Legis Daily

Responsible Legislating Act

USA119th CongressHR-185| House 
| Updated: 3/14/2025
James P. McGovern

James P. McGovern

Democratic Representative

Massachusetts

Committees (23)
• Committee on House Administration• Homeland Security Committee• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee• Small Business Committee• Ways and Means Committee• Ethics Committee• Foreign Affairs Committee• Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Subcommittee• Agriculture Committee• Rules Committee• Financial Services Committee• Veterans' Affairs Committee• 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 "Responsible Legislating Act" introduces comprehensive reforms aimed at enhancing retirement savings and security for American workers. It mandates automatic enrollment for most 401(k) and 403(b) plans, with initial contribution rates between 3-10% that automatically increase annually. The bill provides tax credits for small employers , including an increased startup cost credit and a new credit designed to encourage immediate retirement plan eligibility for military spouses . A significant provision allows employers to make matching contributions based on employees' qualified student loan payments , helping individuals save for retirement while managing educational debt. Further retirement enhancements include raising the required minimum distribution (RMD) age to a tiered system starting at 73 and indexing IRA catch-up limits for inflation. The legislation facilitates the use of multiple employer 403(b) plans and permits small financial incentives to encourage plan participation. It also establishes a safe harbor for correcting inadvertent administrative errors in automatic enrollment and reduces the service requirement for part-time employees to participate in retirement plans. Additionally, the bill clarifies rules for S corporation ESOPs, certain publicly traded securities in ESOPs, and removes barriers for life annuities in RMD calculations. The act also addresses federal employee benefits, particularly for those in "covered positions" such as law enforcement and firefighters. It allows injured or ill employees who are reappointed to non-covered positions within the same agency to have their service treated as if they remained in their original covered role for retirement purposes, aiming to retain specialized knowledge. Separately, the bill requires the Department of Labor to establish an online "Retirement Savings Lost and Found" database to help individuals locate lost retirement benefits. Other significant measures include strengthening whistleblower protections for House employees by prohibiting the public disclosure of their identity without consent or a supermajority committee vote. It also increases penalties for human trafficking and coercion offenses committed in school zones or near institutions of higher education. The bill establishes an eight-member Commission to study the feasibility and fundraising for a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture, explicitly prohibiting federal funding for its operations. The legislation directs the Federal Maritime Commission to conduct a study on the impact of foreign ownership of marine terminals at major U.S. container ports on economic security, with a specific focus on Chinese and Russian entities. It also extends NASA's enhanced use leasing authority and requires SelectUSA to solicit input from state economic development organizations on increasing foreign direct investment in semiconductor manufacturing. Finally, the act includes various technical amendments to existing retirement laws, revises federal credit union board meeting frequency based on performance, and appropriates specific amounts for several federal programs.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-5673
Responsible Legislating Act
Jan 3, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 3, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, Veterans' Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Education and Workforce, Small Business, the Judiciary, Natural Resources, House Administration, Energy and Commerce, Homeland Security, Science, Space, and Technology, Appropriations, Rules, Ethics, Transportation and Infrastructure, the Budget, and Financial Services , 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 12, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Mar 14, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-5673
    Responsible Legislating Act


  • January 3, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 3, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, Veterans' Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Education and Workforce, Small Business, the Judiciary, Natural Resources, House Administration, Energy and Commerce, Homeland Security, Science, Space, and Technology, Appropriations, Rules, Ethics, Transportation and Infrastructure, the Budget, and Financial Services , 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 12, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.


  • March 14, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 119-7314: Advancing Commonsense Policies Act
  • HR 119-975: Credit Union Board Modernization Act
  • HR 119-7315: Advancing Policy Priorities Act
  • S 119-97: Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act
  • HR 119-2480: Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act of 2025
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvisory bodiesAgricultural marketing and promotionAppropriationsBank accounts, deposits, capitalBanking and financial institutions regulationBusiness recordsCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA)Child safety and welfareComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightDepartment of DefenseDepartment of EnergyDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDepartment of Homeland SecurityDepartment of LaborDepartment of StateDepartment of the TreasuryDisability assistanceEmployee benefits and pensionsEmployment discrimination and employee rightsExecutive agency funding and structureFinancial services and investmentsFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesHigher educationHistorical and cultural resourcesHouse of RepresentativesHuman traffickingIncome tax creditsIncome tax deferralIncome tax exclusionInflation and pricesInterest, dividends, interest ratesLaw enforcement officersLife, casualty, property insuranceLivestockManufacturingMilitary personnel and dependentsMuseums, exhibitions, cultural centersNavigation, waterways, harborsOffice of Personnel Management (OPM)Sales and excise taxesSecuritiesSmall businessStudent aid and college costsTax administration and collection, taxpayersU.S. and foreign investmentsVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationWages and earnings

Responsible Legislating Act

USA119th CongressHR-185| House 
| Updated: 3/14/2025
The "Responsible Legislating Act" introduces comprehensive reforms aimed at enhancing retirement savings and security for American workers. It mandates automatic enrollment for most 401(k) and 403(b) plans, with initial contribution rates between 3-10% that automatically increase annually. The bill provides tax credits for small employers , including an increased startup cost credit and a new credit designed to encourage immediate retirement plan eligibility for military spouses . A significant provision allows employers to make matching contributions based on employees' qualified student loan payments , helping individuals save for retirement while managing educational debt. Further retirement enhancements include raising the required minimum distribution (RMD) age to a tiered system starting at 73 and indexing IRA catch-up limits for inflation. The legislation facilitates the use of multiple employer 403(b) plans and permits small financial incentives to encourage plan participation. It also establishes a safe harbor for correcting inadvertent administrative errors in automatic enrollment and reduces the service requirement for part-time employees to participate in retirement plans. Additionally, the bill clarifies rules for S corporation ESOPs, certain publicly traded securities in ESOPs, and removes barriers for life annuities in RMD calculations. The act also addresses federal employee benefits, particularly for those in "covered positions" such as law enforcement and firefighters. It allows injured or ill employees who are reappointed to non-covered positions within the same agency to have their service treated as if they remained in their original covered role for retirement purposes, aiming to retain specialized knowledge. Separately, the bill requires the Department of Labor to establish an online "Retirement Savings Lost and Found" database to help individuals locate lost retirement benefits. Other significant measures include strengthening whistleblower protections for House employees by prohibiting the public disclosure of their identity without consent or a supermajority committee vote. It also increases penalties for human trafficking and coercion offenses committed in school zones or near institutions of higher education. The bill establishes an eight-member Commission to study the feasibility and fundraising for a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture, explicitly prohibiting federal funding for its operations. The legislation directs the Federal Maritime Commission to conduct a study on the impact of foreign ownership of marine terminals at major U.S. container ports on economic security, with a specific focus on Chinese and Russian entities. It also extends NASA's enhanced use leasing authority and requires SelectUSA to solicit input from state economic development organizations on increasing foreign direct investment in semiconductor manufacturing. Finally, the act includes various technical amendments to existing retirement laws, revises federal credit union board meeting frequency based on performance, and appropriates specific amounts for several federal programs.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-5673
Responsible Legislating Act
Jan 3, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 3, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, Veterans' Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Education and Workforce, Small Business, the Judiciary, Natural Resources, House Administration, Energy and Commerce, Homeland Security, Science, Space, and Technology, Appropriations, Rules, Ethics, Transportation and Infrastructure, the Budget, and Financial Services , 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 12, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Mar 14, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-5673
    Responsible Legislating Act


  • January 3, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 3, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, Veterans' Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Foreign Affairs, Education and Workforce, Small Business, the Judiciary, Natural Resources, House Administration, Energy and Commerce, Homeland Security, Science, Space, and Technology, Appropriations, Rules, Ethics, Transportation and Infrastructure, the Budget, and Financial Services , 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 12, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.


  • March 14, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
James P. McGovern

James P. McGovern

Democratic Representative

Massachusetts

Committees (23)
• Committee on House Administration• Homeland Security Committee• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee• Small Business Committee• Ways and Means Committee• Ethics Committee• Foreign Affairs Committee• Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Subcommittee• Agriculture Committee• Rules Committee• Financial Services Committee• Veterans' Affairs Committee• 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

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 119-7314: Advancing Commonsense Policies Act
  • HR 119-975: Credit Union Board Modernization Act
  • HR 119-7315: Advancing Policy Priorities Act
  • S 119-97: Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act
  • HR 119-2480: Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvisory bodiesAgricultural marketing and promotionAppropriationsBank accounts, deposits, capitalBanking and financial institutions regulationBusiness recordsCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA)Child safety and welfareComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightDepartment of DefenseDepartment of EnergyDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDepartment of Homeland SecurityDepartment of LaborDepartment of StateDepartment of the TreasuryDisability assistanceEmployee benefits and pensionsEmployment discrimination and employee rightsExecutive agency funding and structureFinancial services and investmentsFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesHigher educationHistorical and cultural resourcesHouse of RepresentativesHuman traffickingIncome tax creditsIncome tax deferralIncome tax exclusionInflation and pricesInterest, dividends, interest ratesLaw enforcement officersLife, casualty, property insuranceLivestockManufacturingMilitary personnel and dependentsMuseums, exhibitions, cultural centersNavigation, waterways, harborsOffice of Personnel Management (OPM)Sales and excise taxesSecuritiesSmall businessStudent aid and college costsTax administration and collection, taxpayersU.S. and foreign investmentsVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationWages and earnings