Kurt Couchman, Senior Fellow in Fiscal Policy, Americans for Prosperity, submitted the following statement for the record for the U.S. House Budget Committee’s hearing on America’s Fiscal Future: Examining the Need for a Fiscal Commission on September 21, 2026.
Dear Chairman Arrington, Ranking Member Boyle, and members of the committee:
Thank you for considering the possibilities for a fiscal commission. We support several versions of the concept, including the Fiscal Commission Act, the Sustainable Budget Act, and the Time to Rescue United States Trusts (TRUST) Act. If the committee takes up related legislation, we believe that robust consideration of design options will help the committee maximize support for the resulting bill and improve prospects for a commission’s success.
America’s fiscal future is precarious due to outdated institutions that restrain members of Congress from creatively addressing challenges facing the American people. A single fiscal commission cannot resolve all problems, but it can get the process started. Ultimately, Congress must become a responsible, nimble, effective forum for every elected representative and senator to develop proposals, put them before their colleagues, build coalitions, and forge consensus.
In the meantime, a fiscal commission can improve trust between legislators and prime the pump for long-deferred modernization of federal programs. Notably, a fiscal commission could recommend policy changes as well as procedural upgrades.
Bigger changes increase perceptions of political risk, however. Bipartisan support expands political cover for tough-but-necessary changes but not infinitely. Improving the process can assure bond markets, the public, and members who want to go bigger that Congress’ important mission to review and update programs vigorously will extend beyond the commission.
Thank you for actively pursuing solutions. We appreciate your commitment to building a brighter future, and we welcome the opportunity to share our views.
