WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) has issued the following statement regarding the House’s vote on a budget reconciliation resolution:
“Tonight’s budget reconciliation resolution vote is a bad-faith attempt to ignore the American people’s bipartisan wishes at the expense of our national debt and the American Dream. Incredibly, it would be the first time a budget reconciliation has entirely bypassed the House Budget Committee. This is unacceptable. The American public deserves a serious budget that thoughtfully outlines funding priorities across the entire scope of government after hearings, input from the American citizen, and testimony from experts on the needs of our country. It shouldn’t be used as a gimmick to pass legislation unrelated to the budget. It also should not be used to pass another COVID bill when there is over $1 trillion left over from the last COVID-relief package that is unspent. As legislators, we are responsible for addressing the needs of our country while also being a wise steward of American tax dollars. We must resist the temptation to steamroll our legislative process, issue a blank check, and further limit our future generations’ well-being.” Budget reconciliation is a congressional tool used to “fast-track” legislation through both chambers, requiring only 51 votes in the Senate for passage. This process is triggered by both chambers of Congress adopting a concurrent budget resolution, which the House of Representatives passed today, that includes reconciliation instruction for certain committees to develop legislation. There are multiple instances in which the use of reconciliation is limited:
Can only be used to make changes to mandatory spending, revenue levels, and/or the debt limit.
A maximum of only three reconciliation bills are allowed for each fiscal year’s budget resolution: one for mandatory spending, one for revenue, and one for the debt limit.
Limited by the Senate’s Byrd Rule which prohibits “extraneous” provisions.