Rep. Aaron Bean

Maddy summaryThe Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2023 amends Medicare rules to allow physical therapists to use temporary replacement providers (locum tenens) for outpatient physical therapy services, aligning with existing provisions for physicians. This directly affects Medicare beneficiaries receiving physical therapy and physical therapy practices needing temporary staffing solutions during provider shortages. The bill updates the Social Security Act to extend the current physician locum tenens rule to physical therapists, ensuring continuity of care without requiring separate approval for temporary coverage. It applies to services furnished after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans federal funding for abortions in most cases, prohibiting the use of taxpayer money for abortion services or health insurance plans covering abortion. Exceptions allow funding for abortions resulting from rape, incest, or when a pregnancy endangers a woman's life. It requires health insurance plans sold through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces to clearly disclose any separate costs for abortion coverage and prohibits ACA subsidies from being used for plans that cover abortion (except in the specified exceptions). The law directly affects federal programs like Medicaid, ACA marketplace plans, and insurers offering health coverage to individuals using federal subsidies.

Maddy summaryHJRES 181 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a Department of Labor rule that defined "Employer-Association Health Plans." The bill would prevent this specific rule - published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2024 - from taking effect. It directly affects employers and health plan administrators who use these association-based health coverage models. If passed, the rule would have no legal force, reversing the Labor Department's regulatory definition.

Maddy summaryHJRES 142 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a Department of Labor rule issued on April 25, 2024. It seeks to block the "Retirement Security Rule: Definition of an Investment Advice Fiduciary" (89 Fed. Reg. 32122), which defined standards for financial advisors handling retirement accounts. If passed, this resolution would make the Labor Department's rule ineffective, directly affecting retirement plan advisors and financial institutions subject to the regulation. The bill uses a specific procedural mechanism under Title 5, U.S. Code, to nullify the rule without creating new law.

Maddy summaryThe Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 establishes a limited pilot program allowing non-responsible parties (called "Good Samaritans") to remediate pollution at abandoned hardrock mine sites. The bill creates a permit process requiring applicants to demonstrate they're not liable for the pollution, can safely complete the remediation, and will protect the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency would issue up to 15 permits for these projects, providing liability protection for permitted activities while requiring public notice and environmental review. The pilot program would expire after 7 years, with the EPA required to report on its effectiveness to Congress.

Maddy summaryHR 7438 directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including 100,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins will be sold to the public at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively), with all surcharge revenue paid to FWC2026 US, Inc. for U.S. soccer programs. These funds must support soccer initiatives, particularly in underserved communities and youth development, as specified in the bill. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued during 2026, with no net cost to the U.S. government.

Maddy summaryHR 5799, the James R. Dominguez Memorial Act of 2023, designates a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on U.S. Highway 90 West in Uvalde County, Texas, as the "James R. Dominguez Border Patrol Checkpoint" to honor Agent James R. Dominguez, who died in 2012 while clearing road debris. The bill updates all federal references - such as laws, maps, and documents - to use this new name for the checkpoint. It does not change border patrol operations or policies, only the official designation of the location. This memorial act directly affects the checkpoint's identity and all federal records referencing it.

Maddy summaryHR 9033, the LABOR Act of 2024, amends Section 609(d)(3) of Title 5, U.S. Code, to require the Department of Labor to conduct regulatory flexibility analyses for new regulations. These analyses assess how proposed regulations might impact small businesses. The bill directly affects the Department of Labor and small businesses by mandating this assessment as part of the rulemaking process. The key provision is the specific amendment clarifying the Department of Labor's responsibility for these analyses.

Maddy summaryThe FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act requires FEMA to reimburse local governments and electric cooperatives for interest paid on qualifying disaster recovery loans. A qualifying loan must be used for FEMA-covered activities with at least 90% of proceeds dedicated to those purposes. Reimbursement covers the lesser of actual interest paid or what would have been paid at the prime interest rate, as defined by the Federal Reserve. This relief applies to interest accrued in the seven years preceding the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Regulatory Flexibility Act to require federal agencies to more thoroughly assess how proposed regulations impact small businesses, including indirect costs on businesses that aren't directly regulated but are affected by the rules (e.g., suppliers or partners). It creates a new process allowing small businesses or their representatives to petition the Small Business Administration's Chief Counsel to review an agency's claim that a rule won't significantly affect small entities, with strict timelines for agency responses. If an agency fails to cooperate with this review, the final rule cannot apply to small businesses. Agencies must also publish regulatory guidance online for small businesses to comment on, ensuring greater transparency in rulemaking.