Bills · S 4173
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 4173Economics and Public Finance
Dollar-for-Dollar Deficit Reduction Act
INTRO MAR 24· LAST ACTION MAR 24
READING
7MIN
COSPONSORS
1
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it fundamentally changes how the U.S. government approaches its national debt and spending. If it becomes law, it would tie any increase in the government's borrowing authority directly to decisions about cutting spending. This could lead to more difficult and potentially contentious negotiations every time the debt limit needs to be raised, increasing the risk of government shutdowns if Congress cannot agree on spending cuts.
For voters, this bill means that future government services and programs could be at risk of cuts whenever the nation's debt approaches its legal limit. It reflects a desire by some to impose more fiscal discipline, arguing that the government should not simply borrow more without also addressing its spending habits. However, it could also make it harder for the government to pay its existing bills, potentially causing economic instability if a debt limit increase is delayed due to disagreement over spending reductions.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue a "debt limit warning" to Congress when the government is projected to hit the debt limit within 60 days.
Provides an early official alert about the approaching debt limit, triggering potential political action earlier.
PROVISION 02
Mandates that any Presidential request for a debt limit increase must include proposed legislation for spending cuts equal to or greater than the increase over the next ten years.
Shifts the burden to the President to proactively identify offsetting spending cuts.
PROVISION 03
Prohibits Congress from considering any bill to increase the debt limit unless it contains spending reductions equal to or greater than the increase over the next ten years.
Directly links debt limit increases to required spending cuts, making them politically interdependent.
PROVISION 04
Prohibits Congress from considering any bill to suspend the debt limit unless it contains spending reductions equal to or greater than the projected debt for the suspension period over the next ten years.
Extends the spending cut requirement to temporary debt limit suspensions, ensuring fiscal offsets.
PROVISION 05
Allows the Senate to waive the spending cut requirement for debt limit increases or suspensions with a three-fifths (60-vote) supermajority vote.
Provides a mechanism for the Senate to bypass the rule in emergencies, though still requiring broad bipartisan support.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 1
R· Wyoming
YRS IN OFFICE
19
BILLS LED
58
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 1 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSMAR 24
Introduced in Senate
MAR 24
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget. (text: CR S1582-1583)
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 4173
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedMar 24, 2026
Last actionMar 24, 2026
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · BUDGET COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 24, 2026
Senate BillS 4173Economics and Public Finance
Dollar-for-Dollar Deficit Reduction Act
INTRODUCED MAR 24, 2026· LAST ACTION MAR 24, 2026
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
7 min
COSPONSORS
1
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
