Budgeting for a Better America Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9452
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Economics and Public Finance
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T17:41:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation, titled the "Budgeting for a Better America Act," seeks to reform the congressional budget and appropriations process in the House of Representatives by shifting to a biennial (two-year) budgeting cycle, establishing a commission to address long-term fiscal challenges, and introducing various procedural and reporting improvements.
Key Provisions
- Title I (Biennial Budget Resolutions): Revises the budget timetable so Congress completes action on a concurrent budget resolution by May 1 of odd-numbered years for each two-year biennium; requires the resolution to set levels for the biennium plus the next two bienniums, including subtotals for defense and nondefense discretionary spending, direct spending, net interest, debt-to-GDP and deficit-to-GDP ratios, and tax expenditures.
- Title II (National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform): Creates an 18-member commission (appointed by the President, congressional leaders) to propose recommendations aimed at reducing the deficit to 3% of GDP within 10 years and improving long-term fiscal sustainability; requires the commission to submit a final report within one year and a proposed joint resolution for expedited congressional consideration.
- Title III (Other Matters): Updates committee views and estimates requirements; mandates presidential analysis of long-term unfunded obligations over 25-, 50-, and 75-year windows; requires an annual supplemental budget submission by December 1 starting in 2028; directs a hearing on the fiscal state of the nation after the annual audit; mandates CBO briefings for new Members before swearing-in; and adds chairs and ranking members of certain committees to the House Budget Committee.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 and related statutes to replace annual budget resolutions with biennial ones and adjust enforcement points of order, reconciliation, and committee allocations accordingly.
- Modifies House rules on Budget Committee duties, reporting timelines, and new Member orientation.
- Adds new requirements in title 31 of the U.S. Code for long-term obligation analysis and supplemental budget submissions.
- Creates expedited legislative procedures (modeled on fast-track processes) for commission recommendations, with limited debate, no amendments, and discharge mechanisms.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Shifts funding cycles for appropriations from annual to biennial, potentially affecting planning and execution at agencies; requires updated baseline adjustments and supplemental submissions.
- On citizens: Aims to provide greater predictability in federal spending and revenue policy, though direct effects on individuals would depend on future commission recommendations and enacted reforms.
- On international relations: No direct provisions; indirect effects could arise if fiscal sustainability measures influence U.S. debt management or economic stability.
- Overall: Reduces the frequency of budget resolutions and reconciliation but introduces new reporting and hearing requirements.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Congressional committees (Budget, Appropriations, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Rules).
- Congressional support agencies (CBO, GAO, Joint Committee on Taxation).
- The President and executive branch agencies responsible for budget submissions.
- Current and newly elected Members of Congress.
- The public, through increased transparency on long-term fiscal obligations and tax expenditures.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Enacted partly as an exercise of each chamber’s rulemaking authority, explicitly preserving the right to alter rules later.
- Establishes new expedited procedures that limit amendments and debate, raising questions about legislative process balance.
- Bipartisan sponsorship and commission structure (requiring cross-party approval for reports) reflect an attempt to address fiscal issues outside regular partisan channels.
- Potential separation-of-powers considerations arise from expanded presidential reporting requirements and commission recommendations that could influence entitlement and tax policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (12)
Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4], Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4], Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3], Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Budgeting for a Better America Act — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (39 pages)