Rep. Laura Gillen

Maddy summaryThe VET PFAS Act (HR 3639) provides VA health care coverage for veterans and their family members exposed to PFAS chemicals at military bases, without requiring proof linking illness to exposure. Veterans who served at contaminated bases and family members who resided there (or were in utero while the veteran lived there) can now receive treatment for specific conditions like testicular cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid disease, and pregnancy-related hypertension. The law creates a presumption that these conditions are service-connected, streamlining access to VA benefits. Annual reports will track program usage, including the number of veterans and families receiving care and the conditions treated.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal program to improve coastal flood and storm surge forecasting through better models, data, and community preparedness. It directs the Under Secretary of Commerce to prioritize real-time prediction of ocean-driven flooding, incorporate sensor data (like urban heat mapping), and develop probabilistic forecasts for use by emergency managers and communities. The program also requires identifying and filling "data voids" in vulnerable coastal areas to enhance weather observations and emergency response tools, with pilot projects focusing on critical infrastructure like dams and power plants. Key mechanisms include annual budget submissions to Congress and interagency coordination with FEMA and the National Weather Service to implement these improvements.

Maddy summaryHR 3634, the Interactive Federal Review Act, requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to encourage highway projects receiving federal grants (like INFRA, RAISE, or Mega program funds) to use digital platforms and 3D models for environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It mandates the DOT to publish guidance within 90 days, select at least 10 projects to test these tools, and prioritize grant applications that plan to use them for public engagement and environmental analysis. The bill also requires reports to Congress within 180 days detailing efficiency metrics and examples of digital workflows, plus public examples of digital environmental documents within a year. This aims to speed up reviews and improve public understanding of project impacts, directly affecting federally funded highway projects.

Maddy summaryHR 3534, the Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program Act of 2025, creates a federal program to increase the number of school-based mental health professionals. It provides federal matching funds - covering up to 50% of tuition and fees for eligible students - in partnership with graduate schools offering accredited programs in school counseling, psychology, or social work. Participating graduate institutions must match federal contributions, and priority is given to students who received Federal Pell Grants or attended specific institutions as undergraduates. The program directly affects graduate students training to become licensed school mental health providers, aiming to expand the workforce serving K-12 schools.

Maddy summaryHR 3526, the Uplifting First-Time Homebuyers Act of 2025, increases the maximum amount first-time homebuyers can withdraw penalty-free from retirement accounts. It amends the Internal Revenue Code to raise the limit from $10,000 to $50,000 for qualified first-time homebuyer distributions. This change directly affects individuals using retirement savings to purchase their first home, allowing them to access significantly more funds without incurring the usual 10% early withdrawal penalty. The provision applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a grant program to support operating projects for public transportation and related service improvements, particularly in underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty. Specifically, the bill requires DOT to allocate funding under the program for urbanized areas, states, and Indian tribes that are recipients of funds under either the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) Urbanized Area Formula Funding program or Formula Grants for Rural Areas program. Eligible recipients may use funding for operating costs associated with projects that improve public transportation service for transit-dependent populations and support increased transit ridership (e.g., service expansion, information technology enhancements, and workforce development). DOT must apportion the funding so that recipients receive funds that are proportional to their share of operating costs. The bill also provides for an increased federal cost share for operating assistance for projects or programs carried out in areas of persistent poverty or underserved communities. DOT must set up a multimodal access measurement interface for public agencies to aid transit agencies in determining and reporting on access to jobs and essential services. A grant recipient must (1) report specific information to the FTA for inclusion in the National Transit Database, and (2) survey transit riders and non-riding residents regarding transit service improvements. Further, the bill expands the purposes of the public transportation programs to include supporting public transportation's role in combating climate change through growing/retaining transit ridership.

Maddy summaryThe Traffic Safety Enhancement Act of 2025 amends the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program to allow states to use federal funds for constructing roundabouts. This change directly affects state transportation departments and local agencies administering federal highway grants. The key provision adds "Construction of roundabouts" as an eligible activity under the program, expanding existing funding options without increasing overall resources. It enables states to allocate block grant funds toward roundabout projects as part of their transportation infrastructure planning.

Maddy summaryHRES 411 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' support for strengthening U.S.-Israel defense cooperation. It reaffirms the U.S. commitment to Israel's security, calls for expanded collaboration on missile defense, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies (like AI and counter-unmanned aircraft systems), and urges maintaining Israel's military capabilities. The resolution references existing partnerships, such as joint development of Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems, but does not create new laws or funding. It serves as a symbolic endorsement of deeper security ties to address shared threats.

Maddy summaryHRES 413 is a non-binding House resolution condemning Hamas for its October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages. It specifically demands that Hamas immediately release the 58 remaining hostages (including four U.S. citizens: Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Judi Weinstein, and Gad Haggai) and return them to safety. The resolution also recognizes that hostage-taking violates international law and calls on the White House to continue efforts to secure all hostages' release. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally expresses the House's stance.

Maddy summaryHR 3270, the Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025, aims to strengthen the pipeline of air traffic controllers by improving training programs and retention. It provides $20 million annually (2026-2031) for colleges to develop specialized curricula and equipment through the Enhanced-Collegiate Training Initiative program, allowing graduates to be hired noncompetitively as controllers. The bill also establishes a committee to modernize training curricula and the Air Traffic Skills Assessment exam, while creating retention bonuses for certified controllers and mental health training for medical examiners. These changes directly affect colleges offering air traffic control programs, prospective controllers, and current FAA air traffic controllers.