Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States prohibiting the United States Government from increasing its debt except for a specific purpose by law adopted by three-fourths of the membership of each House of Congress.

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Bill ID: 119/hjres/9
Last Updated: December 4, 2025

Sponsored by

Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5]

ID: M001177

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

January 3, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

âś…

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

(sigh) Oh joy, another brilliant idea from the geniuses in Congress. Let's dissect this trainwreck.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** (rolls eyes) To pretend to address the national debt by proposing a constitutional amendment that will never pass. The sponsors, McClintock and Weber, want to appear fiscally responsible while actually doing nothing to solve the problem. It's like prescribing a placebo to a patient with terminal cancer.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** (sarcastically) Oh boy, this is exciting. The amendment proposes that Congress can only increase debt for a "specific purpose" by law adopted by three-fourths of each House. Wow, what a bold move! It's like saying, "We promise to be more responsible with your money... eventually." Section 2 is particularly hilarious, as it gives them a 10-year grace period before the amendment takes effect. That's like telling a patient they have 10 years to develop a cure for their own stupidity.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** (disdainfully) Everyone involved in this farce: politicians who want to look good without doing actual work, voters who will swallow this nonsense hook, line, and sinker, and the poor souls who will have to deal with the consequences of this empty gesture. Lobbyists will love it, as they'll get to "advise" on the "specific purposes" that justify more debt.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** ( mock-serious tone) Well, if by some miracle this amendment passes, it might... just might... lead to a slight decrease in the rate of debt accumulation. But let's be real; it won't happen. This is just legislative theater designed to distract from the fact that our politicians are incapable of making tough decisions or actually addressing the national debt.

Diagnosis: This bill suffers from a severe case of "Fiscal Responsibility Theater-itis," a disease characterized by grandstanding, empty promises, and a complete lack of substance. The symptoms include meaningless amendments, pointless debates, and a healthy dose of hypocrisy. Treatment involves a strong dose of reality, but unfortunately, that's not something our politicians are willing to prescribe themselves.

In short, HJRES 9 is a joke, a pathetic attempt to appear responsible while doing nothing to address the real problem. It's like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound and calling it a day. (shrugs) What's next? A bill proposing that Congress take a collective vow of poverty?

Related Topics

Civil Rights & Liberties Transportation & Infrastructure National Security & Intelligence Congressional Rules & Procedures Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Small Business & Entrepreneurship State & Local Government Affairs Government Operations & Accountability Federal Budget & Appropriations
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (house personality)

đź’° Campaign Finance Network

Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$80,600
20 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$11,450
Committees
$0
Individuals
$68,900

No PAC contributions found

1
SHINGLE SPRINGS BAND MIWOK INDIANS
2 transactions
$6,600
2
ROBERTSON & ASSOCIATES LLP
1 transaction
$3,300
3
HEESY & HELLER
3 transactions
$650
4
ERROTABERE RANCHES
1 transaction
$500
5
THE DELAPLANE LIVING TRUST
1 transaction
$250
6
THE CLEVELAND REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST
3 transactions
$150

No committee contributions found

1
FISHER, KENNETH MR.
2 transactions
$12,800
2
FISHER, SHERRILYN
1 transaction
$6,600
3
WEISZ, BYRON MR.
2 transactions
$6,600
4
DWELLE, THOMAS MR.
2 transactions
$6,600
5
UNITED AUBURN INDIAN COMM. OF, .
2 transactions
$6,600
6
EMMERSON, MARK MR.
2 transactions
$6,600
7
MUIR, ARTHUR MR.
1 transaction
$3,300
8
DEBBER, JANET
1 transaction
$3,300
9
GRIGSBY, JOHN MR.
1 transaction
$3,300
10
EGGERT, STEVEN
1 transaction
$3,300
11
SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NA, .
1 transaction
$3,300
12
CASTILLO, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,300
13
GARCIA, GERARDO
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]

ID: W000814

Top Contributors

10

1
TIGUA INDIAN RESERVATION - YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO
Organization EL PASO, TX
$2,500
Jun 30, 2023
2
SCOTT M. BROWN P.C.
Organization ANGLETON, TX
$2,500
Aug 13, 2024
3
SCOTT M. BROWN P.C.
Organization ANGLETON, TX
$2,500
Aug 14, 2024
4
ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBE
Organization LIVINGSTON, TX
$1,000
Sep 30, 2024
5
ALLEN BOONE HUMPHRIES ROBINSON LLP
Organization HOUSTON, TX
$1,000
Jul 25, 2023
6
CLARK, LISA M.
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$10,000
Feb 23, 2024
7
SULLIVAN, JOHN R. MR.
SULLIVAN COMPANIES • OWNER
Individual GALVESTON, TX
$6,600
Oct 31, 2023
8
TEICHMAN, KEVIN MR.
TEICHMAN GROUP LLC • CEO
Individual FRIENDSWOOD, TX
$6,600
Dec 12, 2023
9
MCCORVEY, MITZY
MCCORVEY INDUSTRIAL FABRICATION • OWNER
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$6,600
Feb 9, 2023
10
MCCORVEY, TONY
MCCORVEY INDUSTRIAL FABRICATION • OWNER
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$6,600
Feb 9, 2023

Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]

ID: G000576

Top Contributors

10

1
HO CHUNK NATION
Organization BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
2
GENTINE, LOUIS P. II
SARGENTO • EXECUTIVE
Individual ELKHART LAKE, WI
$13,200
Mar 15, 2024
3
SCHLIFSKE, JOHN E.
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL • GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Individual ELM GROVE, WI
$6,600
Mar 22, 2024
4
SCHLIFSKE, KIM C.
HOMEMAKER • HOMEMAKER
Individual ELM GROVE, WI
$6,600
Mar 22, 2024
5
LEVY, EDWARD
EDWARD C LEVY CO • CHAIRMAN
Individual BIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
Apr 10, 2024
6
KRESS, DONALD F.
RETIRED • RETIRED
Individual GREEN BAY, WI
$5,000
Nov 22, 2023
7
WELLS, CECELIA A.
RETIRED • RETIRED
Individual MEQUON, WI
$5,000
Jun 30, 2023
8
WELLS, CECELIA
Individual MEQUON, WI
$5,000
Jun 30, 2023
9
AYLWARD, RICHARD J. MR.
RETIRED • RETIRED
Individual NEENAH, WI
$4,000
Mar 15, 2024
10
KRESS, DONALD F.
RETIRED • RETIRED
Individual GREEN BAY, WI
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023

Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large]

ID: H001096

Top Contributors

10

1
COW CREEK BAND OF UMPQUA TRIBE OF INDIANS
Organization ROSEBURG, OR
$5,000
Aug 6, 2024
2
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
Organization TACOMA, WA
$3,700
Mar 4, 2024
3
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023
4
PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS
Organization TEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023
5
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$3,300
Nov 6, 2023
6
SHINGLE SPRINGS BAND MIWOK INDIANS
Organization SHINGLE SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023
7
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$3,300
Mar 29, 2024
8
HPUL PROJECT OPERATIONS
Organization UPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
Sep 6, 2024
9
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE
Organization AUBURN, WA
$3,300
Sep 6, 2024
10
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY OPERATIONS ACCOUNT
Organization MARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Sep 13, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 32 nodes and 39 connections

Total contributions: $123,200

Top Donors - Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5]

Showing top 20 donors by contribution amount

6 Orgs1 Committee13 Individuals

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document. Higher similarity scores indicate stronger thematic connections.

Introduction

Moderate 67.0%
Pages: 40-42

— 7 — Foreword Instead, party leaders negotiate one multitrillion-dollar spending bill—several thousand pages long—and then vote on it before anyone, literally, has had a chance to read it. Debate time is restricted. Amendments are prohibited. And all of this is backed up against a midnight deadline when the previous “omnibus” spending bill will run out and the federal government “shuts down.” This process is not designed to empower 330 million American citizens and their elected representatives, but rather to empower the party elites secretly nego- tiating without any public scrutiny or oversight. In the end, congressional leaders’ behavior and incentives here are no differ- ent from those of global elites insulating policy decisions—over the climate, trade, public health, you name it—from the sovereignty of national electorates. Public scrutiny and democratic accountability make life harder for policymakers—so they skirt it. It’s not dysfunction; it’s corruption. And despite its gaudy price tag, the federal budget is not even close to the worst example of this corruption. That distinction belongs to the “Administrative State,” the dismantling of which must a top priority for the next conservative President. The term Administrative State refers to the policymaking work done by the bureaucracies of all the federal government’s departments, agencies, and millions of employees. Under Article I of the Constitution, “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.” That is, federal law is enacted only by elected legislators in both houses of Congress. This exclusive authority was part of the Framers’ doctrine of “separated powers.” They not only split the federal government’s legislative, executive, and judicial powers into different branches. They also gave each branch checks over the others. Under our Constitution, the legislative branch—Congress—is far and away the most powerful and, correspondingly, the most accountable to the people. In recent decades, members of the House and Senate discovered that if they give away that power to the Article II branch of government, they can also deny responsi- bility for its actions. So today in Washington, most policy is no longer set by Congress at all, but by the Administrative State. Given the choice between being powerful but vulnerable or irrelevant but famous, most Members of Congress have chosen the latter. Congress passes intentionally vague laws that delegate decision-making over a given issue to a federal agency. That agency’s bureaucrats—not just unelected but seemingly un-fireable—then leap at the chance to fill the vacuum created by Congress’s preening cowardice. The federal government is growing larger and less constitutionally accountable—even to the President—every year. l A combination of elected and unelected bureaucrats at the Environmental Protection Agency quietly strangles domestic energy production through difficult-to-understand rulemaking processes; — 8 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise l Bureaucrats at the Department of Homeland Security, following the lead of a feckless Administration, order border and immigration enforcement agencies to help migrants criminally enter our country with impunity; l Bureaucrats at the Department of Education inject racist, anti-American, ahistorical propaganda into America’s classrooms; l Bureaucrats at the Department of Justice force school districts to undermine girls’ sports and parents’ rights to satisfy transgender extremists; l Woke bureaucrats at the Pentagon force troops to attend “training” seminars about “white privilege”; and l Bureaucrats at the State Department infuse U.S. foreign aid programs with woke extremism about “intersectionality” and abortion.3 Unaccountable federal spending is the secret lifeblood of the Great Awokening. Nearly every power center held by the Left is funded or supported, one way or another, through the bureaucracy by Congress. Colleges and school districts are funded by tax dollars. The Administrative State holds 100 percent of its power at the sufferance of Congress, and its insulation from presidential discipline is an unconstitutional fairy tale spun by the Washington Establishment to protect its turf. Members of Congress shield themselves from constitutional accountability often when the White House allows them to get away with it. Cultural institutions like public libraries and public health agencies are only as “independent” from public accountability as elected officials and voters permit. Let’s be clear: The most egregious regulations promulgated by the current Administration come from one place: the Oval Office. The President cannot hide behind the agencies; as his many executive orders make clear, his is the respon- sibility for the regulations that threaten American communities, schools, and families. A conservative President must move swiftly to do away with these vast abuses of presidential power and remove the career and political bureaucrats who fuel it. Properly considered, restoring fiscal limits and constitutional accountability to the federal government is a continuation of restoring national sovereignty to the American people. In foreign affairs, global strategy, federal budgeting and pol- icymaking, the same pattern emerges again and again. Ruling elites slash and tear at restrictions and accountability placed on them. They centralize power up and away from the American people: to supra-national treaties and organizations, to left-wing “experts,” to sight-unseen all-or-nothing legislating, to the unelected career bureaucrats of the Administrative State.

Introduction

Moderate 67.0%
Pages: 40-42

— 7 — Foreword Instead, party leaders negotiate one multitrillion-dollar spending bill—several thousand pages long—and then vote on it before anyone, literally, has had a chance to read it. Debate time is restricted. Amendments are prohibited. And all of this is backed up against a midnight deadline when the previous “omnibus” spending bill will run out and the federal government “shuts down.” This process is not designed to empower 330 million American citizens and their elected representatives, but rather to empower the party elites secretly nego- tiating without any public scrutiny or oversight. In the end, congressional leaders’ behavior and incentives here are no differ- ent from those of global elites insulating policy decisions—over the climate, trade, public health, you name it—from the sovereignty of national electorates. Public scrutiny and democratic accountability make life harder for policymakers—so they skirt it. It’s not dysfunction; it’s corruption. And despite its gaudy price tag, the federal budget is not even close to the worst example of this corruption. That distinction belongs to the “Administrative State,” the dismantling of which must a top priority for the next conservative President. The term Administrative State refers to the policymaking work done by the bureaucracies of all the federal government’s departments, agencies, and millions of employees. Under Article I of the Constitution, “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.” That is, federal law is enacted only by elected legislators in both houses of Congress. This exclusive authority was part of the Framers’ doctrine of “separated powers.” They not only split the federal government’s legislative, executive, and judicial powers into different branches. They also gave each branch checks over the others. Under our Constitution, the legislative branch—Congress—is far and away the most powerful and, correspondingly, the most accountable to the people. In recent decades, members of the House and Senate discovered that if they give away that power to the Article II branch of government, they can also deny responsi- bility for its actions. So today in Washington, most policy is no longer set by Congress at all, but by the Administrative State. Given the choice between being powerful but vulnerable or irrelevant but famous, most Members of Congress have chosen the latter. Congress passes intentionally vague laws that delegate decision-making over a given issue to a federal agency. That agency’s bureaucrats—not just unelected but seemingly un-fireable—then leap at the chance to fill the vacuum created by Congress’s preening cowardice. The federal government is growing larger and less constitutionally accountable—even to the President—every year. l A combination of elected and unelected bureaucrats at the Environmental Protection Agency quietly strangles domestic energy production through difficult-to-understand rulemaking processes;

About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text. A score of 60% or higher indicates meaningful thematic overlap. This does not imply direct causation or intent, but highlights areas where legislation aligns with Project 2025 policy objectives.