Press Releases

Today, Bipartisan Fiscal Forum (BFF) Co-Chairs Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and Scott Peters (D-CA) announced the reintroduction of H.R. 3289, the Fiscal Commission Act. Passed by the House Budget Committee in 2024, this bill would finally address our national debt crisis by establishing an equally bipartisan/bicameral Fiscal Commission. The Commission must craft a proposal that fixes our fiscal situation in the medium- and long-term. Then, importantly, the Fiscal Commission Act forces Congress to vote on this proposal without amendment and without delay.

“Our bipartisan Fiscal Commission Act is the most practical, immediate, and comprehensive action Congress can take right now to end our nation’s deepening fiscal crisis,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “If we do not address the unsustainable trajectory of our national debt, Americans who rely on Medicare and Social Security will face mandatory cuts to their benefits. We can protect and preserve these vital programs while improving the fiscal health of our nation by passing the Fiscal Commission Act and finally forcing Congress to act.”

“When I first introduced this legislation two years ago, we estimated that interest payments on the national debt would exceed defense and Medicaid spending in a decade. Today, we are already at that point,” said Congressman Scott Peters. “Our accelerating fiscal crisis threatens to bankrupt our children’s future. Congress has been too timid or too afraid to act but kicking the can down the road only makes solving this problem more costly and painful. ‘Regular order’ and the status quo have not worked for the last twenty years, we owe it to the American people to do something different.”

"As I’ve said before, if we don’t get our spending under control, there won’t be a Nation left to pass on to our children and grandchildren,” said Congressman Jack Bergman. “I’m proud to support the Fiscal Commission Act—an important, bipartisan step toward restoring fiscal responsibility. By bringing together lawmakers and experts, this commission will help us have the serious, solutions-focused conversations we need to address our greatest national security threat: the national debt."

"Washington cannot keep spending money we don’t have and expecting future generations to foot the bill,” said Congresswoman Erin Houchin. “The Fiscal Commission Act is a serious step toward restoring fiscal responsibility. By bringing lawmakers and private sector experts together, this will help us identify solutions to stabilize the debt, protect critical programs, and secure America’s economic future. It’s time to stop kicking the can down the road."

“Our national debt is over $36 trillion, and we owe it to the American people to confront our growing debt problem,” said Congressman David Valadao. “This bipartisan commission is a step toward finding real solutions to balance the budget and improve our long-term fiscal goals, and I'm proud to join my colleagues in charting a stronger path forward."

Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said, “A bipartisan fiscal commission would give the country’s fiscal situation the attention it urgently deserves. Fixing our growing debt will not be easy, but the Fiscal Commission Act would create a venue for serious, cross-party dialogue and help pave the way toward a more sustainable fiscal future. We commend Representatives Huizenga and Peters, co-chairs of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum, for their leadership in putting forward a thoughtful, serious proposal to confront one of our greatest long-term challenges.”

In addition to Congressman Peters, the Fiscal Commission Act is cosponsored by an evenly bipartisan group: William Timmons (R-SC), Ed Case (D-HI), Cory Mills (R-FL), Herbert Conaway (D-NJ), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Blake Moore (R-UT), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Jared Golden (D-ME), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Adam Gray (D-CA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Mike Quigley (D-IL), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), David Rouzer (R-NC), Bradley Schneider (D-IL), Erin Houchin (R-IN), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), David Valadao (R-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Andy Barr (R-KY).

Details on the Fiscal Commission

Commission Structure: 16 members. Each of the 4-corners congressional leaders selects 4 members, of which 3 are colleagues from the respective chamber and 1 individual from the private sector. The private sector experts are non-voting members.

Commission Goals: The Commission will identify policies to improve the fiscal situation in the medium term and to achieve a sustainable debt-to-GDP ratio in the long term. For any recommendations related to federal programs for which a federal trust fund exists, solvency must be improved for a period of at least 75 years.

• The Commission shall propose recommendations designed to balance the budget at the earliest reasonable date, including at minimum stabilizing the debt-to-GDP ratio at or below 100% within 10 years.

• The Commission shall propose recommendations that meaningfully improve the long-term fiscal outlook, including changes to address the growth of direct spending and the gap between revenues and expenditures.

• The Commission is tasked with educating and bringing awareness to the American people.

How it works:

• The Commission shall be established and members appointed within 60 days of enactment, and -- in the course of its duties putting together recommendations -- it must hold at least six public hearings, conduct a public awareness campaign, receive assistance from agencies and congressional committees, and issue an interim report.

• The Commission shall vote to move its recommendations to Congress during the week after the 2026 election (or no later than April 13, 2027 if the Commission votes to extend its timeline).

• Moving the recommendations to Congress requires a simple majority vote within the Commission,  provided that the majority is made up of at least 2 members of each party.

• Expedited vote: The legislation forces each chamber of Congress to vote on the Commission’s final proposal without amendment or delay. The bill includes expedited procedures in both chambers.

You can read the Fiscal Commission Act legislative text here.