House Budget Committee activity: July 21, 2025 – August 22, 2025

Legislation considered: Debt ceiling, Texas flood emergency, Social Security, Pell Grants, loan forgiveness. And yes, Al Green, you're a national treasure.

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LLOYD SMUCKER sits on this committee.

Republican members: Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Chair; Ralph Norman (R-SC); Tom McClintock (R-CA); Glenn Grothman (R-WI); Lloyd Smucker (R-PA); Buddy Carter (R-GA); Ben Cline (R-VA); Jack Bergman (R-MI); Chip Roy (R-TX); Marlin Stutzman (R-IN); Blake Moore (R-UT); Ron Estes (R-KS); Josh Brecheen (R-OK); Jay Obernolte (R-CA); Mike Carey (R-OH); Chuck Edwards (R-NC); Andrew Clyde (R-GA); Erin Houchin (R-IN); Addison McDowell (R-NC); Brandon Gill (R-TX); and, Tim Moore (R-NC).

Democratic members: Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Ranking Minority Member; Lloyd Doggett (D-TX); Robert Scott (D-VA); Scott Peters (D-CA); Jimmy Panetta (D-CA); Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ); Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands); Veronica Escobar (D-TX); Ilhan Omar (D-MN); Becca Balint (D-VT); Marcy Kaptur (D-OH); Pramila Jayapal (D-WA); Judy Chu (D-CA); Paul Tonko (D-NY); Morgan McGarvey (D-KY); and, Gabe Amo (D-RI).

ACTIONS

None. Really.

LEGISLATION REFERRED TO COMMITTEE

H.R.4634 - Debt Ceiling Reform Act. To provide a process for ensuring the United States does not default on its obligations.

Introduced July 23, 2025 by Brendan Boyle (D-PA). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committees on Rules and Budget the same day.

Snarky comment: For a committee where the Republican chair placed a banner reading, “What We’re Lacking in Washington Is Courage to Do What Is Necessary,” this committee surely does very little indeed. Rep. Arrington gripes about the debt ceiling, but does little or nothing.

H.R.4749 - Texas Flood Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025. To provide emergency supplemental appropriations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the Disaster Relief Fund in response to the severe flooding events in Texas.

Introduced July 23, 2025 by Marc Veasey (D-TX). Cosponsored by eleven Democratic representatives from Texas. NO REPUBLICAN COSPONSORS, NOT EVEN FROM TEXAS. Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on the Budget the same day.

Comment: Neither Budget nor Appropriations moved on this proposed bill. It has sat in committees since July 23, 2025. If anyone from Texas gripes about lack of assistance from FEMA, point them here.

H.R.4793 - SOS Act (Save Our Seniors Act). To amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office to provide to Congress information on payments from the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Disability Insurance Trust Fund.

Introduced July 29, 2025 by Randy Feenstra (R-IA). Cosponsored by sixteen Republicans and no Democrats. Referred to the House Committee on the Budget the same day.

Comment: Another Orwellian name for a bill that does not “save seniors.” This is the full extent of the proposed legislation:

Section 202(e)(1) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by adding at the end the following: “Such report shall include a comparison, expressed in graph format and included with other information in the report on the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Disability Insurance Trust Fund, between: (A) the amount assumed under section 257(b)(1) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985; and (B) outlays from payments from such Trust Funds based on the assumption that payments would be consistent with the amounts payable from dedicated funding sources as under current law.”

H.R.4862 - To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to double the Pell Grant award amount, improve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and reduce interest rates. (No short title.)

Introduced August 1, 2025 by Robert Scott (D-VA). Six Democratic cosponsors, no Republicans. Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce and Budget the same day.

Comment: We will need to flip the House to see this legislation passed.

H.R.4885 - To posthumously award a historic Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Africans and their descendants enslaved within our country from August 20, 1619, to December 6, 1865. (No short title.)

Introduced August 5, 2025 by Al Green (D-TX). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Financial Services and House Administration and Budget the same day.

Very serious comment: Normally I would see this as a quixotic bit of legislation. But it’s not. And Mike Johnson’s referral of this to multiple committees is beyond absurd.

The proposed Congressional Medal would not be given to each and every descendant of slaves. Rather, it would be given to the Smithsonian on behalf of “Africans and their descendants enslaved…”

The cost is minimal. The humanity is maximal. Please read the text of this bill.

RESOLUTION REFERRED TO COMMITTEE

H.Res.631 - Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national security.

Introduced August 5, 2025 by Andy Biggs (R-AZ). Cosponsored by Byron Donalds (R-FL), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Daniel Webster (R-FL), and Dan Newhouse (R-WA). Referred to the Committee on the Budget and Ways and Means the same day.

Snarky comment: Aaaand there you have it, folks! This is what Trump Republicans do instead of addressing the issue. They propose a toothless resolution.

Snarky comment #2: This is also the short list of Trump Republican men in the House who want to be Vance’s vice president if and when.

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