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Bills/119th Congress · House

H.R. 9324

Introduced

Government Bailout Prevention Act

Sponsor
RW. Gregory Steube· Florida
Introduced
June 15, 2026
Policy area
Economics and Public Finance
Latest action
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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.June 15, 2026
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9324 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9324

To prohibit the provision of Federal funds to State and local 
governments and school districts for payment of obligations, to 
prohibit the Federal Reserve banks, the Department of the Treasury, and 
other Federal agencies from financially assisting State and local 
governments and school districts that have defaulted on their 
obligations, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 15, 2026

Mr. Steube (for himself, Mr. Perry, and Mr. Self) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Financial 
Services, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To prohibit the provision of Federal funds to State and local 
governments and school districts for payment of obligations, to 
prohibit the Federal Reserve banks, the Department of the Treasury, and 
other Federal agencies from financially assisting State and local 
governments and school districts that have defaulted on their 
obligations, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Government Bailout Prevention Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION.

In this Act, the term ``State'' means--
(1) any of the several States;
(2) the District of Columbia; and
(3) any territory or possession of the United States.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO PAY OR GUARANTEE 
STATE AND LOCAL OBLIGATIONS.

(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
Federal funds may be used to purchase or guarantee obligations of, 
issue lines of credit to, or provide direct or indirect grants-and-aid 
to, any State government, municipal government, local government, 
county government, or school district which, on or after January 1, 
2026, has filed for bankruptcy, has defaulted on its obligations, is at 
risk of defaulting, or is likely to default, absent such assistance 
from the United States Government.
(b) Limit on Use of Borrowed Funds.--The Secretary of the Treasury 
shall not, directly or indirectly, use general fund revenues or funds 
borrowed pursuant to title 31, United States Code, to purchase or 
guarantee any asset or obligation of any State government, municipal 
government, local government, county government, or school district or 
otherwise to assist such government entity, if, on or after January 1, 
2026, that State government, municipal government, local government, 
county government, or school district has defaulted on its obligations, 
has filed for bankruptcy, is at risk of defaulting, or is likely to 
default, absent such assistance from the United States Government.
(c) Prohibition on Federal Reserve Assistance.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, no Federal Reserve bank may provide or extend 
to, or authorize with respect to, any State government, municipal 
government, local government, county government, school district, or 
other entity that has taxing authority or bonding authority, any funds, 
loan guarantees, credits, or any other financial instrument, including 
the purchasing of the bonds of such State, municipality, locality, 
county, school district, or other bonding authority, or to otherwise 
assist such government entity under any authority of any Federal 
Reserve Bank.
(d) Limitation.--Subsections (a) through (c) shall not apply to 
Federal assistance provided in response to a declared disaster.

SEC. 4. APPLICABILITY.

The prohibition under section 3--
(1) includes debt restructuring or any other related 
activity; and
(2) does not include--
(A) any discretionary appropriations or direct 
spending, as those terms are defined in section 250(c) 
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control 
Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900(c)); and
(B) any grant awarded by the United States to the 
State government, municipal government, local 
government, county government, or school district.
<all>

Plain-language analysis

AI analysis · 100% confidence

AI-generated breakdown of the bill text above, checked by an independent review pass before publishing. It is analysis, not the law itself — the verbatim text and official source are the record.

In plain terms

The Government Bailout Prevention Act aims to stop the federal government from giving money to state and local governments, including school districts, that are struggling financially. This includes those that have declared bankruptcy or are at risk of doing so. The bill prohibits federal funds from being used to help these governments pay their debts or obligations. However, it does allow for federal assistance in response to declared disasters.

Hidden provisions

  • SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO PAY OR GUARANTEE STATE AND LOCAL OBLIGATIONS

    no Federal funds may be used to purchase or guarantee obligations of... any State government, municipal government, local government, county government, or school district which... has filed for bankruptcy, has defaulted on its obligations, is at risk of defaulting, or is likely to default

  • SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO PAY OR GUARANTEE STATE AND LOCAL OBLIGATIONS

    no Federal Reserve bank may provide or extend to... any State government, municipal government, local government, county government, school district... any funds, loan guarantees, credits, or any other financial instrument

Questionable / off-intent provisions

No off-intent or questionable provisions were flagged.

Junk / unrelated provisions

No filler or unrelated riders were flagged.

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