Press Releases

Washington, DC—January 13, 2025…Congressmen Steve Womack (R-AR-3) and Ed Case (D-HI-1) reintroduced H.R. 222, the Sustainable Budget Act. They were joined in co-introduction by Congressmen Scott Peters (D-CA-50) and Zach Nunn (R-IA-3). The legislation would create a national commission charged with developing policies to balance the budget within 10 years, meaningfully address the nation’s exploding debt, and put America on a better fiscal trajectory.

Congressman Womack said, “The exploding national debt is one of the greatest threats to our country. America faces many current and future challenges, which cannot be adequately addressed if we continue down an unsustainable path of fiscal irresponsibility. This bipartisan commission will be tasked with making difficult, yet necessary, decisions to right the financial ship and protect the futures of our children and grandchildren.”

Congressman Case said, “By any measure, our federal fiscal house is out of order. The U.S. national debt now stands at over $36 trillion, with interest on the debt crowding out whole segments of critical federal spending. We appear trapped in a continuing cycle of further $1 trillion-plus annual deficits and accelerating overall debt. Our annual interest costs now surpass national defense, surpass Medicare, and surpass all non-mandatory, non-defense programs (veterans, education, transportation, etc.) combined. It is inescapable that the underlying problem is our collective inability or unwillingness to prioritize fiscal responsibility and sustainability.”

Congressman Peters said, “The national debt is now more than $36 trillion. We spend more on our interest payments alone than we do on defense or Medicaid, which provides medical care to the most vulnerable Americans. Our borrowing problem is making it harder for people to get child-care, more difficult to start small businesses, and more expensive to rent or buy a home. It's well past time for Congress to have a fact-driven discussion about the federal budget.”

Congressman Nunn said, “Families, farmers, and Main Street business owners balance their budgets – the federal government should do the same. We must cut wasteful government spending while protecting the programs that Iowans rely on. A bipartisan commission can help make the necessary changes to restore a sensible, functional government that works for the people, not one that recklessly spends taxpayer money.”

Maya MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said, “We commend Representatives Case and Womack, along with co-introducers Representatives Peters and Nunn, for working together in a bipartisan fashion to put forward the Sustainable Budget Act. This legislation would create a commission to serve as a venue for constructive bipartisan negotiations to improve our country’s fiscal future. We applaud them for introducing this bill to pursue bipartisan solutions to reduce our nation’s debt.”

Details:

The Sustainable Budget Act would create a bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, consisting of 18 members chosen by the president, the Speaker of the House, the House minority leader, and Senate majority and minority leaders. They would be tasked with identifying and developing policies to balance the budget within 10 years and meaningfully improve the long-term fiscal outlook. Any recommendations by the commission would be required to be considered and voted on by Congress under expedited legislative procedures.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’ Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov

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