Marlin Stutzman

06/05/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/05/2025 18:53

REP. STUTZMAN INTRODUCES THE EMERGENCY SPENDING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Marlin Stutzman (IN-03) introduced a new piece of legislation, theEmergency Spending Accountability Act.

The bill addresses irresponsible emergency spending in two parts:

  1. This bill ensures fiscal responsibility by requiring the federal government to pay off the balance of future emergency spending by 20% per year over five years.
  2. The bill demands accountability by requiring that any future emergency spending be justified in accordance with the Balanced Budget and Emergency Control Act of 1985(BBEDCA). The 5-part criterion laid out by the BBEDCA for justifying emergency spending sets forth that it should be necessary, sudden, urgent, unforeseen, and not permanent.

Congress cannot continue to use emergency spending to fill funding gaps while simultaneously driving up the national debt. This legislation is co-sponsored by Rep. Lance Gooden (TX-05), Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-09), Rep. Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Rep. Ralph Norman (SC-05), Rep. Scott Perry (PA-10), Rep. Keith Self (TX-03), and Rep. Jefferson Shreve (IN-06). Fox News was first to report the legislation with an exclusive article.

"Despite being over $36 trillion in debt, Washington still continues to spend taxpayer funds without remorse," said Rep. Stutzman. "Of that $36 trillion, over $14 trillion of it can be attributed to unbudgeted emergency spending. These dollars are rarely paid back and most are never used for actual emergencies which is why I am introducing the Emergency Spending Accountability Act to address this gross misuse of Americans' hard-earned money. Washington's spending problem must end. This bill will restore fiscal sanity to the emergency spending process. I thank all conservatives who have put their support behind this legislation."

"Congress has treated emergency spending like a blank check for far too long. The Emergency Spending Accountability Act is a serious step toward restoring budget discipline and making lawmakers think twice before slapping the 'emergency' label on routine or politically convenient spending. By requiring offsets and phasing in automatic cuts, this bill helps protect taxpayers and forces Congress to be more honest about trade-offs. It's a commonsense reform that's long overdue," said Romina Boccia, Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy & Dominik Lett, Budget Policy Analyst at the Cato Institute.

"Government spending is on an unsustainable trajectory that threatens America's fiscal capacity to respond to true emergencies. Unfortunately, Congress has abused loopholes to get around the normal budgetary enforcement rules by calling certain spending an 'emergency.' Rep. Stutzman's important legislation would ensure that new emergency-designated spending is responsibly offset over time," said Paul Winfree, President and CEO of the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC).

"As our national debt continues to reach unprecedented levels, Congress lacks accountability in properly tracking wasteful emergency spending. The Emergency Spending Accountability Act will hold lawmakers accountable in halting reckless spending and will force Congress to explain waste that increases our crippling national debt. We must restore fiscal sanity, accountability, and trust to our institutions. This bill will ensure the lack of oversight ends now," said Ryan Walker, Executive Vice President of Heritage Action for America.

"For too long, the government has quietly used the cover of 'emergencies' to divert funds reserved for unforeseen events into routine spending, completely undermining public trust. Mechanisms meant for a crisis have instead become a tool of convenience, control, and coercion, with taxpayers left footing the bill," said Tarren Bragdon, President and CEO of the Foundation for Government Accountability. "The slow but insidious loosening of the definition of 'emergency spending' must be reversed if we are to get our country's fiscal house in order. Rep. Stutzman is stepping up to demand accountability, curb unnecessary spending, and provide real leadership with the Emergency Spending Accountability Act."

"The Emergency Spending Accountability Act is a positive step toward preventing increases to our out-of-control deficits. While we all want to help communities impacted by disasters, that doesn't mean we should borrow for it permanently - it means we should prioritize and find ways to offset truly needed assistance over time. The national debt is on an unsustainable trajectory, and every time policymakers refuse to offset legislation, they make it worse. This bill would create a mechanism to ensure that emergency spending is offset, helping to encourage lawmakers to prioritize and find offsets. Thank you to Rep. Stutzman for introducing this bill," said Maya MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

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