S.Amdt. 1984

Mr. Booker submitted an amendment, numbered SA 1984, for the concurrent resolution H. Con. Res. 14, which sets the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and sets forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.

What It Aims to Change or Add

• Creates a roadblock against harmful health care changes: The amendment adds a new point of order in the Senate. This rule stops the Senate from considering any bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, amendment between the Houses, or conference report that makes changes to the Medicaid program, the Children's Health Insurance Program, or Federal requirements for private health insurance coverage.

• Requires a CBO check: Lawmakers cannot push changes through unless the Director of the Congressional Budget Office determines the changes would not result in lower coverage rates, reduced benefits, or decreased affordability for children and pregnant women receiving coverage through Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, or the private insurance marketplaces established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

• Sets high voting thresholds to bypass the rule: This new rule can only be waived or suspended in the Senate by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. Furthermore, an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate is required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this rule.