SAMDT 1758 — To create a point of order against legislation that would create more debt over a 30-year period than has accumulated over the past 249 years.

AMENDS

HCONRES 14 — Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.

RESOLVING DIFFERENCES

AMENDMENT PROGRESS

STEP 3 OF 3

Proposed

Considered

Disposed

Proposed
Considered
Disposed

DISPOSITION

FAILED

APR 4, 2025

“Amendment SA 1758 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 53. Record Vote Number: 171.”

what this changes

This amendment tried to set a limit on how much new debt Congress could add in the future. It would have allowed Senators to block any bill that added more debt over the next 30 years than the United States has built up in its entire 249-year history.

WHY IT MATTERS

The amendment was an attempt to force Congress to slow down its borrowing by comparing future debt projections to the country's entire historical debt. If it had passed, it could have been used to block major policy changes—like large social programs or significant tax cuts—that would be funded by borrowing.

WHO IS AFFECTED

This primarily affects lawmakers by changing the rules of debate. If enacted, it would have indirectly affected all Americans by making it much harder for Congress to pass laws that significantly increase the national debt.

AMENDS

HCONRES 14RESOLVING DIFFERENCES

Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.

OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL

KEY POINTS

low

Historical Debt Comparison

It attempted to use the total debt from the last 249 years as a 'cap' for how much debt could be added in just the next 30 years.

low

Procedural Point of Order

This tool allows a single Senator to object to a bill, usually requiring a 60-vote supermajority to overcome the objection and move forward.

GLOSSARY

point of order: A formal objection made during a session that a rule is being violated, which can halt the progress of a bill.
national debt: The total amount of money that the federal government has borrowed and not yet paid back.

Official sources

SAMDT 1758 on Congress.gov

This analysis used: Amendment purpose · Latest action · Amended bill: summary

ACTION TIMELINE

7 EVENTS

APR 4, 25

Amendment SA 1758 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 53. Record Vote Number: 171.

FLOOR

APR 4, 25

Amendment SA 1758 proposed by Senator Merkley to Amendment SA 1717. (consideration: CR S2343-2344) To create a point of order against legislation that would create more debt over a 30-year period than has accumulated over the past 249 years.

FLOOR

APR 4, 25

INTROREFERRAL

APR 4, 25

Senate amendment proposed (on the floor): Amendment SA 1758 proposed by Senator Merkley to Amendment SA 1717.

FLOOR

READER REACTIONS

0 COMMENTS

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What do you think?

0 votes

Discussion

Loading comments...

To create a point of order against legislation that would create more debt over a 30-year period than has accumulated over the past 249 years.

AMENDS

SUMMARY

KEY POINTS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

AMENDMENT INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

To create a point of order against legislation that would create more debt over a 30-year period than has accumulated over the past 249 years.

AMENDS

AMENDMENT PROGRESS