# Plain Language Summary: No Budget, No Fundraising Act

This bill would essentially freeze campaign fundraising for members of Congress and their political parties until the government gets its financial house in order. Specifically, members of Congress, national party campaign committees, and their affiliated groups would be prohibited from raising money for federal elections during any fiscal year unless two things happen first: Congress passes a budget resolution that shows a path to a balanced budget within ten years, and all the regular appropriations bills (the bills that fund different government departments) have been passed into law.

The practical effect is that this bill uses campaign fundraising as leverage to pressure Congress to complete its budget work. Right now, Congress often fails to pass a complete budget or individual appropriations bills on time, sometimes going months or even years without a formal budget in place. Under this law, members of Congress would lose the ability to raise campaign funds—a critical resource for running for reelection—until they finish this work. The bill sets a hard deadline: by the end of fiscal year 2033 at the latest, the budget must show that revenues will exceed spending.

The bill would apply starting in fiscal year 2024 and would continue for every year going forward. This creates a direct financial incentive for lawmakers to prioritize passing budgets and spending bills, since their own ability to campaign and raise money would depend on it. However, critics might argue this could also pressure Congress to pass budgets hastily just to lift the fundraising ban, rather than carefully considering spending priorities. Supporters contend it would finally force Congress to address the government's chronic failure to complete its basic budgeting responsibilities.

No Budget, No Fundraising Act

No Budget, No Fundraising Act This bill prohibits Members of Congress and national congressional campaign committees from soliciting federal campaign funds during a fiscal year until a balanced budget resolution is in effect and appropriations bills that are consistent with the budget resolutions are enacted.