Comprehensive Congressional Budget Act of 2026

H.R. 7295, the Comprehensive Congressional Budget Act of 2026, would reform how Congress handles the federal budget process. Currently, Congress votes on 12 annual appropriations bills that cover only about one-quarter of federal spending. The remaining roughly 75 percent of the budget consists of mandatory or autopilot spending programs that Congress renews without annual votes. If enacted, this bill would require Congress to vote on the entire federal budget each year, including both discretionary spending and mandatory spending programs. The bill would require the House Budget Committee to compile the 12 appropriations bills along with submissions from other committees and send the complete budget to the House floor for a vote. It would also require both the House and Senate Budget Committees to report a baseline budget level if Congress fails to agree on a concurrent resolution by April 15 of each year. Supporters argue this would increase congressional accountability and transparency by forcing lawmakers to consider all federal spending priorities together rather than in separate pieces.