Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)
Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 467.
Waiting for a floor vote in the other chamber
Passed one chamber and is on the other chamber's calendar.
The calendar is a queue, not a date. The majority leadership decides what comes to the floor and when; much of what is placed on it is never called, and a bill that is never called simply expires with the Congress.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- Awaiting Senate
- On Senate calendar
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The "Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act" requires an annual report regarding specific taxpayer-funded projects. This applies to projects managed by Executive agencies or independent regulatory agencies that are significantly delayed or over budget. A project is considered covered if it is more than 5 years behind schedule or costs at least $1,000,000,000 more than its original estimate. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget must issue guidance for agencies to submit detailed project information annually. Finally, the Director must submit an annual report containing this information to Congress and post it on the OMB website.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +7
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates that the OMB post an annual report on taxpayer-funded projects that are over budget or behind schedule to its website.
- Scored +5
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The bill improves fiscal responsibility by requiring detailed explanations for cost increases and schedule delays in major projects.
- Scored +3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill increases oversight of large-scale, over-budget projects which may help reduce waste in government spending.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency: The Act requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to submit an annual report to Congress and post it on the OMB website (Section 2(b)(2)). This ensures that information regarding major projects is available to the public and lawmakers.
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Detailed Oversight of Project Costs and Timelines: Agencies must provide the original cost estimate, the current cost estimate, the original expected completion date, and the current expected completion date (Section 2(b)(1)(C)-(F)). This provides a clear way to track how project budgets and schedules change over time.
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Accountability for Project Changes: The bill requires an explanation of any changes to the original scope of a project, such as adding or narrowing requirements (Section 2(b)(1)(B)). This can help people understand why a project's goals might have shifted.
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Tracking of Delays and Budget Increases: The requirements include an explanation for why a project is delayed or why the cost estimate increased, including potential impacts from insufficient or delayed appropriations (Section 2(b)(1)(G)). This provides reasons for why taxpayer money is being spent differently than planned.
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Disclosure of Financial Incentives: The report must include the amount and rationale for any awards, incentive fees, or bonuses given for the project (Section 2(b)(1)(H)). This adds a layer of visibility regarding how extra funds are used for personnel or contractors.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly stated in the text.
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 bill improves fiscal responsibility by requiring detailed explanations for cost increases and schedule delays in major projects. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill increases oversight of large-scale, over-budget projects which may help reduce waste in government spending.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates that the OMB post an annual report on taxpayer-funded projects that are over budget or behind schedule to its website.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increased transparency in how taxpayer money is spent can benefit low-income households by ensuring more efficient use of public funds. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill's oversight of massive project cost overruns helps ensure taxpayer funds are managed more effectively.
- 7/23/2026
- Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 467.
- 7/22/2026
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5159)
- 7/20/2026
- At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Burlison objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1722.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4663-4664; text: CR H4663)
- Mr. Burlison moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 4/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/26/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/18/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 39 - 0.
- 3/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/27/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed 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.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Josh BrecheenRepublican · Oklahoma
Vince FongRepublican · California