Rep. Chris Pappas

Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 This bill expands the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) authority with respect to research on rare pediatric diseases, including by permitting the FDA to take enforcement action against drug sponsors that fail to satisfy pediatric study requirements and by reauthorizing programs that support pediatric research.  Specifically, the bill modifies requirements relating to molecularly targeted pediatric cancer investigations to permit research on new drugs in combination with active ingredients that have already been approved, provided certain conditions are met; permits the FDA to take enforcement action against drug sponsors that fail to comply with pediatric study requirements, if such sponsors demonstrated a lack of due diligence in satisfying the requirement; renews the FDA’s authority to award priority review vouchers to sponsors of new products intended to treat rare pediatric diseases through September 30, 2029; and reauthorizes through FY2027 certain funding for the National Institutes of Health to support priority pediatric research.  The bill also provides statutory authority for the FDA’s interpretation of the orphan drug exclusivity period. The bill specifies, consistent with FDA regulations, that the seven-year market exclusivity period for drugs for rare diseases or conditions (i.e., orphan drugs) prohibits the approval of the same drug for the same approved use or indication with respect to the disease or condition. (In Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Becerra , a court rejected the FDA’s interpretation and held that orphan drug exclusivity extends to all uses or indications for the disease or condition.)

Maddy summaryThe Save the Green to Gold Program Act amends U.S. military law to adjust how enlisted service time is counted for officers who completed the SROTC program. It allows these officers to count their service in the Selected Reserve from either August 1, 1979, or the date the bill becomes law, regardless of which military branch they served in. This change directly affects current and future officers who served in the Selected Reserve before becoming commissioned, potentially extending their counted service time for promotion and retirement. The bill updates section 2106(c) of Title 10, U.S. Code, to provide this new option for computing service length.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the special pension for living Medal of Honor recipients by tying the payment rate to standard veterans' compensation. It amends law to set the pension equal to the monthly rate for veterans without dependents (under 38 U.S.C. §1114(m)), adjusted to the next intermediate rate. The change automatically updates annually based on changes to the standard rate, with a cap preventing multiple increases in a single year. It directly affects all living Medal of Honor recipients currently receiving the $1,406.73 monthly pension. The law took effect December 1, 2025, after passing both chambers earlier that year.

Maddy summaryThe FOSTER Act (HR 6283) creates a new federal grant program to fund opioid abuse prevention and treatment services specifically for children and caregivers in kinship care settings. It directs states and local agencies to use these funds for workforce training, health care services, and recruiting foster/adoptive parents to support kinship caregivers - defined as relatives (by blood, marriage, or adoption) raising children when biological parents cannot. The bill authorizes $255 million annually from 2028 through 2033, with 1% of funds dedicated to these services. This policy directly affects state/local agencies and kinship caregivers across the U.S., focusing on improving support systems for children in these arrangements.

Maddy summaryHRES 899 is a symbolic House resolution recognizing the Transgender Day of Remembrance and memorializing transgender people killed by violence in 2024-2025. It directly affects transgender individuals, particularly transgender women of color, by acknowledging the epidemic of violence against them - citing 27 U.S. victims (including names like Rick Alastor Newman and Kyla Jane Walker) and 241 global cases in 2025. The resolution’s key provisions include formally recognizing the violence epidemic, memorializing specific lives lost, and affirming the need for solutions to protect transgender people. It does not create new laws but expresses congressional support for addressing systemic violence and discrimination faced by transgender communities.

Maddy summaryHR 6215, the Small Business RELIEF Act, exempts small businesses from import duties imposed under Executive Order 14257 (90 Fed. Reg. 15041) for goods they import or use. It requires the President to refund duties paid by small businesses within 90 days of the bill's enactment. The bill defines "small business concern" using the standard Small Business Act criteria (15 U.S.C. 632). This directly affects small businesses importing goods, providing immediate cost relief by removing a specific tariff and refunding past payments.

Maddy summaryHR 6181, the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act, prohibits child welfare agencies receiving federal funds from discriminating against children, youth, or prospective foster/adoptive parents based on religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), or marital status. It directly affects LGBTQ youth in foster care - overrepresented at 30% of the system - who face higher risks of trauma, group home placements, and suicide attempts compared to non-LGBTQ peers. Key provisions require agencies to collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity, establish a National Resource Center for LGBTQ youth support, provide cultural competency training, and eliminate discriminatory practices. The law aims to improve safety, permanency, and placement stability by expanding access to family-based care and ensuring equitable services for all children in the system.

Maddy summaryThe Improving Veteran Access to Care Act (HR 6038) requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create and implement a plan to modernize health care appointment scheduling for veterans. The plan must include a new scheduling system allowing veterans to view and book appointments online (for primary, mental health, and specialty care), a self-service platform for booking or requesting referrals, and phone-based scheduling assistance. The VA must submit the plan to Congress within one year of enactment, fully implement it within two years, and provide annual progress reports detailing costs, metrics, and challenges. This bill directly affects veterans seeking VA health care and VA staff managing scheduling operations, focusing on concrete improvements to access and efficiency.

Maddy summaryHRES 581 is a procedural resolution that establishes rules for the House to consider H.R. 185, the Epstein Files Transparency Act. It waives all points of order against the bill, adopts a specific amendment (the full text of the Epstein Files Transparency Act), and limits debate to one hour equally divided between the Judiciary Committee's chair and ranking minority member. The resolution also requires the Attorney General to release unclassified DOJ records related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, with limited exceptions for privacy or national security.

Maddy summaryThe Global Respect Act (HR 6151) requires the U.S. President to publicly list foreign officials responsible for severe human rights violations against LGBTQI individuals, including torture, prolonged detention, or violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It mandates denying visas and entry to listed individuals and requires annual reports on the list's updates and impacts. The bill also directs the State Department to track global violence against LGBTQI people and update annual human rights reports to include discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. These provisions directly affect foreign government officials and entities implicated in such abuses, aiming to increase accountability through U.S. visa restrictions.