# 119-hr-5220: Congressional Power of the Purse Act 119-hr-5220, Congressional Power of the Purse Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] (D-PA); status introduced (as of 2026-09-30). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5220 - As of: 2026-09-30 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-hr-5220 - Congress: 119 - Title: Congressional Power of the Purse Act - Status: introduced - Introduced: 2025-09-09 - Sponsor: Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] (D-PA) - Cosponsors: 23 - Policy area: Economics and Public Finance - Touches household money: no - Last recorded action: 2026-09-30 ## Summary **Congressional power of the purse** would be strengthened through new reporting rules, tighter limits on withholding or rescinding funds, and stronger enforcement tools against agencies and officials. It would also sharply shorten and increase congressional review of presidential emergency authorities while requiring more public transparency. ## Cosponsors (23) - Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37] (D-TX), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] (D-VA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large] (D-VI), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] (D-TX), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5] (D-MN), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9] (D-OH), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3] (D-KY), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ), 2025-09-10T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX), 2025-09-15T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2025-09-16T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] (D-HI), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2026-04-21T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22] (D-NY), 2026-09-02T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - More budget details in the President's plan: benefit, high. If enacted, the President's budgets for FY2027 through FY2031 would list cancelled and expired balances by agency and fund. The budget would explain any amounts above the lesser of 5% of the account or $100,000,000. It would also show obligations during any shutdown lasting 5 straight days or more… - Shorter national emergencies unless Congress agrees: benefit, high. If enacted, a national emergency would end after 45 calendar days unless Congress passes a joint resolution approving it. An emergency would also end after one year unless the President renews it and Congress approves the renewal. If Congress does not approve within 45 days, the President could not… - Stronger enforcement when funds are withheld: benefit, high. If enacted, the Government Accountability Office could demand records and interviews and usually get them within 20 days. GAO could sue in D.C. federal court to force agencies to release information or make funds available, with a 15-day notice to leaders unless delay would harm the public. Agencie… - Cancel stale indefinite appropriations balances: benefit, medium. If enacted, an indefinite appropriation would be canceled if the agency head or the President finds its purpose is complete and no disbursements were made for two straight fiscal years. Any remaining balance would no longer be available for obligation or spending. - Limits on impoundments and budget designations: benefit, medium. If enacted, fast-track impoundment procedures would be paused from enactment until January 20, 2029. The bill would also remove language in a budget law that allowed later presidential designation after the fact. Together, these changes would make it harder to withhold or re-label funds without ful… - Protect on-time use of approved funds: benefit, medium. If enacted, agencies could not withhold funds during the last 90 days before those funds expire. Apportionments would have to make money available without extra conditions at least 90 days before expiration so it can be prudently obligated. Agencies would have to notify key House and Senate committ… - Publish legal opinions and allow Member FOIA: benefit, medium. If enacted, final Justice Department legal opinions on budget law would be posted online. New or updated opinions would be posted within 30 days; older ones would be posted within 1 to 4 years based on age. Withholding decisions would be public, last no more than 3 years, and require a detailed unc… - Create an Inspector General at OMB: benefit, low. If enacted, the Office of Management and Budget would get a statutory Inspector General. The President would need to appoint this IG within 120 days. The IG's work would focus on duties assigned to OMB by law and compliance with legal requirements. ## Related bills - 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act - 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025 - 119-hr-15: Equality Act - 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025 - 119-hr-2763: American Family Act - 119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act ## Sources - [119-hr-5220 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5220) ## Related - [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973) - [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20) - [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15) - [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589) - [119-hr-2763: American Family Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2763) - [119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-17) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5220 (as of 2026-09-30).