I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6927 
To establish a commission on national debt and fiscal reforms. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 9, 2024 
Mrs. SPARTZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for 
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a commission on national debt and fiscal 
reforms. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Debt Commission Act 
of 2024’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEBT COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEBT COMMISSION.—No 
later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
there shall be established in Congress a Debt Commission. 
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(b) MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE.—The Debt Commis-
sion shall be composed of 16 members, of whom— 
(1) four members shall be appointed by the ma-
jority leader of the Senate from among the current 
Members of the Senate; 
(2) four members shall be appointed by the mi-
nority leader of the Senate from among the current 
Members of the Senate; 
(3) four members shall be appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives from 
among the current Members of the House of Rep-
resentatives; and 
(4) four members shall be appointed by the mi-
nority leader of the House of Representatives from 
among the current Members of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members appointed to the 
Debt Commission shall have significant depth of experi-
ence and expertise on fiscal issues. 
(d) VACANCY.—Any vacancy in the Debt Commission 
shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appoint-
ment under subsection (b). 
(e) CO-CHAIRS.—From among the members ap-
pointed in subsection (b), the leadership of the Senate and 
House of Representatives of the same political party as 
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the President shall designate 1 member, and the leader-
ship of the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
opposite political party as the President, shall designate 
1 member to serve as a co-chairs of the Debt Commission. 
(f) STAFF DIRECTOR.—The co-chairs of the Debt 
Commission, acting jointly, shall hire the staff director of 
the Debt Commission. 
(g) STAFF COMPENSATION.—The co-chairs of the 
Debt Commission may jointly appoint and fix the com-
pensation of staff of the Debt Commission as the co-chairs 
determine necessary, in accordance with the guidelines, 
rules, and requirements relating to employees of the Sen-
ate. 
(h) FUNDING.—Funding for the Debt Commission 
shall be derived in equal portions from— 
(1) the contingent fund of the Senate from the 
appropriations account ‘‘Miscellaneous Items’’, sub-
ject to the rules and regulations of the Senate; and 
(2) the applicable accounts of the House of 
Representatives. 
(i) DUTIES.—The Debt Commission shall identify 
policies to— 
(1) achieve a sustainable ratio of the public 
debt of the Federal Government to the gross domes-
tic product of the United States, in the midterm, in-
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cluding changes to address growth, discretionary ap-
propriations, direct spending, and revenues; 
(2) improve the long-term solvency of Federal 
programs for which a Federal trust fund exists; and 
(3) reform budget processes for enhancing the 
fiscal oversight function of Congress. 
(j) POWERS OF DEBT COMMISSION.— 
(1) HEARINGS.— 
(A) PUBLIC HEARINGS.—The Debt Com-
mission shall hold public hearings and require 
attendance of witnesses and production of 
books, papers, and documents as the Debt 
Commission considers advisable. 
(B) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 
days after the date described in subsection (a), 
the Debt Commission shall hold the first meet-
ing. 
(C) AGENDA.—For each meeting of the 
Debt Commission, the co-chairs of the Debt 
Commission shall provide an agenda to the 
members of the Debt Commission not later 
than 48 hours before the meeting. 
(D) HEARING ANNOUNCEMENT.—The co- 
chairs of the Debt Commission shall make a 
public announcement of the date, place, time, 
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and subject matter of any hearing to be con-
ducted under this subsection not later than 7 
days before the date of the hearing, unless the 
co-chairs determine that there is good cause to 
begin such hearing on an earlier date. 
(2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Upon written re-
quest of the co-chairs of the Debt Commission, the 
head of a Federal agency shall provide technical as-
sistance to the Debt Commission in a timely manner 
in order for the Debt Commission to carry out the 
duties of the Debt Commission. 
(3) TASK FORCES AND WORKING GROUPS.—The 
co-chairs may establish task forces and working 
groups to carry out the duties of the Debt Commis-
sion, which may include participation by outside ex-
perts. 
(4) CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET
OFFICE
ESTI-
MATES.—The Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office shall, with respect to the legislative language 
of the Debt Commission under subsection (l)(1)(B), 
provide to the Debt Commission— 
(A) estimates of the legislative language in 
accordance with sections 308(a) and 201(f) of 
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 
U.S.C. 639(a) and 8 601(f)); and 
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(B) recommendations regarding which rec-
ommendations contained in the Debt Commis-
sion report should not be addressed in the pro-
posed report. 
(4) SUPPLEMENTAL
VIEWS.—The Chair and 
Ranking Member of each relevant committee can 
submit supplemental views to include in the final re-
port under subsection (l). 
(l) FINAL REPORT, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND LEGIS-
LATIVE LANGUAGE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On November 15, 2024, or 
thereafter, but not later than 30 days before the 
date specified in section 401(a) of division D of the 
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (Public Law 118– 
5), the Debt Commission shall meet to consider, and 
vote on— 
(A) a final report that contains a detailed 
statement of the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations required under subsection (i); 
and 
(B) legislative language to carry out the 
recommendations of the Debt Commission in 
the report described in subparagraph (A), which 
shall include a statement of the economic and 
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budgetary effects of the recommendations by 
the Congressional Budget Office. 
(2) APPROVAL OF REPORT AND LEGISLATIVE 
LANGUAGE.—A final report and legislative language 
of the Debt Commission under paragraph (1) shall 
require a separate vote and the approval of a major-
ity of the members of the Debt Commission, pro-
vided that such majority shall be required to include 
not less than 4 members of the Debt Commission 
appointed by members of the Republican Party and 
4 members appointed by members of the Democratic 
Party. 
(3) ADDITIONAL
VIEWS.—A member of the 
Debt Commission who gives notice of an intention to 
file supplemental, minority, or additional views at 
the time of the final Debt Commission vote on the 
approval of the report and legislative language shall 
be entitled to 3 days to file those views in writing 
with the staff director of the Debt Commission to in-
clude in the final report. 
(4) REPORT AND LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE TO 
BE
MADE
PUBLIC.—Upon the approval or dis-
approval of a report and legislative language under 
paragraph (1) by the Debt Commission, the Debt 
Commission shall promptly, and not more than 24 
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hours after the approval or disapproval or, if timely 
notice is given under paragraph (3), not more than 
24 hours after additional views are filed under such 
paragraph (3), make the report, the legislative lan-
guage, and a record of the vote on the report and 
legislative language available to the public. 
(5) SUBMISSION OF REPORT AND LEGISLATIVE 
LANGUAGE.—If a report or legislative language are 
approved by the Debt Commission under paragraph 
(1), not later than 3 days after the date on which 
the report or legislative language are made available 
to the public under paragraph (4), the Debt Com-
mission shall submit the report or legislative lan-
guage to the President, the Vice President, the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the 
majority and minority leaders of each House of Con-
gress. 
(m) TERMINATION.—The Debt Commission shall ter-
minate on the date that is 30 days after the date the Debt 
Commission submits the final report under subsection (l) 
or December 31, 2024, whichever is earlier. 
SEC. 3. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF DEBT COMMISSION 
BILLS. 
(a) QUALIFYING LEGISLATION.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Only a Debt Commission bill 
shall be entitled to expedited consideration under 
this section. 
(2) DEBT COMMISSION BILL DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘Debt Commission bill’’ means a 
bill consisting solely of legislative language that the 
Debt Commission approves and submits under sec-
tion 2(l)(5). 
(b) CONSIDERATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT-
ATIVES.— 
(1) INTRODUCTION.—If the Debt Commission 
approves and submits legislative language under 
paragraphs (1) and (5), respectively, of section 2(l), 
the Debt Commission bill consisting solely of that 
legislative language shall be introduced in the House 
of Representatives (by request)— 
(A) by the majority leader of the House of 
Representatives, or by a Member of the House 
of Representatives designated by the majority 
leader of the House of Representatives, on the 
third legislative day after the date the Debt 
Commission approves and submits such legisla-
tive language; or 
(B) if the Debt Commission bill is not in-
troduced under subparagraph (A), by any Mem-
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ber of the House of Representatives on any leg-
islative day beginning on the legislative day 
after the legislative day described in subpara-
graph (A). 
(2) REFERRAL
AND
REPORTING.—Any com-
mittee of the House of Representatives to which a 
Debt Commission bill is referred shall report the 
Debt Commission bill to the House of Representa-
tives without amendment not later than 5 legislative 
days after the date on which the Debt Commission 
bill was so referred. If any committee of the House 
of Representatives to which a Debt Commission bill 
is referred fails to report the Debt Commission bill 
within that period, that committee shall be auto-
matically discharged from consideration of the Debt 
Commission bill, and the Debt Commission bill shall 
be placed on the appropriate calendar. 
(3) PROCEEDING
TO
CONSIDERATION.—After 
the last committee authorized to consider a Debt 
Commission bill reports it to the House of Rep-
resentatives or has been discharged from its consid-
eration, it shall be in order to move to proceed to 
consider the Debt Commission bill in the House of 
Representatives. Such a motion shall not be in order 
after the House of Representatives has disposed of 
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a motion to proceed with respect to the Debt Com-
mission bill. The previous question shall be consid-
ered as ordered on the motion to its adoption with-
out intervening motion. 
(4) CONSIDERATION.—The Debt Commission 
bill shall be considered as read. All points of order 
against the Debt Commission bill and against its 
consideration are waived. The previous question 
shall be considered as ordered on the Debt Commis-
sion bill to its passage without intervening motion 
except 2 hours of debate equally divided and con-
trolled by the proponent and an opponent. 
(5) VOTE ON PASSAGE.—The vote on passage 
of the Debt Commission bill shall occur pursuant to 
the constraints under clause 8 of rule XX of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives. 
(c) EXPEDITED PROCEDURE IN THE SENATE.— 
(1) INTRODUCTION
IN
THE
SENATE.—If the 
Debt Commission approves and submits legislative 
language under paragraphs (1) and (5), respectively, 
of section 2(l)), a Debt Commission bill consisting 
solely of that legislative language may be introduced 
in the Senate (by request)— 
(A) by the majority leader of the Senate, 
or by a Member of the Senate designated by the 
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majority leader of the Senate, on the next day 
on which the Senate is in session; or 
(B) if the Debt Commission bill is not in-
troduced under subparagraph (A), by any Mem-
ber of the Senate on any day on which the Sen-
ate is in session beginning on the day after the 
day described in subparagraph (A). 
(2) 
COMMITTEE
CONSIDERATION.—A 
Debt 
Commission bill introduced in the Senate under 
paragraph (1) shall be jointly referred to the com-
mittee or committees of jurisdiction, which commit-
tees shall report the Debt Commission bill without 
any revision and with a favorable recommendation, 
an unfavorable recommendation, or without rec-
ommendation, not later than 5 session days after the 
date on which the Debt Commission bill was so re-
ferred. If any committee to which a Debt Commis-
sion bill is referred fails to report the Debt Commis-
sion bill within that period, that committee shall be 
automatically discharged from consideration of the 
Debt Commission bill, and the Debt Commission bill 
shall be placed on the appropriate calendar. 
(3) PROCEEDING.—Notwithstanding rule XXII 
of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order, 
not later than 2 days of session after the date on 
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plant the Debt Commission bill of the receiving 
House. 
(2) REVENUE
MEASURES.—This subsection 
shall not apply to the House of Representatives if a 
Debt Commission bill received from the Senate is a 
revenue measure. 
(f) RULES TO COORDINATE ACTION WITH OTHER 
HOUSE.— 
(1) TREATMENT OF DEBT COMMISSION BILL OF 
OTHER HOUSE.—If a Debt Commission bill is not 
introduced in the Senate or the Senate fails to con-
sider a Debt Commission bill under this section, the 
Debt Commission bill of the House of Representa-
tives consisting of legislative language approved by 
the same Debt Commission as the Debt Commission 
bill in the Senate shall be entitled to expedited floor 
procedures under this section. 
(2) TREATMENT OF COMPANION MEASURES IN 
THE SENATE.—If, following passage of a Debt Com-
mission bill in the Senate, the Senate then receives 
from the House of Representatives a Debt Commis-
sion bill approved by the same Debt Commission and 
consisting of the same legislative language as the 
Senate-passed Debt Commission bill, the House- 
passed Debt Commission bill shall not be debatable. 
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The vote on passage of the Debt Commission bill in 
the Senate shall be considered to be the vote on pas-
sage of the Debt Commission bill received from the 
House of Representatives. 
(3) VETOES.—If the President vetoes a Debt 
Commission bill, consideration of a veto message in 
the Senate under this paragraph shall be 10 hours 
equally divided between the majority and minority 
leaders of the Senate or the designees of the major-
ity and minority leaders of the Senate. 
SEC. 4. RULEMAKING. 
The provisions of this Act are enacted by Congress— 
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives, re-
spectively, and, as such, the provisions— 
(A) shall be considered as part of the rules 
of each House, respectively, or of that House to 
which they specifically apply; and 
(B) shall supersede other rules only to the 
extent that they are inconsistent therewith; and 
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional 
right of either House to change such rules (so far 
as relating to such House) at any time, in the same 
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manner, and to the same extent as in the case of 
any other rule of such House. 
Æ 
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