[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3655 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3655
To establish a Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action, to
assure the economic security of the United States, and to expand future
prosperity and growth for all Americans.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 25, 2007
Mr. Cooper (for himself and Mr. Wolf) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to
the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action, to
assure the economic security of the United States, and to expand future
prosperity and growth for all Americans.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Bipartisan Task Force for
Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE.
Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631 et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``establishment of task force for responsible fiscal action
``Sec. 316. (a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Task force.--The term `Task Force' means the
Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action established
under subsection (b)(1).
``(2) Task force bill.--The term `Task Force bill' means a
bill consisting of the proposed legislative language of the
Task Force introduced under subsection (c)(1).
``(3) Fiscal imbalance.--The term `fiscal imbalance' means
the gap between the projected revenues and expenditures of the
Federal Government.
``(4) Medicare.--The term `Medicare' means the program
established under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395 et seq.).
``(5) Social security.--The term `Social Security' means
the program of old-age, survivors, and disability insurance
benefits established under title II of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.).
``(b) Establishment of Task Force.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established a task force to
be known as the `Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal
Action'.
``(2) Purposes.--
``(A) Review.--The Task Force shall review--
``(i) analyses of the current and long-term
actuarial financial condition of the Federal
Government, including the Social Security and
Medicare programs; and
``(ii) the gap between the projected
revenues and expenditures of the Federal
Government, including the revenues and
expenditures attributable to the Social
Security and Medicare programs.
``(B) Identify factors.--The Task Force shall
identify factors that affect the long-term fiscal
balance of the Federal Government, including the fiscal
balance of the Social Security and Medicare programs.
``(C) Analyze potential courses of action.--The
Task Force shall analyze potential courses of action to
address factors that affect the long-term fiscal
balance of the Federal Government, including the fiscal
balance of the Social Security and Medicare programs.
``(D) Provide recommendations and legislative
language.--The Task Force shall provide recommendations
and legislative language that will significantly
improve the long-term fiscal balance of the Federal
Government, including the fiscal balance of the Social
Security and Medicare programs.
``(3) Duties.--
``(A) In general.--The Task Force shall address the
Nation's long-term fiscal imbalances, including such
imbalances attributable to the Medicare and Social
Security programs and the gap between projected
revenues and expenditures under such programs,
consistent with the purposes described in paragraph (2)
and shall submit the report and recommendations
required under subparagraph (B).
``(B) Report, recommendations, and legislative
language.--
``(i) In general.--On December 9, 2008, the
Task Force shall submit to the President and
Congress a report on the long-term fiscal
imbalances of the Federal Government, including
such imbalances attributable to the Social
Security and Medicare programs, that contains--
``(I) a detailed statement of the
findings, conclusions, and
recommendations of the Task Force
(including proposed legislative
language to carry out such
recommendations); and
``(II) the assumptions, scenarios,
and alternatives considered in reaching
such findings, conclusions, and
recommendations.
``(ii) Approval of report.--The report of
the Task Force submitted under clause (i) shall
require the approval of not less than \3/4\ of
the 16 members of the Task Force.
``(4) Membership.--
``(A) In general.--The Task Force shall be composed
of 16 members designated pursuant to subparagraph (B).
``(B) Designation.--Members of the Task Force shall
be designated as follows:
``(i) The President shall designate 2
members, one of whom shall be the Secretary of
the Treasury, who shall be the Chairperson of
the Task Force, and the other of whom shall be
an officer or employee of the executive branch.
``(ii) The majority leader of the Senate
shall designate 4 members from among Members of
the Senate.
``(iii) The minority leader of the Senate
shall designate 3 members from among Members of
the Senate.
``(iv) The Speaker of the House of
Representatives shall designate 4 members from
among Members of the House of Representatives.
``(v) The minority leader of the House of
Representatives shall designate 3 members from
among Members of the House of Representatives.
``(C) Date.--Members of the Task Force shall be
designated by not later than 30 days after the date of
enactment of this section.
``(D) Period of designation.--Members shall be
designated for the life of the Task Force. Any vacancy
in the Task Force shall not affect its powers, but
shall be filled not later than 14 days after the date
on which the vacancy occurs in the same manner as the
original designation.
``(E) Termination.--The Task Force shall terminate
on the date that is 90 days after the Task Force
submits the report required under paragraph (3)(B).
``(5) Administration.--
``(A) Quorum.--Twelve members of the Task Force
shall constitute a quorum for purposes of voting, but a
lesser number may meet and hold hearings.
``(B) Voting.--
``(i) Proxy voting.--No proxy voting shall
be allowed on behalf of members of the Task
Force.
``(ii) Policy matters.--The Task Force may
not vote on policy matters until after November
4, 2008.
``(C) Meetings.--
``(i) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30
days after the date on which all members of the
Task Force have been designated, the Task Force
shall hold its first meeting.
``(ii) Meetings.--The Task Force shall meet
at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of
its members.
``(D) Hearings.--Subject to subparagraph (G), the
Task Force may, for the purpose of carrying out this
section, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times
and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence,
and administer such oaths the Task Force considers
advisable.
``(E) Compensation.--Members of the Task Force
shall serve without any additional compensation for
their work on the Task Force. However, members may be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703
of title 5, United States Code, while away from their
homes or regular places of business in performance of
services for the Task Force.
``(F) Technical assistance.--Upon the request of
any member of the Task Force, a Federal agency shall
provide technical assistance to all members of the Task
Force in order for the Task Force to carry out its
duties.
``(G) Information.--
``(i) Resources.--Any member of the Task
Force shall have authority to access materials,
resources, statistical data, and other
information the Task Force determines to be
necessary to carry out its duties from the
Library of Congress, the Chief Actuary of the
Social Security Administration, the Chief
Actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, the Congressional Budget Office, and
other agencies and instrumentalities of the
executive and legislative branches of the
Federal Government (including the Department of
the Treasury, the Department of Health and
Human Services, the Office of Management and
Budget, the Government Accountability Office,
and the Joint Committee on Taxation). Each
agency or instrumentality shall, to the extent
permitted by law, furnish such information to
the Task Force upon written request by a member
of the Task Force.
``(ii) Receipt, handling, storage, and
dissemination of information.--Information
shall only be received, handled, stored, and
disseminated by members of the Task Force and
its staff consistent with all applicable
statutes, regulations, and Executive orders.
``(iii) Limitation of access to tax
information.--Information accessed under this
subparagraph shall not include tax data from
the United States Internal Revenue Service, the
release of which would otherwise be in
violation of law.
``(H) Postal services.--The Task Force may use the
United States mails in the same manner and under the
same conditions as other departments and agencies of
the Federal Government.
``(6) Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated
such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of the
Task Force.
``(c) Expedited Consideration of Task Force Recommendations.--
``(1) Introduction.--
``(A) In general.--The proposed legislative
language contained in the report submitted pursuant to
subsection (b)(3)(B) shall be introduced within the
first 10 calendar days of the 111th Congress (or on the
first session day thereafter) in the House of
Representatives and in the Senate by the majority
leader of each House of Congress, for himself, the
minority leader of each House of Congress, for himself,
or any member of the House designated by the majority
leader or minority leader. If the Task Force bill is
not introduced in accordance with the preceding
sentence in either House of Congress, then any Member
of that House may introduce the Task Force bill on any
day thereafter. Upon introduction, the Task Force bill
shall be referred to the appropriate committees under
subparagraph (B).
``(B) Committee consideration.--A Task Force bill
introduced in either House of Congress shall be jointly
referred to the committee or committees of jurisdiction
and the Committee on the Budget of that House, which
committees shall report the bill without any revision
and with a favorable recommendation, an unfavorable
recommendation, or without recommendation, not later
than 10 calendar days after the date of introduction of
the bill in that House. If any committee fails to
report the bill within that period, that committee
shall be automatically discharged from consideration of
the bill, and the bill shall be placed on the
appropriate calendar.
``(2) Expedited procedure.--
``(A) In the house of representatives.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 5 days of
session after the date on which a Task Force
bill is reported or discharged from all
committees to which it was referred, the
majority leader of the House of Representatives
or the majority leader's designee shall move to
proceed to the consideration of the Task Force
bill. It shall also be in order for any Member
of the House of Representatives to move to
proceed to the consideration of the Task Force
bill at any time after the conclusion of such
5-day period.
``(ii) Motion to proceed.--A motion to
proceed to the consideration of the Task Force
bill is highly privileged in the House of
Representatives and is not debatable. The
motion is not subject to amendment or to a
motion to postpone consideration of the Task
Force bill. A motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business shall not be in
order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which
the motion to proceed is agreed to or not
agreed to shall not be in order. If the motion
to proceed is agreed to, the House of
Representatives shall immediately proceed to
consideration of the Task Force bill without
intervening motion, order, or other business,
and the Task Force bill shall remain the
unfinished business of the House of
Representatives until disposed of.
``(iii) Limits on debate.--Debate in the
House of Representatives on a Task Force bill
under this paragraph shall not exceed a total
of 100 hours, which shall be divided equally
between those favoring and those opposing the
bill. A motion further to limit debate is in
order and shall not be debatable. It shall not
be in order to move to recommit a Task Force
bill under this paragraph or to move to
reconsider the vote by which the bill is agreed
to or disagreed to.
``(iv) Appeals.--Appeals from decisions of
the chair relating to the application of the
Rules of the House of Representatives to the
procedure relating to a Task Force bill shall
be decided without debate.
``(v) Application of house rules.--Except
to the extent specifically provided in this
paragraph, consideration of a Task Force bill
shall be governed by the Rules of the House of
Representatives. It shall not be in order in
the House of Representatives to consider any
Task Force bill introduced pursuant to the
provisions of this subsection under a
suspension of the rules or under a special
rule.
``(vi) No amendments.--No amendment to the
Task Force bill shall be in order in the House
of Representatives.
``(vii) Vote on final passage.--In the
House of Representatives, immediately following
the conclusion of consideration of the Task
Force bill, the vote on final passage of the
Task Force bill shall occur without any
intervening action or motion, requiring an
affirmative vote of \3/5\ of the Members, duly
chosen and sworn. If the Task Force bill is
passed, the Clerk of the House of
Representatives shall cause the bill to be
transmitted to the Senate before the close of
the next day of session of the House.
``(B) In the senate.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 5 days of
session after the date on which a Task Force
bill is reported or discharged from all
committees to which it was referred, the
majority leader of the Senate or the majority
leader's designee shall move to proceed to the
consideration of the Task Force bill. It shall
also be in order for any Member of the Senate
to move to proceed to the consideration of the
Task Force bill at any time after the
conclusion of such 5-day period.
``(ii) Motion to proceed.--A motion to
proceed to the consideration of the Task Force
bill is privileged in the Senate and is not
debatable. The motion is not subject to
amendment or to a motion to postpone
consideration of the Task Force bill. A motion
to proceed to consideration of the Task Force
bill may be made even though a previous motion
to the same effect has been disagreed to. A
motion to proceed to the consideration of other
business shall not be in order. A motion to
reconsider the vote by which the motion to
proceed is agreed to or not agreed to shall not
be in order. If the motion to proceed is agreed
to, the Senate shall immediately proceed to
consideration of the Task Force bill without
intervening motion, order, or other business,
and the Task Force bill shall remain the
unfinished business of the Senate until
disposed of.
``(iii) Limits on debate.--In the Senate,
consideration of the Task Force bill and on all
debatable motions and appeals in connection
therewith shall not exceed a total of 100
hours, which shall be divided equally between
those favoring and those opposing the Task
Force bill. A motion further to limit debate on
the Task Force bill is in order and is not
debatable. Any debatable motion or appeal is
debatable for not to exceed 1 hour, to be
divided equally between those favoring and
those opposing the motion or appeal. All time
used for consideration of the Task Force bill,
including time used for quorum calls and
voting, shall be counted against the total 100
hours of consideration.
``(iv) No amendments.--No amendment to the
Task Force bill shall be in order in the
Senate.
``(v) Motion to recommit.--A motion to
recommit a Task Force bill shall not be in
order under this paragraph.
``(vi) Vote on final passage.--In the
Senate, immediately following the conclusion of
consideration of the Task Force bill and a
request to establish the presence of a quorum,
the vote on final passage of the Task Force
bill shall occur and shall require an
affirmative vote of \3/5\ of the Members, duly
chosen and sworn.
``(vii) Other motions not in order.--A
motion to postpone or a motion to proceed to
the consideration of other business is not in
order in the Senate. A motion to reconsider the
vote by which the Task Force bill is agreed to
or not agreed to is not in order in the Senate.
``(viii) Consideration of the house bill.--
``(I) In general.--If the Senate
has received the House companion bill
to the Task Force bill introduced in
the Senate prior to the vote required
under clause (vi) and the House
companion bill is identical to the Task
Force bill introduced in the Senate,
then the Senate shall consider, and the
vote under clause (vi) shall occur on,
the House companion bill.
``(II) Procedure after vote on
senate bill.--If the Senate votes,
pursuant to clause (vi), on the bill
introduced in the Senate, the Senate
bill shall be held pending receipt of
the House message on the bill. Upon
receipt of the House companion bill, if
the House bill is identical to the
Senate bill, the House bill shall be
deemed to be considered, read for the
third time, and the vote on passage of
the Senate bill shall be considered to
be the vote on the bill received from
the House.
``(C) No suspension.--No motion to suspend the
application of this paragraph shall be in order in the
Senate or in the House of Representatives.''.
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