Senate rejects a budget waiver for the amendment to cap U.S. prescription drug prices at European and Canadian levels
On the Motion (Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline Re: Sanders Amdt. No. 5159)
APR 23, 2026 · 2:10 AM ET
Party-line vote, except 3 Republicans who crossed. 11 votes short of the 60 needed.
What the Senate was voting on
The Senate voted on whether to set aside budget rules for S.Amdt. 5159, which would allow budget adjustments for qualifying legislation to cut prescription drug prices. S.Con.Res. 33 sets the congressional budget for fiscal years 2026 through 2035 and provides instructions for legislation that increases the deficit. The motion was rejected, with supporters 11 votes short of the 60 needed.
Set aside the budget rules that would otherwise apply to S.Amdt. 5159.
Keep those budget rules in place for S.Amdt. 5159.
Adds a deficit-neutral reserve fund allowing the Senate Budget chairman to adjust budget allocations and the pay-as-you-go ledger for legislation to cut prescription drug prices by more than 50%, including Most Favored Nation pricing.
Agreed to by both chambers on April 29, 2026. Concurrent resolutions do not go to the President.
- VP
- The Vice President can break ties on simple-majority votes, not on 60-vote ones.
60 is three-fifths of the 100 senators sworn in. Waiving a Budget Act limit takes three-fifths of sworn senators, not of those voting.
- VP
- The Vice President can break ties on simple-majority votes, not on 60-vote ones.
Party line, with 3 Republicans crossing3 Republicans crossed. It wasn’t enough.
Every vote on S.Con.Res. 33, in both chambersFailed in the Senate. Passed the House.
CHAMBER CONTRASTThe Senate rejected it 49–49 on April 23, 11 short of the 60 needed, with 3 Republicans voting yes. The House agreed to it 215–211 on April 29.
- APR 21Discharged from committeeDISCHARGED
- APR 21#87Motion to proceedAGREED TO52–46
- APR 23#101THIS VOTEBudget waiver for the amendment to cap U.S. prescription drug prices at European and Canadian levelsFAILED49–4911 votes short of the 60 needed.
- APR 23#105On adoptionPASSED50–48
