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HR 144 96th Congress House

A bill to provide that Federal expenditures shall not exceed Federal revenues, except in time of war or grave national emergency declared by the Congress, and to provide for systematic reduction of…

Official title: A bill to provide that Federal expenditures shall not exceed Federal revenues, except in time of war or grave national emergency declared by the Congress, and … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to provide that Federal expenditures shall not exceed Federal revenues, except in time of war or grave national emergency declared by the Congress, and to provide for systematic reduction of the public debt.

Introduced: January 15, 1979 Introduced by: Grassley, Chuck Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
Economics and Public Finance Federal budgetsPublic debt
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This bill died when the 96th Congress ended
It never became law before the 96th Congress (1979–1980) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 15, 1979
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jan 15, 1979
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 15, 1979

Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Requires that expenditures of the Federal Government shall not exceed its revenues except in time of war declared by Congress or during a period of grave national emergency declared by Congress upon the concurrence of two-thirds of the Members of both Houses.

Amends the Second Liberty Bond Act to establish a schedule for systematic repayment of the national debt.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 144: A bill to provide that Federal expenditures shall not exceed Federal revenues, except in time of war or grave national emergency declared by the Congress, and to provide for systematic reduction of the public debt.. 96th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-144/
MLA
"H.R. 144: A bill to provide that Federal expenditures shall not exceed Federal revenues, except in time of war or grave national emergency declared by the Congress, and to provide for systematic reduction of the public debt.." 96th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-144/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 144, 96th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-144/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 144: A bill to provide that Federal expenditures shall not exceed Federal revenues, except in time of war or grave national emergency declared by the Congress, and to provide for systematic reduction of the public debt.](https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-144/)
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