Rep. Chris Pappas

Maddy summaryHR 3152, the "Fight CRIME Act," aims to maintain international restrictions on Iran's missile-related activities by requiring diplomatic efforts to extend these restrictions before they expire in October 2023. The bill mandates annual reports detailing U.S. diplomatic strategies, potential impacts of expiration, and measures to deter missile technology transfers to Iran. It establishes sanctions against foreign individuals or entities that knowingly support Iran's missile or drone programs, including asset freezes and visa restrictions. These sanctions apply regardless of whether UN restrictions remain in effect after their expiration, directly affecting foreign entities involved in these activities.

Maddy summaryHRES 492 is a congressional resolution condemning the Iranian government's systematic persecution of the Baha'i minority, which directly affects Baha'is in Iran facing arrests, property confiscation, and imprisonment. The resolution specifically calls for Iran to immediately release Baha'is detained for their faith, end state-sponsored hate propaganda against them, and reverse discriminatory policies denying equal access to education, employment, and religious freedom. It urges the U.S. President and Secretary of State to demand Iran’s compliance with international human rights treaties and to use existing sanctions authorities (under the 2010 and 2012 Iran sanctions laws) against officials responsible for these abuses. The resolution does not impose new legal requirements but serves as a formal U.S. government statement of condemnation and a call for diplomatic and sanctions action.

Maddy summaryHR 5413, the Prevent Youth Suicide Act, requires all schools serving grades 6-12 that receive federal education funds to implement specific suicide prevention and support protocols within 210 days of enactment. The bill mandates evidence-based staff training every two years to identify student suicide risks, establish referral systems to mental health resources, reduce stigma through awareness campaigns, and adopt trauma-informed care practices. Schools must also create postvention plans for after a suicide occurs, including grief counseling support and collaboration with mental health professionals. These requirements apply directly to school districts and institutions receiving federal education funding under applicable programs. The Secretary of Education will provide technical assistance and monitor compliance with these rules.

Women's Business Centers Improvement Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes the Women's Business Center Program through FY2027, raises the cap on individual center grants, establishes an accreditation program for grant recipients, and revises the duties of the Office of Women's Business Ownership. Specifically, the bill modifies the Women's Business Center Program to enable the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide initial and continuation grants to eligible entities to operate women's business centers for the benefit of women-owned small businesses. The SBA must also publish standards for a program to accredit entities that receive grants from the Women's Business Center Program, and such entities' receipt of continuation grants shall be contingent upon their obtaining accreditation.

Maddy summaryHRES 668, the BUDS Resolution, amends House rules to allow bipartisan joint sponsorship of public bills and resolutions by one majority-party and one minority-party member. This change directly affects House members seeking to co-sponsor legislation with cross-party support, updating the existing rules for naming cosponsors and submitting constitutional authority statements. The key mechanism requires that for joint sponsorship, one sponsor must represent the majority party and the other the minority party, with both sponsors sharing responsibility for related procedural steps. This procedural adjustment streamlines the process for bipartisan co-sponsorship without altering legislative policy.

Maddy summaryHR 5318, the "Remembering Our Local Heroes Act," creates a federal grant program to fund construction, restoration, or maintenance of memorials honoring specific community contributors. The program provides up to $100,000 per project to local governments or nonprofits for memorials commemorating veterans (since 1917), fallen military personnel, law enforcement officers, or firefighters. Applicants must provide at least 50% non-Federal matching funds (including in-kind contributions) and demonstrate community support, with priority given to projects memorializing individuals with exemplary service or acts of bravery. The program is funded at $2 million annually from 2024 through 2028, excluding interior structures or memorials not meeting the defined criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) to increase access to healthy food for low-income SNAP participants. It raises the incentive funding percentage from 50% to 80% for eligible purchases, creates new cooperative agreements to scale state programs (requiring 90% of funds to be used for redeemed incentives at retailers), and expands a produce prescription program where healthcare providers can refer patients to buy fresh produce. The bill allocates increased annual funding through 2029, including $57.5 million annually for 2024-2028, and requires a study on transitioning produce prescription costs to health insurance within 10 years. It directly affects SNAP recipients, participating retailers (including farmers markets), and community health centers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Bureau of Prisons to develop and implement a strategy for scanning all incoming mail at federal prisons to stop fentanyl and other synthetic drugs from entering facilities. It directs the Bureau to evaluate existing scanning technology within 180 days and submit a detailed plan to Congress within 90 days, including how to provide digital copies of mail to inmates within 24 hours and physical copies within 30 days (if safe). The strategy must achieve 100% mail scanning capacity at all federal prisons, prioritize high-security facilities, and include a budget proposal for fiscal years 2024-2026. This directly affects federal prisons, inmates, and Bureau employees by changing mail processing procedures to enhance safety and reduce staffing burdens from manual mail checks.

Maddy summaryHR 4745, the Delivering for Rural Seniors Act of 2023, creates a pilot program to expand home delivery of food packages under the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for low-income seniors in rural areas. The bill authorizes $10 million annually (2024-2026) for competitive grants to state agencies, which must prioritize rural service providers to cover costs like transportation, staffing, and outreach for home delivery. It requires grantees to report on delivery metrics, costs, and effectiveness annually. The program directly affects rural CSFP participants facing transportation barriers to accessing food assistance.

Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program within the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Under the bill, USDA must establish and maintain (directly or by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement) a program to help eligible hospital facilities in rural areas with a population of 50,000 inhabitants or less.  The program must provide tailored technical assistance and training to hospital facilities to identify development needs for maintaining essential health care services and support action plans for financial, operational, and quality improvement projects to meet these needs. Development needs include (1) constructing, expanding, and modernizing health care facilities; (2) increasing telehealth capabilities; and (3) acquiring or upgrading health care information systems (e.g., electronic health records). The program must also provide technical assistance and training to help hospital facilities to better manage their financial and business strategies and identify, and apply for assistance from, USDA loan and grant programs. In selecting eligible hospital facilities to participate in the program, USDA must give priority to borrowers and grantees of certain USDA rural assistance programs.   USDA must also submit an annual report to Congress on the progress and results of the program.