North Michigan News

Recently, Representatives Jack Bergman (MI-01), Ben Cline (VA-06), Jared Golden (ME-02), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) introduced the Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act. The bipartisan legislation aims to require the federal government to regularly assess and report its capacity to respond to major national emergencies, such as economic downturns, energy crises, and national security threats.

The proposed bill instructs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to prepare an annual report evaluating the government's fiscal strength and readiness. Following this report, the Government Accountability Office would conduct an independent review and publish its findings for public transparency.

Rep. Jack Bergman stated, "We know that when a crisis hits, preparation makes all the difference. The Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act is a commonsense step to ensure we’re ready to respond to whatever comes our way - whether it’s an economic downturn, a natural disaster, or a national security threat. If we’re serious about keeping our Nation strong and secure, we need to start planning ahead and making our decisions based on reality - not scrambling to prepare after the fact."

Rep. Ben Cline added, "With our debt piling up and interest payments skyrocketing, we cannot afford to be caught flat-footed when the next emergency hits. Just like households plan ahead for tough times, the federal government must do the same. Americans deserve a clear picture of how much room we actually have to respond to future crises. Congress must face the facts and make responsible decisions now, before an emergency strikes.”

Congressman Jared Golden said, “One of the many lessons the Marine Corps taught me was to have a plan for the worst-case scenario. This bipartisan bill would force Washington to be clear-eyed about our fiscal outlook in potential national emergencies, which is the necessary first step for responsible planning to keep America stable and secure.”

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez commented: “As a small business owner, I know how important it is to plan for a rainy day – and hardworking families in Southwest Washington know it too. Our federal government should hold itself to the same standard and be ready to weather any crisis that comes its way. Our bipartisan legislation would require annual assessments of our national fiscal strength when faced with different crises – so we can better prepare our economy to work for the American people under any circumstances.”

Recent data from budget analysts show that interest payments on U.S. national debt are expected by 2050 to double defense spending levels; by September 2025 gross federal debt will reach 123% of GDP—surpassing World War II-era records.

Former Senator Joe Manchin said: “Our national debt is not just a number. It is a real and rising threat to our way of life. It impacts our economy, our national security, and our ability to respond in times of crisis. I am proud to see Representatives Cline and Golden take up the Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act. This is a commonsense measure. Just like American families must prepare for emergencies, so should our government.”

Maya MacGuineas, President of Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget added: “Policymakers and the public need access to the best available analysis on how a severe economic shock may impact the federal government's finances. While our nation’s largest banks are required to undergo regular stress tests to prepare for an unexpected shock, the federal government lacks an equivalent playbook. It is essential that the federal government be prepared for a possible fiscal emergency, and we commend Representatives Cline and Golden for introducing this bipartisan, commonsense proposal to strengthen our fiscal resilience.”

Jack Bergman has served as Michigan’s 1st District representative in Congress since 2017 after replacing Dan Benishek.https://www.congress.gov/member/jack-bergman/B001301 He was born in Shakopee, Minnesota in 1947,https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/B001301 graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1969 with his BA degree,https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/B001301 also attended University of West Florida,https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/B001301 and currently lives in Watersmeet.