Rep. Tony Gonzales

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures U.S. Border Patrol Agents and Customs and Border Protection officers who continue working during a government shutdown receive their salaries. It authorizes funding from the Treasury for fiscal year 2026 to cover their salaries and expenses during any lapse in discretionary appropriations. The measure specifically applies to employees "excepted from furlough," meaning those required to work during shutdowns. It does not change eligibility for pay but guarantees funding for these personnel during funding gaps.

Maddy summaryThe Cyber PIVOTT Act creates a program to build a skilled cyber workforce by providing full tuition scholarships to students in two-year cyber or cyber-relevant associate's degree programs at participating community colleges and technical schools. The program requires scholarship recipients to complete a two-year service obligation in a cyber role for federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government, with exceptions for military service. It includes mandatory skills-based exercises, internships with government agencies or critical infrastructure sectors, and a database of cyber training resources mapped to job roles. The program aims to enroll 250 students in its first year, doubling annually until reaching 1,000 students per year, with a long-term goal of 10,000 students annually within ten years.

Maddy summaryHR 5031, the *Preserving Patient Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacies Act*, requires Medicare Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage (MA-PD) to pay long-term care pharmacies an additional supply fee for each specified prescription dispensed to eligible beneficiaries during 2026 ($30) and 2027 (adjusted for inflation). This fee must be paid alongside existing reimbursements for drug costs and dispensing, with a $10,000 penalty for non-payment. The bill also directs the GAO to study long-term care pharmacy payment sustainability under Medicare, analyzing historical payments for brand/generic drugs and dispensing fees. It aims to ensure uninterrupted pharmacy access for Medicare beneficiaries in long-term care settings, particularly in rural areas.

Maddy summaryHR 4923, the Stop Foreign Propaganda Act, imposes sanctions on U.S. and foreign entities that knowingly provide media services (like content, distribution, or technology) to "covered foreign media entities." These entities include media organizations owned by sanctioned governments (e.g., Iran) or designated as tools of foreign propaganda. The law blocks assets, prohibits U.S. contracts with violators, and may deny visas to foreign individuals, with the President able to waive sanctions for national interest. It also requires annual Treasury and State reports tracking violations and assessing how sanctioned governments use media to spread propaganda or evade sanctions.

Maddy summaryHR 4848, the "No Tax Treaties for Foreign Aggressors Act of 2025," would require the U.S. Treasury to terminate the 1984 U.S.-China Income Tax Convention if the President certifies that China's military has attacked Taiwan (referred to as the "Republic of China" in the bill). The bill mandates that the President notify the Treasury Secretary within 30 days of such an attack, triggering a formal diplomatic notice to China to end the tax treaty. This termination would directly affect U.S. and Chinese businesses and individuals relying on the treaty for tax relief on cross-border income. The bill specifies that the President must also inform four congressional committees about the termination decision.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 618) formally commends the U.S. Coast Guard, specifically Air Station Corpus Christi and the crew of helicopter CG-6553 (including Lt. Ian Hopper, Lt. Blair Ogujiofor, AMT3 Seth Reeves, and AST3 Scott Ruskan) for their rescue efforts during the July 4, 2025, catastrophic flooding in Texas. The bill highlights their actions in saving 165 lives and evacuating 15 people amid rapidly rising rivers and severe weather, including 3 aborted landing attempts due to poor conditions. It recognizes their response as one of the most consequential rescue operations in U.S. history, emphasizing Coast Guard professionalism during the disaster. As a commemorative resolution, it does not enact policy but serves as a formal expression of gratitude to the Coast Guard personnel and all first responders.

Maddy summaryHR 4655 establishes a grant program to fund joint U.S.-Israel research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It directs the Secretary of Defense to award grants to U.S. academic institutions or nonprofits partnering with Israeli organizations to develop new PTSD treatments and diagnostics. The program requires research projects to address specific PTSD needs identified by the Department of Defense and mandates joint agreements between U.S. and Israeli entities. Grants must be used for collaborative research, with reports submitted to Congress within 180 days of project completion, and the program terminates 7 years after the first grant is awarded.

Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers Act of 2025 or the Veterans' ACCESS Act of 2025 This bill addresses the administration of the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care matters. Among other provisions regarding the VCCP, the bill establishes in statute access standards that determine when a veteran is eligible to receive non-VA care through the VCCP, requires the VA to notify veterans regarding their eligibility for care within two business days after the VA is aware the veteran is seeking care, and extends the deadline for the submittal of claims under the VCCP by health care entities and providers. The VA must address its mental health treatment programs by establishing a standardized screening process to determine whether a veteran satisfies criteria for priority or routine admission to a mental health residential rehabilitation treatment program or a program for residential care for mental health and substance abuse disorders, tracking the performance of medical facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks in meeting the requirements for mental health treatment screenings and timely admission to treatment programs under such screenings, and establishing an appeal process for when a veteran is denied admission to a covered treatment program or is accepted into a program but not offered bed placement in a timely manner. Additionally, the VA must establish an online self-service module for veterans to request and manage appointments, track referrals, and appeal and track decisions related to requests for care.

Maddy summaryHRES 591 is a symbolic House resolution congratulating the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings for completing "Operation Midnight Hammer," a military operation targeting Iran's nuclear program. It recognizes these units for their role in a successful mission involving B-2 bomber flights, including 36-hour missions with mid-air refueling, to disrupt Iran's nuclear activities. The resolution does not create new policy, funding, or obligations - it is purely ceremonial, acknowledging military service without altering laws or government actions. It directly affects the named military units and their personnel by formally recognizing their operation.

Maddy summaryHRES 597 is a congressional resolution condemning the 1994 bombing of Argentina's AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people and injured over 300. The resolution expresses support for Argentina's recent court ruling (April 2024) that declared Iran responsible for the attack as a crime against humanity, and urges accountability for Iranian officials and Hezbollah operatives involved. It calls on the U.S. government to support Argentina's efforts to hold perpetrators accountable, including through INTERPOL arrest requests, and commends Argentina for designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. The resolution primarily addresses the victims' families, the Argentine government's legal actions, and international efforts to pursue justice for this historic attack.