H.R. 222 — Sustainable Budget Act of 2025

This section establishes within the legislative branch the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform not later than 30 days after enactment of the Act. The Commission comprises 18 members: (1) six appointed by the President, with no more than four from the same political party; (2) three appointed by the Senate majority leader from current Senators; (3) three appointed by the House Speaker from current House members; (4) three appointed by the Senate minority leader from current Senators; and (5) three appointed by the House minority leader from current House members. Initial appointments must occur not later than 60 days after the Commission's establishment, with vacancies filled in the same manner; the President designates two co-chairs of different parties from among the members, who must have expertise in government service, fiscal policy, economics, federal agency or private sector management, public administration, or law. The Commission must identify policies to balance the budget, excluding interest payments, by the end of the 10-year period beginning on its establishment date—stabilizing the debt-to-GDP ratio—and to improve the long-term fiscal outlook, including reforms to entitlement spending and the projected revenues-expenditures gap. Not later than one year after member appointments, the Commission must vote on a final report with these recommendations (interim reports permitted earlier); a report requires approval by at least 12 members, including at least four from the Speaker's party and four from the House minority leader's party, after which it is submitted to Congress and released publicly. The Commission may hold hearings, obtain information from federal agencies, use postal services, and maintain a website posting recommendations and attendance records within 72 hours of meetings. The Government Accountability Office, Congressional Budget Office, and Joint Committee on Taxation must provide technical assistance, and members serve without additional compensation.

This section requires the President, not later than 60 days after receipt of a commission report under section 2(f)(3), to transmit to Congress a special message accompanied by a proposed joint resolution implementing the report's recommendations. Prior to transmittal, the President must consult with the chair and ranking minority member of relevant congressional committees (i.e., those determined by the President based on the resolution's content) regarding alternatives or exclusions and must prepare the resolution in consultation with the Comptroller General (GAO) and CBO Director. The special message must (1) specify excluded recommendations and reasons for exclusion, (2) specify included recommendations, and (3) identify programs for elimination or consolidation; it must be transmitted to the Secretary of the Senate or Clerk of the House if not in session and made publicly available on a presidential website with a Federal Register notice.

This section establishes expedited procedures in the House of Representatives and Senate for consideration of a Commission joint resolution, defined as a joint resolution consisting solely of the text of a proposed joint resolution submitted by the President under section 3(a). In the House, the resolution may be introduced by the majority leader (or designee) on the next legislative day after presidential submission or by any Member thereafter; committees must report it without amendment within 10 legislative days or face discharge; it receives a motion to proceed, consideration as read with all points of order waived, 2 hours of debate equally divided, and a vote on passage within 3 legislative days after the last committee reports or is discharged. In the Senate, the resolution may be introduced by the majority leader (or designee) on the next session day after presidential submission or by any Senator thereafter; committees must report it without revision within 10 session days or face automatic discharge; and a motion to proceed is in order not later than 2 session days after report or discharge (by the majority leader or designee) or thereafter (by any Senator).