Enforce the Caps Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4178
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Economics and Public Finance
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-26: Referred to the House Committee on the Budget.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-23T15:03:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation, titled the Enforce the Caps Act, aims to establish fixed limits on discretionary federal spending for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 by amending an existing budget control law.
Key Provisions
- The bill modifies Section 251(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
- It sets specific caps on new budget authority for the discretionary spending category:
- Fiscal year 2026: $1,621,959,000,000
- Fiscal year 2027: $1,638,179,000,000
- Fiscal year 2028: $1,654,560,000,000
- Fiscal year 2029: $1,671,106,000,000
- These limits follow adjustments made by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The Act adds four new paragraphs (11 through 14) to the existing list of spending caps, extending the framework of annual discretionary limits beyond the periods previously addressed in the 1985 law.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies would face binding restrictions on annual funding levels for programs funded through discretionary appropriations, potentially requiring adjustments in operations or program scope.
- Citizens could experience effects through changes in federal services, grants, or projects supported by this spending category.
- No direct provisions address international relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies and departments that rely on discretionary appropriations.
- Members of Congress, particularly those on budget and appropriations committees.
- Taxpayers and recipients of federally funded programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill reinforces Congress's authority under the Constitution to control federal spending and the budget process. It builds on prior deficit control measures without altering enforcement mechanisms in the underlying 1985 Act.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6], Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-26: Referred to the House Committee on the Budget.
- 2025-06-26: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Enforce the Caps Act — issued 2025-06-26 — PDF (2 pages)