Lloyd Smucker

Medicare Payment Integrity Enhancement Act of 2026

The proposal would allow the federal government to hire private companies to review Medicare claims before they are paid out, rather than only checking them after payment. These contractors would help catch billing errors and fraud upfront, potentially saving taxpayer money and reducing improper payments to healthcare providers. The change affects Medicare beneficiaries, hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers who bill the program.

Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act

Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act This bill excludes from gross income certain damages received by an individual due to any sexual act or sexual contact and establishes the applicable burden of proof in court proceedings regarding the characterization of such damages for federal tax purposes. Under current law, amounts received as damages (other than punitive damages) from a judgment, award, or settlement of a claim may be excluded from gross income and, thus, are not subject to federal income tax, if attributable to a personal physical injury or physical sickness. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) generally interprets personal physical injury to require observable bodily harm (e.g., bruising, cuts, swelling, or bleeding). Under the bill, amounts received as damages (other than punitive damages) from a judgment, award, or settlement due to any sexual act or sexual conduct, whether or not there are medical records or observable injuries of such act or contact, may be excluded from gross income. Further, if a judgment, award, or settlement states that damages are due to any sexual act or sexual conduct, then the IRS has the burden of proving otherwise in court proceedings related to the tax liability associated with such damages. Finally, the bill requires the IRS to promote public awareness of the exclusion from gross income of damages related to any sexual act or sexual contact.

Accountable Produce is Medicine Act of 2026

The bill would require Medicare and Medicaid officials to test a new program that uses fresh produce as a medical treatment to help reduce chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. The program would likely provide eligible patients with prescriptions for fruits and vegetables, similar to how they receive prescriptions for medications, to see if better nutrition can improve health outcomes and lower healthcare costs.

Protecting American Streaming and Innovation Act

This bill would likely impose new trade restrictions or tariffs on foreign streaming services and digital platforms to protect American companies in the entertainment and technology industries. The measure aims to give U.S.-based streaming services a competitive advantage against international competitors by making foreign services more expensive or harder to access. The bill affects streaming companies, tech firms, and consumers who use services like Netflix, Disney+, and other platforms.

Stop Unemployment Fraud Act

This bill would likely establish new measures to detect and prevent people from fraudulently claiming unemployment benefits they're not entitled to, possibly through improved verification systems or penalties for those caught committing fraud. The changes would affect both unemployed workers seeking benefits and the government agencies that administer these programs. The bill has been sent to the House Committee on Ways and Means for review.

Debt-to-GDP Transparency and Stabilization Act

Debt-to-GDP Transparency and Stabilization Act This bill requires the President's annual budget and congressional budget resolutions to include (1) the ratio of the public debt to the estimated gross domestic product (GDP), and (2) the ratio of the surplus or deficit to the estimated GDP.

Debt Solution and Accountability Act

The proposal would establish new requirements for how the federal government manages and reduces the national debt, likely including measures to track spending, set debt limits, and potentially require balanced budget procedures. It would affect taxpayers, government agencies, and federal programs by potentially constraining how much money Congress can spend in future years. The changes could impact everything from Social Security and Medicare to defense spending and infrastructure investments, depending on how the debt reduction measures are implemented.

Claiming Age Clarity Act

Claiming Age Clarity Act This bill changes certain terms that are used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to describe the ages at which a worker may claim Social Security retirement benefits. First, the SSA must use minimum monthly benefit age instead of early eligibility age . This refers to the earliest age (62 under current law) at which a worker may claim benefits. (Currently, the benefit amount of a worker who claims benefits early is reduced to account for the longer period during which the worker is expected to receive benefits.) Second, the SSA must use standard monthly benefit age instead of full retirement age and normal retirement age . These terms refer to the age at which a worker may claim benefits without a reduction in the benefit amount. (Currently, this age ranges from 65 to 67, depending on the worker's year of birth.) Finally, the SSA must use the term maximum monthly benefit age for any reference to age 70 as the maximum age at which a worker may receive delayed retirement credits. The SSA may not use the term delayed retirement credit. These terms refer to the mechanism that increases the benefit amount of a worker who delays claiming benefits after reaching the full retirement age. (Currently, a worker receives a credit for each month between the full retirement age and age 70 that the worker delays claiming benefits. Each credit increases the benefit amount that the worker will receive after claiming benefits by a specified percentage.)

Providing Distance Education for Foreign Institutions Act

This bill would allow foreign educational institutions to offer distance learning programs to students in the United States, potentially making it easier for Americans to earn degrees or take courses from universities abroad without traveling. The legislation likely aims to expand educational options and international academic partnerships, though it would need to establish rules about which foreign schools qualify and how their programs are regulated. Students and educational institutions would be the primary groups affected by any new distance learning opportunities this creates.

Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act

This bill would make it easier and more valuable for businesses to hire workers from groups that face employment barriers, such as veterans, people with disabilities, and long-term unemployed individuals, by expanding and improving a tax credit that rewards companies for hiring these workers. The changes would likely increase the tax breaks companies receive when they employ people from these targeted groups, potentially encouraging more hiring of workers who might otherwise struggle to find jobs. The bill is currently under review by the House committee that handles tax policy.

Medicare Patient Choice Act

The bill would expand options for Medicare beneficiaries to choose their healthcare coverage and providers, likely by allowing seniors to select from a broader range of plans or giving them more flexibility in how they receive care. The changes would affect millions of Medicare recipients and could influence how insurance companies and healthcare providers operate under the program. The proposal has been sent to two congressional committees for review and discussion.

Student Loan Tax Elimination Act

This bill would eliminate federal income taxes on student loan forgiveness, so borrowers whose loans are canceled wouldn't have to pay taxes on the forgiven amount as if it were income. Currently, when student loans are forgiven through programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness or income-driven repayment plans, borrowers may owe federal taxes on the forgiven balance, which can create a large unexpected tax bill. The change would affect millions of current and future student loan borrowers by reducing the financial burden of loan forgiveness programs.

Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2025

Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2025 This bill provides for a special enrollment period for Medicare medical benefits for individuals who are enrolled in COBRA continuation coverage at the time they qualify for Medicare. The special enrollment period applies during each month of COBRA coverage and the three-month period after coverage ends; individuals may enroll during the special enrollment period once during their lifetime.

Retirement Savings for Americans Act of 2025

This bill would likely make changes to retirement savings programs available to American workers, such as 401(k)s, IRAs, or other pension plans, with the goal of helping more people save for retirement. The specific changes could involve expanding who can access these accounts, increasing contribution limits, or making it easier for small businesses to offer retirement benefits to employees. Workers, employers, and financial institutions would be the main groups affected by any changes to these retirement savings rules.

Ensuring Opportunities in Online Training Act

This bill would likely establish or expand rules to help workers access online job training programs and ensure those programs meet quality standards. It probably aims to make it easier for people to learn new skills through internet-based courses while protecting them from low-quality or fraudulent training providers. The legislation would affect workers seeking to retrain or advance their careers, as well as companies and educational organizations that offer online training.

Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act

Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act This bill allows individuals to receive occupational therapy as a home health service under Medicare without the need for other services. Currently, individuals may only receive occupational therapy as a home health service if they first qualify for home health services based on other needs (e.g., physical therapy).

Workforce Reentry Act

The legislation would create new programs and funding to help people rejoin the workforce after extended time away from employment, such as those returning from incarceration, military service, or caregiving responsibilities. It would provide job training, placement assistance, and support services to make the transition back to work easier for these individuals. The bill aims to address labor shortages while giving workers a second chance at stable employment.