Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Yesterday Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas), along with a bipartisan group of colleagues, formally announced the formation of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum (BFF), a group dedicated to sounding the alarm about our nation's unsustainable debt trajectory and working together to gain control of our fiscal future. Led by Reps. Scott Peters (D-California) and Bill Huizenga (R-Michigan), the steering committee also includes Reps. Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee), Ed Case (D-Hawaii), Jared Golden (D-Maine), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pennsylvania), Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), Blake Moore (R-Utah) and Jimmy Panetta (D-California).
 
"The Bipartisan Fiscal Forum faces a tall order as the federal debt has reached unprecedented levels, and yet our spending remains unchecked," said Rep. Estes. "Our historically high debt burden is cause for concern and cause for action – the newly launched Bipartisan Fiscal Forum will offer budget reforms to ensure the long-term financial stability of our nation, and I'm excited to serve on the steering committee."
 
The Bipartisan Fiscal Forum's mission is to elevate the national debt issue with their colleagues and the public while providing members of Congress with opportunities to improve the fiscal policy debate in Congress. The group began informally in 2020 and since then has engaged in bipartisan collaboration to put forward ideas that address our growing debt and exploding interest costs. In total more than 70 current members of Congress have participated in BFF activities.
 
The steering committee also sent a letter to Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) advocating for the creation of a fiscal commission. The full text of the letter is below.
 

Dear Speaker McCarthy and Leader Jeffries,
 
We write to you today as leaders of and participants in the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum and as concerned public servants deeply committed to ensuring the long-term financial stability of our nation.
 
Now that we have made a downpayment on deficit reduction and avoided a catastrophic default on our national debt through the Fiscal Responsibility Act, it is time to take the next step to address our debt burden. Even with the savings from this law, we are still on course to set a historic record for debt as a share of the economy within just a few years.
 
We were encouraged by Speaker McCarthy's recent suggestion to create a fiscal commission focused on exploring and addressing our long-term debt and deficit issues. The Bipartisan Fiscal Forum stands ready to assist, leaning on our shared values of mutual respect, bipartisan cooperation, and commitment to fiscal responsibility.
 
Commissions have long played a critical role in furthering bipartisan discussions and fostering innovative ideas, policies, and legislative successes. This commission will be most effective if it is bipartisan and includes input from the House and Senate, including the committees of jurisdiction. The commission should also have broad discretion in recommending solutions without special carve outs. A comprehensive approach will allow the commission to address the national debt as well as related issues such as high inflation, escalating federal interest costs, and impending trust fund insolvency.
 
Our nation faces debt levels and interest costs that threaten our economy, and we must act as soon as possible, and we must do so collaboratively. If designed and executed properly, a commission has the potential to make significant strides toward fiscal sustainability. We eagerly await your response and look forward to working together on this crucial mission.