H.R. 6598

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6598 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6598

To modernize the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission 
to conduct research, development, demonstration, and information 
programs.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 10, 2025

Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia (for himself and Ms. McDonald Rivet) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To modernize the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission 
to conduct research, development, demonstration, and information 
programs.

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 ``Commodity Futures Trading Commission 
Research and Development Modernization Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. MODERNIZATION OF AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION TO CONDUCT 
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, AND INFORMATION 
PROGRAMS.

Section 18 of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 22) is amended 
to read as follows:

``SEC. 18. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

``(a) Programs.--The Commission, as part of its ongoing operations, 
shall establish and maintain research, development, demonstration, and 
information programs that further the purposes of this Act, including 
programs that--
``(1) facilitate the understanding by the Commission of 
emerging technologies, technological advances, and innovations 
and their potential application to and effect on the 
transactions and markets under the jurisdiction of the 
Commission, and associated implications for cybersecurity, data 
security, and systemic risk;
``(2) provide an environment where emerging technologies, 
technological advances, and innovations may be explored by the 
Commission with developers and potential users to evaluate 
potential effects on the Commission and the markets under the 
jurisdiction of the Commission;
``(3) identify areas where the Commission should adapt its 
administration of this Act in light of emerging technologies, 
technological advances, and innovations to benefit the markets 
under the jurisdiction of the Commission; and
``(4) develop educational and other informational materials 
for dissemination and use among producers, market-users, and 
the general public regarding--
``(A) the activities, products, entities, and 
markets regulated under or subject to the requirements 
of this Act;
``(B) emerging technologies, technological 
advances, and innovations in commodity or financial 
markets; and
``(C) applicable requirements of this Act and the 
regulations prescribed under this Act with regard to 
the subjects described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
``(b) Research and Development Plan.--
``(1) In general.--The Commission may, by rule or by order, 
adopt a research and development plan for a program established 
under subsection (a).
``(2) Conditions.--A research and development plan adopted 
pursuant to paragraph (1) shall identify--
``(A) specific areas of interest to the Commission;
``(B) potential activities the Commission will 
undertake to investigate an area of interest; and
``(C) the means by which the authority described in 
subsection (c) will be used in the applicable program 
established under subsection (a).
``(c) Other Transaction Authority.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding the Office of Federal 
Procurement Policy Act of 1974 and the Competition in 
Contracting Act, the Commission may enter into a transaction 
(other than a contract) for the purpose of aiding or 
facilitating the programs and activities under subsection (a).
``(2) Conditions.--The Commission may enter into a 
transaction under this subsection only if--
``(A) the transaction is used only in furtherance 
of a research and development plan established under 
subsection (b);
``(B) the Commission endeavored to use a 
competitive process, where appropriate, when 
determining the parties to the transaction; and
``(C) using a contract to do so is either not 
feasible or not appropriate.
``(3) Policies.--The Commission shall establish and publish 
written policies setting forth the manner and criteria for 
utilizing the authority provided by this subsection.
``(d) Acceptance of Non-Monetary Contributions for Research and 
Development Programs, Projects, and Activities.--
``(1) Authorization.--The Commission may accept and use, on 
behalf of the United States and in accordance with this 
subsection, any covered non-monetary contribution.
``(2) Conditions.--
``(A) In general.--A covered non-monetary 
contribution may be accepted pursuant to this 
subsection only if it is in furtherance of a research 
and development plan adopted under subsection (b).
``(B) Limitations on solicitation and acceptance.--
The Commission (including any Commissioner, employee, 
or contractor) may not solicit or accept a covered non-
monetary contribution if--
``(i) conditions inconsistent with 
applicable laws or regulations apply to the 
covered non-monetary contribution;
``(ii) the covered non-monetary 
contribution is conditioned on, or will 
require, the expenditure of appropriated funds 
not available to the Commission;
``(iii) using a contract or other 
transaction authority under subsection (c) to 
acquire the covered non-monetary contribution 
is either feasible or appropriate; or
``(iv) the solicitation or acceptance of 
the covered non-monetary contribution would--
``(I) reflect unfavorably on the 
ability of the Commission to carry out 
its responsibilities or official duties 
in a fair and objective manner, or 
compromise the integrity or the 
appearance of the integrity of its 
programs or any official involved in 
its programs; or
``(II) give the endorsement or the 
appearance of the endorsement by the 
Commission or Commission staff of the 
products, services, activities, or 
policies of the person providing the 
covered non-monetary contribution.
``(C) Duration.--To the extent applicable, the 
Commission shall return any covered non-monetary 
contribution accepted pursuant to this subsection as 
soon as practicable after the purpose for accepting the 
covered non-monetary contribution has been met.
``(D) Requirements.--The Commission shall, by rule 
or by order, establish and publish written requirements 
setting forth the manner and criteria to be used in 
determining whether a covered non-monetary contribution 
meets the conditions of this paragraph.
``(3) Disclosure.--Within 14 days of agreeing to accept a 
covered non-monetary contribution pursuant to this subsection, 
the Commission shall provide notice and details of such 
agreement to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry of the Senate.
``(4) Definition of covered non-monetary contribution.--In 
this subsection, the term `covered non-monetary contribution' 
means a non-monetary contribution of provision of access, use 
of facilities, personal property, or services that is related 
to--
``(A) sharing of research, data, or other 
information;
``(B) public presentations; or
``(C) noncommercially available services or 
systems.
``(5) Sunset.--The authority provided in this subsection 
may not be exercised on or after October 1, 2031.
``(e) Annual Report.--Not later than 60 days after the end of each 
fiscal year, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report on all 
transactions entered into under subsection (c) and all covered non-
monetary contributions accepted under subsection (d) in the fiscal 
year, which shall include the following:
``(1) A brief description of the subject of each such 
transaction or covered non-monetary contribution, with an 
explanation of--
``(A) its potential utility to the Commission or 
the markets regulated by the Commission;
``(B) how it fulfills the goals and objectives of 
the research and development plan established under 
subsection (b); and
``(C) the status of all related projects.
``(2) With respect to each covered non-monetary 
contribution, a description of--
``(A) the source of the covered non-monetary 
contribution;
``(B) the nature of the covered non-monetary 
contribution; and
``(C) how the covered non-monetary contribution 
meets the conditions set forth in subsection (d)(2).
``(3) A description of all sums expended by the Commission 
in connection with a transaction entered into under subsection 
(c), and, if readily ascertainable, the value of any covered 
non-monetary contribution accepted under subsection (d).''.
<all>