# The SUBMIT IT Act: What It Actually Does

This bill is about changing the timing of when the President delivers the State of the Union address. Right now, Presidents typically give this famous speech to Congress early in the year—often in January or February—but they frequently haven't yet submitted their detailed budget plan or national security strategy to Congress by that time. This bill would change that by requiring the President to submit both documents before Congress invites them to give the speech.

Here's what would actually happen: The President's budget request (which outlines how much money the government plans to spend on everything from defense to social programs) and the National Security Strategy (which explains the country's military, intelligence, and diplomatic plans) would need to reach Congress first. Only after Congress receives both of these documents could the Senate and House leadership formally invite the President to deliver the State of the Union address. The bill notes that this has been a consistent pattern—every recent president from George W. Bush through Joe Biden has given their State of the Union speech before submitting these required documents to Congress.

The practical effect would be relatively modest but meaningful for how Congress operates. It would ensure that lawmakers have the President's detailed plans and budget priorities in hand before hearing the President's annual address to the nation. This could make the speech more substantive, since Congress would already know the specifics rather than hearing broad promises first and getting details later. However, this would likely push the State of the Union address later in the year than the traditional early February timing, since the budget deadline is the first Monday in February and these documents often arrive late anyway. For most Americans, this change would be invisible—you'd just notice the speech happening at a different time of year, if you watch it at all.

SUBMIT IT Act

Carter, Earl L. "Buddy"

Send Us Budget Materials and International Tactics In Time Act or the SUBMIT IT ActThis bill prohibits the leadership of Congress from inviting the President to deliver a State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress until the President has transmitted, and Congress has received, the National Security Strategy and the President’s budget for the subsequent fiscal year.