119-hr3289

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3289 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

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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