S. 4173 Introduced Economics and Public Finance

Dollar-for-Dollar Deficit Reduction Act

A bill to require that any debt limit increase or suspension be balanced by equal spending cuts over the next decade.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] Introduced March 24, 2026 Cosponsors 2 (2 R) Latest action March 24, 2026

Summary

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.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Mar 24, 2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget. (text: CR S1582-1583)
  2. Mar 24, 2026 Introduced in Senate

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