H.J.Res. 139

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.J. Res. 139 Reported in House (RH)] <DOC> House Calendar No. 63 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. J. RES. 139 [Report No. 119-520] Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 9, 2026 Mr. Biggs of Arizona submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary February 25, 2026 Additional sponsors: Mr. Clyde and Mr. Brecheen February 25, 2026 Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed _______________________________________________________________________ JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States: ``Article-- ``Section 1. Total expenditures for a year shall not exceed the average annual receipts collected in the three prior years, adjusted in proportion to the changes in the population of citizens of the United States and inflation. Total expenditures shall include all expenditures of the United States except those for payment of debt, and receipts shall include all receipts of the United States except those derived from borrowing. ``Section 2. Congress may by a roll call vote of two-thirds of each House provide by law for specific expenditures in excess of the limit in section 1. ``Section 3. Congress may by a roll call vote provide by law for specific expenditures in excess of the limit in section 1 for any year in which a declaration of war is in effect. ``Section 4. Any bill to levy a new tax or to increase the rate of any tax shall not become law unless approved by two-thirds of the whole number of each House of Congress by a roll call vote. ``Section 5. Congress shall enforce and implement this article by appropriate legislation. ``Section 6. This article shall take effect with the fifth year beginning after ratification.''. House Calendar No. 63 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. J. RES. 139 [Report No. 119-520] _______________________________________________________________________ JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government. _______________________________________________________________________ February 25, 2026 Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed