[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1834 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1834
To advance policy priorities that will break the gridlock.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 4, 2025
Mr. McGovern introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on
Natural Resources, House Administration, Transportation and
Infrastructure, Agriculture, Science, Space, and Technology, Education
and Workforce, Foreign Affairs, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Small
Business, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Financial Services,
Veterans' Affairs, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, Energy and Commerce,
the Budget, Oversight and Government Reform, and Appropriations, 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 policy priorities that will break the gridlock.
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 ``Breaking the Gridlock Act''.
TITLE I--CONGRESSIONAL TIME CAPSULE
SEC. 101. SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL CONGRESSIONAL TIME CAPSULE.
(a) Creation by Architect of the Capitol.--The Architect of the
Capitol shall create a congressional time capsule, to be known as the
``Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule'' (in this title
referred to as the ``Time Capsule'').
(b) Contents.--
(1) Determination by congressional leadership.--The Office
of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Office of the
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Office of the
Majority Leader of the Senate, and Office of the Minority
Leader of the Senate shall jointly determine the contents of
the Time Capsule, taking into account the requirements of
paragraph (2).
(2) Specifications.--The contents of the Time Capsule shall
include--
(A) a representative portion of all books,
manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, memorabilia,
relics, and other materials relating to the United
States Semiquincentennial;
(B) copies or representations of important
legislative and institutional milestones of Congress
during the time before the Time Capsule is buried;
(C) a message from Congress to the future Congress
when the Time Capsule will be opened; and
(D) such other content as the offices described in
paragraph (1) consider appropriate.
(3) Consultation.--In carrying out this subsection, the
offices described in paragraph (1) may consult with the
Architect of the Capitol, the Secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution, and such other entities of the Federal Government
as the offices consider appropriate.
(c) Duties of Architect.--The Architect of the Capitol shall--
(1) prepare the Time Capsule to be sealed and buried on the
West Lawn of the Capitol, at a location specified by the
Architect, on or before July 4, 2026, at a time which would
permit individuals attending this event to also attend the
burial of a time capsule in Independence Mall in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, under section 7(f)(1) of the United States
Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 (36 U.S.C. 101 note
prec.); and
(2) install a plaque to provide such information about the
Time Capsule as the Architect considers appropriate.
(d) Unsealing.--The Time Capsule shall be sealed until July 4,
2276, on which date the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
present the Time Capsule to the 244th Congress, and such Congress shall
determine how the contents within should be preserved or used.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this title, and
any amounts so appropriated shall remain available until expended.
TITLE II--FIRE SUPPRESSION COST SHARE AGREEMENTS
SEC. 201. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO CERTAIN FIRE SUPPRESSION COST SHARE
AGREEMENTS.
(a) Establishment of Standard Operating Procedures.--Not later than
1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretaries
shall--
(1) establish standard operating procedures relating to
payment timelines for fire suppression cost share agreements
established under the Act of May 27, 1955 (42 U.S.C. 1856a)
(commonly known as the ``Reciprocal Fire Protection Act''); and
(2) with respect to each fire suppression cost share
agreement in operation on such date--
(A) review each such agreement; and
(B) modify each agreement as necessary to comply
with the standard operating procedures required under
paragraph (1).
(b) Alignment of Fire Suppression Cost Share Agreements With
Cooperative Fire Protection Agreements.--The standard operating
procedures required under subsection (a)(1) shall include a requirement
that each fire suppression cost share agreement be aligned with each of
the cooperative fire protection agreements applicable to the entity
subject to such fire suppression cost share agreement.
(c) Payments Pursuant to Cost Share Agreements.--With respect to
payments made pursuant to fire suppression cost share agreements, the
standard operating procedures required under subsection (a)(1) shall
require that the Federal paying entity reimburse a local fire
department if such fire department submits an invoice in accordance
with cost settlement procedures.
(d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Secretaries should carry out reciprocal fire suppression cost share
agreement repayments to local fire suppression organizations as soon as
practicable after fire suppression occurs but not later than 1 year
after fire suppression occurs.
(e) Secretaries Defined.--In this section, the term ``Secretaries''
means--
(1) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(2) the Secretary of the Interior;
(3) the Secretary of Homeland Security; and
(4) the Secretary of Defense.
TITLE III--UDALL FOUNDATION FUNDING
SEC. 301. FUNDING.
Section 13 of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation
Act (20 U.S.C. 5609) is amended--
(1) by striking ``through 2023'' each place it appears and
inserting ``through 2029'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``$1,000'' and
inserting ``$5,000''; and
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ``the fiscal year in
which this subsection is enacted'' and inserting ``fiscal year
2026''.
TITLE IV--STRATEGY ON BOKO HARAM
SEC. 401. REGIONAL STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE THREAT POSED BY BOKO HARAM.
(a) Strategy Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the
Secretary of Defense shall jointly develop and submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a five-year strategy to help
enable the Government of Nigeria, members of the Multinational
Joint Task Force to Combat Boko Haram (MNJTF) authorized by the
African Union, and relevant partners to counter the regional
threat of Boko Haram and assist the Government of Nigeria and
its neighbors to accept and address legitimate grievances of
vulnerable populations in areas affected by Boko Haram.
(2) Elements.--At a minimum, the strategy must address the
following elements:
(A) Enhance, pursuant to existing authorities and
restrictions, the institutional capacity, including
military capabilities, of the Government of Nigeria and
partner nations in the region, as appropriate, to
counter the threat posed by Boko Haram.
(B) Provide humanitarian support to civilian
populations impacted by Boko Haram's activity.
(C) Specific activities through which the United
States Government intends to improve and enhance the
capacity of Multinational Joint Task Force to Combat
Boko Haram partner nations to investigate and prosecute
human rights abuses by security forces and promote
respect for the rule of law within the military.
(D) A means for assisting Nigeria, and as
appropriate, Multinational Joint Task Force to Combat
Boko Haram nations, to counter violent extremism,
including efforts to address underlying societal
factors shown to contribute to the ability of Boko
Haram to radicalize and recruit individuals.
(E) A plan to strengthen and promote the rule of
law, including by improving the capacity of the
civilian police and judicial system in Nigeria,
enhancing public safety, and responding to crime
(including gender-based violence), while respecting
human rights and strengthening accountability measures,
including measures to prevent corruption.
(F) Strengthen the long-term capacity of the
Government of Nigeria to enhance security for schools
such that children are safer and girls seeking an
education are better protected, and to combat gender-
based violence and gender inequality.
(G) Identify and develop mechanisms for
coordinating the implementation of the strategy across
the inter-agency and with the Government of Nigeria,
regional partners, and other relevant foreign partners.
(H) Identify the resources required to achieve the
strategy's objectives.
(b) Assessment.--The Director of National Intelligence shall
submit, to the appropriate committees of Congress, an assessment
regarding--
(1) the willingness and capability of the Government of
Nigeria and regional partners to implement the strategy
developed under subsection (a), including the capability gaps,
if any, of the Government and military forces of Nigeria that
would need to be addressed to enable the Government of Nigeria
and the governments of its partner countries in the region--
(A) to counter the threat of Boko Haram; and
(B) to address the legitimate grievances of
vulnerable populations in areas affected by Boko Haram;
and
(2) significant United States intelligence gaps concerning
Boko Haram or on the willingness and capacity of the Government
of Nigeria and regional partners to implement the strategy
developed under subsection (a).
(c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that lack of
economic opportunity and access to education, justice, and other social
services contributes to the ability of Boko Haram to radicalize and
recruit individuals.
(d) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Foreign Relations, the Committee on Appropriations, and the
Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of
Representatives.
TITLE V--VETERANS INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE
SEC. 501. REPORTING REQUIREMENT FOR VETERANS INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE.
Section 32(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b(c)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Report.--Along with the budget justification
documents for the Small Business Administration submitted to
Congress in connection with the budget for a fiscal year
submitted under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code,
the Administrator shall submit a report--
``(A) discussing the appointments made to and
activities of the task force; and
``(B) identifying and outlining a plan for outreach
and promotion of the programs and services for
veterans, including Veteran Business Outreach Centers,
Boots to Business, Boots to Business Reboot, Service-
Disabled Entrepreneurship Development Training Program,
Veteran Institute for Procurement, Women Veteran
Entrepreneurship Training Program, and Veteran Women
Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship.''.
TITLE VI--VETERANS PILOT PROGRAM
SEC. 601. VETERANS PILOT PROGRAM ON PROMISING RETENTION MODELS.
(a) Establishment.--The Attorney General, acting through the
Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, shall carry out a pilot
program to make grants to eligible units of local government to improve
retention in veterans treatment court programs (as such term is defined
in section 2991 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of
1968 (34 U.S.C. 10651)) and drug court programs.
(b) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible for a grant under
subsection (a), a unit of local government shall operate a veterans
treatment court program or a drug court.
(c) Application.--A unit of local government seeking a grant
through the pilot program under subsection (a) shall submit to the
Attorney General an application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Attorney General may reasonably
require, including--
(1) a description of the therapeutic or treatment modality
that the unit of local government plans to implement and data
to support the use of the therapeutic or treatment modality,
including information showing how the therapeutic or treatment
modality will promote retention in and completion of veterans
treatment court programs and drug court programs; and
(2) detailed plans on how the applicant would test the
efficacy of the therapeutic or treatment modality.
(d) Reporting Metrics.--Not later than 180 days after receiving a
grant under subsection (a), a unit of local government shall submit to
the Attorney General a report, which includes demographic information
of participants in the veterans treatment court program, and completion
rates of such participants. The Attorney General shall develop
guidelines for the report required under this subsection.
TITLE VII--TSA COMMUTING BENEFITS
SEC. 701. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON TSA COMMUTING BENEFITS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a study on the feasibility of
treating as on-duty hours the time Transportation Security
Administration employees working at airport locations spend traveling
between regular duty locations and airport parking lots and bus and
transit stops.
(b) Considerations.--In conducting the feasibility study required
under subsection (a), the Administrator of the Transportation Security
Administration shall consider the following with respect to
Transportation Security Administration employees:
(1) The amount of time needed by such employees to travel
between regular duty locations and airport parking lots and bus
and transit stops at small hub airports, medium hub airports,
and large hub airports (as such terms are defined in section
40102 of title 49, United States Code).
(2) The amount of time such employees spend commuting, on
average, exclusive of the time described in paragraph (1).
(3) The potential benefits to such employees and the
Administration of treating as on-duty hours the time described
in such paragraph.
(4) The feasibility of using mobile phones, location data,
and any other means to allow such employees to report their
arrival to and departure from the airport parking lots and bus
and transit stops concerned.
(5) The estimated costs of treating as on-duty hours the
time described in such paragraph, including by considering such
hours creditable as basic pay for retirement purposes.
(6) Other considerations determined appropriate by the
Administrator.
TITLE VIII--CHINA FINANCIAL THREAT MITIGATION
SEC. 801. CHINA FINANCIAL THREAT MITIGATION.
(a) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation
with the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Secretary
of State, shall conduct a study and issue a report on the exposure of
the United States to the financial sector of the People's Republic of
China that includes--
(1) an assessment of the effects of reforms to the
financial sector of the People's Republic of China on the
United States and global financial systems;
(2) a description of the policies the United States
Government is adopting to protect the interests of the United
States while the financial sector of the People's Republic of
China undergoes such reforms;
(3) a description and analysis of any risks to the
financial stability of the United States and the global economy
emanating from the People's Republic of China; and
(4) recommendations for additional actions the United
States Government, including United States representatives at
relevant international organizations, should take to strengthen
international cooperation to monitor and mitigate such
financial stability risks and protect United States interests.
(b) Transmission of Report.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall
transmit the report required under subsection (a) not later than one
year after the date of enactment of this Act to the Committees on
Financial Services and Foreign Affairs of the House of Re