicare spending for obesity-related care. The bill requires annual reports to Congress on implementation to improve coordination of obesity care across federal health programs.

Maddy summaryThe Autism CARES Act of 2024 reauthorizes and enhances federal programs supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder. It requires the National Institutes of Health to expand research to include more fields like gerontology and psychiatry, and to ensure research reflects the full range of needs of people with autism, including those with co-occurring conditions. The bill mandates regular reports to Congress on progress, mental health needs, and transition services for young adults with autism, while increasing funding for autism-related programs from fiscal year 2025 through 2029. This legislation directly affects individuals with autism, their families, caregivers, and healthcare providers by improving access to evidence-based services and research.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 1097 (Everett Alvarez, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023), authorizes the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Everett Alvarez, Jr., in recognition of his service as a U.S. Navy pilot and Vietnam War prisoner of war. It directly honors Alvarez, who was the first U.S. pilot shot down in the Vietnam War, spent over 8.5 years in captivity, and later served in the Peace Corps and Veterans Administration. The bill’s key mechanism is directing the U.S. Mint to strike a gold medal bearing his name and image, with bronze duplicates available for sale to cover costs. It does not create new policies or affect any group beyond the honoree.

Maddy summaryThe Taxpayer Protection and Preparer Proficiency Act of 2024 establishes new standards for tax return preparers, requiring them to pass a basic exam, complete annual continuing education (limited to 15 hours), and undergo a background check to ensure competency and trustworthiness. It reinstates a program for registered tax return preparers and mandates that tax returns they prepare display a unique identifying number, with limited exceptions for preparers working under licensed professionals like attorneys or CPAs. The bill also grants the IRS authority to revoke a preparer's identifying number for incompetence or disreputability and requires a GAO study on improving information sharing between federal and state tax authorities regarding preparer standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts specific orally administered drugs from Medicare Part D's manufacturer discount program. It targets drugs that: (1) received FDA approval under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and (2) were granted a narrow CMS exception allowing reclassification as noninnovator drugs under Medicaid. The change modifies Medicare Part D rules to exclude these qualifying drugs from required manufacturer discounts. This directly affects Medicare Part D beneficiaries and drug manufacturers selling these specific medications. The policy change clarifies which drugs are subject to the discount program under existing law.