To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to exempt the Department of Defense from reduction under any order issued to carry out a sequestration pursuant to section 251A.

Referred to the House Committee on the Budget.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 15, 2013

Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 to: (1) lower the $1.2 trillion total deficit reduction goal for each of FY2013-FY2021 to $600 billion, (2) lower the FY2013 deficit reduction goal from $24 billion to $12 billion, and (3) eliminate the Department of Defense (DOD) function reduction entirely.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Forbes, J. Randy [R-VA-4] · R–VA

Committees

Budget Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 15, 2013
Referred to the House Committee on the Budget.
Feb 15, 2013
Introduced in House
Feb 15, 2013
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Feb 15, 2013 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.773 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.773, 113th Congress: To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to exempt the Department of Defense from reduction under any order issued to carry out a sequestration pursuant to section 251A.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/773

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2013-02-15.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr773/BILLS-113hr773ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T19:31:35Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.773 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.773 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.773, 113th Congress: To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to exempt the Department of Defense from reduction under any order issued to carry out a sequestration pursuant to section 251A.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/773

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2013-02-15.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr773/BILLS-113hr773ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T19:31:35Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.773 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.773 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.773, 113th Congress: To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to exempt the Department of Defense from reduction under any order issued to carry out a sequestration pursuant to section 251A.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/773

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2013-02-15.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr773/BILLS-113hr773ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T19:31:35Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.773 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.773 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.773, 113th Congress: To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to exempt the Department of Defense from reduction under any order issued to carry out a sequestration pursuant to section 251A.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/773

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2013-02-15.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr773/BILLS-113hr773ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T19:31:35Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.773 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.