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H.J.Res. 139Failed
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.
Introduced: Jan 9, 2026
Latest action date: Mar 18, 2026
Latest development
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 211 - 207 (Roll no. 95).
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- Congress
- 119th Congress
- Introduced
- Jan 9, 2026
- Recorded roll calls
- 1
Status detail: The latest Congress.gov action records a failed or rejected vote.
Plain-language overview
What this bill does
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total federal expenditures for a year from exceeding the average annual federal receipts collected in the three prior years, adjusted for changes in the population of U.S. citizens and inflation. Expenditures for payment of debt and receipts derived from borrowing are excluded.
Under the amendment, Congress may authorize specific expenditures in excess of the limit with (1) a roll call vote of two-thirds of each chamber, or (2) a roll call vote for any year in which a declaration of war is in effect.
The amendment also prohibits any bill to levy a new tax or increase the rate of any tax from becoming law unless it has been approved by a roll call vote of two-thirds of the whole number of each chamber of Congress.
The requirements take effect in the fifth year beginning after ratification of the amendment.
Official summary from Congress.gov · checked Sep 18, 2026.
Civixly topics
What this legislation is about
Civixly topics make federal and state legislation comparable. They are derived from the official CRS policy area and legislative subjects.
Official CRS policy area
Economics and Public Finance
View 4 official legislative subjects
Budget deficits and national debtBudget processConstitution and constitutional amendmentsLegislative rules and procedure
Committee activity
Committees and subcommittees that received, reviewed, marked up, or reported this legislation.
Official committee record ↗
Amendments
Proposed changes to this measure, with their latest official outcome or action from Congress.gov.
No amendments are listed for this measure.
Checked against Congress.gov Oct 31, 2026.
Action timeline
Newest action first. Action language comes from the official Congress.gov record.
View full action timeline15 actions
Failed of passage/not agreed to in House On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 211 - 207 (Roll no. 95).
FloorLibrary of CongressOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 211 - 207 (Roll no. 95).
FloorHouse floor actionsConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2583-2584)
FloorHouse floor actionsAt the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
FloorHouse floor actionsDEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1115, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.J. Res. 139
FloorHouse floor actionsConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2560-2568; text: CR H2560-2561)
FloorHouse floor actionsMr. Biggs (AZ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the resolution.
FloorHouse floor actionsReported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-520.
CommitteeHouse floor actionsPlaced on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 63.
CalendarsHouse floor actionsReported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-520.
CommitteeLibrary of CongressCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
CommitteeHouse committee actionsOrdered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 10.
CommitteeHouse committee actionsIntroduced in House
IntroReferralLibrary of CongressReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
IntroReferralHouse floor actionsIntroduced in House
IntroReferralLibrary of Congress
Roll-call votes
Recorded House and Senate votes connected to this bill. Your representatives appear first when available.
FailedMar 18, 2026House · Roll call 95
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
211 Yea207 Nay14 Not Voting
View 432 recorded positions
Aaron BeanYea
Adam GrayNay
Adam SmithNay
Adrian SmithYea
Al GreenNay
Ami BeraNay
André CarsonNay
Andrew OglesYea
Andy BarrYea
Andy BiggsYea
Andy HarrisYea
Angie CraigNay
Ann WagnerYea
Anna Paulina LunaNot Voting
Austin ScottYea
Barry MooreYea
Becca BalintNay
Ben ClineYea
Bernie MorenoNot Voting
Bill FosterNay
Blake MooreYea
Brad FinstadYea
Brad KnottYea
Brad ShermanNay
Brandon GillYea
Brian BabinYea
Brian JackYea
Bryan SteilYea
Chip RoyYea
Chris PappasNay
Clay HigginsYea
Cleo FieldsNay
Cliff BentzYea
Cory MillsYea
Dan CrenshawYea
Dan NewhouseYea
Darin LaHoodYea
Darrell IssaYea
Darren SotoNay
Dave MinNay
David RouzerYea
David ScottNay
Deborah RossNay
Derek TranNay
Dina TitusNay
Don BaconYea
Dwight EvansNay
Ed CaseNay
Elijah CraneYea
Eric SwalwellNot Voting
Erin HouchinYea
Gabe AmoNay
Gabe EvansYea
Gabe VasquezNay
Glenn IveyNay
Grace MengNay
Greg CasarNay
Greg StantonNay
Gwen MooreNay
Ilhan OmarNay
Jack BergmanYea
Jahana HayesNay
Jake AuchinclossNot Voting
Jake EllzeyYea
James ComerYea
Jamie RaskinNay
Jason CrowNay
Jason SmithYea
Jeff CrankYea
Jeff HurdYea
Jim CostaNay
Jim JordanYea
Jimmy GomezNay
Joe CourtneyNay
Joe NeguseNay
Joe WilsonYea
John CornynNay
John JamesYea
John JoyceYea
John W. RoseYea
Josh HarderNay
Josh RileyNay
Joyce BeattyNay
Juan VargasNay
Judy ChuNay
Julia LetlowYea
Kat CammackYea
Kathy CastorNay
Keith SelfYea
Ken CalvertYea
Kevin HernYea
Kevin KileyYea
Kevin MullinNay
Kim SchrierNot Voting
Kweisi MfumeNay
Lance GoodenYea
Laura GillenNay
Lois FrankelNay
Lori TrahanNay
Lucy McBathNay
Luz M. RivasNay
Marcy KapturNay
Mark AlfordYea
Mark E. AmodeiNot Voting
Mark HarrisYea
Mark PocanNay
Mark TakanoNay
Mike BostYea
Mike CollinsYea
Mike EzellYea
Mike FloodYea
Mike JohnsonYea
Mike KellyYea
Mike KennedyYea
Mike LevinNay
Mike QuigleyNay
Mike RogersYea
Nancy MaceNot Voting
Nancy PelosiNay
Neal P. DunnYea
Nellie PouNay
Nick LaLotaYea
Pat FallonNot Voting
Pat HarriganYea
Patrick RyanNay
Pete AguilarNay
Pete StauberYea
Raja KrishnamoorthiNot Voting
Ralph NormanYea
Randy FineYea
Raul RuizNay
Rick LarsenNay
Ro KhannaNay
Robin L. KellyNot Voting
Ron EstesYea
Russ FulcherYea
Russell FryYea
Sam GravesYea
Sara JacobsNay
Sean CastenNay
Seth MoultonNot Voting
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormickNay
Sheri BiggsYea
Steve CohenNay
Steve WomackYea
Susie LeeNay
Ted LieuNay
Thomas H. Kean, Jr.Not Voting
Tim BurchettYea
Tim MooreYea
Tim WalbergYea
Tom BarrettYea
Tom EmmerYea
Tony GonzalesNot Voting
Tony WiedYea
Tracey MannYea
Trent KellyYea
Troy BaldersonNot Voting
Troy DowningYea
Val T. HoyleNay
Vince FongYea
Wesley BellNay
Wesley HuntYea
Young KimYea
Zachary NunnYea
Zoe LofgrenNay
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