Bills of Congress by U.S. Congress

H.R.1982 - Return to Sender Act (119th Congress)

Summary

H.R. 1982, the "Return to Sender Act," seeks to repeal and rescind any unobligated balances under sections 70002 and 70003 of the Inflation Reduction Act (Public Law 117-169). The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on March 10, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The primary goal is to eliminate funding allocated by specific sections of the Inflation Reduction Act that have not yet been spent.

Expected Effects

If enacted, the Return to Sender Act would halt the distribution of funds earmarked by sections 70002 and 70003 of the Inflation Reduction Act. This would likely impact programs and initiatives that were intended to be supported by these funds. The specific effects would depend on the nature of the programs affected and the extent to which they rely on these funds.

Potential Benefits

  • Potentially reduces government spending and the national debt if the rescinded funds are not reallocated.
  • Could lead to a reassessment of the programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, potentially identifying inefficiencies.
  • May align with the priorities of those who believe the Inflation Reduction Act was an overreach of government spending.
  • Could free up resources for other government initiatives deemed more important by Congress.
  • May reduce the tax burden on citizens if the rescission leads to lower overall government expenditure.

Potential Disadvantages

  • Could disrupt or eliminate programs and initiatives funded by the rescinded sections of the Inflation Reduction Act.
  • May negatively impact sectors or communities that were intended to benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act.
  • Could lead to job losses in sectors reliant on the funding.
  • May hinder efforts to address climate change or other policy goals supported by the Inflation Reduction Act.
  • Could create uncertainty for organizations and individuals who were planning to utilize the funding.

Constitutional Alignment

The bill's attempt to repeal and rescind previously appropriated funds falls within Congress's power of the purse, as granted by Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the Constitution, which states that "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law." Congress has the authority to modify or repeal existing laws, including those related to appropriations. The constitutionality hinges on whether the original Inflation Reduction Act was itself constitutional.

Impact Assessment: Things You Care About

This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).