Senate Committee on the Budget

The Senate Committee on the Budget is responsible for creating the overall fiscal blueprint that guides congressional action on spending, revenue, and debt. Unlike the Finance Committee (which handles taxes and entitlements) or the Appropriations Committee (which funds specific programs), the Budget Committee develops the concurrent resolution on the budget—a framework that sets total spending and revenue targets and establishes the rules Congress must follow. The committee also oversees the Congressional Budget Office and enforces budget rules by identifying violations and working with other committees to address them.

When bills are referred to the Budget Committee, they are evaluated against the overall fiscal plan and budget rules. The committee can raise budget points of order to block legislation that violates spending limits or other constraints. This enforcement power makes the committee a crucial gatekeeper in the legislative process, particularly for major spending and tax bills that use the reconciliation process—a fast-track procedure that bypasses the Senate's normal 60-vote requirement.

Chair Lindsey Graham (R-SC) leads the committee, with Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR) representing the Democratic minority. Recent activity includes consideration of bills on deficit reduction, budget reform, and rescissions of previously appropriated funds. The committee also approved the fiscal year 2025 budget resolution, which set spending and revenue targets and unlocked reconciliation instructions allowing major tax and spending legislation to advance with a simple majority vote.