Rep. Maxine Dexter

Maddy summaryThis bill blocks the Department of the Interior from implementing layoffs or involuntary separations (except for misconduct or performance issues) at any agency or bureau until Congress passes full-year funding for fiscal year 2026. It directly affects all employees in the competitive service, excepted service, and Senior Executive Service within the Department of the Interior. The key provision creates a moratorium on workforce reductions, requiring full FY2026 appropriations before any layoff actions can proceed.

Maddy summaryThis bill adjusts health insurance subsidies by modifying the premium tax credit structure under the Internal Revenue Code. It replaces previous income thresholds with a sliding-scale formula, increasing subsidies for households earning between 150% and 400% of the federal poverty level - reducing their required premium payments as income rises within these tiers. The changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, directly affecting middle-income individuals and families purchasing coverage through health insurance marketplaces. It also repeals specific provisions from a prior reconciliation law related to health care.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents the Forest Service from initiating or implementing layoffs until after full-year funding for fiscal year 2026 is secured. It specifically stops reductions in force and involuntary separations for most Forest Service employees (including competitive service, excepted service, and senior executive roles), except for misconduct, poor performance, or delinquency. The moratorium applies to all personnel actions under the Secretary of Agriculture’s authority until FY2026 appropriations are enacted. This directly affects Forest Service workers and ensures their job stability during the budget process.

Maddy summaryThe Protect Our Hospitals Act (HR 4807) repeals a specific provision (Section 71115 of Public Law 119-21) that altered Medicaid provider tax rules. This bill restores the prior tax structure for Medicaid providers, including hospitals and clinics that accept Medicaid, returning them to the tax treatment that existed before the change. As a result, these providers will no longer be subject to the modified tax rules enacted by the repealed provision. The bill does not affect Medicaid eligibility, benefits, or coverage - it solely reverts a tax policy change without introducing new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $50 million annually for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct research on firearms safety and gun violence prevention, beginning in fiscal year 2026 through 2031. The funding is in addition to existing CDC appropriations and would support studies under the Public Health Service Act. It does not create new regulations or directly affect individuals, but aims to expand research into causes and prevention strategies for gun violence. The bill focuses solely on enabling CDC research, without proposing policy changes or restrictions.

Maddy summaryHR 4796, the Restoring Essential Healthcare Act, repeals a provision that blocked Medicaid payments to certain healthcare providers during a specific period. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who received care from these providers between the enactment of the prior law (Public Law 119-21) and this bill's enactment. The key provision retroactively restores Medicaid payments for services already provided during that blocked period, treating the payment restriction as if it never existed. This change ensures eligible individuals and providers receive reimbursement for covered care delivered during the prohibited timeframe.

Maddy summaryHR 4763, the PTO Act, requires most employers to provide employees with at least 1 hour of paid annual leave for every 25 hours worked, with a maximum of 80 hours per year. It applies to private-sector workers and certain government employees, protecting their right to use paid leave for any purpose without disclosing the reason. The bill mandates employers to maintain health benefits during leave, allow carryover of up to 40 hours of unused leave, and pay out unused leave upon separation. It also prohibits employers from discriminating against employees for using paid leave or requiring them to find replacements while on leave. The law includes enforcement mechanisms, allowing employees to file complaints with the Department of Labor or pursue private lawsuits.

Maddy summaryThis resolution symbolically designates August 25-29, 2025, as "National Community Health Worker Awareness Week" for the third consecutive year. It recognizes community health workers (CHWs) as trusted frontline staff who connect underserved communities to health services, provide cultural mediation, and support health education - without creating new laws or funding. The resolution encourages federal, state, and local collaboration to highlight CHWs' roles but does not alter existing programs or require government action. It directly affects CHWs and their communities by raising public awareness of their contributions.

Maddy summaryThe Keep Kids Covered Act extends continuous health coverage under Medicaid and CHIP for children. It requires states to maintain coverage for children under age 6 for six years (previously one year) and for children under age 19 for two years (previously one year), without requiring reapplication. Former foster youth will now remain covered until age 26. States must also annually update contact information for enrolled children and inform them about their coverage status and remaining eligibility period.

Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for qualifying hospitals, including hospitals in rural areas and health professional shortage areas. The bill provides for an additional increase of 2,000 positions per fiscal year from FY2026-FY2032; during this period, each hospital may receive up to 75 additional positions in total under the bill and current law. Additionally, one-third of the positions that are made available under the bill must be allocated to hospitals that are already operating above applicable resident limits. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on strategies to increase the diversity of the health professional workforce, including with respect to representation from rural, low-income, and minority communities.