Rep. Laura Gillen

Maddy summaryHR 2509, the COMPLETE Care Act, creates Medicare payment incentives for primary care providers who integrate specific behavioral health services into their practice. It directly affects Medicare providers offering services identified by HCPCS codes 99484, 99492, 99493, 99494, G2214, and G0323 (covering models like Collaborative Care and Primary Care Behavioral Health) during 2027-2029. The bill increases Medicare payments for these services to 125-175% of standard rates (phasing down from 175% in 2027 to 125% in 2029) and waives budget neutrality rules to fund these higher payments. Additionally, it requires the HHS Secretary to provide technical assistance to primary care practices adopting these models by 2026, with dedicated funding for 2025-2029.

Save America's Forgotten Equines Act of 2025 or the SAFE Act of 2025 This bill permanently prohibits the slaughter of equines (e.g., horses and mules) for human consumption. (Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill extends the prohibition to equines.) Specifically, this bill prohibits a person from knowingly (1) slaughtering an equine for human consumption; or (2) shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption. The bill subjects a violator to a fine. The bill applies to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. However, it does not apply to an activity carried out by an Indian for a religious ceremony. As background, in recent years, the appropriations acts have prohibited the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using federal funds to inspect horses before they are slaughtered for human consumption. Therefore, there are currently no USDA-inspected horse slaughter facilities in the United States.

Maddy summaryHR 2477, the Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2025, would amend Medicare rules to require equal reimbursement for portable ultrasound transportation and setup services as is currently provided for portable X-ray services. This change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries needing portable ultrasound exams and healthcare providers (like mobile clinics) who offer these services. The bill mandates that Medicare pay separately for portable ultrasound transportation and setup in the same way and to the same extent as portable X-ray services, using similar supplier requirements as existing regulations. The policy change would take effect for services provided on or after January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHR 2429 requires the Secretary of Transportation to create and implement a 10-year campus modernization plan for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy within 180 days. The bill directs the modernization of outdated facilities - including new training labs, a safety training pool, updated athletic facilities, and infrastructure upgrades like electrical systems and accessibility improvements - to support midshipmen training for maritime careers and national defense. It authorizes $1.02 billion in funding (starting in 2026) for phased construction and renovations over 10 years, prioritizing facilities needed for Coast Guard licensing exams, physical readiness, and campus safety. The plan directly affects the academy’s midshipmen, faculty, and operations by replacing aging infrastructure that currently hinders training.

Maddy summaryThe Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to reimburse State homes or provide medications directly for certain high-cost drugs used by veterans in State-run nursing homes. A medication is defined as high-cost if its price (including a 3% fee) exceeds 8.5% of the VA's monthly payment for the veteran's care at that home. This applies specifically to State homes that provide such medications to veterans under VA contracts. The bill ensures veterans receive essential medications without financial burden on the State homes, using clear cost thresholds to determine eligibility.

TAP Promotion Act This bill requires that pre-separation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program include a presentation that promotes the benefits available to veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill also requires the VA to annually report on the presentation to (1) identify veterans service organizations that participate, (2) provide the number of members of the Armed Forces who attend, and (3) provide any recommendations for changes to the presentation.

Maddy summaryThe Safer Skies Act of 2025 requires specific smaller airlines to adopt enhanced security screening protocols currently used by larger carriers. It mandates that "covered air carrier operations" - defined as airlines operating under certain FAA rules, offering individual seats with public schedules, using planes with more than nine passenger seats, and not using TSA checkpoints - to follow the Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program (49 CFR §1544.101(a)) within 360 days of the bill's enactment. The Transportation Security Administration must revise its rules to enforce this requirement. This directly affects regional and private charter airlines that currently skip TSA checkpoint screening but serve the public with scheduled passenger flights.

Maddy summaryHR 2138, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025, requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase disability compensation and survivor benefits for veterans and their families on December 1, 2025. It directly affects veterans receiving disability compensation (including wartime rates), dependents, and survivors (spouses and children) who currently qualify for benefits under specific provisions of Title 38, U.S. Code. The bill mandates that these payments increase by the same percentage as the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security benefits effective December 2025. This ensures veterans' benefits rise with inflation, aligning with Social Security’s automatic adjustment mechanism.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a provision of law governing eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs headstones, markers, and burial receptacles. It removes a requirement that a veteran must have died on or after November 11, 1998, to qualify for these burial benefits. By eliminating this date cutoff, the bill expands eligibility to veterans who died before that date. This change would directly affect veterans who died prior to November 11, 1998, and their families, allowing them to receive these burial benefits.

Brake for Kids Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to produce and distribute a national public safety campaign on the dangers of illegally passing stopped school buses. Specifically, the campaign must increase awareness and education about the issue through a variety of media, including television, radio, and social media advertising.  DOT must use Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds to produce and distribute the campaign.