WASHINGTON DC (February 22, 2019) — The congressional budget resolution should establish the nation’s priorities, the approach to financing them, and a plan to ensure the nation is on a fiscally responsible track. We recommend that Congress adheres to the following principles when crafting a budget resolution:

Set a meaningful fiscal goal, and put forward a plan to achieve it

The fiscal year began on October 1, 2018, and Congress has passed just five out of 12 appropriations bills setting discretionary spending levels. Lawmakers have until midnight on Feb. 15, 2019, to enact legislation to fund the programs covered by the remaining seven appropriations bills. Before the current funding measure was enacted, the federal government had been partially shut down for 35 days, the longest shutdown in history.

Congress has passed a minibus appropriations bill containing two of the 12 appropriations bills and a continuing resolution until December 7 covering any appropriations bills that have not yet been passed. The minibus now goes to the President for his signature. Last week, the President signed a separate minibus containing three of the 12 bills.

One of the key elements of the Congressional Budget Control and Impoundment Act of 1974 (Budget Act) was the provision to adopt a budget resolution, which sets out Congressional priorities on the budget and provides a framework for legislation...