Rep. August Pfluger

Maddy summaryHR 7651, the Chloe Cole Act of 2026, prohibits healthcare providers from performing certain medical interventions on minors under 18 aimed at altering physical development to align with gender identity. These "covered interventions" include puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and specific surgeries, but exclude medically necessary care for conditions like disorders of sexual development or traumatic injuries. The bill creates a federal civil lawsuit right for affected minors or their parents against providers who perform such interventions, allowing claims for damages including emotional distress and punitive awards, with strict liability for providers after the law's enactment. It explicitly allows exceptions for legitimate medical treatments and requires providers to prove such exceptions apply if challenged.

Maddy summaryHR 7184, the PRESS Act, targets equipment used to manufacture illegal drugs by making it unlawful to sell specific items like tableting machines, gelatin capsules, or related chemicals when the seller knows the equipment will be used to produce controlled substances for unlawful U.S. importation. It directly affects manufacturers and distributors of these drug-making tools who have knowledge or reasonable cause to believe their products will facilitate illegal drug trafficking. The bill adds new prohibitions to the Controlled Substances Act and increases potential prison sentences for violations, with penalties reaching up to 20 years for major offenses involving large quantities of equipment or chemicals. These changes aim to disrupt the supply chain for illicit synthetic drugs by holding equipment sellers accountable for their intended use.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.

Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act This bill prohibits payment card networks from using merchant codes that distinguish firearms retailers from general-merchandise retailers or sporting-goods retailers. The Department of Justice must enforce this bill and report annually on the resulting investigations and cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Secretary of State to create and execute a plan to end the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) across the Middle East. The legislation requires a detailed strategy that assesses current programs like education and healthcare, identifies new organizations to take over these services, and outlines how to fund and oversee the transition without interrupting aid. Once the plan is submitted to Congress, the State Department must begin implementing it within a year while coordinating with host countries and international partners. The bill emphasizes maintaining service continuity and ensuring that any successor groups meet strict standards for transparency and accountability.

Maddy summaryHR 5549, the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act, streamlines the licensing process for nuclear facilities by reducing mandatory hearings. It allows the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to issue construction permits, operating licenses, or amendments without a hearing if it provides 30 days' notice and Federal Register publication, skipping the hearing requirement only when an amendment involves "no significant hazards." This change applies to all pending NRC applications after enactment, shifting from current rules requiring hearings unless waived. The bill directly affects nuclear facility developers, the NRC, and communities potentially impacted by licensing decisions through its revised notice and hearing procedures.

Maddy summaryHR 3978, the Nuclear REFUEL Act, amends the Atomic Energy Act to exclude certain nuclear fuel reprocessing methods from the definition of a "production facility." Specifically, it exempts facilities that reprocess spent nuclear fuel without separating plutonium from other elements, or continue uranium enrichment. This change would directly affect nuclear fuel recycling companies and facilities seeking to process spent reactor fuel under streamlined regulations. The bill focuses on altering regulatory classification to potentially simplify licensing for specific recycling processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the General John D. Lavelle Act, directs the Secretary of Defense to recommend restoring the retired rank of General John D. Lavelle by December 31, 2026. The recommendation will be based on newly declassified records and the latest advice from the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records. The primary effect is a formal process to reinstate General Lavelle's rank, which is a commemorative action rather than a change to current military policy.

Maddy summaryThe Jewish American Security Act aims to combat antisemitism by strengthening protections for Jewish students, securing Jewish communities, and increasing transparency regarding online hate speech. For educational institutions receiving federal funds, the bill mandates the creation of specific coordinators to handle discrimination complaints, requires annual training on handling antisemitism, and establishes a new federal clearinghouse to share best practices for campus safety. To support physical security, the legislation expands grant funding for nonprofit organizations and directs the Attorney General to provide resources for law enforcement agencies protecting houses of worship. Additionally, the act requires major online platforms with over 50 million monthly users to submit detailed reports to the Federal Trade Commission on how they detect, remove, and moderate antisemitic content.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens the enforcement of mental health and substance use disorder parity rules under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. It expands the scope of penalties to include plan sponsors, service providers, and administrators who fail to meet existing parity requirements, while also adding a specific category for genetic information violations. To support these enforcement efforts, the legislation appropriates $30 million annually from 2027 through 2031 to the Employee Benefits Security Administration. These changes apply to group health plans starting one year after the law is enacted.