Utah Senator John Curtis is leading a bipartisan effort in Washington to address one of the nation’s most pressing long-term challenges: the growing federal debt. Alongside Senator Angus King and a coalition of lawmakers from both parties, Curtis has introduced the Fiscal Commission Act, legislation aimed at bringing structure, accountability, and urgency to federal fiscal policy.
At the heart of the proposal is the creation of a bipartisan, bicameral fiscal commission tasked with developing actionable solutions to stabilize federal spending and reduce the national debt, which now exceeds $38 trillion. This is not a symbolic exercise. The commission would be required to produce legislative recommendations and vote on them by May 2027, giving Congress a defined timeline to confront the issue.
The urgency behind this effort is hard to ignore. Interest payments on the national debt are projected to exceed $1 trillion annually—surpassing major categories of federal spending and placing increasing pressure on taxpayers and future budgets. Stakeholders across the political spectrum warn that rising debt is crowding out investment, increasing inflation risks, and threatening long-term economic stability.
What makes the Fiscal Commission Act notable is its broad, bipartisan support—not only in Congress, but among policy organizations and fiscal watchdog groups. Organizations such as the Bipartisan Policy Center, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, and Americans for Prosperity have all expressed support, highlighting the need for a structured forum where lawmakers can engage in honest dialogue and develop sustainable solutions.
The proposed commission would include 16 members, 12 lawmakers and four outside experts, appointed by congressional leadership from both parties. Its mandate would be ambitious: stabilize the debt relative to the economy within 15 years and improve the long-term solvency of major federal trust funds over a 75-year horizon.
The Fiscal Commission Act represents an attempt to move beyond partisan gridlock and toward a more disciplined, long-term approach to budgeting. Whether Congress ultimately acts on the commission’s recommendations remains to be seen, but the proposal underscores a growing recognition in Washington that the nation’s fiscal trajectory demands serious, bipartisan attention.
While the Fiscal Commission Act has been formally introduced in Congress with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, it remains in the early stages of the legislative process. The proposal has attracted attention from lawmakers and fiscal policy organizations alike, but it has not yet advanced through committee or been scheduled for floor consideration. For now, the bill is best understood as a serious opening step—one that signals growing recognition in Washington that the nation’s fiscal challenges require a more structured, long-term approach, even if consensus on specific solutions remains a work in progress.
The Utah Taxpayers Association greatly appreciates the efforts of Sen. Curtis to make progress on one of the crucial issues that will impact the future of our country but is often not addressed. We encourage our members to thank Sen. Curtis for his work on this and call for all of Utah’s federal office holders to support moving the legislation forward in the near future.