HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 102

(By DELEGATES RIDENOUR, WARD, BUTLER, HILLENBRAND, ROOP, JENNINGS, PETITTO, AND PHILLIPS)

[April 10, 2025]

Urging Congress call a convention of the states, under the authority reserved to the states in Article V of the United States Constitution, limited to proposing Amendments to the Constitution of the United States to create fiscal responsibility by and within the federal government.

Whereas, Article V of the Constitution of the United States equally enables the States and Congress to propose Amendments to the Constitution of the United States; and

Whereas, Article. V. of the Constitution of the United States mandates that Congress “…on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as part of this Constitution;” and

Whereas, Since 1979, Congressional Records show at least forty (40) applications by states were submitted to Congress calling for a convention of states to amend the Constitution of the United States either on any subject or specifically for federal fiscal responsibility; and

Whereas, The national debt has increased from $850 billion in 1979 to over $36 trillion today; and

Whereas, As of October 2022, inflation was 7.7 percent, a 40-year high; and

Whereas, Fiscal and monetary irresponsibility at the federal level is increasing inflation, reducing economic growth, lowering American's standard of living, jeopardizing Social Security and Medicare, putting national security at serious risk, and threatening the economic stability and security of the several states an the prosperity of Americans for generations to come; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature hereby urges Congress to call a convention of states, under the authority reserved to the states in Article V of the United States Constitution, limited to proposing Amendments to the Constitution of the United States to create fiscal responsibility by and within the federal government; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the state of West Virginia, together with other states, commence federal court action to force the Congress of the United States to do their duty under the Constitution and call a convention of states for proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States specially for federal fiscal responsibility; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the state of West Virginia calls upon all the several states to form a Convention for Proposing Amendments, specifically regarding fiscal responsibility, to the Constitution of the United States to meet at the Capital of the state of West Virginia at a date to be determined by the states, and to submit such amendments as are agreed upon to state conventions of the several states by the 4th of July, 2026, for inclusion on the general election ballot of the several states for the general election ; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby directed to forward copies of this resolution to the President and Secretary of the Senate of the United States and to the Speaker, Clerk, and Judiciary Committee Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, and copies to the members of the said Senate and House of Representatives from this state; also to forward copies thereof to the presiding officers of each of the legislative houses in the several states, requesting their cooperation in this endeavor.