Rep. Chris Pappas

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal grant program to fund state-run telephone check-in services for older adults (60+) and adults with disabilities who are socially isolated and lack support systems, with priority for rural and medically underserved communities. States would use grant funds to provide regular phone calls from volunteers or staff, with voluntary referrals to services like mental health care or nutrition programs - never mandatory interventions. The program requires annual reporting on participation, call frequency, and satisfaction, while excluding personal data, and authorizes $5 million annually for fiscal years 2025-2027, effective October 2024. It directly affects vulnerable seniors and disabled adults facing isolation, particularly in areas with limited community resources.

Maddy summaryThe Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023 modifies rules for veterans' educational benefits to streamline approval of commercial driver education programs at branch locations. It allows a branch of an educational institution to be exempt from full approval requirements if it is appropriately licensed and uses the same curriculum as an approved main location. Schools must submit an annual report to the Department of Veterans Affairs verifying curriculum consistency, and the VA may withhold this exemption if needed. The changes will take effect 180 days after the VA establishes reporting rules, which must be finalized within 180 days of the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThe BUILD Act of 2023 creates two federal grant programs to fund infrastructure improvements for small local emergency services. It provides up to $4 million per grant to law enforcement agencies (serving communities under 50,000 people) and fire departments (career, combination, or volunteer) for facility upgrades, training, recruitment, or community safety projects directly related to emergency services. The bill authorizes $250 million annually from 2024-2026 for these grants, requiring grantees to demonstrate financial need and use funds only for specified purposes. It also mandates reports on grant distribution, infrastructure needs, and funding impacts over six years. The program targets jurisdictions often overlooked in larger federal infrastructure initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a competitive grant program to improve recycling access in underserved communities - defined as areas lacking full recycling services due to cost, distance, or insufficient processing capacity. It allocates $30 million annually (2023-2027) for grants to eligible entities like states, local governments, tribes, or public-private partnerships to fund projects such as expanding transfer stations, adding curbside collection, or creating hub-and-spoke infrastructure networks. Grants range from $500,000 to $15 million per project, with 70% of funds reserved for single or multiple underserved communities, and require 90% federal cost coverage (with possible waivers for financial hardship). The program prohibits grant use for education and mandates a congressional report on implementation and outcomes within two years.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal working group under the Department of Health and Human Services to standardize how loneliness and isolation are measured across government agencies and research. The Working Group, composed of HHS agencies, state representatives, and experts, will develop consistent definitions and measurement tools to improve data collection for public health research and healthcare planning. It aims to create reliable methods for tracking these issues across populations and fields, with a report due to Congress within one year of enactment. The effort expires in 2026, focusing solely on measurement standards rather than direct services or funding.

Maddy summaryHR 6301, the Cancer Drug Parity Act of 2023, requires group health plans to ensure that out-of-pocket costs for oral anticancer drugs (taken by patients at home) are no higher than for intravenous or injected anticancer drugs. It applies to patients prescribed oral anticancer medications approved by the FDA and deemed medically necessary or clinically appropriate by their physician. The law prohibits insurers from increasing patient costs for oral drugs through benefit changes, such as higher copays or stricter coverage limits, and allows prior authorization for all chemotherapy. The law takes effect for 2024 plan years, and the GAO will study its impact on patient costs within two years.

Maddy summaryThe SHIP Act imposes sanctions on foreign entities that knowingly handle Iranian petroleum, targeting those involved in port operations, transportation, refining, or ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil. Starting 90 days after enactment, the President must block assets, deny visas, and impose penalties on individuals or companies engaging in these activities, including family members or owners of sanctioned entities. It requires annual reports tracking Iran's oil exports, revenues, and key players like shipping companies and ports. The sanctions terminate if the President certifies Iran has stopped supporting terrorism and dismantled weapons programs.

Maddy summaryHR 340, the "Hamas and Other Palestinian Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act," imposes sanctions on foreign individuals, entities, and governments that provide significant financial, material, or transactional support to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or their affiliates. The bill requires the President to identify those supporting these groups and mandates sanctions including restrictions on exports, defense sales, and financial transactions over $10 million, while exempting humanitarian assistance like medicine and food. It also requires regular reports on foreign countries that host or support these groups' financial networks and mandates actions to disrupt their fundraising and money laundering activities. The legislation terminates after 3 years or if Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are no longer designated as terrorist organizations under U.S. law.

Maddy summaryHR 5997, the SHINE Act of 2023, creates a voluntary program to streamline local permitting for residential energy systems like rooftop solar, home battery storage, electric vehicle chargers, and hydrogen vehicle refueling. The bill directs the Department of Energy to develop an online permitting platform and provide technical assistance to local governments, aiming to standardize and expedite approval processes for these systems. It establishes a certification program for local governments that adopt the streamlined process and offers prizes to encourage participation. The legislation authorizes $20 million annually (2024-2027) to fund the program's implementation, directly affecting homeowners installing qualifying energy systems and local permitting authorities.

Maddy summaryThe Streamline Emergency Care Act provides $20 million annually (2024-2028) for grants to nonprofit hospitals and clinics already operating emergency rooms. Grants, capped at $500,000 each, fund hiring staff, purchasing modern equipment, or training existing personnel to improve ER capacity and efficiency. The program requires grantees to use funds solely for these operational improvements and mandates a congressional report on the program's effectiveness by 2027. This directly affects eligible nonprofit emergency care providers seeking to enhance their facilities' responsiveness.