Official text as published. Use Ctrl+F / Cmd+F to search within the document.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 139 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
House Calendar No. 63
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. J. RES. 139
[Report No. 119-520]
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 9, 2026
Mr. Biggs of Arizona submitted the following joint resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
February 25, 2026
Additional sponsors: Mr. Clyde and Mr. Brecheen
February 25, 2026
Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House
concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be
valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when
ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:
``Article--
``Section 1. Total expenditures for a year shall not exceed the
average annual receipts collected in the three prior years, adjusted in
proportion to the changes in the population of citizens of the United
States and inflation. Total expenditures shall include all expenditures
of the United States except those for payment of debt, and receipts
shall include all receipts of the United States except those derived
from borrowing.
``Section 2. Congress may by a roll call vote of two-thirds of each
House provide by law for specific expenditures in excess of the limit
in section 1.
``Section 3. Congress may by a roll call vote provide by law for
specific expenditures in excess of the limit in section 1 for any year
in which a declaration of war is in effect.
``Section 4. Any bill to levy a new tax or to increase the rate of
any tax shall not become law unless approved by two-thirds of the whole
number of each House of Congress by a roll call vote.
``Section 5. Congress shall enforce and implement this article by
appropriate legislation.
``Section 6. This article shall take effect with the fifth year
beginning after ratification.''.
House Calendar No. 63
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. J. RES. 139
[Report No. 119-520]
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.
_______________________________________________________________________
February 25, 2026
Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed