Rep. Herbert C. Conaway, Jr.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the Mullica River watershed in New Jersey for potential designation as a Wild and Scenic River. The study will focus on specific segments of the Mullica River and its tributaries, including the Wading River, Batsto River, and various creeks and brooks. If the study concludes that these waters meet the necessary criteria, the federal government could officially protect them under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This legislation does not immediately change the status of the rivers but establishes a process to evaluate their suitability for conservation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program to provide mental health care to incarcerated veterans with service-connected disabilities related to PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or military sexual trauma, focusing on five facilities across different settings. It requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer telemental health services or mobile mental health units without charging copayments, while also creating a dedicated hub of VA health care providers for these veterans. Additionally, the bill mandates that federal prisons establish separate housing units for veterans where feasible and automatically resume VA compensation payments upon a veteran's release from incarceration. The legislation also requires the Bureau of Prisons to submit annual reports to Congress on data regarding incarcerated veterans.

Dental Care for Veterans Act This bill expands eligibility for veterans for dental care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, the bill makes all veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system eligible for VA-provided dental services. Currently, only veterans who have a service-connected dental issue or meet other narrow criteria are eligible for certain dental services. The bill phases in eligibility over four years based upon existing eligibility, degree of service-connected disability or other disability, prisoner of war status, award of a Purple Heart, financial need, or VA health care eligibility.

Maddy summaryThe IMPACT to Save Moms Act directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to run a five-year demonstration project from 2027 to 2031, allowing states to test new payment models for maternity care under Medicaid and state child health plans. This initiative aims to improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals, with a specific focus on reducing disparities among groups that experience higher rates of maternal mortality and severe complications. To achieve these goals, the project requires states to consider alternative payment structures that account for pregnancy risk levels, include diverse care teams with training on bias, and address social factors affecting health. The bill also mandates that the federal government evaluate the project's impact on health outcomes and spending, and submit a final report to Congress with recommendations on whether to expand the program nationwide.

Maddy summaryThe Moms Matter Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create two main grant programs aimed at improving maternal mental health and reducing health disparities among pregnant and postpartum individuals. The first program provides funding to community organizations and healthcare providers to expand services that integrate mental health care into prenatal and postpartum settings, with a specific focus on groups facing higher risks of mortality and morbidity. The second program offers grants to educational institutions to train and recruit a diverse workforce of mental health professionals who specialize in caring for pregnant and postpartum patients. Both initiatives require recipients to submit annual reports on their activities and outcomes, while the legislation authorizes $25 million and $15 million respectively for each program from fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

Maddy summaryThe Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act allocates $200 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve data collection, surveillance, and research on how public health emergencies affect pregnant and postpartum individuals. This funding supports efforts to gather detailed demographic information on maternal health outcomes, establish regional centers of excellence, and expand surveys to better reach underrepresented communities. The legislation also requires the CDC to make this data publicly available in a disaggregated format while protecting patient privacy, and mandates public education campaigns to ensure accurate information reaches families and healthcare providers. Additionally, the bill creates a diverse task force to develop federal recommendations for respectful maternity care during emergencies, addressing issues such as telehealth access, doula coverage, and the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. These measures aim to reduce health disparities and improve care quality for pregnant people from racial and ethnic minority groups during public health crises.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 5999) requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide opioid antagonists (like naloxone) to enrolled veterans without needing a prescription or charging a copayment. It directly affects veterans receiving VA healthcare who may need emergency reversal of opioid overdoses. The key provisions mandate the VA to furnish these life-saving medications directly and eliminate both the prescription requirement and cost barrier. This policy change aims to improve immediate access to overdose reversal for veterans without requiring additional medical steps or financial burden.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the 75th anniversary of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a professional organization representing over 62,000 doctors who provide essential reproductive and women's health care. The text acknowledges the group's long-standing contributions to improving maternal health, reducing mortality rates, and offering reliable medical information to patients nationwide. While the measure does not alter laws or funding, it formally expresses the House of Representatives' appreciation for the organization's leadership and reaffirms a commitment to supporting women's health and research.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend federal law to strengthen penalties for organized retail crime by expanding definitions of theft to include digital goods, gift cards, and setting a $5,000 aggregate value threshold for charges over a 12-month period. It would establish a new "Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center" under Homeland Security to coordinate Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement efforts against cross-jurisdictional theft groups. The Center would share information with retailers, transportation companies, and law enforcement agencies, track crime trends, and produce annual reports on organized retail crime. This legislation directly affects retailers, supply chain businesses, and law enforcement agencies, while targeting organized crime groups responsible for a 93% increase in larceny incidents and rising safety concerns for retail employees. The bill aims to address significant financial losses and supply chain disruptions noted in the National Retail Federation's 2023 data.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the U.S. government from spending money on military actions against Iran between its enactment and December 31, 2026, unless Congress explicitly approves the use of force. It allows for military action only if Congress declares war, passes a specific authorization, or if the action is necessary to defend the United States or its allies from an imminent attack while following reporting requirements. The law directly restricts the President's ability to deploy troops without legislative approval during the specified timeframe.