H.R. 6637 — Modernizing America with Rebuilding to Kickstart the Economy of the Twenty-first Century with a Historic Infrastructure-Centered Expansion Act

This section provides the short title of this title as the “Modernizing America with Rebuilding to Kickstart the Economy of the Twenty-first Century with a Historic Infrastructure-Centered Expansion Act” or the “MARKET CHOICE Act”.

This section states congressional findings that (1) roads, bridges, airports, and urban transportation systems are essential to U.S. economic and national security; (2) there is a chronic funding shortfall for highway, bridge, and other critical infrastructure maintenance; (3) strategic investments in new infrastructure will allow economic growth; (4) extreme weather events have increased and climate change impacts are expected to worsen nationwide; (5) unaddressed climate change could adversely affect Americans' health, the economy, and local, state, and federal budgets; (6) climate risk reduction efforts should protect the economy, security, infrastructure, agriculture, water supply, public health, and public safety; and (7) there is bipartisan support for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through economically viable policies.

This section appropriates to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 and to conduct or support cancer research, an additional amount equal to 25% of the total amount appropriated to NCI for fiscal year 2024 (to remain available until expended).

This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the FDA Commissioner and in collaboration with other agencies, to study the reasons for cancer drug shortages—including economic factors, supply chain failures, development and approval delays, and insufficient generic drugs and biosimilars—and to submit a report with recommendations to the appropriate congressional committees within one year of enactment.

This section establishes, not later than one year after the date of enactment, the Coordinator for Engagement with Defense Communities Affected by PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) within the Department of Defense. The Coordinator is responsible for (1) improving the Department's outreach, education, and communication with current or former U.S. defense communities affected by PFAS contamination or leakage; and (2) serving as a dedicated liaison between the Department and local governments, advocacy organizations, and individual citizens in communities with ongoing or incomplete DoD PFAS remediation projects.

This section establishes a 20-member National Bipartisan Fiscal Commission within the legislative branch not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, to be appointed within 30 days thereafter as follows: (1) four Members of Congress, not more than two from the same party, appointed by the President (two of whom the President designates as chair and vice chair); (2) four appointed by the Speaker of the House; (3) four by the House Minority Leader; (4) four by the Senate Majority Leader; and (5) four by the Senate Minority Leader. The Commission must (1) review and recommend to Congress a legislative package to stabilize long-term deficits and debt and (2) require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to consider the cost of servicing the debt in its cost estimations. The Commission must submit a report to Congress containing this review, recommendation, and legislative package not later than 18 months after enactment. The Commission has subpoena power (requiring agreement of the chair and vice chair or an affirmative vote of 10 members), authority to hold hearings and administer oaths, and operational rules including an initial meeting not later than 180 days after enactment, a quorum of 10 members, and vacancy fillings within 90 days. The Federal Advisory Committee Act does not apply to the Commission.

This section requires the President, not later than 60 days after receiving a report from the Commission under section 401(d), to transmit to Congress a special message accompanied by a proposed joint resolution implementing the Commission's recommendations—after consulting relevant congressional committees (for alternatives or exclusions), the Comptroller General, and the Congressional Budget Office. The special message must specify included and excluded recommendations (with reasons for exclusions), identify programs for elimination or consolidation, and be made publicly available (including on a presidential website and in the Federal Register); transmittal occurs via the Secretary of the Senate or Clerk of the House if not in session. This section provides expedited House consideration for a "Commission joint resolution" (i.e., one consisting solely of the President's proposed text): (1) introduction by the majority leader (or designee) the next legislative day, or by any member thereafter; (2) committee reporting or discharge within 10 legislative days, with limited debate on discharge; and (3) a motion to proceed after last committee action, with no amendments.

This section prohibits Members of the House of Representatives from owning or trading a covered financial instrument, defined as any investment in a security or security future (as defined by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), a commodity (as defined by the Commodity Exchange Act), or an economic interest acquired synthetically (e.g., via derivatives such as options or warrants). Exceptions apply to (1) widely held investment funds registered as management companies, (2) U.S. Treasury bills, notes, or bonds, (3) bonds issued by a state or local government, and (4) Thrift Savings Plan investments. Members must submit a compliance pledge to the House Committee on Ethics and, upon request, produce materials necessary to verify compliance.

This section directs the Financial Institutions Examination Council, in consultation with specified stakeholders, to review and enhance, not later than 180 days after enactment—(1) training and examination procedures for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism programs to detect financial transactions relating to severe forms of trafficking in persons; (2) procedures for referring potential trafficking cases to law enforcement agencies; and (3) financial institution requirements to detect and deter such money laundering. The section further requires the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to submit to specified congressional committees and federal banking agencies, not later than 270 days after enactment, (A) an analysis of U.S. government and financial institution anti-money laundering efforts relating to severe forms of trafficking in persons and (B) legislative, administrative, and other recommendations to strengthen such efforts, including required feedback on best practices, policy proposals, training changes, information sharing, and statutory updates for emerging technologies and virtual currencies. The section clarifies that it grants no rulemaking authority to the task force and does not encourage financial institutions to deny services to trafficking victims or non-responsible individuals.

This section adds to the criteria used by the Department of State to determine whether governments of countries are making serious and sustained efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons (i.e., indicia under 22 U.S.C. 7106(b) for assigning countries to tiers in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report, which affects U.S. assistance and sanctions) a new factor (13) evaluating whether the country, consistent with its capacity, has a framework to prevent financial transactions involving proceeds of such trafficking and is taking steps to implement it, including by investigating, prosecuting, convicting, and sentencing individuals who attempt or conduct such transactions.

This section requires each local educational agency (LEA), as a condition of receiving funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), to develop and implement emergency response procedures covering all students, faculty, and staff at public elementary and secondary schools and to notify parents and guardians of covered threats and emergencies occurring on school grounds, during school transportation, or school-sponsored activities. The procedures must (1) be developed in consultation with public safety agencies, (2) implement commonly used alarm systems for specific emergencies, and (3) identify the primary emergency response agency responsible for each type of covered threat or emergency and the school individuals responsible for contacting that agency. Covered threats and emergencies include weapons possession or use with intended harm, active shooter or hostage situations, bomb threats, murder or homicide, sex offenses involving students and school personnel, trespassing, fires, natural weather emergencies (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, severe storms), natural disasters, exposure to harmful substances from manmade emergencies, and others as determined by the LEA.

This section directs the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to convene within 90 days of enactment a rulemaking advisory committee—chaired by the CISA Director and including the Secretary of Education (or designee) and representatives from law enforcement, school safety personnel, advocates, educators, ballistic shielding experts, construction experts, and others—to develop findings and recommendations on requiring the installation or modification of reinforced interior and exterior doors in federally funded elementary and secondary schools. The committee must consider door specifications and technologies, performance standards, development and testing processes, service lifetime, threat protection balanced against law enforcement access and evacuation needs, and other factors. This section further requires CISA to submit a report to specified congressional committees within one year of convening the committee and to issue a final rule requiring such door reinforcements within six months after the report. This section administers the provision through the State Homeland Security Grant Program (i.e., grants to states for homeland security activities, with at least 80% passed through to local and tribal governments) and authorizes additional funding of $100 million for that program in the fiscal year the final rule is issued and each of the nine fiscal years thereafter, to be used solely for this purpose.

This section requires each state to permit unaffiliated voters (i.e., those not registered with a political party) to vote in any primary election for federal office, except that the state may not permit such a voter to vote in primaries for more than one political party; prohibits states from sharing such voters' information for political or commercial purposes or treating them as affiliated with a party based solely on their primary participation; and applies these requirements to elections after enactment. This section further prohibits states from using any federal funds provided directly for election administration unless the state certifies to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) compliance with identical requirements for primary elections for state and local office. This section directs the EAC to make transition assistance grants to states certifying compliance, in an amount equal to 2% of the state's total requirements payments under HAVA §251 (52 U.S.C. 21001)—which fund improvements to meet federal voting system standards—for the fiscal year of certification and each of the next four fiscal years; requires use of such grants for costs of implementing unaffiliated voter access in primaries; and authorizes appropriations for these grants beginning in FY2026.

This section declares it the policy of the United States that noncitizens may not vote in any taxpayer-funded election for public office held by or in the United States or any state. It prohibits any state from permitting noncitizens to vote in any election for federal office. It further conditions any state's use of federal funds provided directly for election administration on certification to the Election Assistance Commission that the state does not permit noncitizens to vote in any election for state or local office or any ballot initiative or referendum.

This section directs the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, to conduct a review and issue a classified report to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence not later than 90 days after enactment determining whether increased intelligence sharing with Ukraine relating to the Russian Federation, Belarus, China, North Korea, or other entities improves the security of the United States and its allies and partners.

This section amends the Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (1) to define "veteran-owned small business concern" by cross-reference to the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(q)); (2) to include veteran-owned small business concerns as eligible DBEs; and (3) to add veterans to the list of individuals presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged. (As background, the DBE program requires state and local recipients of certain DOT funds for highways, transit, and airports to set overall goals for participation by small businesses owned and controlled by such individuals.)

This section repeals the expedited removal, demotion, and suspension processes for certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees under section 714 of title 38, United States Code. (As background, those processes allowed the VA Secretary to remove, demote, or suspend covered employees—generally senior executives, supervisors, and probationary employees—for performance or misconduct within 15 business days total, including 7 business days for employee response, superseding Title 5 procedures and collective bargaining agreements.) It also eliminates the related exception in section 4303(f) of title 5, United States Code; makes conforming amendments to chapter 7 of title 38; and redesignates the remaining whistleblower protections formerly in section 714 as new section 734. (Thus, such actions against covered VA employees revert to standard civil service protections and procedures under Title 5.)

This section restores certain disciplinary and grievance procedures for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) personnel—previously modified by the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-41)—to their pre-2017 versions by amending (1) 38 U.S.C. §7461(b), (2) §7462(b), and (3) §7463(c). (As background, these provisions govern procedures for major adverse actions and grievances involving VHA physicians, nurses, and other licensed health-care professionals.)