H.J.Res. 139Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.

1 recorded actionWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Andy Biggs [R-AZ-05]
Cosponsors: 2 · 2 Republicans
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Committee: Judiciary Committee
Latest action: Mar 18, 2026 · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 211 - 207 (Roll no. 95).

IntroducedJan 9, 2026
Failed in the HouseMar 18, 2026
Passed the SenateNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total federal expenditures for a year from exceeding the average annual federal receipts collected in the three prior years, adjusted for changes in the population of U.S. citizens and inflation. Expenditures for payment of debt and receipts derived from borrowing are excluded.

Under the amendment, Congress may authorize specific expenditures in excess of the limit with (1) a roll call vote of two-thirds of each chamber, or (2) a roll call vote for any year in which a declaration of war is in effect.

The amendment also prohibits any bill to levy a new tax or increase the rate of any tax from becoming law unless it has been approved by a roll call vote of two-thirds of the whole number of each chamber of Congress.

The requirements take effect in the fifth year beginning after ratification of the amendment.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.J.Res. 139 as reported to House on Feb 25, 2026. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

How every member votedHouse roll call 95

House Mar 18, 2026

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass

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

Failed · Two-thirds required

211 Yea 207 Nay 14 not voting

Party-line vote 1 of 418 voting members broke with their own party: 1 Democrat.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsIndependentsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members432 members

Democratic214 members

Independent1 member

Republican217 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors2 · 2 Republicans

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.J.Res. 139 and vote against it. 0 signed when it was filed.

RAndrew S. Clyde [R-GA-09]Joined Jan 12, 20262026 profile

RJosh Brecheen [R-OK-02]Joined Jan 13, 20262026 profile

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.J.Res. 1397 organizations

Organizations that named H.J.Res. 139 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICAREfiled by MARIA FREESE, NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICAREIts PAC: National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare PAC

Retirement · Budget/Appropriations · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties · Government Issues +1 more6 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNIONIts PAC: National Treasury Employees Union PAC

Budget/Appropriations · Government Issues · Health Issues · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace3 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

AFL-CIO

Health Issues · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace · Government Issues · Budget/Appropriations +9 more1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2026Filing

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEESfiled by AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Telecommunications · Transportation · Utilities +13 more1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2026Filing

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

Agriculture · Budget/Appropriations · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties · Education +13 more1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2026Filing

COUNCIL FOR CITIZENS AGAINST GOVERNMENT WASTEIts PAC: Council for Citizens Against Government Waste PAC

Health Issues · Telecommunications · Government Issues · Constitution1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2026Filing

SOCIAL SECURITY WORKSfiled by PORT SIDE STRATEGIES, LLCIts PAC: Social Security Works PAC

Retirement · Medicare/Medicaid · Government Issues · Budget/Appropriations +2 more1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2026Filing

14 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-25. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.