Skip to main content
HJRES 26 117th Congress House Economics and Public Finance Budget deficits and national debt Constitution and constitutional amendments Income tax rates Legislative rules and procedure

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.

Introduced: February 18, 2021 Introduced by: Loudermilk, Barry Republican · Georgia See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 28, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Feb 18, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 18, 2021
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year or 18% of the U.S. gross domestic product unless Congress authorizes the excess by a two-thirds vote of each chamber. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing.

The amendment requires a two-thirds vote of each chamber of Congress to levy a new tax, increase the rate of any tax, or increase the debt limit.

The amendment provides any Member of Congress with standing and a cause of action to seek judicial enforcement of this amendment if authorized by a petition signed by one-third of the Members of either chamber of Congress. Courts are prohibited from ordering any increase in revenue to enforce this amendment.

What's happening now April 28, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • SJRES 5 Related bill A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be…
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Republican 3
R
DesJarlais, Scott
Tennessee · Feb 18, 2021
 R
Griffith, H. Morgan
Virginia · Feb 18, 2021
 R
Hern, Kevin
Oklahoma · Feb 18, 2021
Hice, Jody
· Feb 18, 2021
Mooney, Alexander
· Feb 18, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 26: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HJRES-26/
MLA
"H.J. Res. 26: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HJRES-26/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.J. Res. 26, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HJRES-26/.
Markdown link
[H.J. Res. 26: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HJRES-26/)
Report a problem