Advancing Commonsense Policies Act

Bill Number: H.R. 7314
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Government Operations and Politics
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-05-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
Last Updated: 2026-05-22T08:07:23Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 7314: Advancing Commonsense Policies Act

Purpose

This legislation aims to implement practical reforms across multiple sectors, including agriculture, veterans' affairs, federal employee benefits, retirement savings, small business support, public safety, cultural institutions, economic security, and administrative efficiencies. It seeks to extend existing programs, enhance retirement security, protect vulnerable populations, promote economic resilience, and streamline government operations without introducing major new entitlements.

Key Provisions

The bill is organized into 16 titles, addressing diverse policy areas:

Title I: Livestock Mandatory Reporting Extension

Extends the Livestock Mandatory Reporting program from 2024 to 2025, requiring market reports on livestock sales to promote transparency in agricultural markets.

Title II: Education and Apprenticeships for Veterans
Requires counseling for separating armed forces members to include information on registered apprenticeship programs.
Mandates the creation or update of a public website by the Department of Labor (in coordination with Veterans Affairs) to provide searchable details on veteran-approved apprenticeships, including costs, contacts, endorsements, hiring preferences, and credentials earned.

Title III: Federal Employee Retirement for Injured Workers
Expresses a congressional sense that agencies should retain injured employees in non-covered roles at similar pay and location.
Amends retirement systems (Civil Service Retirement System, Federal Employees Retirement System, CIA, and Foreign Service) to treat service in reappointed non-covered positions (e.g., supervisory roles) as creditable toward enhanced benefits for "affected individuals" (injured law enforcement officers, firefighters, etc.), with opt-out options. Applies 2 years after enactment; requires agency certification of injury and reappointment efforts.

Title IV: Retirement Plan Enhancements

A comprehensive set of reforms to encourage savings and simplify plans:

Mandates automatic enrollment in 401(k) and 403(b) plans (3-10% initial rate, escalating to 10-15%), with exceptions for small/new businesses and SIMPLE plans.
Increases tax credits for small employer pension startups (up to 100% for employers with ≤50 employees; additional credits for contributions up to $1,000 per employee, phasing down after 4 years).
Promotes the Saver's Credit via Treasury awareness campaigns and enhances it (50% rate; phaseouts starting at $48,000 for joint filers, indexed after 2028).
Allows 403(b) plans to invest in group trusts; raises required minimum distribution age (to 73 for those turning 72 after 2024, 74 after 2031, 75 after 2034).
Indexes IRA catch-up limits; higher catch-up for ages 62-64 ($10,000/$5,000 for non-SIMPLE plans).
Modifies pooled employer plans and enables multiple-employer 403(b) plans.
Permits matching contributions for student loan payments (up to elective deferral limits; certification allowed).
Extends startup credits to employers joining existing plans; new credit for small employers making military spouses eligible for plans ($250 base + contributions up to $250, for 3 years).
Allows small financial incentives for enrollment; safe harbor for correcting automatic contribution errors.
Improves part-time worker coverage (reduces service requirement to 500 hours over 2 years); defers tax on certain ESOP stock sales; treats certain securities as publicly traded for ESOPs.
Eases rules for longevity annuities and exchange-traded funds in insurance; limits overpayment recoveries (no interest, caps at 10% of benefits, 3-year limit).
Reduces excise tax on RMD failures (25% to 10% if corrected timely); allows blended benchmarks for asset allocation funds.
Reviews reporting/disclosure requirements; eliminates notices for unenrolled participants (with annual reminders).
Establishes a "Retirement Savings Lost and Found" database; updates mandatory distribution limit to $7,000.
Expands Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System; removes "first day of month" deferral rule for 457(b) plans.
Allows one-time QCD to split-interest entities ($50,000 limit); excludes firefighter distributions from early withdrawal penalty; excludes certain first responder disability pay.
Extends IRA statute of limitations; requires paper statements every 3 years (with opt-outs).
Applies top-heavy rules separately to excludible employees; limits birth/adoption distribution repayments to 3 years; allows employee certification for hardship distributions.
Permits penalty-free withdrawals for domestic abuse victims ($10,000 or 50% of benefits, repayable in 3 years).
Reforms family attribution rules for controlled/affiliated groups; allows retroactive benefit increases until tax return due date; permits sole proprietors retroactive first-year deferrals.
Limits IRA disqualification to portion involved in prohibited transactions; reviews pension risk transfer guidance.
Technical fixes to SECURE Act; allows Roth IRAs for SIMPLE/SEPs; harmonizes 403(b) hardship rules; limits super catch-ups to Roth.
Optional Roth treatment for employer matches.

Title V: Boots to Business Program

Establishes a Small Business Administration program (through 2028) providing entrepreneurship training to military members, veterans, spouses, and dependents, including online/in-person courses and business planning. Requires collaboration, grants, and annual reports.

Title VI: Increased Punishments for Human Trafficking and Coercion

Adds 5-year prison terms for sex trafficking or coercion/enticement of minors in school zones or near higher education facilities.

Title VII: National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Commission

Creates an 8-member commission to study feasibility, report on collections/costs/governance, develop a fundraising plan, and recommend legislation within 18 months.

Title VIII: SelectUSA and Semiconductor Supply Chain

Directs SelectUSA (Commerce Department) to coordinate with states on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to semiconductor manufacturing (fabrication, packaging, materials); requires a report on strategies to secure the U.S. supply chain.

Title IX: Approval of Certain Equipment

Establishes a uniform DHS review process for grant-funded purchases of non-consensus-standard equipment (e.g., based on federal/military use, gaps); requires Inspector General report.

Title X: NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension

Extends NASA's authority to lease non-excess property through 2033 to reduce maintenance costs and support mission-compatible uses.

Title XI: Hearings on Implementation

Requires House committees to hold hearings within one year; enacted as House rulemaking.

Title XII: Code of Official Conduct

Prohibits House members/staff from disclosing whistleblower identities without consent or 2/3 committee vote; allows investigations of allegations.

Title XIII: Study on Foreign Ports

Directs Federal Maritime Commission to study foreign ownership of top 15 U.S. container ports' impacts on economic security; report recommendations within 1 year.

Title XIV: Budgetary Effects

References PAYGO compliance via House Budget Committee statement.

Title XV: Federal Credit Union Board Meetings

Reduces required meetings: monthly for first 5 years of new unions or those with poor ratings; quarterly for strong ones; at least 6/year otherwise.

Title XVI: Appropriations

Provides $1 million each (FY2026) to various agencies (HRSA for telehealth in nursing facilities; USDA, State, Defense, DHS, Energy) for specific operations.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Extends agricultural reporting by 1 year.
Adds apprenticeship info to military transition counseling; creates veteran-focused website.
Reforms retirement crediting for injured federal workers across multiple systems.
Mandates automatic enrollment in retirement plans; enhances tax credits/incentives; raises RMD ages and catch-up limits; allows student loan matches and Roth employer contributions.
Increases penalties for trafficking/coercion near schools.
Establishes museum study commission.
Directs FDI coordination for semiconductors.
Streamlines DHS equipment grant reviews.
Extends NASA leasing by 1 year.
Protects whistleblower anonymity in House rules.
Mandates port ownership study.
Reduces credit union meeting frequency based on health.
Minor technical fixes to prior laws (e.g., SECURE Act).

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Increases administrative burdens on OPM, Treasury, Labor (e.g., regulations, websites, reviews) but streamlines retiree overpayments and compliance; boosts NASA's property management revenue; aids DHS grant efficiency.
Citizens: Enhances retirement savings access (automatic enrollment, credits could add billions in contributions); supports veterans/small businesses via training; protects domestic abuse victims with penalty-free withdrawals; reduces credit union oversight for healthy ones.
International Relations: Promotes allied FDI in semiconductors to counter adversaries; studies foreign port ownership to safeguard trade security. No direct impacts on diplomacy, but could indirectly strengthen U.S. economic ties.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal Employees/Public Servants: Injured workers (e.g., law enforcement, firefighters) gain better retirement transitions; agencies face reappointment mandates.
Retirees/Savers: Individuals in 401(k)/IRA/403(b) plans benefit from easier enrollment, higher limits, and protections; small employers get credits for plans.
Veterans/Military Families: Gain apprenticeship resources and entrepreneurship training.
Small Businesses/Employers: Receive startup credits, military spouse incentives, and simplified plans.
Victims of Crime: Enhanced protections near schools via trafficking penalties.
Cultural Communities: Asian Pacific Americans via potential museum.
Ports/Semiconductor Industry: States, operators, and firms affected by FDI/port studies.
Whistleblowers: House staff/employees protected from retaliation exposure.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Expands self-certification for hardships/matches, reducing administrative proof burdens but risking abuse (mitigated by regulations); limits overpayment recoveries to avoid fiduciary breaches while preserving funding obligations. Whistleblower rule strengthens congressional protections without infringing speech rights.
Constitutional: No apparent challenges; aligns with Congress's commerce, spending, and oversight powers.
Political: Bipartisan "commonsense" framing promotes retirement security and economic resilience; commission could spark debates on federal cultural funding; FDI focus addresses supply chain vulnerabilities amid U.S.-China tensions, potentially influencing trade policy. Implementation hearings ensure accountability.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

Recent Actions

2026-05-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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.
2026-02-02: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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, the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Intelligence (Permanent Select), House Administration, 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

Advancing Commonsense Policies Act — issued 2026-02-02 — PDF (193 pages)