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hjres 139 · 119th Congress · House

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.

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TQL analysis
C64
64 / 90 · methodology full_text_v3

The proposed constitutional amendment requires the federal government to maintain a balanced budget, limiting expenditures to the average annual receipts of the previous three years, adjusted for population and inflation. Exceptions are allowed with a two-thirds congressional vote or during a declared war. The amendment also requires a two-thirds vote for new taxes or tax increases and mandates congressional enforcement through legislation.

Legislative structure
Cosponsors
2 current · 2 total
Actions
15
Roll calls
1
Criterion breakdown8 criteria · max 90
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The letter, score, and explanation above are free. The point-by-point breakdown of all eight scored criteria — with each criterion's value and how it moved the grade — is a Quiet Ledger research capability.

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Recorded vote · House roll call 95 · 2026-03-18
211 Yea · 207 Nay · 0 Present · 14 Not voting — Failed
R
2090 (Yea–Nay)
D
1207 (Yea–Nay)
I
10 (Yea–Nay)
Revealed positions from the official roll call — factual, not an endorsement.
Actions (15)
DateTimeAction
2026-01-09Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
2026-01-09Introduced in House
2026-01-09Introduced in House
2026-02-03Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 10.
2026-02-03Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2026-02-25Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 63.
2026-02-25Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-520.
2026-02-25Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-520.
2026-03-1812:20:03Mr. Biggs (AZ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the resolution.
2026-03-1812:20:16Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2560-2568; text: CR H2560-2561)
2026-03-1812:20:20DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1115, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.J. Res. 139
2026-03-1813:19:56At 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.
2026-03-1817:28:32Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2583-2584)
2026-03-1817:35:12On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 211 - 207 (Roll no. 95).
2026-03-1817:35:12Failed 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).
Provenance
Methodology
full_text_v3
Calculated
2026-09-18 16:54:36.323+00
Source version
2026-03-18
Assessments
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The Quiet Ledger grades legislation on its content. A bill grade is analysis of the bill — not a grade of its sponsor or of any member who voted on it.