[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3289 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3289
To establish a commission on fiscal responsibility and reform.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 8, 2025
Mr. Huizenga (for himself, Mr. Peters, Mr. Timmons, Mr. Case, Mr.
Mills, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Cuellar, Mr. Moore of Utah, Ms.
Perez, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. Golden of Maine, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr.
Gray, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Landsman, Mr. Grothman, Mr.
Moskowitz, Mr. Schweikert, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Moolenaar, Ms. Scholten,
Mr. Rouzer, Mr. Schneider, Mrs. Houchin, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Valadao, Mr.
Panetta, and Mr. Barr) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the
Committee on Rules, 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 establish a commission on fiscal responsibility and reform.
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 ``Fiscal Commission Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Co-chair.--The term ``co-chair'' means an individual
appointed to serve as a co-chair of the Fiscal Commission under
section 3(a)(3)(B)(i).
(2) Fiscal commission.--The term ``Fiscal Commission''
means the commission established under section 3(a).
(3) Implementing bill.--The term ``implementing bill''
means a bill or joint resolution consisting solely of the
legislative text the Fiscal Commission approves and submits
under clauses (i) and (v), respectively, of section 3(a)(2)(B).
(4) Outside expert.--The term ``outside expert'' is an
individual who is not an elected official or an officer or
employee of the Federal Government or of any State.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF FISCAL COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment of Fiscal Commission.--
(1) Establishment.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, there is established in
Congress a Fiscal Commission.
(B) Goals.--The goals of the Commission shall be to
educate, and bring awareness to, the American public
about the fiscal path the Nation is on, including--
(i) educating the American people so they
understand the fiscal state of the Nation and
the cost of not addressing such state; and
(ii) informing the American people about
the deterioration of our Nation's fiscal
health, and that the debt poses a significant
risk to the Nation's long-term fiscal
sustainability with implications for future
generations.
(2) Duties.--
(A) Improve fiscal situation.--
(i) In general.--The Fiscal Commission
shall identify policies to--
(I) meaningfully improve the long-
term fiscal condition of the Federal
Government, including reducing the debt
and deficit;
(II) achieve a sustainable ratio of
the public debt of the Federal
Government to the gross domestic
product of the United States, which
shall be not more than 100 percent, by
fiscal year 2039; and
(III) improve the solvency of
Federal programs for which a Federal
trust fund exists for a period of at
least 75 years.
(ii) Requirements.--In carrying out clause
(i), the Fiscal Commission shall, to the extent
practicable, consider the budgetary effects of
changes in economic output, employment, capital
stock, and other macroeconomic variables
resulting from public and private investments
and propose recommendations that meaningfully
improve the long-term fiscal condition of the
Federal Government, including--
(I) changes to address the current
levels of discretionary appropriations,
direct spending, and revenues and the
gap between current revenues and
expenditures of the Federal Government;
and
(II) changes to address the growth
of discretionary appropriations, direct
spending, and revenues and the gap
between the projected revenues and
expenditures of the Federal Government.
(iii) Recommendations of committees.--Not
later than 60 days after the date described in
paragraph (1), each committee of the Senate and
the House of Representatives may transmit to
the Fiscal Commission any recommendations of
the committee relating to changes in law to
further the duties described in clause (ii).
(iv) Interim report.--The Fiscal Commission
may meet to consider, and vote on, an interim
report on--
(I) any findings, conclusions, or
recommendations of the Fiscal
Commission described in subparagraph
(A)(i);
(II) any findings or
recommendations with respect to
carrying out the goals described in
paragraph (1)(B); and
(III) as the Fiscal Commission
determines appropriate, any findings
resulting from any hearing held or
evidence received by the Commission.
(B) Report identified policies.--
(i) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph
(4)(D)(ii)(II), and consistent with clause
(vi), not earlier than November 4, 2026, but
not later than November 13, 2026, the Fiscal
Commission shall meet to consider, and vote
on--
(I) a report that contains a
detailed statement of the findings,
conclusions, and recommendations of the
Fiscal Commission described in
subparagraph (A)(i) and the estimate of
the Congressional Budget Office
required under paragraph (4)(D)(ii);
and
(II) legislative language to carry
out the recommendations of the Fiscal
Commission in the report described in
subclause (I), which shall include a
statement of the economic and budgetary
effects of the recommendations.
(ii) Approval of report and legislative
language.--A report and legislative language of
the Fiscal Commission under clause (i) shall
require the approval of a majority of the
members of the Fiscal Commission, provided that
such majority shall be required to include not
less than 2 members of the Fiscal Commission
appointed by members of the Republican Party
and 2 members appointed by members of the
Democratic party.
(iii) Additional views.--
(I) In general.--A member of the
Fiscal Commission who gives notice of
an intention to file supplemental,
minority, or additional views at the
time of the final Fiscal Commission
vote on the approval of the report and
legislative language of the Fiscal
Commission under clause (i) shall be
entitled to 3 days to file those views
in writing with the staff director of
the Fiscal Commission.
(II) Inclusion in report.--Views
filed under subclause (I) shall be
included in the report of the Fiscal
Commission under clause (i) and printed
in the same volume, or part thereof,
and such inclusion shall be noted on
the cover of the report, except that,
in the absence of timely notice, the
report may be printed and transmitted
immediately without such views.
(iv) Report and legislative language to be
made public.--Upon the approval or disapproval
of a report and legislative language under
clause (i) by the Fiscal Commission, the Fiscal
Commission shall promptly, and not more than 24
hours after the approval or disapproval or, if
timely notice is given under clause (iii), not
more than 24 hours after additional views are
filed under such clause, make the report, the
legislative language, and a record of the vote
on the report and legislative language
available to the public.
(v) Submission of report and legislative
language.--If a report and legislative language
are approved by the Fiscal Commission under
clause (i), not later than 3 days after the
date on which the report and legislative
language are made available to the public under
clause (iv), the Fiscal Commission shall submit
the report and legislative language to the
President, the Vice President, the Speaker of
the House of Representatives, and the majority
and minority leaders of each House of Congress.
(vi) Extension.--The Fiscal Commission may
extend the deadline set forth in clause (i) to
April 13, 2027, if the Fiscal Commission
determines that additional time is necessary to
complete their duties under this Act. Such
extension shall require the approval of a
majority of the members of the Fiscal
Commission, provided that such majority shall
be required to include not less than 2 members
of the Fiscal Commission appointed by members
of the Republican Party and 2 members appointed
by members of the Democratic party.
(C) Public awareness campaign.--Not later than 30
days after the date the Fiscal Commission submits the
report under paragraph (2)(B)(v), the Fiscal Commission
shall complete a national campaign to increase public
awareness and education with respect to the fiscal
condition of the Federal Government.
(3) Membership.--
(A) In general.--The Fiscal Commission shall be
composed of 16 members appointed, not later than 14
days after the date described in paragraph (1) and with
due consideration to chairs and ranking minority
members of the committees and subcommittees of subject
matter jurisdiction (as applicable), as follows:
(i) 3 individuals from among the Members of
the Senate, and 1 outside expert, appointed by
the majority leader of the Senate.
(ii) 3 individuals from among the Members
of the Senate, and 1 outside expert, appointed
by the minority leader of the Senate.
(iii) 3 individuals from among the Members
of the House of Representatives, and 1 outside
expert, appointed by the Speaker of the House
of Representatives.
(iv) 3 individuals from among the Members
of the House of Representatives, and 1 outside
expert, appointed by the minority leader of the
House of Representatives.
(B) Co-chairs.--
(i) In general.--Not later than 14 days
after the date described in paragraph (1), with
respect to the Fiscal Commission--
(I) the leadership of the Senate
and House of Representatives of the
same political party as the President
shall appoint 1 individual from among
the members of the Fiscal Commission
who shall serve as a co-chair of the
Fiscal Commission; and
(II) the leadership of the Senate
and House of Representatives of the
opposite political party as the
President shall appoint 1 individual
from among the members of the Fiscal
Commission who shall serve as a co-
chair of the Fiscal Commission.
(ii) Staff director.--With respect to the
Fiscal Commission, the co-chairs of the Fiscal
Commission, acting jointly, shall hire the
staff director of the Fiscal Commission.
(C) Period of appointment.--
(i) In general.--The members of the Fiscal
Commission shall be appointed for the life of
the Fiscal Commission.
(ii) Vacancy.--
(I) In general.--Any vacancy in the
Fiscal Commission shall not affect the
powers of the Fiscal Commission, but
shall be filled not later than 14 days
after the date on which the vacancy
occurs, in the same manner as the
original appointment was made.
(II) Ineligible members.--If a
member of the Fiscal Commission who was
appointed as a Member of the Senate or
the House Representatives ceases to be
a Member of the Senate or the House of
Representatives, as applicable--
(aa) the member shall no
longer be a member of the
Fiscal Commission; and
(bb) a vacancy in the
Fiscal Commission exists.
(4) Administration.--
(A) In general.--With respect to the Fiscal
Commission, to enable the Fiscal Commission to exercise
the powers, functions, and duties of the Fiscal
Commission, there are authorized to be disbursed by the
Senate the actual and necessary expenses of the Fiscal
Commission approved by the co-chairs of the Fiscal
Commission, subject to the rules and regulations of the
Senate.
(B) Expenses.--With respect to the Fiscal
Commission, in carrying out the functions of the Fiscal
Commission, the Fiscal Commission is authorized to
incur expenses in the same manner and under the same
conditions as the Joint Economic Committee is
authorized under section 11(d) of the Employment Act of
1946 (15 U.S.C. 1024(d)).
(C) Quorum.--With respect to the Fiscal Commission,
7 members of the Fiscal Commission shall constitute a
quorum for purposes of voting, meeting, and holding
hearings. Outside experts shall not count for purposes
of determining whether there is a quorum under this
subparagraph.
(D) Voting.--
(i) Proxy voting.--No proxy voting shall be
allowed on behalf of any member of the Fiscal
Commission.
(ii) Congressional budget office
estimates.--
(I) In general.--The Director of
the Congressional Budget Office shall,
with respect to the legislative
language of the Fiscal Commission under
paragraph (2)(B)(i)(II), provide to the
Fiscal Commission--
(aa) estimates of the
legislative language in
accordance with sections 308(a)
and 201(f) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C.
639(a) and 601(f)); and
(bb) information on the
budgetary effects of the
legislative language on the
long-term fiscal outlook.
(II) Limitation.--The Fiscal
Commission may not vote on any version
of the report, recommendations, or
legislative language of the Fiscal
Commission under paragraph (2)(B)(i)
unless the estimates and information
described in subclause (I) of this
clause are made available for
consideration by all members of the
Fiscal Commission not later than 48
hours before that vote, as certified by
the co-chairs of the Fiscal Commission.
(iii) Limitations on outside experts.--Only
members of the Fiscal Commission who are
Members of the Senate or the House of
Representatives may vote on any matter of the
Fiscal Commission. An outside expert serving as
a member of the Fiscal Commission shall be a
nonvoting member.
(E) Meetings.--
(i) Initial meeting.--Not later than 45
days after the date described in paragraph (1),
the Fiscal Commission shall hold the first
meeting of the Fiscal Commission.
(ii) Agenda.--For each meeting of the
Fiscal Commission, the co-chairs of the Fiscal
Commission shall provide an agenda to the
members of the Fiscal Commission not later than
48 hours before the meeting.
(F) Hearings.--
(i) In general.--The Fiscal Commission may,
for the purpose of carrying out this section,
hold such hearings, sit and act at such times
and places, require attendance of witnesses and
production of books, papers, and documents,
take such testimony, receive such evidence, and
administer such oaths as the Fiscal Commission
considers advisable.
(ii) Hearing procedures and
responsibilities of co-chairs.--
(I) Announcement.--The co-chairs of
the Fiscal Commission shall make a
public announcement of the date, place,
time, and subject matter of any hearing
to be conducted under this subparagraph
not later than 7 days before the date
of the hearing, unless the co-chairs
determine that there is good cause to
begin such hearing on an earlier date.
(II) Written statement.--A witness
appearing before the Fiscal Commission
shall file a written statement of the
proposed testimony of the witness not
later than 2 days before the date of
the appearance of the witness, unless
the co-chairs of the Fiscal
Commission--
(aa) determine that there
is good cause for the witness
to not file the written
statement; and
(bb) waive the requirement
that the witness file the
written statement.
(iii) Hearing requirements.--The Fiscal
Commission shall hold not less than 6 hearings
under this subparagraph, which shall include--
(I) field hearings through the
Nation;
(II) hearings to solicit testimony
from appropriate officials of the
executive branch; and
(III) hearings to solicit testimony
from Members of Congress (in this
subclause defined as a member of the
Senate or the House of Representatives,
a Delegate to the House of
Representatives, and the Resident
Commissioner from Puerto Rico).
(G) Technical assistance and consultation.--Upon
written request of the co-chairs of the Fiscal
Commission, the head of a Federal agency (including
legislative branch agencies) shall provide technical
assistance to, and consult with, the Fiscal Commission
in order for the Fiscal Commission to carry out their
duties.
(H) Outside expert.--Any outside expert appointed
to the Fiscal Commission--
(i) shall not be considered to be a Federal
employee for any purpose by reason of service
on the Fiscal Commission; and
(ii) shall be allowed travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at
rates authorized for employees of agencies
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5,
United States Code, while away from their homes
or regular places of business in the
performance of services for the Commission.
(b) Staff of Fiscal Commission.--
(1) In general.--The co-chairs of the Fiscal Commission may
jointly appoint and fix the compensation of staff of the Fiscal
Commission as the co-chairs determine necessary, in accordance
with the guidelines, rules, and requirements relating to
employees of the Senate.
(2) Ethical standards.--
(A) Senate.--Members appointed by Members of the
Senate who serve on the Fiscal Commission and staff of
the Fiscal Commission shall adhere to the ethics rules
of the Senate.
(B) House of representatives.--Members appointed by
Members of the House of Representatives who serve on
the Fiscal Commission shall be governed by the ethics
rules and requirements of the House of Representatives.
(c) Termination.--The Fiscal Commission shall terminate on the date
that is 30 days after the date the Fiscal Commission submits the report
under subsection (a)(2)(B)(v).
SEC. 4. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF IMPLEMENTING BILLS.
(a) Qualifying Legislation.--Only an implementing bill shall be
entitled to expedited consideration under this section.
(b) Consideration in the House of Representatives.--
(1) Introduction.--If the Fiscal Commission approves and
submits legislative language under clauses (i) and (v),
respectively, of section 3(a)(2)(B), the implementing bill
consisting solely of that legislative language shall be
introduced in the House of Representatives (by request)--
(A) by the majority leader of the House of
Representatives, or by a Member of the House of
Representatives designated by the majority leader of
the House of Representatives, on the third legislative
day after the date the Fiscal Commission approves and
submits such legislative language; or
(B) if the implementing bill is not introduced
under subparagraph (A), by any Member of the House of
Representatives on any legislative day beginning on the
legislative day after the legislative day described in
subparagraph (A).
(2) Referral and reporting.--Any committee of the House of
Representatives to which an implementing bill is referred shall
report the implementing bill to the House of Representatives
without amendment not later than 5 legislative days after the
date on which the implementing bill was so referred. If any
committee of the House of Representatives to which an
implementing bill is referred fails to report the implementing
bill within that period, that committee shall be automatically
discharged from consideration of the implementing bill, and the
implementing bill shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.
(3) Proceeding to consideration.--After the last committee
authorized to consider an implementing bill reports it to the
House of Representatives or has been discharged from its
consideration, it shall be in order to move to proceed to
consider the implementing bill in the House of Representatives.
Such a motion shall not be in order after the House of
Representatives has disposed of a motion to proceed with
respect to the implementing bill. The previous question shall
be considered as ordered on the motion to its adoption without
intervening motion.
(4) Consideration.--The implementing bill shall be
considered as read. All points of order against the
implementing bill and against its consideration are waived. The
previous question shall be considered as ordered on the
implementing bill to its passage without intervening motion
except 2 hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the
proponent and an opponent.
(5) Vote on passage.--The vote on passage of the
implementing bill shall occur pursuant to the constraints under
clause 8 of rule XX of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
(c) Expedited Procedure in the Senate.--
(1) Introduction in the senate.--On the day on which an
implementing bill is submitted to the Senate under section
3(a)(2)(B)(v), the implementing bill shall be introduced, by
request, by the majority leader of the Senate for himself or
herself and the minority leader of the Senate, or by any Member
so designated by them. If the Senate is not in session on the
day on which such implementing bill is submitted, it shall be
introduced as provided on the first day thereafter on which the
Senate is in session. Such implementing bill shall be placed on
the Calendar of Business under General Orders.
(2) Proceeding.--Notwithstanding rule XXII of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, it is in order, not later than 2 days of
session after the date on which an implementing bill is placed
on the Calendar, for the majority leader of the Senate or the
designee of the majority leader to move to proceed to the
consideration of the implementing bill. It shall also be in
order for any Member of the Senate to move to proceed to the
consideration of the implementing bill at any time after the
conclusion of such 2-day period. A motion to proceed is in
order even though a previous motion to the same effect has been
disagreed to. All points of order against the motion to proceed
to the implementing bill are waived. The motion to proceed is
not debatable. The motion is not subject to a motion to
postpone. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion
is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion
to proceed to the consideration of the implementing bill is
agreed to, it shall remain the unfinished business until
disposed of. All points of order against the implementing bill
and against its consideration are waived.
(3) No amendments.--An amendment to the implementing bill,
a motion to postpone, a motion to proceed to the consideration
of other business, or a motion to commit the implementing bill
is not in order.
(4) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals from the
decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules
of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to
an implementing bill shall be decided without debate.
(d) Amendment.--An implementing bill shall not be subject to
amendment in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.
(e) Consideration by the Other House.--
(1) In general.--If, before passing an implementing bill,
one House receives from the other House an implementing bill
consisting solely of the text of the implementing bill approved
by the Fiscal Commission--
(A) the implementing bill of the other House shall
not be referred to a committee; and
(B) the procedure in the receiving House shall be
the same as if no implementing bill had been received
from the other House until the vote on passage, when
the implementing bill received from the other House
shall supplant the implementing bill of the receiving
House.
(2) Revenue measures.--This subsection shall not apply to
the House of Representatives if an implementing bill received
from the Senate is a revenue measure.
(f) Rules To Coordinate Action With Other House.--
(1) Treatment of implementing bill of other house.--If an
implementing bill is not introduced in the Senate or the Senate
fails to consider an implementing bill under this section, the
implementing bill of the House of Representatives consisting of
legislative language approved by the same Fiscal Commission as
the implementing bill in the Senate shall be entitled to
expedited floor procedures under this section.
(2) Treatment of companion measures in the senate.--If,
following passage of an implementing bill in the Senate, the
Senate then receives from the House of Representatives an
implementing bill consisting of the same text as the Senate-
passed implementing bill, the House-passed implementing bill
shall not be debatable. The vote on passage of the implementing
bill in the Senate shall be considered to be the vote on
passage of the implementing bill received from the House of
Representatives.
(3) Vetoes.--If the President vetoes an implementing bill,
consideration of a veto message in the Senate under this
paragraph shall be 10 hours equally divided between the
majority and minority leaders of the Senate or the designees of
the majority and minority leaders of the Senate.
SEC. 5. FUNDING.
Funding for the Fiscal Commission shall be derived in equal
portions from--
(1) the contingent fund of the Senate from the
appropriations account ``Miscellaneous Items'', subject to the
rules and regulations of the Senate; and
(2) the applicable accounts of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 6. RULEMAKING.
The provisions of this Act are enacted by Congress--
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate
and the House of Representatives, respectively, and, as such,
the provisions--
(A) shall be considered as part of the rules of
each House, respectively, or of that House to which
they specifically apply; and
(B) shall supersede other rules only to the extent
that they are inconsistent therewith; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of
either House to change such rules (so far as relating to such
House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent
as in the case of any other rule of such House.
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