Black Introduces Bill to Give Budgets Force of Law

Press Release

Today, U.S. Congressman Diane Black (R-TN), joined fellow House Budget Committee Members to introduce a package of seven legislative reforms to help repair the broken budget process, including her legislation, The Legally Binding Budget Act of 2013 (H.R. 1868). Her bill would fundamentally reform the annual Congressional budgeting process by giving budgets the force of law.

"With my legislation, we can finally give budgets the force law - injecting much-needed common sense and accountability into the budgeting process. The Legally Binding Budget Act would ensure that the federal budget is no longer merely a set of guidelines, but rather a legal document that requires Congress to follow the agreed upon spending levels."

"Under the current budget process, America has accrued nearly $17 trillion in debt and over $80 trillion in unfunded liabilities. It is abundantly clear that the current system is broken and in urgent need of repair. Maintaining the status quo will ensure a diminished future limited by debt and unmet obligations. In order to steer America away from a looming debt crisis and towards a stable and prosperous future, we need bold, conservative reforms like the Legally Binding Budget Act that will fundamentally fix our failing budget process," said Congressman Diane Black.

"Congressman Black's common-sense legislation will keep Washington accountable to hardworking taxpayers. We have to stop spending money we don't have, and this bill is a step in the right direction. Families keep a budget. Washington should do the same," said Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI).

Black's legislation would require the budget to be passed by both Houses of Congress and be presented to the president for his signature in order to become law. Having budgets signed into law would make it harder for Congress and the president to ignore budgetary spending levels, which today can happen easily with a simple procedural move.

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