H.R. 6039

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6039 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6039

To advance commonsense priorities.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 12, 2025

Mr. McGovern introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Small 
Business, Appropriations, Ethics, Education and Workforce, the 
Judiciary, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, House Administration, 
Science, Space, and Technology, Energy and Commerce, Financial 
Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Government 
Reform, Agriculture, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Intelligence 
(Permanent Select), Homeland Security, Rules, and the Budget, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To advance commonsense priorities.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Commonsense Legislating Act''.

TITLE I

SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF FAST PROGRAM.

Section 34(i) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657d(i)) is 
amended by striking ``September 30, 2005'' and inserting ``September 
30, 2030''.

SEC. 102. APPLICATION ASSISTANCE TO BROADEN PARTICIPATION.

(a) In General.--Section 9(mm)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 638(mm)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (J), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (K), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(L) providing small business concerns with 
assistance applying to the SBIR program or STTR program 
of the Federal agency, including providing such 
assistance to carry out the policy directive required 
under paragraphs (2)(F) or (5) of subsection (j) and 
subsection (p)(2)(H) to increase the participation of 
States with respect to which a low level of SBIR or 
STTR awards have historically been awarded.''.
(b) Enhanced Minority Institution Participation.--
(1) SBIR.--Section 9(j) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 638(j)), is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph:
``(5) Increased outreach requirements.--Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the 
Administration shall modify the policy directives issued 
pursuant to this subsection to require enhanced outreach 
efforts to increase the participation of individuals conducting 
research at minority institutions (as defined in section 365 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k)) and 
Hispanic-serving institutions (as defined in section 502(a) of 
such Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a))) in SBIR programs.''.
(2) STTR.--Section 9(p)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 638(p)(2)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' at the 
end;
(B) in subparagraph (G)(iii), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
``(H) procedures for outreach efforts to increase 
the participation of individuals conducting research at 
minority institutions (as defined in section 365 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k)) and 
Hispanic-serving institutions (as defined in section 16 
502(a) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a))) in STTR 
programs.''.

TITLE II

SEC. 201. NATIVE AMERICAN TOURISM GRANT PROGRAMS.

The Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act 
(25 U.S.C. 4351 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 6 (25 U.S.C. 4355) as section 
7; and
(2) by inserting after section 5 (25 U.S.C. 4354) the 
following:

``SEC. 6. NATIVE AMERICAN TOURISM GRANT PROGRAMS.

``(a) Bureau of Indian Affairs Program.--The Director of the Bureau 
of Indian Affairs may make grants to and enter into agreements with 
Indian tribes and tribal organizations to carry out the purposes of 
this Act, as described in section 2.
``(b) Office of Native Hawaiian Relations.--The Director of the 
Office of Native Hawaiian Relations may make grants to and enter into 
agreements with Native Hawaiian organizations to carry out the purposes 
of this Act, as described in section 2.
``(c) Other Federal Agencies.--The heads of other Federal agencies, 
including the Secretaries of Commerce, Transportation, Agriculture, 
Health and Human Services, and Labor, may make grants under this 
authority to and enter into agreements with Indian tribes, tribal 
organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to carry out the 
purposes of this Act, as described in section 2.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $35,000,000 for the period of 
fiscal years 2026 through 2030.''.

TITLE III

SEC. 301. ELIGIBILITY OF SPOUSES OF MILITARY PERSONNEL FOR THE WORK 
OPPORTUNITY CREDIT.

(a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of section 51(d) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of 
subparagraph (I), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (J) 
and inserting ``, or'', and by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
``(K) a qualified military spouse.''.
(b) Qualified Military Spouse.--Subsection (d) of section 51 of 
such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(16) Qualified military spouse.--The term `qualified 
military spouse' means any individual who is certified by the 
designated local agency as being (as of the hiring date) a 
spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to amounts paid or incurred after the date of the enactment of 
this Act to individuals who begin work for the employer after such 
date.

TITLE IV

SEC. 401. MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATIONS AND OUTREACH TO A VETERAN 
RECEIVING COMPENSATION FOR A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY 
RELATING TO A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS.

(a) Annual Consultation; Outreach.--The section 1167 of title 38, 
United States Code, relating to mental health consultations is 
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), in the subsection heading, by 
striking ``In General'' and inserting ``Initial Consultation'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections 
(c) and (d), respectively;
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
subsection (b):
``(b) Annual Consultation; Outreach.--Not less frequently than once 
each year, the Secretary shall, with regards to a veteran who is 
receiving compensation under this chapter for a service-connected 
disability relating to a mental health diagnosis--
``(1) offer a mental health consultation to assess the 
mental health needs of, and discuss other mental health care 
options for, the veteran; and
``(2) conduct outreach regarding the availability of--
``(A) consultations under paragraph (1); and
``(B) other mental health services furnished by the 
Secretary.'';
(4) in subsection (c), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by 
inserting ``or (b)'' after ``under subsection (a)'' both places 
it appears; and
(5) in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by 
inserting ``, or to require the reevaluation of any entitlement 
of the veteran to compensation under this chapter'' before the 
period at the end.
(b) Technical Corrections.--
(1) Redesignation.--Such section, as amended, is 
redesignated as section 1169 of such title.
(2) Clerical amendments.--The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 11 of such title is amended--
(A) by striking the item relating to the section 
1167 that relates to mental health consultations; and
(B) by inserting after the item relating to section 
1168 the following new item:

``1169. Mental health consultations.''.
(c) GAO Review.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
House of Representatives a report on the effect of the amendments made 
by this section. Elements of such report shall include--
(1) the number of veterans who received--
(A) mental health consultations under paragraph (1) 
of subsection (b) of section 1169 of such title; and
(B) outreach under paragraph (2) of such 
subsection;
(2) whether veterans reported barriers to seeking such 
consultations; and
(3) such barriers, if any.

TITLE V

SEC. 501. PRIVATE OR COMMERCIAL INTERSTATE CARRIER PROTECTIONS.

(a) Obstruction of Matter Left for Collection.--Section 659 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) at the end of the fourth paragraph, by striking ``--'' 
and inserting ``; or''; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph four the following new 
paragraph:
``Whoever embezzles, steals, or unlawfully takes, carries 
away, or by fraud or deception obtains, any package, or other 
article, which has been delivered by any private or commercial 
interstate carrier before the addressee or his or her agent has 
taken physical possession--''.

TITLE VI

SEC. 601. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE.

(a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the 
Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Education, Housing and Urban 
Development, Commerce, Treasury, Transportation, and Agriculture and 
the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, shall establish 
an Interagency National Task Force on Working Families. The task force 
shall be titled the ``Working Families Task Force'' and for purposes of 
this Act be referred to as the ``Task Force''.
(b) Membership.--The Task Force shall be composed of not fewer than 
10 members and shall include representatives designated by the relevant 
Secretaries from each of the following Federal agencies:
(1) The Department of Labor.
(2) The Department of Health and Human Services.
(3) The Department of Education.
(4) The Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(5) The Department of Commerce.
(6) The Department of the Treasury.
(7) The Department of Transportation.
(8) The Department of Agriculture.
(9) The Small Business Administration.
(c) Meetings.--
(1) In general.--The Task Force shall meet not less than 1 
time per quarter per calendar year.
(2) Quorum.--Two-thirds of the members of the Task Force 
shall constitute a quorum.
(d) Purpose.--The purpose of the Task Force shall be to--
(1) examine the challenges facing working families; and
(2) develop recommendations to improve the standard of 
living and quality of life for working families.
(e) Duties.--The duties of the Task Force shall include the 
following:
(1) Identifying and evaluating key factors that impact the 
standard of living for working families, including--
(A) addressing affordability challenges related to 
various economic conditions, including inflation;
(B) reducing barriers to economic mobility;
(C) improving access to quality jobs with livable 
wages and strong labor standards;
(D) expanding affordable child care for all 
families;
(E) improving incentives, including tax policies 
such as the child tax credit, child and dependent care 
tax credit, and earned income tax credit, that assist 
children and families;
(F) supporting home care and medical care for 
seniors and families that need assistance;
(G) mitigating barriers to more affordable and 
higher quality health care and services;
(H) obtaining and building quality, affordable 
housing;
(I) expanding educational and workforce training 
opportunities;
(J) increasing financial literacy and access to 
financial services;
(K) accessing affordable and nutritious food;
(L) reducing gaps in access to technology and the 
internet that impact educational and employment 
opportunities and health services;
(M) reducing environmental hazards and creating a 
healthier environment;
(N) accessing affordable and renewable energy 
sources;
(O) accessing affordable, reliant, and efficient 
transportation systems; and
(P) addressing the impacts of staffing and funding 
cuts at Federal agencies.
(2) Assessing or developing a methodology to assess how 
various macroeconomic conditions (which may include 
unemployment, inflation, gross domestic product, and monetary 
policy) affect quality of life and affordability for working 
families.
(3) Assessing the effectiveness of current Federal policies 
and programs in helping working families achieve an improved 
standard of living.
(4) Developing legislative and regulatory policy 
recommendations to enhance the efforts of Federal agencies and 
Congress to empower working families to meet the challenges of 
current economic conditions, raise their standards of living, 
and access the benefits of economic growth.
(5) The Task Force shall consult with a wide-ranging group 
of external stakeholders and public experts in order to develop 
the recommendations referred to in paragraph (4).
(f) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Task Force shall--
(1) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
report on its most recent findings and recommendations, which 
shall include a list of stakeholders and public experts with 
which the Task Force consulted and the meeting minutes for each 
meeting of the Task Force; and
(2) make such report publicly available on the website of 
the Task Force.
(g) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the following:
(1) The Committee on Education and Workforce of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
(2) The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
(3) The Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate.
(4) The Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate.
(5) The Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry of the Senate.

TITLE VII

SECTION 701. NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL FENTANYL DISRUPTION STEERING 
GROUP.

(a) Establishment.--There is established within the National 
Security Council a Fentanyl Disruption Steering Group (in this section 
referred to as the ``Steering Group'').
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Steering Group shall be composed of--
(A) the Assistant to the President for National 
Security Affairs, who shall serve as chair; and
(B) a senior official from each of the agencies 
described in paragraph (2), to be appointed by the head 
of the respective agency of such official (and in the 
case of the intelligence community, to be appointed by 
the Director of National Intelligence).
(2) Agencies described.--The agencies described in this 
paragraph are the following:
(A) The Department of State.
(B) The Department of the Treasury.
(C) The Department of Defense.
(D) The Department of Justice.
(E) The Department of Commerce.
(F) The Department of Health and Human Services.
(G) The Department of Transportation.
(H) The Department of Energy.
(I) The Department of Homeland Security.
(J) The intelligence community (as defined in 
section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 
U.S.C. 3003(4))).
(K) The United States Postal Service.
(c) Duties.--The Steering Group shall have the following duties:
(1) Oversee implementation of the policy priorities and 
directives undertaken by the agencies described in subsection 
(b)(2) to combat fentanyl trafficking and use.
(2) Identify and set goals for strategic disruption of 
fentanyl.
(3) Assist in ensuring that all of the available resources 
and tools are brought to the efforts described in paragraphs 
(1) and (2) in accordance with strategic priorities.
(4) Oversee updates to and implementation of the Strategy 
to Combat Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs of the United 
States Customs and Border Protection.
(5) Identify disagreements and challenges for interagency 
review by the Steering Group.
(d) Annual Submission of Description of Initiatives.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the agencies 
described in subsection (b)(2) shall submit to the chair of the 
Steering Group a detailed description of the existing and 
planned fusion cells, joint task forces, mission centers, and 
similar multi-department initiatives relating to fentanyl 
disruption of such agencies, including an explanation of 
purposes, goals, and composition, to support efforts to ensure 
appropriate prioritization and resourcing and minimize 
duplication of efforts.
(2) Form of submissions.--The descriptions described in 
paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may 
include a classified annex.
(e) Strategic Plan for Public-Private Partnerships.--
(1) In general.--The Steering Group shall develop and 
maintain an ongoing strategic plan for public-private 
partnerships between the agencies described in subsection 
(b)(2) and private entities on fentanyl trafficking disruption.
(2) Reports to congress.--Not later than 30 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
Steering Group shall submit to Congress a report describing the 
strategic plan referred to in paragraph (1).

TITLE VIII

SEC. 801. HEARINGS.

(a) In General.--Each standing committee of the House of 
Representatives shall hold a hearing on the implementation of this Act 
within one year of enactment.
(b) Exercise of Rulemaking Authority.--Subsection (a) is enacted--
(1) as an exercise of rulemaking power of the House of 
Representatives, and, as such, shall be considered as part of 
the rules of the House, and such rules shall supersede any 
other rule of the House only to the extent that rule is 
inconsistent therewith; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of 
either House to change such rules (so far as relating to the 
procedure in such House) at any time, in the same manner, and 
to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of the 
House.

TITLE IX

SEC. 901. CODE OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

In rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, strike 
clause 19 and insert the following:
``19.(a) A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or 
employee of the House may not serve as an officer or director of any 
public company.
``(b) In paragraph (a), the term `public company' means an issuer 
as defined in section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 
U.S.C. 78c)--
``(1) the securities of which are required to be registered 
under section 12 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 78l); or
``(2) that is required to file reports under section 15(d) 
of such Act (15 U.S.C. 78o(d)).
``(c) A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or 
employee of the House shall comply with regulations issued and revised, 
as necessary, by the Committee on Ethics regarding types of prohibited 
service or positions that could lead to conflicts of interest.''.

TITLE X

SEC. 1001. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying 
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010, shall be determined by 
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO 
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional 
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that 
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

TITLE XI

SEC. 1101. APPROPRIATIONS.

The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2026, and for other purposes, namely:

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

national institute of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases

For an additional amount for necessary expenses for carrying out 
section 301 and title IV of the Public Health Service Act with respect 
to diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases, $1,000,000.

CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

salaries and expenses

For an additional amount for the Congressional Research Service 
salaries and expenses, $1,000,000.

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

entrepreneurial development programs

For an additional amount for necessary expenses of programs 
supporting entrepreneurial and small business development overseen by 
the Small Business Administration, $1,000,000, to remain available 
until expended.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps

For an additional amount of expenses, not otherwise provided for, 
necessary for the operations and maintenance of the Marine Corps, as 
authorized by law, $1,000,000.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

neotropical migratory bird conservation

For an additional amount of expenses necessary to carry out the 
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 USC 6101 et seq.), 
$1,000,000, to remain available until expended.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

assisted housing inspections and risk assessments

For an additional amount of expenses necessary of the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development's inspection and assessment programs, 
including travel, training, and program support contracts, $1,000,000.
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