H.R. 3912: Stop the Baseline Bloat Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Stop the Baseline Bloat Act of 2025, proposes amendments to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Its primary focus is to adjust the way that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) calculates its baseline projections for discretionary appropriations. Here’s a breakdown of the main components:

Purpose of the Bill

The main goal of this bill is to prevent what it describes as “baseline bloat.” This occurs when the budget baseline gets inflated due to the inclusion of certain types of funding. Specifically, the bill aims to stop the CBO from including resources that are:

• Designated as an emergency requirement.
• Provided through supplemental appropriations laws.

Proposed Changes

The bill proposes to modify Section 257(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act by adding a clause that would exclude these emergency and supplemental resources from the calculation of the baseline projections used by the CBO. This change is intended to create a more accurate representation of the government's discretionary spending limits.

Impact on Budget Projections

By excluding emergency-designated and supplemental funding from the baseline, the bill aims to ensure that future budget projections are not artificially inflated. This adjustment could affect the way that federal budgetary decisions are made, as it changes the fundamental assumptions on which the budget is based.

Legislative Context

This bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives and is part of the 119th Congress. It has been sponsored by several members, indicating a level of interest and support for reforming how budget baselines are calculated.

Relevant Companies

None found