S.Amdt. 304

Mr. Wyden submitted amendment numbered SA 304 to be proposed for the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 7, which sets the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.

The purpose of this amendment is to add a new point of order against certain reconciliation legislation. It aims to ensure that our officials are held accountable to support rural communities that provide essential public services.

Specifically, the amendment adds a rule stating it is not in order in the Senate to consider certain reconciliation legislation, amendments, or conference reports unless that legislation does a specific thing. It must provide mandatory, permanent, and stable funding to each county government for essential services. This funding must be at a level equal to or greater than the average amount the county government received from the Secure Rural Schools program and payments in lieu of taxes programs during the period of fiscal years 2001 through 2023.

The amendment also sets rules for how this point of order can be bypassed. It 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 is required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on this point of order.