Senate Committee on the Budget

Secure America Act

Secure America Act This act provides $70 billion in funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through FY2029 for immigration enforcement, border security, and related activities. It is known as a reconciliation bill and includes legislation submitted by certain congressional committees pursuant to provisions in the FY2026 congressional budget resolution ( S. Con. Res. 33 ) that directed the committees to submit legislation to the House or Senate Budget Committee that will increase the deficit. (Reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.) TITLE I--COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS (Sec. 101) This section provides funding for CBP to hire, pay, train, and equip Border Patrol agents and Border Patrol support personnel to conduct functions other than immigration enforcement and customs functions. The funds provided by this section may not be used to recruit, hire, or train personnel for the duties of processing coordinators after October 31, 2028. (Sec. 102) This section provides funding to ICE for (1) hiring, paying, training, and equipping Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) agents and support personnel; and (2) other necessary expenses for HSI’s mission support and operations and maintenance. It also requires specified funds to be used to hire, pay, and equip additional child exploitation investigators and forensics analysts for certain HSI offices to (1) support the identification and rescue of victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse, and (2) train such personnel and state and local law enforcement regarding identifying victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The funds provided by this section must be used for functions other than those related to HSI’s immigration enforcement and customs enforcement missions. (Sec. 103) This section provides funding to CBP for border security, technology, and screening, including procurement and integration of new nonintrusive inspection equipment and associated civil works (e.g., artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other innovative technologies) and other mission support to combat the entry or exit of illicit narcotics at ports of entry and along the southwest, northern, and maritime borders; upgrading and procurement of platforms for rapid air and marine response capabilities; upgrading and procurement of border surveillance technologies along the southwest, northern, and maritime borders; necessary expenses, including the deployment of technology, relating to the biometric entry and exit system under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004; enhancing border security by combating drug trafficking, including fentanyl and its precursor chemicals, at the southwest, northern, and maritime borders; and necessary expenses for CBP's mission support and operations and maintenance for functions other than those related to its immigration enforcement and customs missions. None of the funds provided by this section may be used for the procurement or deployment of surveillance towers along the southwest border and the northern border that have not been tested and accepted by CBP to deliver autonomous capabilities. Under this section the term autonomous means a system designed to apply artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, or other algorithms to accurately detect, identify, classify, and track items of interest in real time such that the system can make operational adjustments without the active engagement of personnel or continuous human command or control. (Sec. 104) This section provides additional funding to DHS for the purposes for which funding is provided in this title. TITLE II--COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY (Sec. 201) This section provides funding to CBP for hiring, paying, training, and equipping CBP agents and the necessary support staff, and other necessary expenses for mission support and operations and maintenance, in order to carry out immigration enforcement activities. (Sec. 202) This section provides funding to ICE for immigration enforcement and related activities, including hiring, paying, and training personnel; transportation; information technology; facility and fleet maintenance and sustainment; 287(g) agreements (i.e., agreements that allow state and local law enforcement agencies to perform certain immigration enforcement functions); the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor; operation and maintenance; and operations by ICE to arrest certain unlawful aliens. (Sec. 203) This section provides additional funding to DHS for (1) the purposes for which funding is provided in this title, (2) the assignment of certain DHS employees and state officers to carry out immigration enforcement activities, or (3) the participation of state and local agencies in certain homeland security efforts.

A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035.

This concurrent resolution establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2026, sets forth budgetary levels for FY2027-FY2035, and provides reconciliation instructions for legislation that increases the deficit. The resolution recommends levels and amounts for FY2026-FY2035 for federal revenues, new budget authority, budget outlays, deficits, public debt, debt held by the public, and the major functional categories of spending. It also recommends levels and amounts for Social Security and Postal Service discretionary administrative expenses for the purpose of budget enforcement in the Senate. The resolution includes reconciliation instructions that direct the House Homeland Security Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Senate Judiciary Committee to submit recommendations for legislation that will increase the deficit over FY2026-FY2035 by not more than $70 billion. Each committee must submit the recommendations to the House or Senate Budget Committee by May 15, 2026. (Under current law, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.) In addition, the resolution establishes reserve funds that allow certain adjustments to committee allocations and other budgetary levels to accommodate (1) reconciliation legislation, and (2) legislation that would not increase the deficit over FY2026-FY2035 and supports changes to immigration enforcement and border security policy undertaken by the President. Finally, the resolution sets forth budget enforcement procedures that address issues such as budget points of order in the Senate and emergency spending requirements in the House.

Public Lands Integrity Act

Public Lands Integrity Act This bill generally prohibits provisions that result in the sale, disposal, or transfer of federal lands from being included in reconciliation legislation by requiring the provisions to be considered extraneous under the Senate's Byrd Rule. The Senate's Byrd Rule (named after it's principal author, Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia) prohibits the inclusion of matter in reconciliation legislation that is extraneous to a congressional committee's reconciliation directives in the associated congressional budget resolution. Reconciliation is an expedited method by which Congress may adopt changes in spending and revenue laws to achieve the budgetary goals reflected in a congressional budget resolution. Reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate. For additional information, see CRS Report R48640, The Senate’s Byrd Rule: Frequently Asked Questions.

No Bias in the Baseline Act

The legislation would require federal agencies to analyze how their spending and tax policies affect different demographic groups before implementing new programs or changes. This would help identify whether government decisions unintentionally favor or disadvantage certain populations based on race, gender, age, or other characteristics. The requirement would apply to Congress and executive agencies as they develop budgets and policies affecting workers, businesses, and the general public.

Dollar-for-Dollar Deficit Reduction Act

Dollar-for-Dollar Deficit Reduction Act The bill establishes a framework to require legislation that increases or suspends the public debt limit to include spending reductions that are equal to or greater than the projected increase in debt that will occur under the legislation. The bill allows the spending reductions to be phased in over the period that includes the current and next 10 fiscal years. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of the Treasury to notify the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee when it determines that the federal government will reach the debt limit within 60 days without the implementation of extraordinary measures. The notification must also indicate when extraordinary measures may be necessary to prolong the funding of the federal government in the absence of a debt limit increase. In addition, the bill requires any formal presidential request to increase the debt limit to include (1) the amount of the proposed increase, and (2) proposed legislation to reduce spending by an amount that is equal to or greater than the amount of the requested increase. Finally, the bill establishes budget points of order that may be raised in the House of Representatives and the Senate against legislation that increases or suspends the debt limit and does not contain net spending reductions that are equal to or greater than the increase in the debt that will occur under the legislation.

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should reduce and maintain the Federal unified budget deficit at or below 3 percent of gross domestic product.

This resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that (1) Congress should adopt a fiscal target to reduce the federal budget deficit to 3% of gross domestic product or less as soon as possible and no later than the end of FY2030; and (2) after the target is achieved, Congress should continue to pursue further deficit reduction with the goal of achieving a balanced federal budget.

A resolution extending the enforcement of certain budgetary points of order in the Senate.

This resolution extends authorities related to the enforcement of several budget points of order in the Senate through FY2027. Budget points of order are used to enforce congressional budget procedures and substantive provisions of a congressional budget resolution (e.g., spending allocations). If a Senator successfully raises a budget point of order against legislation, further consideration of the legislation is generally prohibited unless the Senate waives the budget point of order. A motion to waive most budget points of order in the Senate requires an affirmative vote of three-fifths of all Senators duly chosen and sworn (60 votes if there are no vacancies). This resolution extends provisions that require this three-fifths vote of the Senate to waive several specified budget points of order.

Rescissions Act of 2025

Rescissions Act of 2025 This act rescinds specified unobligated funds that were provided to the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), various independent and related agencies, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The rescissions were proposed by the President under procedures included in the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Under current law, the President may propose rescissions to Congress using specified procedures, and the rescissions must be enacted into law to take effect. Specifically, the act rescinds funds that were provided to the State Department or the President for Contributions to International Organizations; Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities; Global Health Programs (excluding funds for programs addressing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, nutrition, or maternal and child health); Migration and Refugee Assistance; the Complex Crises Fund; the Democracy Fund; the Economic Support Fund (excluding funds for assistance to Jordan, Egypt, or the Countering PRC Influence Fund); Contributions to the Clean Technology Fund; International Organization and Programs; Development Assistance (excluding funds for Feed the Future Innovation Labs, the Countering PRC Influence Fund, or commodity-based food aid); Assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia; International Disaster Assistance (excluding funds for commodity-based food aid); and Transition Initiatives. The act also rescinds funds that were provided for USAID Operating Expenses, the Inter-American Foundation, the U.S. African Development Foundation, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Budget Reform Act of 2025

The proposal would change how the federal government creates and manages its annual budget, likely including new rules for how Congress plans spending and handles deficits. The changes would affect taxpayers, federal employees, and anyone who relies on government programs by potentially altering how quickly or efficiently funding decisions get made. Specific details about what reforms it includes are not yet available since the bill is still in early stages of review.

An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.

This concurrent resolution establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2025, sets forth budgetary levels for FY2026-FY2034, and provides reconciliation instructions for legislation that increases or decreases the deficit by specified amounts. The resolution recommends levels and amounts for FY2025-FY2034 for federal revenues, new budget authority, budget outlays, deficits, public debt, debt held by the public, and the major functional categories of spending. It also recommends levels and amounts for Social Security and Postal Service discretionary administrative expenses for the purpose of budget enforcement in the Senate. The resolution includes reconciliation instructions that direct several House and Senate committees to report legislation that will increase or decrease the deficit over FY2025-FY2034 by specified amounts. The committees must submit the legislation to the applicable congressional budget committee by March 7, 2025. (Under current law, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.) In addition, the resolution establishes reserve funds that allow certain adjustments to committee allocations and other budgetary levels to accommodate (1) reconciliation legislation, and (2) legislation that would not increase the deficit over FY2025-FY2034. The resolution also exempts reconciliation legislation that complies with this resolution from various budget points of order. Finally, the resolution sets forth budget enforcement procedures that address issues such as adjustments to committee allocations and the budgetary treatment of the discretionary administrative expenses for the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Postal Service.

Fairness for Crime Victims Act of 2025

Fairness for Crime Victims Act of 2025 This bill establishes budget points of order in the House of Representatives and the Senate against considering provisions in appropriations legislation that contain changes in mandatory programs (CHIMPs) that would cause the amount available for obligation during the fiscal year from the Crime Victims Fund to be less than the annual average for the three previous fiscal years. A CHIMP is a provision that (1) would have been estimated as affecting direct spending or receipts if the provision were included in legislation other than an appropriations bill; and (2) results in a net decrease in budget authority in the current year or the budget year, but does not result in a net decrease in outlays over the period of the total of the current year, the budget year, and all fiscal years covered under the most recently adopted budget resolution. The points of order do not apply if the difference between the amount in the Crime Victims Fund as of September 30 of the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year to which the CHIMP relates and the amount available for obligation under the CHIMP is not more than $2 billion.