Rep. Chris Pappas

Maddy summaryThe Supporting VA Families Act grants unpaid parental leave to Department of Veterans Affairs employees. This provision allows employees to take four weeks of unpaid leave within a 12-month period for the birth of a child or for adoption and foster care placements. The leave is designed to supplement existing leave policies rather than replace them, ensuring employees can balance family needs with their work responsibilities. The act defines eligible employees and children according to existing federal definitions found in Title 5 of the United States Code.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits businesses from using automated systems to set different prices for food and groceries based on surveillance data about individual consumers, such as their browsing history or personal information. It allows exceptions for discounts based on reasonable costs, membership programs, or broad group categories like students and seniors, provided the rules are clearly disclosed and applied uniformly. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce these rules, while states and individuals can also sue for violations, seeking damages of at least $3,000 per violation.

Maddy summaryThe Protein for Every Plate Act of 2026 amends the Food and Nutrition Act to increase funding for animal protein purchases under the National School Lunch Program. Specifically, it adds $200,000,000 in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the existing commodity funds designated for food distribution. This change directly affects schools and food programs that receive federal nutrition assistance by allowing them to purchase more animal protein items. The bill modifies existing statutory language to formally include this additional funding amount in the program's financial provisions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution recognizes the 205th anniversary of the War of Greek Independence and extends congratulations to the people of Greece. It highlights the shared democratic values between the United States and Greece, noting historical ties from the American Revolution to modern NATO cooperation. The bill also acknowledges the contributions of the Greek-American community and Greece's strategic role in the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans. This is a ceremonial measure that does not create new laws or require funding, but rather expresses official appreciation for the historical and ongoing partnership between the two nations.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Veterans Benefits Information Protection Act, amends the Communications Act to strengthen protections against automated robocalls targeting government agencies. It specifically prohibits the use of automated telephone equipment that can make repeated calls to federal numbers and exchange information without human intervention when operated by someone other than the intended recipient. The primary effect is to prevent third parties from using automated systems to access or interact with federal departments and agencies, including those handling veterans benefits. This measure aims to reduce unwanted automated communications directed at government institutions while maintaining existing protections for individual consumers.

Love Lives On Act of 2025 This bill extends entitlement for various benefit programs and services for surviving spouses of deceased members of the Armed Forces or veterans. The bill provides that the remarriage of a surviving spouse must not bar the furnishing of dependency and indemnity compensation or special pension benefits to such spouse. Additionally, the Department of Defense may not terminate the payment of an annuity for a surviving spouse under the Survivor Benefit Plan solely because the surviving spouse remarries. The bill also expands the definition of a dependent under TRICARE to include a remarried widow or widower whose subsequent marriage has ended due to death, divorce, or annulment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Members of Congress from receiving expedited or preferential access to airport security screenings based on their official position. It requires the Transportation Security Administration to stop using federal funds to provide special treatment to legislators, ensuring they undergo the same security procedures as other passengers. The law does not prevent Members of Congress from participating in publicly available trusted traveler programs like TSA PreCheck, as long as their access is not derived from their congressional role. The Transportation Security Administrator must update policies to comply with these requirements and submit an implementation report to Congress within 180 days of enactment.

Extending WIC for New Moms Act This bill amends the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to extend the eligibility periods for breastfeeding and postpartum women. Specifically, a state program may elect to certify a breastfeeding woman for up to 24 months (currently 1 year) postpartum. The bill also expands the eligibility period for postpartum women to up to 24 months after termination of pregnancy (currently 6 months). The Department of Agriculture must submit a report to Congress evaluating the effect of these changes to the program on (1) maternal and infant health outcomes, (2) breastfeeding rates, and (3) qualitative evaluations of family experiences under WIC.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to cover abortion care, counseling, and related medication as part of standard hospital and medical services for eligible veterans and certain dependents. It amends VA healthcare law to explicitly include these services under existing coverage for veterans qualifying under section 1703 and dependents eligible under section 1781(a). The policy directly affects veterans and their dependents enrolled in VA healthcare programs by expanding covered benefits to include abortion-related care. This is a concrete policy change to VA healthcare benefits, not a broader abortion law.

Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act or the GUARD VA Benefits Act This bill imposes fines on individuals for soliciting, contracting for, charging, or receiving any unauthorized fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. The attempted commission of such offenses is also punishable by fine.