All Roll Calls
Yes: 211 • No: 207
119-hjres-139119th CongressWALLET
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.
Sponsored By: Representative Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Failed
Summary
This joint resolution would add a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget. It caps federal spending to recent receipts, raises the bar for tax increases, and creates narrow overrides for emergencies.
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- Caps annual federal expenditures at the average annual receipts from the 3 prior years, adjusted for population and inflation. Payments on the public debt are excluded and borrowing is not counted as receipts.
- Lets Congress approve specific spending above the cap by a two-thirds roll-call vote in each House. During any year with a declaration of war Congress can also approve excess spending by roll-call vote.
- Requires any bill that creates a new tax or raises a tax rate to win approval from two-thirds of the whole number of each House. The amendment would take effect in the fifth year after ratification.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Federal spending cap formula
Had it passed, the amendment would have capped total federal spending each year to the average of federal receipts in the prior three years. The cap would have been adjusted for changes in the U.S. citizen population and for inflation. The cap would not have counted payments on federal debt, and receipts from borrowing would not have counted. The rule would have started five years after ratification.
Overrides, timing, and implementation
Had it passed, the amendment would have let Congress, by a two-thirds roll-call vote in each House, authorize specific spending above the cap. It would have also allowed Congress, by a roll-call vote, to authorize excess spending during any year a declaration of war was in effect. The amendment would have required Congress to pass laws to enforce and implement the article. The amendment would have taken effect starting five years after ratification.
Two-thirds rule for new taxes
Had it passed, the amendment would have required two-thirds of the whole number of each House of Congress to approve any bill that levied a new tax or increased any tax rate. That higher vote threshold would have made new or higher federal taxes harder to pass. The change would have shaped future revenue and trade-offs between taxes and spending.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
AZ • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9]
GA • R
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2]
OK • R
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
house vote • 3/18/2026
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
Yes: 211 • No: 207