Chris Pappas

To reinstate criminal penalties for persons charging veterans unauthorized fees relating to claims for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

The proposal would make it illegal for people to charge veterans unauthorized fees when helping them apply for Veterans Affairs benefits, with criminal penalties for those who break this rule. This protects veterans from being scammed or overcharged by people claiming to assist with benefit claims. The bill is currently being reviewed by congressional committees to determine if it should move forward.

Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act of 2025

Veterans' Transition to Trucking Act of 2025 This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to act as a state approving agency to approve multi-state apprenticeship programs (i.e., non-federal apprenticeship programs operating in more than one state) for purposes of VA educational assistance benefits. (State approving agencies are designated by states to provide, among other duties, approval of courses of education for purposes of VA education benefits.)

U.S.-Greece Defense Cooperation Advancement Act

This bill would strengthen military and defense partnerships between the United States and Greece, likely including increased joint training exercises, equipment sharing, and coordination on security issues in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The changes would affect military personnel, defense contractors, and foreign policy, while potentially increasing U.S. influence and presence in a strategically important area near Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

ATIIP Reauthorization and Improvement Act

The legislation would renew federal funding and support for projects that help people walk, bike, and use other non-motorized transportation methods to get around their communities. This affects city planners, transportation departments, and residents who want safer streets and alternatives to driving. The bill aims to improve public health and reduce traffic congestion by investing in sidewalks, bike lanes, and similar infrastructure improvements.

Protecting American Railroad Workers’ Jobs Act of 2026

The legislation would establish rules to protect American railroad workers' jobs when trains cross the border between the United States and Mexico, likely by requiring certain staffing levels or preventing companies from replacing U.S. workers with cheaper labor from Mexico. This would affect railroad companies operating cross-border routes and their workers, as well as potentially impact shipping costs and trade between the two countries. The bill is currently under review by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Rural Child Care Access Act

The legislation would help rural families access affordable child care by providing grants and funding to support child care providers in areas where options are limited. It aims to make it easier for parents in rural communities to find quality care for their children while working, and would help child care businesses in these areas stay open and expand their services.

SERVE Act

The legislation would expand benefits and support services for military veterans, including improvements to healthcare access, mental health services, and job training programs. It aims to help veterans transition more smoothly to civilian life by providing additional resources for education, employment assistance, and housing support. Veterans and their families would be the primary beneficiaries of these enhanced services and programs.

CLEAN Act

I don't have enough information to write an accurate summary. The bill's subjects are listed as "None," and the title "CLEAN Act" alone doesn't specify what the legislation actually does. To provide a factual, plain-English explanation of what the bill would do and who it affects, I would need access to the bill's actual text or a description of its provisions.

To amend title 23, United States Code, with respect to the amounts States are guaranteed under the highway apportionment formula, and for other purposes.

This bill would change how federal highway funding is divided among states, likely guaranteeing each state a minimum amount of money for road and bridge projects regardless of population or other factors. The changes would affect state transportation departments and local governments that rely on federal highway dollars to maintain and improve roads. The bill is currently being reviewed by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Lower Grocery Prices Act

This bill aims to address high grocery prices by giving the government tools to examine and potentially challenge business practices in the food industry that may be unfairly raising costs for consumers. The legislation would likely affect grocery stores, food manufacturers, and suppliers by increasing scrutiny of their pricing decisions and competitive practices. The bill has been sent to two congressional committees to review different aspects of how it would work.

Protein for Every Plate Act of 2026

This bill would likely work to increase access to protein-rich foods for Americans, possibly through programs that subsidize or distribute meat, dairy, eggs, or plant-based proteins to low-income families, schools, or other institutions. It could involve funding for domestic agriculture to boost protein production or changes to existing food assistance programs to prioritize protein-containing foods. The measure would primarily affect food producers, agricultural workers, and families struggling to afford nutritious meals.

Veterans Benefits Information Protection Act

This bill would protect the personal information of veterans by setting rules for how their benefits data can be collected, stored, and shared by government agencies and private companies. It likely aims to prevent identity theft and unauthorized access to sensitive details like Social Security numbers, medical records, and financial information that veterans provide when applying for or receiving benefits. The legislation would give veterans more control over their personal data and establish penalties for organizations that mishandle or improperly disclose this information.

GUARD VA Benefits Act

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.

Gas Prices Relief Act of 2026

This bill would temporarily eliminate the federal tax on gasoline, which currently adds about 18 cents per gallon at the pump, to provide relief to drivers and consumers who pay for goods transported by truck. The tax holiday would reduce the price of gas for everyone who fills up a car or truck, though it would also mean less money flowing to the federal government for road maintenance and infrastructure projects. The exact length of the tax break is not specified in the available information, but such holidays typically last for a limited period like a few months.

DISCLOSE Act of 2026

Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2026 or the DISCLOSE Act of 2026 This bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosures of campaign expenditures, and requiring additional disclosures regarding certain political advertisements. Specifically, the bill expands existing foreign money prohibitions to include disbursements for paid web-based or digital communications and federal judicial nomination communications. It also prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to campaigns related to ballot initiatives and referenda. The Government Accountability Office must, for each four-year election cycle, study and report on the incidence of illicit foreign money in federal elections. Next, the bill makes it unlawful to establish or use a corporation, company, or other entity with the intent to conceal an election contribution or donation by a foreign national. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. Covered organizations (e.g., corporations, labor organizations, and political organizations) must, within 24 hours, file reports with the Federal Election Commission to disclose campaign expenditures of more than $10,000 during an election cycle. The bill also requires organizations to provide additional disclosures regarding political advertisements, including the donors who contributed the most money to that organization in the last year.

Respect for Local Communities Act

This bill would give local governments more authority to enforce immigration laws and set their own immigration policies, rather than leaving these decisions solely to federal authorities. It would likely allow cities and counties to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and potentially create their own immigration-related regulations. The bill affects local officials, immigrants, and communities trying to determine how immigration enforcement happens in their areas.

Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act

Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. Specifically, the bill permanently (1) removes geographic restrictions on originating sites (i.e., the location of the beneficiary), (2) allows the home of the beneficiary to serve as the originating site for all services, (3) allows federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner), and (4) expands coverage to include audio-only services for evaluation and management and behavioral health services.

Recognizing December 2025 as "Impaired Driving Prevention Month" and promoting efforts to help prevent tragic and preventable crashes, deaths, and injuries caused by impaired driving.

This resolution supports the recognition of Impaired Driving Prevention Month. The resolution also supports the efforts of the Department of Transportation, state and local governments, and state and local law enforcement to prevent and stop impaired driving.

Gulf War Survivor Benefits Update Act of 2025

This bill would update and improve benefits for veterans who served in the Gulf War and may be dealing with health problems related to their service. The changes would likely expand eligibility for disability payments, healthcare, or other support services for Gulf War veterans and their families. The bill is currently being reviewed by a congressional subcommittee that handles veteran disability benefits.

Veterans’ Burial Improvement Act of 2025

This bill would improve burial benefits and services for veterans by making changes to how the Department of Veterans Affairs handles funeral expenses, cemetery operations, and memorial services. The legislation likely aims to expand burial options, increase financial assistance for veteran funerals, or improve conditions at VA cemeteries to better honor those who served in the military. Veterans and their families would be the primary beneficiaries of these improvements.

VA Insurance Improvement Act

This bill would likely improve insurance coverage or benefits for veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs, possibly by expanding eligibility, increasing coverage amounts, or streamlining how veterans access insurance programs. The changes would affect veterans and their families who rely on VA insurance options for health coverage or financial protection. The bill is currently being reviewed by the congressional subcommittee that handles veteran disability and benefits programs.

PUBLIC SAFETY Act

Without seeing the bill's specific provisions, this legislation appears to address public safety funding and policy, likely involving budget allocations and law enforcement matters that fall under both the Appropriations and Judiciary committees' oversight. The bill's actual impact would depend on whether it increases or redirects funding to police, courts, or other safety programs, and which groups—such as law enforcement agencies, communities, or crime victims—would be affected by its provisions.

Energy Burden Tax Credit Act

This bill would create a tax credit to help low- and moderate-income households reduce the cost of their energy bills, such as electricity and heating. Families who qualify would receive money back on their taxes to offset what they spend on keeping their homes powered and warm, making energy more affordable for struggling households.

Postal Suspension Transparency Act

The proposal would require the U.S. Postal Service to publicly disclose information about mail delivery suspensions, including when they occur, where they happen, and the reasons behind them. This transparency would help customers and communities understand service disruptions and hold the postal service accountable for maintaining reliable mail delivery. The measure affects anyone who depends on mail service, from individual households to businesses that rely on postal delivery.

Bring Our Heroes Home Act

Based on the vague title and government operations subject matter, this bill likely aims to address the return or repatriation of American military personnel, whether deceased service members, prisoners of war, or missing-in-action soldiers. The specific mechanics would depend on the bill's actual text, but the intent appears to be improving government processes or policies related to bringing service members home. This would primarily affect military families, the Department of Defense, and veterans' services.

End the Cyprus Embargo Act

This bill would lift the U.S. arms embargo on Cyprus, allowing American military equipment and weapons to be sold to the Cypriot government. The embargo has been in place for decades due to Cyprus's division and tensions with Turkey, so removing it would change U.S. foreign policy toward the Eastern Mediterranean region and affect defense contractors, Cyprus's military capabilities, and diplomatic relationships in the area.

Critical Infrastructure Security Act

The proposal would strengthen protections for essential services like power grids, water systems, and financial networks that Americans depend on daily by establishing new security standards and oversight requirements. It would affect both government agencies and private companies that operate these critical systems, requiring them to better defend against cyberattacks and other threats. The bill is currently being reviewed by multiple congressional committees to determine which parts fall under each committee's area of responsibility.

Protecting Public Naval Shipyards Act of 2025

This bill would protect the Navy's publicly owned shipyards from being privatized or having their work contracted out to private companies, keeping shipbuilding and repair operations under direct government control. The measure aims to preserve jobs at government shipyards and ensure the military maintains control over critical naval construction and maintenance work rather than relying on private contractors. It affects Navy workers, shipyard employees, and the defense industry's ability to bid on naval shipbuilding contracts.

CANADA Act

Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments Act or the CANADA Act This bill exempts goods imported by or for the use of small business concerns from duties (i.e., tariffs) imposed under Executive Order 14193 . This executive order, issued by President Donald J. Trump on February 1, 2025, imposed a 25% tariff on most imports from Canada (except for Canadian energy or energy resources, which have a 10% tariff).

LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025

This bill would ban the use of "panic defenses" in criminal trials, which are arguments claiming that a defendant's violent actions were a reasonable reaction to discovering someone's sexual orientation or gender identity. The law would prevent defendants accused of assault or murder from using a victim's LGBTQ+ status as a legal justification for their actions in federal courts and would encourage states to adopt similar restrictions.

EAGLE Act of 2025

I don't have access to the specific details of the EAGLE Act of 2025 beyond its title and that it relates to crime and law enforcement. To write an accurate summary explaining what the bill would actually do, who it affects, and its concrete impacts, I would need access to the bill's text or a reliable description of its provisions. Could you provide more information about what this bill proposes?

BUILD Act of 2025

The BUILD Act of 2025 would likely establish or modify federal programs related to infrastructure development, law enforcement facilities, or emergency management capabilities. Based on its referral to the subcommittee overseeing public buildings and economic development, the bill probably aims to fund or authorize construction of federal buildings, police facilities, or emergency response infrastructure. This would affect federal agencies, local law enforcement, and communities that rely on these facilities and services.