The current budget process used by Congress will never work. Enacted in 1974, it was only worked the way it was intended four times in the past 44 years. As a result, our national debt has surpassed $20 trillion and is on track to grow another $10 trillion in the next decade.

Changing this failed budget process will not solve the national debt crisis, but we will not solve the debt crisis until we change the broken budget process. The plan the United States Senate passed today finally takes a real step towards doing so by establishing a committee that will work to change the budget process. This is our opportunity to finally get this done.

I’ve called for changing this broken budget process for years, and I’m not alone. Republicans and Democrats agree:  

Senator Steve Daines (R-MT): “The biggest hurdle to balancing the budget are the very rules, the very process that guides this institution. They are broken…We came here not to accept the status quo but to reject it, and to change the way this country operates truly to save the future of our kids and our grandkids.”

Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD): “We have to begin the process of fixing this broken [budget] system and we need to begin now. In 2026, our country turns 250 years old. Wouldn’t it be a marvelous goal if by that time we not only had this process fixed, but it was actually working once again?”

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA): “We can’t keep spending money we don’t have on things that aren’t necessary. Washington can’t even do the basic business of balancing our own budget…It might just take a complete overhaul of Washington’s ways to help us solve this problem.” 

Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE): “Washington’s budget process is broken and everyone in Nebraska knows it. This has to change or there’s always going to be another cliff, another countdown, and another Washington-driven crisis.”

Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA): “Congress should also pass a fiscally responsible budget with a number of important reforms to the disastrous budget process.”

Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK): “A lot of us ran for office – a lot of us for the first time – because we saw what is going on with this budget process…We have all been working on this for months this is what we need to do to finally get ahold of these enormous budget challenges. I want to encourage all of my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, to join in this process to bring your ideas to fix what is clearly a broken process.”

Senator John Thune (R-SD): “Congress has the constitutional responsibility to fund the government, and when it comes to the current congressional budget process, I’m not a fan. It’s broken, and it needs to be reformed.”

Senator Bob Corker (R-TN): “We really don’t have a budget process. I mean to even call what we do a budget, per most human beings’ understanding of what a budget is, is obviously not realistic…We have to, in essence, get a process in place that actually works. It’s impossible for the process we have today to work. Today, is a perfect example of that, right?”

Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY): “I don’t get invited many places to speak because I talk about the budget process and it depresses people. But it’s about time that we got depressed over the budget and got some changes.”

Senator James Lankford (R-OK): “The budget process is out of control and must be dramatically reformed. Agencies cannot plan, business leaders cannot forecast expenses for the next year and the economy is grinding to a halt. To achieve a better budget product, we must have a better budget process.”

Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI): “Only four times in the past 43 years has this budget process actually funded the federal government. Finding common ground to develop a real budget should be a bipartisan effort, and that’s why we’re fighting to fix it.”

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA): “It’s clear that Congress’ current budgeting and appropriations process is broken.”

Senator Angus King (I-ME): “For 20 years, Congress hasn’t had a budget on time. Instead, we’ve opted to kick difficult decisions a little bit further down the road through continuing resolutions, leaving important priorities unfinished.”

Senator Gary Peters (D-MI): “Our broken budget process needlessly shortchanges the effectiveness of federal programs through a never-ending cycle of short-term continuing resolutions and omnibus spending bills that create budget crises and keep the Government perpetually at the edge of a shutdown.”

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD): “Going from C.R. to C.R… results in wasteful spending at the Defense Department and has negative consequences for our defense.”

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH): “We cannot continue limping along from one budget to the next – that’s no way to run our government.”

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT): “Enough is enough. We cannot continue to run a $4 trillion government on a month to month basis.”

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD): “Our concern is we need a budget for the country. We are now four months into the fiscal year and we’ve been told by [government agencies] they cannot continue working with continuing resolutions, they have to have a budget in order for our country to function and there was no end in sight.” 

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA): “Our current budget process is broken. Time and time again Congress resorts to passing continuing resolutions and omnibus bills at the last minute instead of properly examining and debating our federal spending.”