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

What this measure contains

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.

Read the full summary on the measure page

This is the description in the imported bill snapshot. It may describe a later draft than the version considered in this vote. The recorded motion above identifies the decision; the bill description does not establish the exact text voted on.

Official measure page ↗

Official text and draft versions

• Reported in House· Feb 25, 2026 · Official original ↗
• Introduced in House· Jan 9, 2026 · Official original ↗

Document dates help distinguish drafts. A document published before the vote is not proof that this was the version considered.

Recorded decision and member tally

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass

This record lists 432 members; its source-reported total is 432.

This is a full House roll call. It lists every member serving that day, including those who answered present or did not vote. Vacant seats are not listed.

Source outcome: failed.

Yes

211

No

207

Not voting

14

Present

0

This outcome applies to the recorded motion. It does not by itself mean the measure became law. The original description and each member’s recorded vote are preserved below.

Members listed for this decision

Names are printed as the chamber records them. A profile link appears when the member's Bioguide ID in the roll call matches an officeholder on Govotency's roster; links are never made from a name or seat.