Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2023 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. Current law provides for an increase of up to 200 positions per fiscal year beginning in FY2023, with a total increase of 1,000 positions; each hospital may receive up to 25 additional positions. Current law also provides for an additional increase of up to 200 positions for FY2026, with at least 100 of these positions for psychiatry or related specialties; each hospital may receive up to 10 additional positions. The bill provides for an additional increase of 2,000 positions per fiscal year from FY2025-FY2031; 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.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Women's Health Protection Act of 2023 would protect access to abortion services by prohibiting states from imposing restrictions that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures. The bill would ensure people can obtain abortion services before fetal viability without unnecessary limitations like mandatory waiting periods or biased counseling, and after viability when necessary to protect the patient's life or health. It would preempt state laws that conflict with these protections and allow for civil enforcement actions to challenge restrictive state laws. This bill directly affects people seeking abortion services (including transgender and nonbinary individuals who can become pregnant), health care providers, and states that have implemented abortion restrictions.
Maddy summaryHRES 277 is a non-binding resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in April 2023 that urges the United States Postal Service (USPS) to restore mail delivery standards in effect as of July 1, 2012. It specifically calls for ending the 2015 service cuts that eliminated overnight first-class mail delivery and delayed other mail types, which the resolution states harmed businesses, rural communities, and the economy. The resolution cites the Postal Regulatory Commission’s finding that USPS could achieve cost savings without degrading service, emphasizing that returning to 2012 standards would improve delivery reliability without worsening USPS finances. As a resolution, it does not mandate action but expresses the House’s policy preference.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the law governing Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for uniformed service members stationed in the U.S. It changes the calculation method so that BAH amounts must equal the actual monthly cost of adequate housing in each location, as determined by the Secretary of Defense. This directly affects active-duty service members and their families who receive BAH for housing. The key provision replaces the previous formula with a requirement that BAH payments match local housing costs for members in the same pay grade and dependency status. The change ensures BAH reflects current housing expenses rather than an older calculation method.
Maddy summaryHR 1465, "Violet’s Law," requires federal research facilities to establish standards for placing eligible animals (dogs, cats, primates, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits) no longer needed for research with animal rescue organizations, sanctuaries, shelters, or individuals. Federal departments and agencies operating such facilities must create these placement standards within one year of the law's enactment. The law mandates that animals must be vet-certified as healthy (free of infectious disease or physical issues) before placement and prohibits facilities from using animals for commercial trade, breeding, or public exhibitions. This policy directly affects federal research facilities and aims to provide permanent homes for research animals through defined, safe pathways.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Affordable Care Act to allow individuals to enroll in standalone dental plans through health insurance Exchanges without needing to also have a separate health insurance plan. It directly affects consumers seeking dental coverage who may not qualify for or prefer not to enroll in a comprehensive health plan. The key provision removes a federal restriction that previously prevented enrollment in these dental plans solely based on lack of separate health insurance. This change makes it easier for people to access dental insurance options through the same marketplaces used for health coverage.
Maddy summaryHR 2454, the United States-Israel PTSD Collaborative Research Act, establishes a grant program to fund joint research projects between U.S. academic or nonprofit entities and Israeli institutions focused on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The bill directs the Secretary of Defense, with coordination from the Departments of Veterans Affairs and State, to award grants for collaborative research addressing PTSD treatment gaps, building on existing U.S.-Israel scientific cooperation frameworks. It specifically targets research into improved PTSD diagnosis and treatment methods, rather than providing direct services or benefits. The program requires annual reporting to Congress on research outcomes and terminates seven years after the first grant is issued.
Maddy summaryThe International Human Rights Defense Act of 2023 creates a permanent Special Envoy at the State Department to coordinate U.S. efforts against discrimination and violence targeting LGBTQI+ people globally. The bill requires the development of an annual global strategy to address criminalization, discrimination, and violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics. It also mandates that U.S. country reports on human rights practices include detailed information about laws and practices affecting LGBTQI+ communities. The legislation authorizes U.S. foreign assistance programs to support LGBTQI+ rights through health services, legal protections, and community capacity building. This bill aims to strengthen U.S. diplomatic engagement on LGBTQI+ rights as part of broader human rights policy.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Veterans Affairs Secretary to expand or modify an existing national cemetery (under National Cemetery Administration control) before Arlington National Cemetery reaches capacity, ensuring it provides full military honors using the same standards and eligibility criteria that applied to Arlington as of March 31, 2023. It directly affects veterans and their families seeking burial with full military honors at national cemeteries nationwide. The bill also mandates a joint report within one year to Congress on expanding cemetery capacity and assessing whether interment criteria should recognize exceptional service, including impacts on women, non-combat veterans, and other groups. The key mechanism is preserving current military honors standards at alternative cemeteries to prevent Arlington's capacity limits from disrupting existing burial practices.
Pause for Gun Safety Act This bill establishes a seven-day waiting period for firearm transfers to unlicensed individuals. Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful to transfer a firearm to an unlicensed individual unless seven calendar days have elapsed since the transferee's most recent offer to take possession of the firearm. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. The seven-day waiting period does not apply to certain firearm transfers, such as a temporary transfer for use exclusively at a shooting range.