REFUND Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 16, 2015

Returned Exclusively For Unpaid National Debt Act or the REFUND Act

This bill rescinds federal funds identified by a state as unwanted and requires the funds to be used for debt reduction. The bill applies to federal funds required to be allocated by formula among all states that agree to use the funds for a specified purpose. To identify the funds as unwanted, a state legislature must pass a concurrent resolution, and the state must then notify the head of the federal agency responsible for allocating the funds. The Department of the Treasury must deposit the rescinded funds in the Gifts to the United States for Reduction of the Public Debt account, use the funds to reduce the debt, and submit an annual report to Congress identifying funds received.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] · R–FL

Committees

Appropriations Committee

7 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.

Mar 16, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Mar 16, 2015
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Mar 16, 2015 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 5933 · REFUND Act

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.744 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.

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Discuss S.744, 114th Congress: REFUND Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/744

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-03-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s744/BILLS-114s744is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T19:18:39Z. 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 S.744 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 S.744 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.

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Discuss S.744, 114th Congress: REFUND Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/744

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-03-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s744/BILLS-114s744is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T19:18:39Z. 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 S.744 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 S.744 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 S.744, 114th Congress: REFUND Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/744

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-03-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s744/BILLS-114s744is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T19:18:39Z. 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 S.744 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 S.744 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 S.744, 114th Congress: REFUND Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/744

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-03-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s744/BILLS-114s744is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T19:18:39Z. 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 S.744 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.