Rep. Cliff Bentz

Maddy summaryThis bill grants Crook County, Oregon, a permanent 80-foot right-of-way and conveys four 40-acre parcels of federal land to the county for road construction and wildfire safety. The transferred land must be maintained as fire-safe zones to support emergency response and firefighter safety, with ownership reverting to the federal government if these conditions are not met. While the county will cover all costs associated with the land transfer, the legislation does not provide any funding for the actual construction of the new road.

Maddy summaryThis bill would add pharmacist services to Medicare Part B coverage for beneficiaries, specifically covering pharmacist-led testing and treatment for illnesses like flu, COVID-19, or strep throat during public health emergencies. It defines covered services as those performed under state law, often requiring collaboration with a physician, and sets payment at 80% of the lesser of the actual charge or 85% of physician payment rates. Pharmacists would be prohibited from balance billing for these services, ensuring Medicare beneficiaries pay only their standard copayment. The changes would take effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThe Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act authorizes the creation of a new Smithsonian museum dedicated to women’s history, to be located within the National Mall Reserve in Washington, D.C. If the site is managed by another federal agency, the bill requires that agency to transfer the land after notifying Congress and relevant committees. The museum must ensure exhibits and programs accurately represent diverse women’s experiences by consulting a broad range of experts and community voices. The Smithsonian will submit biennial reports to Congress detailing how the museum meets these representation standards.

Maddy summaryThe Federal Water Projects Consultation Improvement Act of 2026 aims to increase the involvement of local water contractors during environmental consultations for federal water projects. It directly affects federal agencies operating water supply projects and the public or quasi-municipal agencies and water user associations that contract for water from these projects. The bill mandates that these water contractors receive routine opportunities to discuss and submit information during the development of biological assessments and draft biological opinions under the Endangered Species Act. Furthermore, it requires federal agencies to inform and engage contractors on the legal and scientific basis for proposed actions that could reduce water delivery, explaining why less impactful alternatives are inadequate, and providing details on proposed mitigation measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes housing assistance programs for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiians by streamlining environmental reviews, extending funding authorization through 2032, and expanding loan guarantee options. Key provisions include consolidating environmental review requirements to reduce paperwork for tribes, allowing 99-year leasehold interests on trust lands for housing, and creating new rental assistance specifically for homeless or at-risk Native American veterans. The legislation also clarifies rent rules, waives certain housing counseling certifications for tribal entities, exempts tribal housing projects from some federal civil rights and Buy America requirements, and establishes a direct loan guarantee process for tribal housing projects.

Maddy summaryThe ESA Amendments Act of 2025 makes significant changes to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to streamline conservation efforts and reduce regulatory burdens. It establishes a national listing work plan with priority classifications for species to better allocate resources, and creates "Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances" that provide private landowners with regulatory certainty in exchange for conservation actions. The bill also requires the government to publish the basis for listings online, streamlines permitting processes for projects that comply with conservation measures, and modifies critical habitat designation to better accommodate existing conservation plans on private lands. These changes aim to improve conservation outcomes while reducing delays for landowners, developers, and federal agencies working with listed species.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally congratulates Oregon athletes who competed in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics. It specifically names six athletes - Jacqueline Wiles, Hunter Hess, Sean FitzSimons, Alessandro Barbieri, Anna Soens, and Ravi Drugan - who participated in alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, and snowboarding events. The measure also extends recognition to the families, coaches, and support staff who assisted these athletes during the games. This is a ceremonial document that acknowledges athletic achievements without altering any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThe ICU Bed Act of 2026 mandates that hospitals, critical access hospitals, and rural emergency hospitals participating in Medicare report their intensive care unit (ICU) bed availability in real time. To achieve this, these facilities must participate in shared regional data systems and develop shared strategies for efficiently transferring patients when any hospital approaches ICU capacity. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will establish these regions based on factors like geography, population, and travel time between facilities. Additionally, the bill amends the Public Health Service Act to include efficient patient transfer activities in state and regional hospital preparedness efforts, extending funding for these activities through fiscal year 2031.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Bonneville Power Leadership Recruitment Act, adjusts the pay scale for the Administrator and employees of the Bonneville Power Administration to match compensation levels at consumer-owned utilities in the Western Interconnection. It requires the Secretary of Energy to conduct an annual survey of utility compensation and set pay rates accordingly, with considerations for recruitment, retention, and the agency's budget and mission goals. The changes apply to the Administrator's basic pay and to Senior Executive Service employees, aiming to make their total compensation competitive with similar private utility positions in the region.

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand Mammoth Cave National Park by adding approximately 551 acres of land in Edmonson and Barren Counties, Kentucky, to the park's existing boundaries. The legislation modifies existing law to allow the Secretary of the Interior to acquire this specific parcel of land, as shown on a map dated May 2025. The acquisition is subject to a financial threshold adjusted for inflation, referenced in the updated law. This change directly affects the park's management and the landowners whose property would be added to the protected area.