Responsible Legislating Act

This section extends the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999 by one year, from 2024 to 2025. This act requires meatpackers to report information on the prices, volumes, and terms of livestock purchases to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which then disseminates this information to the public. The extension ensures the continued collection and dissemination of market data for cattle, hogs, and lambs, which is used by producers and other market participants.

This title mandates the inclusion of information about registered apprenticeship programs in the Transition Assistance Program for separating service members. It also requires the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to establish or update a user-friendly website for veterans to find searchable and sortable information on apprenticeship programs, including descriptions, costs, contact information, endorsements, hiring preferences for veterans, and certifications earned.

This section amends federal retirement systems (CSRS, FERS, CIA, Foreign Service) to allow certain federal employees in 'covered positions' (e.g., law enforcement, firefighters, air traffic controllers) who become permanently disabled on duty to retain their specialized retirement crediting if they are reappointed to a non-covered position within the same agency. This treatment applies unless the individual elects otherwise, or if they are transferred to a supervisory role or meet mandatory separation age for their former covered position. The goal is to retain experienced individuals in federal service despite injury.

This section mandates that new 401(k) and 403(b) plans (established after the enactment date) must include an automatic enrollment feature. Employees would be automatically enrolled with a minimum contribution of 3% (up to 10%) in the first year, increasing by 1% annually to at least 10% (up to 15%), unless they opt out or elect a different percentage. Contributions for which no investment is elected must be invested in accordance with specific regulations. Exceptions apply for simple plans, plans established before enactment, governmental/church plans, and new or small businesses.

This section enhances the existing tax credit for small employers establishing new retirement plans. It increases the credit percentage from 50% to 100% for employers with 50 or fewer employees. Additionally, it introduces a new credit for employer contributions to eligible plans, providing an 'applicable percentage' (starting at 100% in the first year and phasing down over four years) of contributions, up to $1,000 per employee. The deduction for these costs and contributions is disallowed to the extent a credit is claimed.

This section significantly enhances the Saver's Credit (Retirement Savings Contributions Credit) by setting a uniform 50% credit rate (currently it varies by AGI and filing status) and adjusting the adjusted gross income (AGI) phaseout thresholds. For joint filers, the credit would begin to phase out at $48,000 AGI and fully phase out at $83,000. These thresholds will be indexed for inflation after 2028. The changes are effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2028.

This section gradually increases the age at which individuals must begin taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their retirement accounts. For individuals who attain age 72 after December 31, 2024, and age 73 before January 1, 2032, the applicable age is 73. For those attaining age 73 after December 31, 2031, and age 74 before January 1, 2035, the applicable age is 74. Finally, for those attaining age 74 after December 31, 2034, the applicable age is 75. This allows individuals to keep their savings in tax-deferred accounts for longer.

This section allows employers to make matching contributions to a defined contribution plan (like a 401(k)) based on an employee's qualified student loan payments, treating these payments as if they were elective deferrals. This means employees making student loan payments can still receive employer matching contributions even if they are not contributing to their retirement plan. The provision includes rules for nondiscrimination testing and allows employers to rely on employee certifications of payments.

This section establishes rules for how retirement plans can handle inadvertent benefit overpayments. It generally protects plan fiduciaries from breach of duty claims if they decide not to seek recovery of overpayments, provided certain conditions are met. If recoupment from a participant or beneficiary is sought, strict conditions apply: no interest, limits on annual recoupment (10% of overpayment, not below 90% of periodic benefit), no threats of litigation unless reasonable belief of prevailing, no collection agencies unless ignored, no recoupment from beneficiaries of the participant, and a 3-year limit from first overpayment notification. It also clarifies that rollovers of overpayments are permitted under certain conditions.

This section mandates the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, to establish an online searchable database called the 'Retirement Savings Lost and Found' within two years. This database will help individuals locate administrators of plans they participated in, especially after job changes, mergers, or plan terminations. Plan administrators will be required to submit specific information to the Department of Labor for inclusion in this database, including participant identifying numbers and details about distributions or deferred annuity contracts.

This section allows a one-time election for individuals aged 70½ or older to make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from an IRA directly to a split-interest entity (charitable remainder annuity trust, charitable remainder unitrust, or charitable gift annuity), up to an aggregate amount of $50,000. These trusts must be funded exclusively by QCDs. It also increases the annual QCD limitation (currently $100,000) and the new $50,000 limit for split-interest entities, indexing both for inflation after 2022.

This section allows individuals who are victims of domestic abuse by a spouse or domestic partner to make penalty-free withdrawals from their retirement plans. The aggregate amount of such withdrawals is limited to the lesser of $10,000 or 50% of the present value of the nonforfeitable accrued benefit. These distributions can be repaid to an eligible retirement plan within a 3-year period. The provision defines domestic abuse broadly to include physical, psychological, sexual, emotional, or economic abuse, and allows for self-certification by the employee.

This section allows for the establishment of Roth versions of Simplified Employee Pensions (SEPs) and Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs. Currently, these plans only allow pre-tax contributions. Under the new rules, employees can elect to have contributions made to a Roth SEP or SIMPLE IRA, meaning contributions are made with after-tax dollars but qualified distributions in retirement are tax-free. This provides more flexibility for small businesses and their employees in choosing their retirement savings vehicle.

This section extends the 'Boots to Business Program' through September 30, 2028. This program, carried out by the Small Business Administration (SBA), provides entrepreneurship training to service members, veterans, and their spouses/dependents. The bill outlines program components (presentations, online courses, in-person instruction), emphasizes collaboration with public/private entities, and mandates regular participation of Veteran Business Outreach Centers. It also requires annual reports on program performance and effectiveness to Congress.

This title increases the penalties for human trafficking (Section 1591 of title 18, U.S. Code) and coercion/enticement (Section 2422 of title 18, U.S. Code) when these crimes occur in a 'school zone,' on or within 1,000 feet of a school-sponsored activity, or on or within 1,000 feet of an institution of higher education. Violators would face an additional prison sentence of up to 5 years. The definition of 'minor' for coercion offenses is clarified as an individual under 18 years of age.

This title establishes an 8-member Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. The Commission is tasked with submitting reports to the President and Congress on the feasibility of establishing and maintaining such a museum, including collection costs, potential locations, governance, and fundraising plans. The Commission must also obtain an independent review of its fundraising plan's viability, particularly regarding funding construction and operations without federal appropriations. No federal funds may be obligated for the Commission's work.

This title directs the Executive Director of SelectUSA (a Department of Commerce program) to solicit comments from State-level economic development organizations within 180 days of enactment. The purpose is to identify federal support, barriers, opportunities, and resource gaps related to increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in semiconductor-related production. Within two years, SelectUSA must submit a report to Congress detailing its activities and strategies to increase FDI in semiconductor manufacturing and production, including working with federal agencies and state organizations, and ensuring foreign adversaries do not benefit.

This section amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the FEMA Administrator to implement a uniform process for reviewing applications for grants (under sections 2003 or 2004) to purchase equipment or systems that do not meet national voluntary consensus standards or are not on the Authorized Equipment List. The review process must consider factors such as current federal/Armed Forces use, absence of national standards, existence of international standards, how the equipment addresses capability gaps, and whether it serves applicant needs better than standard-compliant equipment. The Inspector General is also required to report on the implementation of this review process.

This section extends the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) authority to enter into enhanced use leases of its non-excess, underutilized properties and facilities. The authority, which was set to expire on December 31, 2032, is extended by one year to December 31, 2033. This authority allows NASA to lease out its property to private sector entities, state/local governments, academic institutions, and other federal agencies, generating revenue that can be used for facility operations and maintenance.

This section amends Rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit Members, Delegates, Resident Commissioners, officers, or employees of the House from knowingly and willfully disclosing publicly the identity or personally identifiable information of individuals who report allegations of wrongdoing under federal whistleblower protection laws. Exceptions are made for express written consent, voluntary public disclosure by the individual, or an affirmative two-thirds vote by a committee chair with appropriate safeguards. This aims to strengthen protections for whistleblowers interacting with Congress.

This section directs the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to seek an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to evaluate how foreign ownership of marine terminals at the 15 largest U.S. container ports affects or could affect U.S. economic security. The study must consider changes in ownership over the past decade, instances of Chinese or Russian ownership, cumulative foreign ownership, federal grant funds received by foreign-owned terminals, and the nature of foreign operational control. It also requires recommendations on policies to prevent excessive foreign ownership and its potential impacts on the supply chain.

This section amends the Federal Credit Union Act to revise the required frequency of board of directors meetings for federal credit unions. Instead of a universal 'at least once a month' requirement, the new rules are tiered: de novo credit unions must meet monthly for their first five years; credit unions with strong financial and management ratings (1 or 2 under UFIRS) must meet at least six times annually (with at least one meeting per fiscal quarter); and credit unions with lower ratings (3, 4, or 5 under UFIRS) must continue to meet at least once a month.

This title provides additional appropriations for several federal departments and offices for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. Specific allocations include $1,000,000 for the Telehealth Resource Center within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for skilled nursing and nursing facilities, $1,000,000 for the Office of Budget and Program Analysis within the Department of Agriculture, $1,000,000 for the Capital Investment Fund of the Department of State, $1,000,000 for Operation and Maintenance, Army within the Department of Defense, $1,000,000 for the Management Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security, and $1,000,000 for the Energy Information Administration within the Department of Energy.