S.Con.Res. 38 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Aug 7, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryCongress sets federal budget limits for 2027-2036
This resolution establishes spending and revenue targets for the federal government over the next decade, starting with fiscal year 2027. It sets overall budgetary levels across government agencies and major spending categories, recommends specific amounts for revenues and deficits, and includes instructions for committees to draft legislation that could increase the deficit within set limits. The resolution also creates procedures for how Congress will consider and enforce these budget rules.
How it affects you
This is an internal congressional planning document that doesn't directly affect your daily life or finances. Budget resolutions like this one set the framework Congress uses to debate and pass spending bills on defense, Social Security, Medicare, education, and other programs you may rely on—but the actual changes to those programs would come from separate legislation that Congress passes later.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Aug 7, 2026)
This concurrent resolution establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2027, sets forth budgetary levels for FY2028-FY2036, and provides reconciliation instructions for legislation that increases the deficit.
The resolution recommends levels and amounts for FY2027-FY2036 for
• federal revenues,
• new budget authority,
• budget outlays,
• deficits,
• public debt,
• debt held by the public, and
• the major functional categories of spending.
It also recommends levels and amounts for Social Security and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) discretionary administrative expenses for the purpose of budget enforcement in the Senate.
The resolution includes reconciliation instructions that direct several congressional committees to submit recommendations for legislation that will increase the deficit over FY2027-FY2036 by not more than specified amounts. Each committee must submit the recommendations to the House or Senate Budget Committee by September 11, 2026.
(Under current law, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.)
In addition, the resolution establishes a reserve fund that allows certain adjustments to committee allocations and other budgetary levels to accommodate reconciliation legislation.
Finally, the resolution sets forth budget enforcement procedures that address issues such as
• adjustments to committee allocations and other budgetary levels;
• the budgetary treatment of discretionary administrative expenses for the Social Security Administration and the USPS;
• emergency spending requirements in the House; and
• additional adjustments in the House for disaster relief, wildfire suppression, health care fraud and abuse control, continuing disability reviews and redeterminations, and reemployment services and eligibility assessments.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionS.Con.Res. 38
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2027 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2028 through 2036.
Sponsor: Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) · Introduced Aug 7, 2026 · Economics and Public Finance · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Aug 7, 2026: “Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 550. (text: CR S4571-4577)”
Sections
Title I — Recommended levels and amounts · Subtitle A — Budgetary levels in both Houses · 2
Title I — Recommended levels and amounts · Subtitle B — Levels and amounts in the Senate · 2
Title II — Reconciliation · 2
Title III — Reserve funds · 1
Title IV — Other matters · 8
- Sec. 4001Enforcement filingNo change
- Sec. 4002Budgetary treatment of administrative expensesNo change
- Sec. 4003Application and effect of changes in allocations, aggregates, and other budgetary levelsNo change
- Sec. 4004Adjustments to reflect changes in concepts and definitionsNo change
- Sec. 4005Adjustment for changes in the baselineNo change
- Sec. 4006Emergency requirements in the House of RepresentativesNo change
- Sec. 4007Additional adjustments in the House of RepresentativesNo change
- Sec. 4008Exercise of rulemaking powersNo change