Jared Golden (D-ME)
Congressional Budget Reform Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, House Administration, Appropriations, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This legislation modifies the federal budgeting and appropriations process. It changes how appropriation bills are bundled and considered in the House. The bill enacts executive spending and impoundment reforms. It provides automatic continuing appropriations during funding lapses to keep programs running. Finally, the measure adds fiscal targets, data reporting requirements, and accountability measures for elected officials.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates annual joint meetings with the Comptroller General and enhanced reporting on the fiscal state of the nation.
- Scored +5
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The legislation establishes stronger budget enforcement mechanisms, spending reduction accounts, and debt-to-GDP tracking.
- Scored +4
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill introduces fiscal targets, deficit reduction instructions, and reporting requirements aimed at improving federal fiscal discipline.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 101: This section requires the House Appropriations Committee to bundle annual appropriation bills into four consolidated general appropriations measures. This could streamline the legislative process and make it easier to manage government funding.
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Section 301: This section establishes automatic continuing appropriations during a lapse in funding, providing automatic 14-day funding extensions. This provision helps prevent government shutdowns and ensures continuous funding for public programs, projects, and activities.
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Section 306: During a period of automatic continuing appropriations, this section restricts official travel expenditures and campaign fund usage for official travel by Members of Congress and certain federal employees. This provision holds elected officials accountable by limiting their travel perks when the government fails to pass timely full-year appropriations.
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Section 401: This section requires Congress to hold an annual open joint meeting to receive a presentation from the Comptroller General. This provides the public and lawmakers with transparent, professional, and fact-based analyses of the financial position and sustainability of the federal government.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 102: This section mandates that a general appropriation bill cannot be considered in the House unless it includes a spending reduction account as the last section. This could place procedural hurdles on passing necessary funding bills.
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Section 306: During a government funding lapse, this section places strict limits on the types of matters the Senate and House of Representatives can consider, preventing them from proceeding to general legislation outside of specific exceptions. This could halt regular legislative business and restrict Congress from addressing other pressing issues facing the country until funding is resolved.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The legislation establishes stronger budget enforcement mechanisms, spending reduction accounts, and debt-to-GDP tracking. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill introduces fiscal targets, deficit reduction instructions, and reporting requirements aimed at improving federal fiscal discipline. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By preventing government shutdowns through automatic continuing appropriations, the bill reduces economic disruptions from funding lapses.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates annual joint meetings with the Comptroller General and enhanced reporting on the fiscal state of the nation. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill imposes stricter federal budgetary rules and congressional procedures to enforce fiscal targets.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Preventing government shutdowns ensures uninterrupted funding for safety-net and low-income assistance programs. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Automatic continuing appropriations ensure that federal programs and entitlements serving seniors continue without disruption during budget impasses. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill bundles veterans' affairs funding and prevents funding lapses from delaying benefits and medical services.
- 10/9/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, House Administration, Appropriations, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marie PerezDemocrat · Washington
Adam GrayDemocrat · California