Legis Daily

Breaking the Gridlock Act

USA119th CongressHR-1834| House 
| Updated: 2/10/2026
James P. McGovern

James P. McGovern

Democratic Representative

Massachusetts

Committees (25)
• Committee on House Administration• Homeland Security Committee• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee• Small Business Committee• Ways and Means Committee• Ethics Committee• Foreign Affairs Committee• Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee• Agriculture Committee• Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee• Rules Committee• Financial Services Committee• Veterans' Affairs Committee• Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee• Appropriations Committee• Judiciary Committee• Armed Services Committee• Economic Opportunity Subcommittee• Science, Space, and Technology Committee• Energy and Commerce Committee• Education and Workforce Committee• Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee• Oversight and Government Reform Committee• Budget Committee• Natural Resources Committee
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Breaking the Gridlock Act" encompasses a broad array of legislative initiatives aimed at addressing diverse policy challenges. It establishes a Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule , to be sealed by July 4, 2026, and opened on July 4, 2276, with its contents jointly determined by congressional leadership to reflect legislative milestones and a message to the future. This unique provision aims to connect present and future Congresses, preserving a historical record for the nation's 500th anniversary. The bill mandates the Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, Homeland Security, and Defense to establish standard operating procedures for fire suppression cost share agreements . These procedures will ensure timely reimbursement to local fire departments and align agreements with cooperative fire protection efforts, aiming to improve efficiency and fairness in wildfire response. It also extends funding authorization for the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation through 2029, supporting its environmental and Native American programs. A significant foreign policy component requires the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense to develop a five-year strategy to counter Boko Haram in Nigeria and the surrounding region. This strategy must address enhancing institutional capacity, providing humanitarian support, investigating human rights abuses, countering violent extremism, strengthening the rule of law, and improving school security. An intelligence assessment on Nigeria's capability and willingness to implement the strategy is also required. For veterans, the Act introduces several key provisions. It requires the Small Business Administration to report on the Veterans Interagency Task Force activities and outreach plans for veteran entrepreneurship programs. Furthermore, it establishes a pilot program to provide grants to local governments to improve retention in veterans treatment court and drug court programs , focusing on effective therapeutic modalities. The bill also addresses financial and insurance matters for servicemembers and veterans. It mandates a periodic review of the automatic maximum coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance , adjusting it based on inflation. Additionally, it requires the Secretary of Defense to identify and notify veterans who had taxes improperly withheld from combat-related severance payments , providing instructions for recovering these amounts. In terms of government operations and oversight, the legislation includes provisions for congressional accountability and data security. Each standing committee of the House of Representatives is required to hold a hearing on the implementation of this Act within one year of its enactment. The House Rules are also amended to prohibit retaliation against individuals providing truthful information to ethics bodies or law enforcement. A critical measure focuses on protecting sensitive U.S. data by making it unlawful for data brokers to transfer personally identifiable sensitive data of United States individuals to foreign adversary countries or entities controlled by them. This provision, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, broadly defines sensitive data to include government identifiers, health information, financial details, biometric data, precise geolocation, and private communications. It aims to safeguard national security and individual privacy against foreign exploitation. Finally, the Act promotes domestic manufacturing by requiring federal agencies to procure United States flags that are 100% manufactured in the U.S. from domestically sourced materials. Exceptions are provided for cases of unavailability, small procurements, and presidential waivers for trade agreements. The bill concludes with specific appropriations for various federal departments and programs for fiscal year 2026, including rural health, USDA, State Department, Army, DHS, and Energy Information Administration.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available
Amendments (1)
HAMDT 144

On agreeing to the McGovern amendment (A001) Agreed to without objection.

Jan 9, 2026, 4:10 AM·James P. McGovern

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-626
Breaking the Gridlock Act
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 4, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Mar 4, 2025
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.
Mar 4, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.
Mar 21, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Mar 21, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Jan 8, 2026
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 780.
Jan 8, 2026
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 780. (consideration: CR H213-227)
Jan 8, 2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1834.
Jan 8, 2026
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Jan 8, 2026
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 230 - 196 (Roll no. 11). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H213-217)
View Vote
Jan 8, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jan 12, 2026
Received in the Senate.
Jan 13, 2026
House requested return of papers pursuant to H. Res. 991
Jan 15, 2026
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jan 15, 2026
Senate returned papers to House by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 16, 2026
Senate returned papers to the House.
Jan 26, 2026
Received in the Senate.
Feb 9, 2026
Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Feb 10, 2026
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 319.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-626
    Breaking the Gridlock Act


  • March 4, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 4, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.


  • March 4, 2025
    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.


  • March 4, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.


  • March 21, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.


  • March 21, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.


  • January 8, 2026
    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 780.


  • January 8, 2026
    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 780. (consideration: CR H213-227)


  • January 8, 2026
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1834.


  • January 8, 2026
    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.


  • January 8, 2026
    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 230 - 196 (Roll no. 11). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H213-217)
    View Vote


  • January 8, 2026
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • January 12, 2026
    Received in the Senate.


  • January 13, 2026
    House requested return of papers pursuant to H. Res. 991


  • January 15, 2026
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • January 15, 2026
    Senate returned papers to House by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 16, 2026
    Senate returned papers to the House.


  • January 26, 2026
    Received in the Senate.


  • February 9, 2026
    Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.


  • February 10, 2026
    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 319.

Congress

Related Bills

  • HRES 119-780: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1834) to advance policy priorities that will break the gridlock.
  • HR 119-862: TSA Commuting Fairness Act
  • HR 119-469: Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act
  • HR 119-345: Fire Department Repayment Act of 2025
  • S 119-1483: TSA Commuting Fairness Act
AsiaChinaCommutingComputers and information technologyComputer security and identity theftCongressional leadershipCongressional oversightConsumer affairsCorporate finance and managementFinancial crises and stabilizationFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelForeign and international corporationsFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHistorical and cultural resourcesIranLife, casualty, property insuranceMiddle EastNorth KoreaRussiaState and local government operationsTransportation employeesU.S. CapitolU.S. historyVeterans' pensions and compensation

Breaking the Gridlock Act

USA119th CongressHR-1834| House 
| Updated: 2/10/2026
The "Breaking the Gridlock Act" encompasses a broad array of legislative initiatives aimed at addressing diverse policy challenges. It establishes a Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule , to be sealed by July 4, 2026, and opened on July 4, 2276, with its contents jointly determined by congressional leadership to reflect legislative milestones and a message to the future. This unique provision aims to connect present and future Congresses, preserving a historical record for the nation's 500th anniversary. The bill mandates the Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, Homeland Security, and Defense to establish standard operating procedures for fire suppression cost share agreements . These procedures will ensure timely reimbursement to local fire departments and align agreements with cooperative fire protection efforts, aiming to improve efficiency and fairness in wildfire response. It also extends funding authorization for the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation through 2029, supporting its environmental and Native American programs. A significant foreign policy component requires the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense to develop a five-year strategy to counter Boko Haram in Nigeria and the surrounding region. This strategy must address enhancing institutional capacity, providing humanitarian support, investigating human rights abuses, countering violent extremism, strengthening the rule of law, and improving school security. An intelligence assessment on Nigeria's capability and willingness to implement the strategy is also required. For veterans, the Act introduces several key provisions. It requires the Small Business Administration to report on the Veterans Interagency Task Force activities and outreach plans for veteran entrepreneurship programs. Furthermore, it establishes a pilot program to provide grants to local governments to improve retention in veterans treatment court and drug court programs , focusing on effective therapeutic modalities. The bill also addresses financial and insurance matters for servicemembers and veterans. It mandates a periodic review of the automatic maximum coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance , adjusting it based on inflation. Additionally, it requires the Secretary of Defense to identify and notify veterans who had taxes improperly withheld from combat-related severance payments , providing instructions for recovering these amounts. In terms of government operations and oversight, the legislation includes provisions for congressional accountability and data security. Each standing committee of the House of Representatives is required to hold a hearing on the implementation of this Act within one year of its enactment. The House Rules are also amended to prohibit retaliation against individuals providing truthful information to ethics bodies or law enforcement. A critical measure focuses on protecting sensitive U.S. data by making it unlawful for data brokers to transfer personally identifiable sensitive data of United States individuals to foreign adversary countries or entities controlled by them. This provision, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, broadly defines sensitive data to include government identifiers, health information, financial details, biometric data, precise geolocation, and private communications. It aims to safeguard national security and individual privacy against foreign exploitation. Finally, the Act promotes domestic manufacturing by requiring federal agencies to procure United States flags that are 100% manufactured in the U.S. from domestically sourced materials. Exceptions are provided for cases of unavailability, small procurements, and presidential waivers for trade agreements. The bill concludes with specific appropriations for various federal departments and programs for fiscal year 2026, including rural health, USDA, State Department, Army, DHS, and Energy Information Administration.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-626
Breaking the Gridlock Act
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 4, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Mar 4, 2025
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.
Mar 4, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.
Mar 21, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Mar 21, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Jan 8, 2026
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 780.
Jan 8, 2026
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 780. (consideration: CR H213-227)
Jan 8, 2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1834.
Jan 8, 2026
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Jan 8, 2026
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 230 - 196 (Roll no. 11). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H213-217)
View Vote
Jan 8, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jan 12, 2026
Received in the Senate.
Jan 13, 2026
House requested return of papers pursuant to H. Res. 991
Jan 15, 2026
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jan 15, 2026
Senate returned papers to House by Unanimous Consent.
Jan 16, 2026
Senate returned papers to the House.
Jan 26, 2026
Received in the Senate.
Feb 9, 2026
Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Feb 10, 2026
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 319.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-626
    Breaking the Gridlock Act


  • March 4, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 4, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.


  • March 4, 2025
    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.


  • March 4, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.


  • March 21, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.


  • March 21, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.


  • January 8, 2026
    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 780.


  • January 8, 2026
    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 780. (consideration: CR H213-227)


  • January 8, 2026
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1834.


  • January 8, 2026
    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.


  • January 8, 2026
    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 230 - 196 (Roll no. 11). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H213-217)
    View Vote


  • January 8, 2026
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • January 12, 2026
    Received in the Senate.


  • January 13, 2026
    House requested return of papers pursuant to H. Res. 991


  • January 15, 2026
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • January 15, 2026
    Senate returned papers to House by Unanimous Consent.


  • January 16, 2026
    Senate returned papers to the House.


  • January 26, 2026
    Received in the Senate.


  • February 9, 2026
    Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.


  • February 10, 2026
    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 319.
James P. McGovern

James P. McGovern

Democratic Representative

Massachusetts

Committees (25)
• Committee on House Administration• Homeland Security Committee• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee• Small Business Committee• Ways and Means Committee• Ethics Committee• Foreign Affairs Committee• Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee• Agriculture Committee• Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee• Rules Committee• Financial Services Committee• Veterans' Affairs Committee• Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee• Appropriations Committee• Judiciary Committee• Armed Services Committee• Economic Opportunity Subcommittee• Science, Space, and Technology Committee• Energy and Commerce Committee• Education and Workforce Committee• Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee• Oversight and Government Reform Committee• Budget Committee• Natural Resources Committee

Congress

Related Bills

  • HRES 119-780: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1834) to advance policy priorities that will break the gridlock.
  • HR 119-862: TSA Commuting Fairness Act
  • HR 119-469: Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act
  • HR 119-345: Fire Department Repayment Act of 2025
  • S 119-1483: TSA Commuting Fairness Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Amendments (1)
HAMDT 144

On agreeing to the McGovern amendment (A001) Agreed to without objection.

Jan 9, 2026, 4:10 AM·James P. McGovern
AsiaChinaCommutingComputers and information technologyComputer security and identity theftCongressional leadershipCongressional oversightConsumer affairsCorporate finance and managementFinancial crises and stabilizationFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelForeign and international corporationsFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHistorical and cultural resourcesIranLife, casualty, property insuranceMiddle EastNorth KoreaRussiaState and local government operationsTransportation employeesU.S. CapitolU.S. historyVeterans' pensions and compensation