U.S. deficit, debt, and interest

This resolution recognizes that the national debt is a threat to national security and that deficits are unsustainable, irresponsible, and dangerous. It also commits to (1) restoring regular order to the appropriations process, and (2) addressing the fiscal crisis faced by the United States.

Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that prohibits total outlays for any fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year. The amendment also prohibits (1) increases to the federal debt limit, and (2) a bill that increases revenue from becoming law unless the bill has been approved by two-thirds of each chamber of Congress with a roll call vote.

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Emergency Border Control Resolution This concurrent resolution establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2025, sets forth budgetary levels for FY2026-FY2034, and provides reconciliation instructions for legislation that increases or decreases the deficit and increases the statutory debt limit by specified amounts. The resolution recommends levels and amounts for FY2025-FY2034 for federal revenues, new budget authority, budget outlays, deficits (on-budget), debt subject to limit, debt held by the public, and the major functional categories of spending. The resolution includes reconciliation instructions that direct several House committees to submit legislation that will increase or decrease the deficit and increase the statutory debt limit by specified amounts. The committees must submit the legislation to the House Budget Committee by February 27, 2025. (Under current law, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.) Finally, the resolution specifies that it is the policy of this resolution that (1) federal spending levels should be restored to the levels that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, adjusted to protect current Social Security and Medicare spending and reflect existing debt service obligations; and (2) it shall be the objective of the House to reach total budget outlays of $6.057 trillion or less this fiscal year.

Referred to the House Committee on the Budget.

Defund Government-Sponsored Propaganda Act This bill prohibits federal funding of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), National Public Radio (NPR), and any successor organization to PBS or NPR. The prohibition extends to the payment of dues to or the purchase of programming from PBS or NPR by a public broadcast station using federal funds. The bill also directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to transfer to the Department of the Treasury for the purpose of reducing the public debt an amount equal to certain funding that would have otherwise been provided to PBS or NPR in FY2025-FY2027.

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Forgotten Funds Act This bill rescinds the unobligated balances of discretionary appropriations that were provided for FY2021 or any previous fiscal year. It also requires the rescinded funds to be deposited into the Treasury for the sole purpose of deficit reduction.

Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.

Debt Explanation Before Taxwriters Act or the DEBT Act This bill requires the Secretary of the Treasury to appear before the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee before the federal debt limit is reached or extraordinary measures are taken to prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations. The term extraordinary measures generally refers to a series of actions that the Department of the Treasury may implement to allow the United States to borrow additional funds without exceeding the debt limit. The measures generally include suspensions or delays of debt sales and suspensions or redemptions of investments in certain government funds. The bill requires the Secretary of the Treasury to appear before the committees to provide a detailed explanation of (1) the extraordinary measures that Treasury will take and the administrative costs of taking the measures, and (2) any reversal of such measures and any other changes in the funding of federal government obligations.

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act This bill withholds or eliminates the pay of Members of Congress for any day that the public debt limit is reached or there is a government shutdown. During the 119th Congress, any salary earned by Members during these events must be held in escrow and released on the last day of that Congress. For subsequent Congresses, a Member shall not be paid for any day that these events occur. (Some exceptions apply.)

Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.

This concurrent resolution establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2027, sets forth budgetary levels for FY2028-FY2036, and provides reconciliation instructions for legislation that increases the deficit. The resolution recommends levels and amounts for FY2027-FY2036 for federal revenues, new budget authority, budget outlays, deficits (on-budget), debt subject to limit, debt held by the public, and the major functional categories of spending. The resolution includes reconciliation instructions that direct the House Agriculture Committee, the House Armed Services Committee, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the House Administration Committee to submit recommendations for legislation that will increase the deficit over FY2027-FY2036 by not more than specified amounts. Each committee must submit the recommendations to the House Budget Committee by September 11, 2026. (Under current law, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.) In addition, the resolution establishes a reserve fund that allows certain adjustments to committee allocations and other budgetary levels to accommodate reconciliation legislation. Finally, the resolution sets forth budget enforcement procedures that address issues such as adjustments to committee allocations and other budgetary levels; the budgetary treatment of the discretionary administrative expenses for the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Postal Service; emergency spending; and additional adjustments for disaster relief, wildfire suppression, health care fraud and abuse control, continuing disability reviews and redeterminations, and reemployment services and eligibility assessments.

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 468.

Congressional Money Returned to America Act or the Congressional MRA Act This bill requires funds that were provided to House offices for the Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) and remain in the MRA account after all payments for the year are made to be deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit or debt reduction. The MRA is an allowance that Members of the House of Representatives receive each year to operate their offices. It must be used to support official and representational duties and may not be used for personal or campaign purposes. Annual appropriations acts that fund the legislative branch have generally included a provision that requires unused amounts remaining in the MRA to be used for deficit reduction or to reduce the federal debt. This bill makes this requirement permanent.

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

This concurrent resolution establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2025, sets forth budgetary levels for FY2026-FY2034, and provides reconciliation instructions for legislation that increases or decreases the deficit and increases the statutory debt limit by specified amounts. The resolution recommends levels and amounts for FY2025-FY2034 for The resolution includes reconciliation instructions that direct 11 House committees to submit legislation that will increase or decrease the deficit over FY2025-FY2034 and increase the statutory debt limit by specified amounts. The committees must submit the legislation to the House Budget Committee by March 27, 2025. (Under current law, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.) In addition, the resolution establishes a reserve fund that allows certain adjustments to committee allocations and other budgetary levels to accommodate reconciliation legislation. The resolution also requires the maximum deficit increase permitted by the reconciliation instruction for the House Ways and Means Committee ($4.5 trillion in the resolution) to be reduced if the proposals submitted by certain committees do not achieve a total of at least $2 trillion in net deficit reduction (or increased if more than $2 trillion in deficit reduction is achieved). Finally, the resolution sets forth budget enforcement procedures that address issues such as adjustments to committee allocations and the budgetary treatment of the discretionary administrative expenses for the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Postal Service.

Star Print ordered on the reported concurrent resolution.