[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6598 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6598
To modernize the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
to conduct research, development, demonstration, and information
programs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 10, 2025
Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia (for himself and Ms. McDonald Rivet)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To modernize the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
to conduct research, development, demonstration, and information
programs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Research and Development Modernization Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. MODERNIZATION OF AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION TO CONDUCT
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, AND INFORMATION
PROGRAMS.
Section 18 of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 22) is amended
to read as follows:
``SEC. 18. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
``(a) Programs.--The Commission, as part of its ongoing operations,
shall establish and maintain research, development, demonstration, and
information programs that further the purposes of this Act, including
programs that--
``(1) facilitate the understanding by the Commission of
emerging technologies, technological advances, and innovations
and their potential application to and effect on the
transactions and markets under the jurisdiction of the
Commission, and associated implications for cybersecurity, data
security, and systemic risk;
``(2) provide an environment where emerging technologies,
technological advances, and innovations may be explored by the
Commission with developers and potential users to evaluate
potential effects on the Commission and the markets under the
jurisdiction of the Commission;
``(3) identify areas where the Commission should adapt its
administration of this Act in light of emerging technologies,
technological advances, and innovations to benefit the markets
under the jurisdiction of the Commission; and
``(4) develop educational and other informational materials
for dissemination and use among producers, market-users, and
the general public regarding--
``(A) the activities, products, entities, and
markets regulated under or subject to the requirements
of this Act;
``(B) emerging technologies, technological
advances, and innovations in commodity or financial
markets; and
``(C) applicable requirements of this Act and the
regulations prescribed under this Act with regard to
the subjects described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
``(b) Research and Development Plan.--
``(1) In general.--The Commission may, by rule or by order,
adopt a research and development plan for a program established
under subsection (a).
``(2) Conditions.--A research and development plan adopted
pursuant to paragraph (1) shall identify--
``(A) specific areas of interest to the Commission;
``(B) potential activities the Commission will
undertake to investigate an area of interest; and
``(C) the means by which the authority described in
subsection (c) will be used in the applicable program
established under subsection (a).
``(c) Other Transaction Authority.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding the Office of Federal
Procurement Policy Act of 1974 and the Competition in
Contracting Act, the Commission may enter into a transaction
(other than a contract) for the purpose of aiding or
facilitating the programs and activities under subsection (a).
``(2) Conditions.--The Commission may enter into a
transaction under this subsection only if--
``(A) the transaction is used only in furtherance
of a research and development plan established under
subsection (b);
``(B) the Commission endeavored to use a
competitive process, where appropriate, when
determining the parties to the transaction; and
``(C) using a contract to do so is either not
feasible or not appropriate.
``(3) Policies.--The Commission shall establish and publish
written policies setting forth the manner and criteria for
utilizing the authority provided by this subsection.
``(d) Acceptance of Non-Monetary Contributions for Research and
Development Programs, Projects, and Activities.--
``(1) Authorization.--The Commission may accept and use, on
behalf of the United States and in accordance with this
subsection, any covered non-monetary contribution.
``(2) Conditions.--
``(A) In general.--A covered non-monetary
contribution may be accepted pursuant to this
subsection only if it is in furtherance of a research
and development plan adopted under subsection (b).
``(B) Limitations on solicitation and acceptance.--
The Commission (including any Commissioner, employee,
or contractor) may not solicit or accept a covered non-
monetary contribution if--
``(i) conditions inconsistent with
applicable laws or regulations apply to the
covered non-monetary contribution;
``(ii) the covered non-monetary
contribution is conditioned on, or will
require, the expenditure of appropriated funds
not available to the Commission;
``(iii) using a contract or other
transaction authority under subsection (c) to
acquire the covered non-monetary contribution
is either feasible or appropriate; or
``(iv) the solicitation or acceptance of
the covered non-monetary contribution would--
``(I) reflect unfavorably on the
ability of the Commission to carry out
its responsibilities or official duties
in a fair and objective manner, or
compromise the integrity or the
appearance of the integrity of its
programs or any official involved in
its programs; or
``(II) give the endorsement or the
appearance of the endorsement by the
Commission or Commission staff of the
products, services, activities, or
policies of the person providing the
covered non-monetary contribution.
``(C) Duration.--To the extent applicable, the
Commission shall return any covered non-monetary
contribution accepted pursuant to this subsection as
soon as practicable after the purpose for accepting the
covered non-monetary contribution has been met.
``(D) Requirements.--The Commission shall, by rule
or by order, establish and publish written requirements
setting forth the manner and criteria to be used in
determining whether a covered non-monetary contribution
meets the conditions of this paragraph.
``(3) Disclosure.--Within 14 days of agreeing to accept a
covered non-monetary contribution pursuant to this subsection,
the Commission shall provide notice and details of such
agreement to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry of the Senate.
``(4) Definition of covered non-monetary contribution.--In
this subsection, the term `covered non-monetary contribution'
means a non-monetary contribution of provision of access, use
of facilities, personal property, or services that is related
to--
``(A) sharing of research, data, or other
information;
``(B) public presentations; or
``(C) noncommercially available services or
systems.
``(5) Sunset.--The authority provided in this subsection
may not be exercised on or after October 1, 2031.
``(e) Annual Report.--Not later than 60 days after the end of each
fiscal year, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report on all
transactions entered into under subsection (c) and all covered non-
monetary contributions accepted under subsection (d) in the fiscal
year, which shall include the following:
``(1) A brief description of the subject of each such
transaction or covered non-monetary contribution, with an
explanation of--
``(A) its potential utility to the Commission or
the markets regulated by the Commission;
``(B) how it fulfills the goals and objectives of
the research and development plan established under
subsection (b); and
``(C) the status of all related projects.
``(2) With respect to each covered non-monetary
contribution, a description of--
``(A) the source of the covered non-monetary
contribution;
``(B) the nature of the covered non-monetary
contribution; and
``(C) how the covered non-monetary contribution
meets the conditions set forth in subsection (d)(2).
``(3) A description of all sums expended by the Commission
in connection with a transaction entered into under subsection
(c), and, if readily ascertainable, the value of any covered
non-monetary contribution accepted under subsection (d).''.
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