HJRES 13 United States House · 117th Congress

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution requiring that each agency and department's funding is justified.

Summary
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year unless (1) Congress authorizes the excess by a three-fifths vote of each chamber, and (2) total outlays do not exceed a specified percentage of the estimated gross domestic product of the United States. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing. The amendment requires a three-fifths vote of each chamber of Congress to increase revenue or increase the limit on the debt of the United States. The amendment also requires the President to submit an annual budget in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts. The President's budget must also include justifications and specified details regarding funding proposed for departments and agencies. Congress may waive the requirements due to a declaration of war, a military conflict, an event that causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security, or a natural disaster.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2021
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jan 4, 2021 Last action Mar 4, 2021
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Mar 4, 2021
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
lower
Jan 4, 2021
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
lower
Jan 4, 2021
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors