Resolution Act.

Bill Number

H.J.Res. 143

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Congress

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-05-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.

Last Updated

2026-05-22T08:08:39Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This joint resolution, titled the "Resolution Act," enacts a series of targeted policies across multiple sectors, including health care for veterans, support for the arts, agriculture, small business innovation, national security, cultural preservation, taxation, artificial intelligence regulation, congressional operations, and minor appropriations. Its overarching goal is to address diverse national priorities through new programs, extensions of existing authorities, and procedural reforms, enabling Congress to advance policy objectives efficiently.

Key Provisions

The resolution is structured into 13 titles, each addressing a distinct area:

• Title I: Veterans Affairs-Public Health Service Joint Scholarship Program

Establishes a scholarship program for officers of the Public Health Service (PHS) commissioned corps. Participants attend the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University (USU) at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) expense, complete residency, and serve up to 10 years full-time at VA medical facilities. Includes interagency agreements among VA, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Defense (DoD) for eligibility, costs (reimbursed by VA with annual estimates and reconciliations), and service obligations. Failure to complete service requires double repayment of costs, waivable if inequitable.

• Title II: Professional Nonprofit Theater Grants and Study on Nonprofit Arts
• Creates a grant program under the Public Works and Economic Development Act for 501(c)(3) nonprofit theaters with at least 3 years of programming history (pre-August 2020), fair compensation practices, and no recent labor/employment violations. Grants (up to 20% of recent expenditures or $16 million, whichever is less) support payroll, operations, facility improvements (prioritizing accessibility), marketing, workforce training, and limited new construction for smaller entities. Requires attestations on labor neutrality, safety, and employment benefits. Authorizes $1 billion annually (FY 2024–2028), with 50% reserved for theater producers and priority for payroll-focused or regional venues. Allows 1% for technical assistance.
• Directs the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities to study federal support for nonprofit arts within 2 years, consulting endowments and stakeholders (artists, organizations, labor, governments), and submit recommendations to Congress on sustaining the sector economically, especially in rural/underserved areas. Authorizes $1 million.

• Title III: Limitation on Cut Flowers and Greens in Federal Buildings

Prohibits official display of non-U.S.-produced cut flowers or greens (foliage/branches for decoration) in public areas of the Executive Office of the President, State Department, or DoD buildings, effective 1 year after enactment. Does not apply to personal use by federal employees. "Produced in the United States" includes states, D.C., territories, possessions, and tribal lands.

• Title IV: Protection of Native American Seeds

Requires the Secretary of the Interior, within 1 year, to collaborate with Indian Tribes and organizations to identify Native American seeds (culturally significant to tribes) and support tribal protection efforts, seed banks, and traditional agriculture. Protects confidential tribal information from disclosure. Provides judicial deference to the Secretary's interpretations of ambiguities. No new funds authorized; activities depend on existing appropriations.

• Title V: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Related Programs
• Extends "Direct to Phase II" authority (skipping Phase I for prior non-SBIR research) through FY 2030 for all SBIR agencies (previously limited to NIH, DoD, Education), with caps at 10% of agency SBIR funds (15% for NIH) and annual reporting.
• Converts the civilian agencies' commercialization readiness pilot into a permanent program through FY 2030.
• Extends Phase 0 proof-of-concept partnerships and commercialization assistance pilots through September 30, 2030.

• Title VI: Duty to Report on Acts of Terrorism

Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, Attorney General, FBI Director, and National Counterterrorism Center head to submit an unclassified report (with possible classified annex) to congressional committees within 1 year of completing an investigation into any U.S. terrorism act (as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 3077). Reports, posted publicly, cover facts, security gaps, and recommendations (e.g., law changes). Allows withholding info if it risks ongoing probes, with committee notification. Sunsets after 5 years.

• Title VII: Procurement and Placement of Statue of Benjamin Franklin

Directs the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain and place a statue of Benjamin Franklin in a public, accessible U.S. Capitol location by December 31, 2027, under terms consistent with law.

• Title VIII: Meals on Fishing Boats and Facilities

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt meals provided on fishing vessels (including processing/tender vessels) or at U.S. fish processing facilities north of 50° N latitude outside metropolitan areas from the 50% business deduction limit, effective for taxable years after December 31, 2026.

• Title IX: Prohibition on AI-Based Impersonation of Federal Officials

Amends 18 U.S.C. § 912 to criminalize (fine or up to 3 years imprisonment) using artificial intelligence (AI: systems/software mimicking human intelligence, like generative audio/video/text) to impersonate federal officers/employees, producing misleading content without disclaimers. Exempts satire/parody/expressive conduct with clear disclosures. "Impersonates" means false representation likely to deceive as authentic.

• Title X: Hearings

Requires each House standing committee to hold a hearing on Act implementation within 1 year, enacted as House rulemaking (superseding inconsistent rules, changeable by the House).

• Title XI: Code of Official Conduct

Amends House Rule XXIII, clause 3, to prohibit members, delegates, officers, or employees from receiving or accruing compensation from sources due to improperly exerted congressional influence.

• Title XII: Determination of Budgetary Effects

Specifies that budgetary impacts comply with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 based on the House Budget Committee's Congressional Record statement.

• Title XIII: Appropriations

Provides $1 million each (FY 2027) to: NIH (heart/lung/blood research); USDA Rural Development (cooperatives); Treasury Fiscal Service (operations); DoD Space Force (personnel); Interior Fish and Wildlife (endangered species conservation); and Transportation Federal Railroad Administration (research).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Title 38 U.S.C. (VA education) to add a new subchapter for the PHS scholarship program.
• Inserts Section 208 into the Public Works and Economic Development Act (42 U.S.C. § 3147 et seq.) for theater grants.
• Adds to 26 U.S.C. § 274(n)(2)(C) (tax deductions for meals).
• Expands 15 U.S.C. § 638 (Small Business Act SBIR provisions) to more agencies and longer terms.
• Modifies 18 U.S.C. § 912 (false impersonation) to include AI-specific penalties.
• Updates House Rules XXIII (ethics) and enacts procedural rulemaking under Title X.
• Introduces new reporting mandates under Title VI, without amending specific statutes.
• No direct amendments for Titles III, IV, VII, but imposes new restrictions/obligations on agencies.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases workload for VA, HHS, DoD (scholarships/costs); Economic Development Administration (grants administration); Interior (tribal consultations); Homeland Security/FBI (terrorism reports); House committees (hearings/ethics). Small $1 million appropriations provide modest boosts to specific programs without major funding shifts.
• Citizens: Enhances veteran healthcare access via trained PHS doctors; supports arts jobs/economic recovery in theaters (potentially aiding 100,000+ workers/communities); preserves tribal cultural/agricultural practices; eases tax burdens for fishing industry employees; protects public from AI deception (e.g., fraud/scams); promotes transparency on terrorism prevention. Symbolic Franklin statue educates Capitol visitors.
• International Relations: Minimal; Title III indirectly favors U.S. floriculture over imports, potentially straining minor trade ties. Title IV strengthens U.S. tribal sovereignty without foreign implications. No broader effects on diplomacy or security alliances.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Health/Veterans: PHS officers, VA patients/facilities, USU, HHS/DoD/VA secretaries.
• Arts/Economy: Nonprofit theaters (especially smaller/regional/underserved), performers/staff, communities (rural/urban), labor unions, National Endowments for Arts/Humanities.
• Agriculture/Floriculture: U.S. growers/florists (benefits from Title III); fishing vessel/facility operators/employees (tax relief).
• Tribal Communities: Indian Tribes/organizations (seed protection/cultural support).
• Small Businesses/Innovation: SBIR-eligible firms (easier funding access through 2030).
• Security/Public: Federal law enforcement (terrorism reporting/AI enforcement); general public (misinformation protection).
• Congress/Government: House members/committees (hearings/ethics); Joint Committee on the Library (statue); agencies receiving appropriations (e.g., NIH, USDA, DoD Space Force).
• Broader Economy: Nonprofits, rural/underserved areas, endangered species programs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Introduces enforceable obligations (e.g., scholarships, grants, reports) with penalties for non-compliance (repayments, fines/imprisonment for AI misuse). Protects sensitive tribal data under confidentiality rules; defers to agency interpretations (Title IV), potentially limiting challenges. AI provision balances free speech (First Amendment carve-outs for parody) with anti-fraud measures, but may spur litigation on "misleading content" thresholds. Tax change (Title VIII) simplifies deductions without revenue loss estimates.
• Constitutional: Title X's hearing mandate exercises House rulemaking authority (Article I), affirming congressional self-governance while allowing future changes. No apparent conflicts with separation of powers or federalism; tribal provisions align with trust responsibilities.
• Political: Aggregates bipartisan priorities (veterans, arts, small business, security) into one resolution, facilitating passage but risking dilution of focus. Ethics amendment (Title XI) strengthens anti-corruption norms amid public scrutiny. Sunset on terrorism reports (5 years) allows evaluation; appropriations are symbolic ($6 million total), avoiding major fiscal debates under PAYGO. No overt partisan bias in provisions.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

Recent Actions

• 2026-05-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
• 2026-01-29: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, 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.
• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, 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.
• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, 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.
• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, 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.
• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, 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.
• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, 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.
• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, 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.
• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, 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.
• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, 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.
• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, 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.
• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, 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.
• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, 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.
• 2026-01-22: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Services, Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Small Business, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, Ways and Means, Rules, Ethics, the Budget, 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.

Bill Versions

• Resolution Act. — issued 2026-01-22 — PDF (33 pages)