H.J.Res. 94House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States limiting pay for Members of Congress and requiring legislation to reduce the national debt.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 12:04 PM UTC

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would tie members of Congress’s pay to the federal budget and require new laws to lower the national debt. It would stop congressional compensation in any year following a deficit and would block any bill from becoming law unless it reduces the total debt, unless the nation is already debt‑free or running a surplus. The amendment would apply to all members of Congress and affect how legislation is enacted.

Key Provisions

Members of Congress cannot receive any compensation in a fiscal year if the previous fiscal year’s outlays exceeded receipts (i.e., a deficit).
No bill may become law unless it reduces the total national debt.
The restrictions do not apply if the total national debt is zero or there is a surplus.
Congress must enforce the amendment through appropriate legislation, which may rely on estimated outlays and receipts.
The amendment would take effect beginning with the fifth fiscal year after it is ratified.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

September 29, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 29, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

September 29, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 29, 2023

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. J. RES. 94

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 29, 2023

Mr. Santos submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States limiting pay for Members of Congress and requiring legislation to reduce the national debt.

That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:

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No Member of Congress may receive compensation in any fiscal year if, during the immediately preceding fiscal year, total outlays exceeded total receipts.

No bill shall become law unless such bill reduces the total national debt.

Sections 1 and 2 shall not apply if the total national debt is equal to zero or there is a surplus.

The Congress shall enforce and implement this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely on estimates of outlays and receipts.

This article shall take effect beginning with the fifth fiscal year beginning after its ratification.