Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler

Maddy summaryHRES 1419 is a non-binding resolution recognizing certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) for their role in providing maternal and women's health care. It highlights their contributions to evidence-based, cost-effective care that serves women and childbearing families, including attending approximately 10% of U.S. births annually and being critical in rural and underserved communities. The resolution specifically acknowledges National Midwifery Week (October 2-8, 2022) and encourages public awareness of CNMs/CMs' work. It does not create new laws or funding but formally honors their professional contributions.

Maximizing Outcomes through Better Investments in Lifesaving Equipment for (MOBILE) Health Care Act This bill allows a health center that currently receives funding through a Health Resources & Services Administration Health Center Program grant to use a New Access Point grant to set up a mobile unit regardless of whether the health center also establishes a permanent health care delivery site. New Access Point grants help health centers establish new delivery sites to provide comprehensive primary care to medically underserved populations. Under current law, health centers may only use the grants to set up a mobile unit if they also establish a permanent site.

Invest to Protect Act of 2022 This bill directs the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice to award grants to local and tribal governments that employ fewer than 125 law enforcement officers. Grant funds may be used for various activities, including to provide de-escalation training and improve recruitment and retention.

Maddy summaryHRES 1363 designates September 19, 2022, as "National Stillbirth Prevention Day" to recognize the approximately 23,000 stillbirths occurring annually in the U.S. and support efforts to reduce them. The resolution specifically acknowledges racial disparities in stillbirth rates, highlighting that Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous families face the highest risks. It requests the President issue a proclamation encouraging nationwide awareness, evidence-based prevention efforts, improved data collection, and education to help reduce stillbirths by 33% over time. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws but aims to raise public awareness and promote existing prevention strategies. It directly affects families impacted by stillbirth and advocates for greater attention to this public health issue.

Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2022 This bill establishes several requirements and standards relating to prior authorization processes under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Specifically, MA plans must (1) establish an electronic prior authorization program that meets specified standards, including the ability to provide real-time decisions in response to requests for items and services that are routinely approved; (2) annually publish specified prior authorization information, including the percentage of requests approved and the average response time; and (3) meet other standards, as set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, relating to the quality and timeliness of prior authorization determinations.

Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education Act This bill requires the Department of State to report on the curriculum used in schools in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority or located in Gaza and controlled by any other entity. Among other topics, the report must address (1) whether the materials used encourage violence or intolerance toward other nations or ethnic groups, (2) the steps the Palestinian Authority is taking to reform such materials, and (3) whether U.S. foreign assistance is used to fund the dissemination of the offending materials. The State Department must make such reports publicly available.

Wind River Administrative Site Conveyance Act This bill directs the Forest Service to convey to Skamania County in Washington, upon request of the county, all right, title, and interest of the United States in approximately 23.4 acres of National Forest System land, related infrastructure, and all improvements on the map titled Wind River Administrative Site Conveyance Proposal and dated July 7, 2020. The conveyance shall be made by quitclaim deed; subject to a right-of-way and restrictive easement reservation for the protection of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail; and completed in accordance with certain Forest Service conveyance requirements, except that certain market value requirements shall not apply. The Forest Service must meet specified disclosure requirements for hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants and shall not otherwise be required to remediate or abate the hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants disclosed. The lands and related infrastructure conveyed must be maintained by the county pursuant to standards established by the Department of the Interior regarding the preservation of historic property.

Maddy summaryHRES 1213 is a symbolic resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representatives' support for designating July 2022 as "American Grown Flower and Foliage Month." It encourages consumers to purchase domestically grown flowers and foliage to support the agricultural industry, which employs tens of thousands of people and contributes to the economy. The resolution highlights that only 20% of flowers sold in the U.S. are domestically grown, despite consumers spending over $38 billion annually on floral products. It urges the public to choose American-grown flowers to bolster local farmers and celebrate holidays with locally sourced products.

Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the legacy of Harriet Tubman as an abolitionist. The Secretary may issue coins under this bill only during the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of such coins must be paid equally to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and The Harriet Tubman Home, Inc. in Auburn, New York, for the purpose of accomplishing and advancing their missions.

Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act This bill specifies that private health insurers may not limit, restrict, or condition benefits for renal dialysis services for individuals with end-stage renal disease as compared to other types of benefits for other medical conditions under Medicare secondary payer rules.