Streamlines House consideration of the Senate-amended fiscal year 2025 budget resolution and temporarily suspends the timeline for ending the April 2, 2025, national emergency.
Virginia Foxx
Representative
NC-5
This bill allows the House to quickly consider and vote on the Senate's version of the budget resolution for fiscal year 2025, which includes budget guidelines for fiscal years 2026-2034. It also pauses the timeline for a resolution to end the national emergency declared on April 2, 2025.
| Party | Total Votes | Yes | No | Did Not Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | 220 | 216 | 3 | 1 |
Democrat | 213 | 0 | 212 | 1 |
House Resolution Fast-Tracks FY2025 Budget Vote, Adjusts Timeline for National Emergency Review
This House Resolution sets special rules for two distinct pieces of legislative business. First, it smooths the path for the House to consider the Senate's version of the big federal budget plan (H. Con. Res. 14), covering fiscal year 2025 and setting targets through 2034. Second, it modifies the standard procedure for reviewing a specific national emergency declaration.
Budget Blueprint: Go Time
The resolution essentially clears the procedural hurdles for a vote on the Senate's budget amendment. It specifically waives points of order – think of these as potential procedural objections that could slow things down. Debate on the motion to agree with the Senate's changes is capped at just one hour, split evenly between the Budget Committee's leadership. No other motions can interrupt this process. This means the budget framework moves quickly to a vote, prioritizing speed over extended floor debate. While efficiency is gained, it limits the time for rank-and-file members to publicly discuss or attempt to alter the multi-year budget plan on the House floor.
Emergency Powers: A Pause Button?
The resolution also addresses a national emergency declared on April 2, 2025. Under the National Emergencies Act, Congress has mechanisms to review and potentially terminate such declarations. This resolution carves out a specific period – from April 9, 2025, through September 30, 2025 – stipulating that this time won't count toward the deadline for Congress to act on a joint resolution to end that specific emergency. In practical terms, this extends the functional duration of the emergency declaration before facing the standard congressional termination procedure outlined in the Act. This raises questions about the balance between allowing the executive branch flexibility during crises and ensuring timely congressional oversight, as it effectively pauses one of Congress's tools for checking emergency powers for nearly six months.