Rep. Lauren Underwood

Maddy summaryThe Educating Future Nurses Act establishes a new federal program that reimburses eligible hospitals for the reasonable costs of providing clinical education to advanced practice registered nurses, including nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives. To participate, hospitals must lead regional "Graduate Nurse Education Hubs" that partner with accredited nursing schools and at least two non-hospital community-based care settings, such as rural health clinics or home health agencies. Payments are calculated using a per-student rate adjusted for inflation, but the total reimbursement is capped based on the increase in graduate nurse enrollments compared to a 2024-2025 baseline. The bill requires hospitals to submit annual reports detailing student outcomes and workforce placement, with a 25% payment reduction imposed if reporting requirements are not met.

Maddy summaryThe Lethal Means Safety Training Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to update its suicide prevention and lethal means safety training within 180 days of enactment, ensuring the content is culturally appropriate and based on current best practices. The bill mandates that specific VA employees, including those in health and benefits administration, compensation examiners, and staff at vocational rehabilitation facilities, complete this training within 90 days of hiring and annually thereafter. Additionally, the legislation extends these requirements to non-VA community care providers and family caregivers who receive federal support, making completion of the course a condition for their participation in VA programs. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must also publish annual reports on training completion rates and make the course materials publicly available online.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require Medicare to cover early detection screening tests for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias starting January 1, 2028. It defines eligible tests as FDA-cleared genomic blood tests, blood product analyses, or equivalent medical imaging methods (like protein expression or whole genome sequencing) that detect pre-symptomatic or early-stage conditions. Medicare beneficiaries would receive this coverage without cost-sharing for these specific screenings. The bill amends Medicare coverage rules to explicitly include these tests under Section 1861(nnn) of the Social Security Act.

Maddy summaryH.J. Res. 216 proposes a constitutional amendment to eliminate the exception in the Thirteenth Amendment that currently permits slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. The resolution would amend the Constitution to explicitly state that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude may be imposed on anyone as a penalty for criminal conduct. This change would directly affect incarcerated individuals by prohibiting forced labor practices within the criminal justice system, while clarifying that voluntary work programs and community service alternatives remain permissible.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 14855 South Van Dyke Road in Plainfield, Illinois, as the "Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. Post Office Building." It directly affects the postal facility and all official references to it. The key provision requires that any future law, document, or record referring to the location must use the new name. This is a purely procedural renaming with no funding, policy changes, or impact beyond official nomenclature.

Maddy summaryThis bill names a U.S. Postal Service facility at 1300 East Northwest Highway in Palatine, Illinois, as the "Bernie Bluestein Post Office Building." It updates all official references in federal laws, documents, and records to reflect this new name for the location. The change is purely administrative and affects how the building is identified in government materials. No new policies or funding are involved; it is a ceremonial designation.

Maddy summaryHR 2466 designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 5225 Harrison Avenue in Rockford, Illinois, as the "Jay P. Larson Post Office Building." The bill updates all federal references - including laws, maps, and official documents - to use this new name for the building. It does not create new policies or affect residents, businesses, or postal services. This is a ceremonial naming bill with no financial or operational changes.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks by formally honoring the memory of the nearly 3,000 victims and recognizing the sacrifices made by first responders, military personnel, and the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93. The bill acknowledges the ongoing health challenges faced by survivors and responders, highlighting the role of the World Trade Center Health Program in providing long-term medical support. It also credits charitable organizations and community groups that have continued to assist victims' families and veterans over the past two decades. Finally, the resolution urges the American public to observe the anniversary with ceremonies and reaffirms Congress's commitment to remembering the events and lessons of that day.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution supports the goals of National Clinical Nurse Specialist Week, which is observed during the first week of September. It formally recognizes the contributions of these advanced practice nurses to patient care, quality improvement, and workforce development across various healthcare settings. The bill encourages the public to observe the week through appropriate programs and activities. Additionally, it reaffirms the House's commitment to ensuring that Clinical Nurse Specialists are accurately classified in federal labor statistics and supported in health workforce planning.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of August 2 through August 8, 2026, as "National Farmers Market Week" to recognize the importance of local food markets. It highlights how these markets support farmers' incomes, connect urban and rural communities, and promote sustainable farming practices. The measure serves as a symbolic gesture to celebrate the role farmers markets play in strengthening local economies and improving public access to fresh food.