Budget & Taxes (Appropriations)

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year unless Congress authorizes the excess by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing. The amendment also requires the President to submit an annual budget in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts.

This bill provides temporary funding to ensure Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees continue receiving standard pay and benefits during a potential government funding gap between February 14, 2026, and when regular fiscal year 2026 appropriations are enacted. It directly affects TSA employees who might otherwise face pay interruptions if Congress fails to pass a full-year budget by that date. The bill authorizes using Treasury funds for standard pay, allowances, and benefits during this interim period, with these costs later charged to the appropriate future appropriations. The funding expires automatically on September 30, 2026, or when regular appropriations are passed, whichever occurs first.

This bill, titled "Emergency Border Control Resolution," is actually a budget resolution establishing fiscal year 2025-2034 budget levels for the U.S. government. It sets detailed revenue, spending, and deficit targets across various government functions, including defense, health, and social programs. The resolution includes reconciliation instructions for committees to adjust laws within their jurisdictions to meet deficit targets. The title appears to be a political label rather than an accurate description of the bill's content, as it contains no actual border control provisions.

This resolution (HRES 19) urges the U.S. House of Representatives not to adjourn until all annual spending bills for the current fiscal year - covering every area managed by the Appropriations Committee's subcommittees - are fully enacted into law. It does not create new spending or change existing laws but expresses the House's intent to prioritize passing all required funding bills before ending its session. The resolution directly affects House leadership and the Appropriations Committee, requiring them to delay adjournment until all 12 subcommittee-level spending bills are approved. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding effect but serves as a formal statement of legislative priority.