US
Us Congress House Bill HB13

Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB13

Introduced
1/3/25  

Caption

Budget Process Enhancement Act This bill modifies the federal budget process to withhold the salaries of Members of Congress and cancel the salaries of certain employees of the Office of Management and Budget when certain budget process requirements are not met. The bill also changes the assumptions that the Congressional Budget Office uses to calculate its baseline for discretionary spending to eliminate certain adjustments for inflation and other factors. (A baseline is a projection of federal spending and receipts during a fiscal year under current law.)

Impact

If enacted, the bill would amend existing laws to ensure that Congress members are held accountable for their actions, particularly regarding the timely submission and agreement on budgetary resolutions. The proposed measure could potentially impact how budgets are formulated and approved within Congress, encouraging discussion and negotiation before the statutory deadlines. Critics may argue, however, that this could lead to unintended consequences, including increased pressure on legislators to agree on budgets that may not be in the best interest of their constituents’ needs.

Summary

House Bill 113, titled the 'Budget Process Enhancement Act', introduces significant changes to the budgeting process of Congress, primarily by removing the discretionary inflater from the budget baseline. This means that future budgets will not be adjusted for inflation, aiming to create a consistent framework for evaluating fiscal measures. One of the notable aspects of the bill is that it holds the salaries of Congress members in escrow if a concurrent resolution on the budget for the fiscal year 2026 is not agreed upon by April 15, 2025. This provision is intended to incentivize timely budget agreements among legislators, thereby reinforcing fiscal responsibility.

Contention

The removal of the discretionary inflater raises concerns among some legislators about its long-term implications for fiscal policy. Detractors argue that failing to account for inflation in budget deliberations could lead to inadequate funding levels for essential services, adversely affecting various sectors dependent on government support. Additionally, the escrow provision regarding Congressional salaries may be seen as overly punitive, potentially dissuading independent decision-making and healthy debate around budgetary issues. These contentious points highlight the delicate balance between accountability and practical governance.

Congress_id

119-HR-13

Policy_area

Economics and Public Finance

Introduced_date

2025-01-03

Latest HB13 Activity

Companion Bills

US HB208

Related bill No Budget, No Pay Act This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber of Congress that has not agreed to a budget resolution for the next fiscal year by April 15, as required by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.Salaries are withheld from April 16 until the earlier of (1) the day on which the chamber of Congress agrees to a budget resolution for the next fiscal year, or (2) the last day of the Congress.

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