US Congress House Joint Resolution 40 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 11-0)
Status: Introduced on January 30 2019 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2019-01-30 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Pending: House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year or 18% of the U.S. gross domestic product unless Congress authorizes the excess by a two-thirds vote of each chamber. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing. The amendment requires a two-thirds vote of each chamber of Congress to levy a new tax, increase the rate of any tax, or increase the debt limit. The amendment provides any Member of Congress with standing and a cause of action to seek judicial enforcement of this amendment if authorized by a petition signed by one-third of the Members of either house of Congress. Courts are prohibited from ordering any increase in revenue to enforce this amendment.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that the Federal budget be balanced.

Rep. Barry Loudermilk [R-GA]	Rep. Doug Collins [R-GA]	Rep. Morgan Griffith [R-VA]	Rep. Jody Hice [R-GA]
Rep. Alexander Mooney [R-WV]	Rep. Randy Weber [R-TX]	Rep. Scott DesJarlais [R-TN]	Rep. Kevin Hern [R-OK]
Rep. Denver Riggleman [R-VA]	Rep. Ron Wright [R-TX]	Rep. Jeff Duncan [R-SC]

Date	Chamber	Action
2019-01-30	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
2019-01-30	House	Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
2019-01-30	House	Introduced in House

SJR5 (Related) 2019-01-24 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-joint-resolution/40/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hjres40/BILLS-116hjres40ih.pdf