Victor Valley Times

This week, U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA) reintroduced three legislative measures aimed at reducing wasteful government spending. The proposals include the Finding Federal Savings Committee Resolution, the Obernolte Balanced Budget Amendment, and the Cost-Share Accountability Act.

"The U.S. national debt has surpassed $36 trillion and is growing by $1 trillion about every 100 days," stated Rep. Obernolte. "Congress and DOGE must prioritize cutting underperforming and nonessential federal programs to bring spending back under control and work together to finally balance the federal budget."

The Finding Federal Savings Committee Resolution aims to instill fiscal responsibility in the federal government. Modeled after a post-World War II era committee, it proposes creating a bipartisan committee within the U.S. House of Representatives to recommend changes or eliminations of ineffective federal programs, potentially reducing federal expenditure.

The Obernolte Balanced Budget Amendment seeks a constitutional requirement for Congress to balance the federal budget over five years. It mandates no deficit between appropriations and collected revenue unless there is a fiscal emergency.

The Cost-Share Accountability Act intends to increase transparency in the Department of Energy's projects by requiring quarterly reports on modifications or bypasses of statutory cost-sharing requirements be made public and submitted to Congress. This aims to enhance accountability in how taxpayer dollars are spent.

With the current national debt exceeding $36 trillion, equivalent to $100,000 per American, projections from the Congressional Budget Office suggest this figure will rise rapidly unless Congress achieves a balanced budget. The spending deficit is expected to average $1.9 trillion annually from 2025 through 2034 due to recent increases in spending. By 2054, the federal debt could reach 166% of GDP, marking an unprecedented level in U.S. history.