Commonsense Legislating Act
Summary
The "Commonsense Legislating Act" is a multifaceted bill addressing various sectors, including small business, Native American tourism, military families, veteran mental health, interstate commerce, working families, and national security. It aims to extend existing programs, create new grant opportunities, and improve support systems for specific groups. The bill also establishes an interagency task force and a steering group to address working family challenges and fentanyl disruption, respectively.
Expected Effects
The Act is likely to result in increased funding and support for small businesses, Native American tourism, and veteran mental health services. It could also lead to improved economic conditions for military families and enhanced efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking. The establishment of the Working Families Task Force may lead to new policy recommendations aimed at improving the standard of living for working families.
Potential Benefits
- Extends the FAST program for small businesses, providing continued support.
- Offers application assistance to broaden participation in SBIR and STTR programs, especially for minority institutions.
- Establishes Native American tourism grant programs, boosting economic development in tribal communities.
- Provides work opportunity tax credits for spouses of military personnel, improving their employment prospects.
- Enhances mental health consultations and outreach for veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Potential Disadvantages
- The bill's reliance on appropriated funds may lead to uncertainty if funding is not consistently allocated.
- The creation of new task forces and steering groups could result in bureaucratic inefficiencies or duplication of efforts.
- The budgetary effects of the Act are determined by reference to a statement submitted by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, which could be subject to political influence.
- The Act's focus on specific groups may not address broader systemic issues affecting all Americans.
- The effectiveness of the Act's provisions depends on the successful implementation and coordination of various federal agencies.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the Constitution's broad goals of promoting the general welfare (Preamble) and providing for the common defense (Preamble). Several provisions, such as those related to small business support and Native American affairs, fall under Congress's power to regulate commerce (Article I, Section 8) and to make treaties with Indian tribes (Article I, Section 8). The appropriations outlined in Title XI are consistent with Congress's power of the purse (Article I, Section 9).
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).