Congress·In Committee

Budget: Goal to Limit Yearly Deficits

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should reduce and maintain the Federal unified budget deficit at or below 3 percent of gross domestic product.

about 2 months ago·View on Congress.gov

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Key Points

This resolution proposes a goal for the U.S. government to limit its yearly overspending. It wants to keep the annual budget deficit at or below 3% of the total U.S. economy by the year 2030.
Right now, the government spends much more than it takes in. In 2025, the deficit was $1.8 trillion, which is about 6% of the economy. The total national debt is now $31 trillion, and interest payments alone cost over $1 trillion a year.
The resolution asks the President and Congress to write budgets that stay within this 3% limit. It also suggests creating new rules that would make it harder for lawmakers to pass expensive new laws without paying for them.
Supporters argue that high debt threatens national security and makes it harder for the government to handle future emergencies. They note that the U.S. has met this 3% goal many times before, including several years in the 1990s and 2010s.
This is a "sense of the House" resolution, which means it is a formal statement of opinion rather than a law that changes spending immediately. It serves as a guide for how lawmakers should handle the country's money in the future.

Milestones

1 milestone2 actions

Jan 7, 2026House

Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Rules, 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.

Jan 7, 2026

Submitted in House

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should reduce and maintain the Federal unified budget deficit at or below 3 percent of gross domestic product.

Bill NumberHRES 981

Congress119th Congress

ChamberHouse of Representatives

Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Rules, 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.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(18)

D: 9R: 9

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

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