# 119-s-5670: A bill to ensure the prudent obligation of budget authority, and for other purposes.

119-s-5670, A bill to ensure the prudent obligation of budget authority, and for other purposes., is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR); status introduced (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5670
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5670
- Congress: 119
- Title: A bill to ensure the prudent obligation of budget authority, and for other purposes.
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-09-30
- Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-17

## Summary

**Timely and prudent obligation of expiring budget authority.** This bill would require agencies to make budget authority proposed for rescission, reservation, or deferral available early enough to be prudently obligated and would invalidate a specific September 25, 2026 rescission message. - Agencies: Would have to ensure proposed rescinded, reserved, or deferred funds are available in time to be prudently obligated and may not withhold obligation during the 90 days before a fund's expiration. - Apportionment officials: Would have to apportion appropriations so all amounts are available for obligation without any preconditions and no later than 90 days before the period of availability ends. - Specific rescission: The special message dated September 25, 2026 would have no force or effect, nullifying that rescission proposal.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Cancel September 25, 2026 rescission: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would state that the special message dated September 25, 2026, submitted under the Impoundment Control Act would have no force or effect. This would nullify the rescission proposal in that message. The bill text does not identify the programs or amounts affected by that resciss…
- Require timely release of expiring funds: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require agencies to make funds that are proposed for rescission, reservation, or deferral available in time to be prudently obligated. It would bar deferring or withholding such budget authority during the last 90 days before the funds expire, including an initial 90-day…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act
- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act

## Sources
- [119-s-5670 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5670)

## Related
- [119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5238)
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2838)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5670 (as of 2026-10-17).