WASHINGTON – Rep. Mark Green introduced a constitutional amendment in the U.S. House today that would require Congress to pass a balanced budget within 10 years and that budget permanently stay balanced.

Rep. Green’s amendment comes the same week Democrats put two appropriations bills on the U.S. House floor for a vote that balloon the deficit. The first bill passed with no bipartisan support. The second bill is expected to pass with little to no bipartisan support as well.

“The ballooning national debt is a threat to American economic and national security. Without a cut to our federal spending, our ability to defend the homeland will diminish greatly,” said Rep. Mark Green. “Further, passing on a massive debt burden to our children is reckless and irresponsible. As a parent, I want my children to have a better life than I had. At our current rate, we are setting our children up for economic disaster. It’s unfair and cruel.”

The amendment includes exceptions, such as allowing two-thirds of Congress to vote for an unbalanced budget if Congress has declared war or the nation is the midst of a serious national emergency.

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