CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

RepublicanBill · S.J.Res. 97· Senate(119-SJRES-97)

A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Rep. Husted
Age: 59 years
Ohio
Introduced
11/20/2025
Last activity
11/20/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sponsored by
Jon Husted
Cosponsors
Republican - 2Democrat - 0
Economics and Public Finance
  1. Introduced
  2. In Committee

What this bill would do

This joint resolution proposes a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. It requires that total government expenditures and receipts be balanced, though this balance can occur over more than one year. Expenditures will include all federal spending except for debt payments, and receipts will include all incoming funds except those from borrowing. Congress must achieve this balanced budget within ten years after the amendment is ratified by three-fourths of the states within a seven-year period. Additionally, the resolution allows Congress to exceed these spending limits during emergency situations if a two-thirds vote is achieved in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Yes

  • Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?+9

    Enforcing a constitutional requirement for a balanced budget heavily promotes long-term federal fiscal discipline.

  • Does this reduce what the federal government owes?+8

    The constitutional amendment mandates that federal expenditures and receipts be balanced over time, which aims to significantly reduce long-term national debt.

  • Does this reduce what the federal government spends?+7

    Requiring a balanced budget within ten years will likely force Congress to significantly curb federal spending and outlays.

The opposite

  • Would households on low incomes be better off under this?-3

    Mandated budget balancing could lead to potential cuts in vital public services and safety net programs heavily relied on by low-income households.

  • Would middle-income households be better off under this?-2

    The strict ten-year deadline to balance the budget could burden the public if the government is forced to cut vital services or raise funds.