Rep. Chris Pappas

Maddy summaryThe AADAPT Act reauthorizes and expands Project ECHO grants to improve Alzheimer’s and dementia care through technology-enabled training. It specifically funds grants for healthcare providers in rural, frontier, or medically underserved areas to enhance early diagnosis, quality care, and provider retention for dementia patients. The bill authorizes $1 million annually (2027-2032) for these dementia-focused training programs, requiring funds to supplement - not replace - existing resources. This directly supports primary care providers licensed to serve underserved communities, using collaborative online learning to address care gaps.

Maddy summaryHR 2004, titled "Tyler’s Law," requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study how often hospital emergency departments test for fentanyl during overdose cases (beyond standard drug tests), including associated costs, patient benefits/risks, and impacts on privacy and patient-physician relationships. The study must be completed within one year of the bill's enactment. Based on the study results, the Secretary must issue guidance within six months on whether emergency departments should routinely test for fentanyl, how to inform clinicians about test contents, and how such testing may affect future overdose risks and health outcomes. This bill directly affects hospital emergency departments and patients experiencing overdoses by shaping future testing protocols.

Maddy summaryHR 1266, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, adds xylazine - a veterinary sedative increasingly found in illicit drug mixtures - to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, regulating its use and trafficking. It directly affects veterinarians, animal owners, and manufacturers by allowing xylazine to be legally dispensed for animal use under specific veterinary prescriptions, while prohibiting non-veterinary human use. The bill includes transition periods (60 days for practitioners, 1 year for labeling) to ease compliance for manufacturers and practitioners, and requires the DEA and FDA to expedite necessary applications. It also mandates two congressional reports on xylazine's illicit use and trafficking patterns, and directs the Sentencing Commission to review penalties for offenses involving xylazine.

Maddy summaryHR 2913, the Ukraine Support Act, provides comprehensive U.S. support for Ukraine in response to Russia's invasion. The bill authorizes security assistance including lend-lease authority for military equipment, establishes a Ukraine Reconstruction Trust Fund for economic recovery, and imposes new sanctions targeting Russian financial institutions, oil companies, and government officials. It also includes provisions to counter Russian disinformation, support Radio Free Europe, and address the kidnapping of Ukrainian children. The legislation directly affects U.S. foreign policy, Ukraine's defense capabilities, and Russia's access to international financial systems. The act aims to strengthen Ukraine's sovereignty while holding Russia accountable for its actions.

Maddy summaryThe Turn the Tide Act primarily increases federal funding for substance use disorder treatment, prevention, and recovery services, directing billions of dollars to states, tribes, and local organizations for the years 2027 through 2030. Key provisions include expanding Medicaid coverage for mental health and behavioral health services, removing insurance barriers to medication-assisted treatment, and limiting cost-sharing requirements for opioid overdose reversal medications. The bill also establishes new grant programs to support recovery housing, train first responders, and assist law enforcement with mental health and wellness initiatives. Additionally, it targets funding toward states with the highest rates of drug overdose deaths and extends existing waivers to improve Medicaid delivery systems in those areas.

Maddy summaryThe Drug Deal Disclosure Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services to publicly release records of specific agreements between the federal government and major drug manufacturers starting in 2025. These agreements must include provisions such as offering lower drug prices based on international rates, providing discounts through government platforms like TrumpRx, or receiving special exemptions from import duties and regulatory reviews. While the bill mandates that most documents be made available in a searchable format, it allows the government to withhold only specific confidential pricing details if legally required by foreign laws or court orders, provided a justification is published. Additionally, the law directs the Congressional Budget Office and the Government Accountability Office to analyze the economic and budgetary impacts of these deals, including effects on Medicare, Medicaid, and drug competition.

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.

Maddy summaryThe AIR CARE for Vets Act of 2026 directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to run a five-year pilot program using specialized software to detect respiratory disorders and lung diseases in veterans receiving care at VA facilities. To implement this, the VA will lease FDA-approved four-dimensional functional lung imaging software from eligible developers to analyze lung function data. The program is funded with up to $25 million over five years, and the VA must submit a report to Congress two years after the pilot ends to evaluate its effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution directs Congress to disapprove a specific foreign military sale of defense articles and services to Turkey. The measure targets the provision of engines, technical data, and related support for the TF-X aircraft, which was proposed for sale in June 2026. By prohibiting this transaction, the bill prevents the transfer of these specific defense capabilities to the Turkish government. It directly affects the proposed sale and the entities involved in supplying the F110-GE-129E/F engines.

Maddy summaryThe No Cashing In Act requires former Members of Congress to file annual financial disclosure reports for ten years after leaving office or until they stop receiving retirement benefits, whichever takes longer. To prevent conflicts of interest, the bill reduces a former member's government annuity by the amount of income they earn from a "substantial lobbying entity" in the previous year. A substantial lobbying entity is defined as a company with more than three lobbyists or one that spends over $10,000 on lobbying activities annually. This legislation directly affects current and former Members of Congress by extending their financial transparency obligations and linking their retirement pay to their post-congressional lobbying earnings.