Republicans in Congress are introducing a new proposal that could change how the presidential State of the Union tradition operates. The SUBMIT IT Act is designed to link the State of the Union address to budgetary responsibilities, making it contingent on the timely submission of spending and national security plans. Failure to meet these deadlines could result in the withholding of the president’s State of the Union address.
President Biden has been under scrutiny for missing deadlines to submit budget requests and national security proposals to Congress. The SUBMIT IT Act aims to create a system that holds the president accountable for meeting these deadlines.
Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., expressed concerns about President Biden’s failure to meet budgetary deadlines, stating, “This is irresponsible. Until Congress receives the president’s national security strategy and budget, he has no business delivering a State of the Union address.”
If approved, the SUBMIT IT Act would bar House or Senate leaders from inviting the president to give the State of the Union address until both plans have been submitted. However, the upcoming State of the Union address in March 2025 would not be affected by this measure.
Past presidents from both parties, including Trump, Obama, Bush, and Clinton, have all faced challenges with meeting budget deadlines, indicating a recurring issue in interbranch relations.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, echoed concerns about the importance of having presidential plans in place to address pressing national issues, emphasizing the need for tangible actions over mere words.
Kurt Couchman, a senior fellow at Americans for Prosperity, has expressed support for the SUBMIT IT Act, citing a growing trend of missed deadlines in presidential budget and defense proposals.
The history of budget submission deadlines has evolved over time, with adjustments made to balance timely submissions with flexibility in response to changing legislative priorities.
While the State of the Union address is a constitutional requirement, the tradition of delivering a live speech to Congress is not mandatory. Presidents used to submit written messages until President Woodrow Wilson delivered the first spoken address in 1913.
The handling of the State of the Union invitation by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2019 serves as an example of how congressional leadership can leverage invitations as a form of influence, highlighting the role of congressional protocol in the State of the Union process.
