What does Preamble of Commonsense Legislating Act do?

This bill is formally titled by introduction as H.R. 6039. The bill aims to advance commonsense priorities.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Commonsense Legislating Act do?

This bill is formally titled the "Commonsense Legislating Act".

What does EXTENSION OF FAST PROGRAM. of Commonsense Legislating Act do?

This section amends Section 34(i) of the Small Business Act. The amendment changes the date from 'September 30, 2005' to 'September 30, 2030'.

What does APPLICATION ASSISTANCE TO BROADEN PARTICIPATION. of Commonsense Legislating Act do?

This section amends the Small Business Act to provide assistance to small business concerns applying to the SBIR and STTR programs. The amendments add a new subparagraph (L) to section 9(mm)(1) to authorize assistance with SBIR and STTR applications. The Administration is required to modify policy directives within 90 days of enactment to enhance outreach to individuals conducting research at minority institutions and Hispanic-serving institutions in SBIR programs. Similar outreach procedures are added to STTR programs to increase participation from researchers at minority and Hispanic-serving institutions. The amendments modify existing subparagraphs (F) and (G)(iii) within sections 9(j) and 9(p)(2) of the Small Business Act.

What does NATIVE AMERICAN TOURISM GRANT PROGRAMS. of Commonsense Legislating Act do?

This section amends the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act. Section 6 is redesignated as section 7, and a new section 6 is inserted. The Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs may make grants to Indian tribes and tribal organizations to carry out the purposes of the Act, as described in section 2. The Director of the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations may make grants to Native Hawaiian organizations to carry out the purposes of the Act, as described in section 2. Heads of other Federal agencies (Commerce, Transportation, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Labor) may also make grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations. The section authorizes $35,000,000 to be appropriated for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this section.

What does ELIGIBILITY OF SPOUSES OF MILITARY PERSONNEL FOR THE WORK of Commonsense Legislating Act do?

This section amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow spouses of military personnel to be eligible for the Work Opportunity Credit. It adds a new subparagraph (K) to paragraph (1) of section 51(d) to include 'a qualified military spouse'. It defines 'qualified military spouse' as an individual certified by a designated local agency as the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces. The amendments apply to amounts paid or incurred after the date of enactment of this Act to individuals who begin work for the employer after such date.

What does MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATIONS AND OUTREACH TO A VETERAN of Commonsense Legislating Act do?

This section amends section 1167 of title 38, United States Code, relating to mental health consultations. It requires the Secretary to offer annual mental health consultations to veterans receiving compensation for a service-connected disability relating to a mental health diagnosis. The Secretary must also conduct outreach regarding the availability of consultations and other mental health services. The amendments include redesignating subsections within section 1167 and inserting new language regarding consultation frequency and outreach. Section 1167 is redesignated as section 1169. The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 11 of title 38 is amended to reflect the redesignation. The Comptroller General of the United States must submit a report to the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees within two years of enactment, detailing the number of veterans who received consultations and outreach, and any reported barriers to seeking those services.

What does PRIVATE OR COMMERCIAL INTERSTATE CARRIER PROTECTIONS. of Commonsense Legislating Act do?

This section amends Section 659 of Title 18, United States Code. The amendment adds a new paragraph to Section 659. The new paragraph criminalizes the unlawful taking of packages or articles delivered by private or commercial interstate carriers before the addressee or their agent takes physical possession.

What does INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE. of Commonsense Legislating Act do?

This section establishes an Interagency National Task Force on Working Families, titled the “Working Families Task Force.” The Task Force will be composed of at least 10 members, including representatives from various federal agencies such as the Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration. The Task Force is required to meet at least once per quarter. The purpose of the Task Force is to examine challenges facing working families and develop recommendations to improve their standard of living and quality of life. The Task Force’s duties include identifying factors impacting the standard of living for working families, assessing the effectiveness of current federal policies, and developing legislative and regulatory policy recommendations. The Task Force must consult with external stakeholders and public experts in developing its recommendations. Within 180 days of enactment, the Task Force must submit a report of its findings and recommendations to specified congressional committees and make it publicly available.

What does NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL FENTANYL DISRUPTION STEERING of Commonsense Legislating Act do?

This section establishes a Fentanyl Disruption Steering Group within the National Security Council. The Steering Group will be chaired by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and include senior officials from various agencies, including the Department of State, Department of the Treasury, and Department of Defense. The Steering Group's duties include overseeing implementation of policies to combat fentanyl trafficking, identifying strategic goals for disruption, and ensuring resources are used effectively. The group will also oversee updates to the Strategy to Combat Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Drugs. Agencies are required to submit detailed descriptions of their fentanyl-related initiatives to the Steering Group chair annually. The Steering Group is tasked with developing and maintaining a strategic plan for public-private partnerships related to fentanyl disruption and reporting this plan to Congress annually.

Back to bills

Commonsense Legislating Act

Last updated: 11/20/2025 · Introduced: 11/12/2025

Author: James McGovern (D-MA)

TL;DR (AI)

The bill extends the FAST Program, a Small Business Act provision, through September 30, 2030, providing continued support for small businesses.
It expands assistance for small businesses applying to the SBIR and STTR programs, with a focus on increasing participation from researchers at minority and Hispanic-serving institutions.
The bill establishes grant programs for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to support Native American tourism and improve visitor experiences, allocating $35 million over several years.
It allows spouses of military personnel to be eligible for the Work Opportunity Credit, providing tax incentives for employers who hire them.
The bill mandates annual mental health consultations for veterans with service-connected mental health disabilities and requires outreach regarding available mental health services.

119th Congressin committeeS. 612(Passed Senate)Official page

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Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 12 more.

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