II
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 15
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 22, 2007
Mr. Gregg (for himself, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Allard, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Graham, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Craig, Mr. Sununu, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Isakson, Mrs. Dole, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Thune, and Mr. Lott) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget
A BILL
To establish a new budget process to create a comprehensive plan to rein in spending, reduce the deficit, and regain control of the Federal budget process.
Short title: table of contents
Short Title
This Act may be cited as the Stop Over Spending Act of 2007
.
Table of Contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title: table of contents.
Sec. 2. Purposes.
Sec. 3. Severability.
TITLE I—Second Look at Wasteful Spending Act of 2007
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Enhanced rescission authority.
TITLE II—DEFICIT REDUCTION
Subtitle A—Definitions, Administration, and Sequestration
Sec. 201. Definitions.
Sec. 202. Administration, reconciliation, and effect of sequestration.
Sec. 203. GAO compliance report.
Subtitle B—Discretionary Spending Limits
Sec. 211. Discretionary Sequestration Reports.
Sec. 212. Limits.
Subtitle C—Maximum Deficit Amount Limitation
Sec. 221. Maximum deficit amount.
Sec. 222. Reporting of excess deficits.
Sec. 223. Congressional response to OMB and CBO Reconciliation Report.
Sec. 224. Revised estimates and final maximum deficit amount sequestration reports.
Sec. 225. Maximum deficit amount-presidential order.
Sec. 226. Congressional response to low growth.
Sec. 227. Exemptions from sequestration.
Sec. 228. Submission of President’s budget; maximum deficit amount may not be exceeded.
TITLE III—BIENNIAL BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS
Sec. 301. Revision of timetable.
Sec. 302. Amendments to the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
Sec. 303. Amendments to title
31, United States Code.Sec. 304. Two-year appropriations; title and style of appropriations Acts.
Sec. 305. Multiyear authorizations.
Sec. 306. Government plans on a biennial basis.
Sec. 307. Biennial appropriation bills.
Sec. 308. Report on changes in law.
Sec. 309. Effective date.
TITLE IV—COMMISSIONS
Subtitle A—National Commission on Entitlement Solvency
Sec. 401. Definitions.
Sec. 402. Establishment of Commission.
Sec. 403. Expedited consideration of Commission recommendations.
Subtitle B—Commission on Congressional Budgetary Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies
Sec. 411. Definitions.
Sec. 412. Establishment of Commission.
Sec. 413. Duties of the Commission.
Sec. 414. Powers of the Commission.
Sec. 415. Commission personnel matters.
Sec. 416. Expedited Consideration of reform proposals.
Sec. 417. Termination of the Commission.
Sec. 418. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE V—BUDGET PROCESS REFORMS
Sec. 501. Definitions.
Sec. 502. Annual Concurrent Resolution on the Budget.
Sec. 503. Committee allocations.
Sec. 504. Budget resolution adoption.
Sec. 505. Procedure in the Senate for budget resolutions.
Sec. 506. Budget projections.
Sec. 507. Reconciliation.
Sec. 508. Budgeting levels.
Sec. 509. Determinations and points of order.
Sec. 510. Extraneous matter in reconciliation legislation.
Sec. 511. Adjustments.
Sec. 512. Direct spending limitation.
Sec. 513. Point of order against legislation that raises income tax rates.
Sec. 514. Circuit breaker to protect Social Security.
Sec. 515. Limitation on long-term spending proposals.
Sec. 516. Avoiding paygo point of order.
Sec. 517. Pay-as-you-go point of order in the Senate.
Sec. 518. Appropriations requests of the President.
Sec. 519. Budget baseline.
Purposes
The purposes of this Act are to—
enable the President and Congress to rescind wasteful spending in an expedited manner;
effectively balance the budget by 2012;
reinstate statutory discretionary caps;
reduce the practice of using spending designated as an emergency
as a mechanism to circumvent spending caps;
establish targets for the deficit as its share of the United States economy, specifically as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product;
require automatic spending reduction reconciliation directives to achieve annual deficit targets;
put in place automatic sequester procedures to reduce discretionary and mandatory spending when either statutory caps have been exceeded or deficit targets have not been met;
require Congress to act upon legislation to ensure the solvency of the Social Security and Medicare Programs;
require Congress to act upon legislation to identify and eliminate waste and duplication in Federal programs;
establish biennial budgeting;
strengthen and improve the Congressional budget resolution and reconciliation process; and
provide short-term and long-term solutions to ensure the financial security of our Nation so that our children and grandchildren will not be saddled with insurmountable debt.
Severability
If any provision of this Act, an amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, the amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions of such to any person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.
Second Look at Wasteful Spending Act of 2007
Short title
This title may be cited as the Second Look at Wasteful Spending Act of 2007
.
Enhanced rescission authority
In general
Title X of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) is amended by striking part C and inserting the following:
Enhanced rescission authority
Expedited Consideration of certain proposed rescissions
Proposed Rescissions
The President may send a special message, at the time and in the manner provided in subsection (b), that proposes to rescind dollar amounts of discretionary budget authority, items of direct spending, and targeted tax benefits.
Transmittal of Special Message
Special message
In general
Four messages
The President may transmit to Congress not to exceed 4 special messages per calendar year, proposing to rescind dollar amounts of discretionary budget authority, items of direct spending, and targeted tax benefits.
Timing
Subject to clause (iii), special messages may be transmitted under clause (i)—
with the President’s budget submitted pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for any proposed rescission enacted after the date the President submitted the preceding budget; and
3 other times as determined by the President, except that the message shall be submitted within the 30 calendar day period (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) commencing on the day after the date of enactment of any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority, item of direct spending, or targeted tax benefit the President proposes to rescind pursuant to this section.
Limitations
Resubmittal rejected
If Congress rejects a bill introduced under this part or if an item is stricken under subsection (d)(2) from a bill that is enacted into law, the President may not resubmit that item or any of the dollar amounts of discretionary budget authority, items of direct spending, or targeted tax benefits in that bill under this part, or part B with respect to dollar amounts of discretionary budget authority.
Resubmittal after sine die
If Congress does not complete action on a bill introduced under this part because Congress adjourns sine die, the President may resubmit some or all of the dollar amounts of discretionary budget authority, items of direct spending, and targeted tax benefits in that bill in not more than 1 subsequent special message under this part, or part B with respect to dollar amounts of discretionary budget authority.
Contents of special message
Each special message shall specify, with respect to the dollar amount of discretionary budget authority, item of direct spending, or targeted tax benefit proposed to be rescinded—
the dollar amount of discretionary budget authority available and proposed for rescission from accounts, departments, or establishments of the Government and the dollar amount of the reduction in outlays that would result from the enactment of such rescission of discretionary budget authority for the time periods set forth in clause (iii);
the specific items of direct spending and targeted tax benefits proposed for rescission and the dollar amounts of the reductions in budget authority and outlays or increases in receipts that would result from enactment of such rescission for the time periods set forth in clause (iii);
the budgetary effects of proposals for rescission, estimated as of the date the President submits the special message, relative to the most recent levels calculated consistent with the methodology described in section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and included with a budget submission under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for the time periods of—
the fiscal year in which the proposal is submitted; and
each of the 10 following fiscal years beginning with the fiscal year after the fiscal year in which the proposal is submitted;
any account, department, or establishment of the Government to which such dollar amount of discretionary budget authority or item of direct spending is available for obligation, and the specific project or governmental functions involved;
the reasons why such dollar amount of discretionary budget authority or item of direct spending or targeted tax benefit should be rescinded;
the estimated fiscal and economic impacts, of the proposed rescission;
to the maximum extent practicable, all facts, circumstances, and considerations relating to or bearing upon the proposed rescission and the decision to effect the proposed rescission, and the estimated effect of the proposed rescission upon the objects, purposes, and programs for which the budget authority or items of direct spending or targeted tax benefits are provided; and
a draft bill that, if enacted, would rescind the budget authority, items of direct spending and targeted tax benefits proposed to be rescinded in that special message.
Analysis by congressional budget office and joint committee on taxation
In general
Upon the receipt of a special message under this part proposing to rescind dollar amounts of discretionary budget authority, items of direct spending, and targeted tax benefits—
the Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall prepare an estimate of the savings in budget authority or outlays resulting from such proposed rescission and shall include in its estimate, an analysis prepared by the Joint Committee on Taxation related to targeted tax benefits; and
the Director of the Joint Committee on Taxation shall prepare an estimate and forward such estimate to the Congressional Budget Office, of the savings from repeal of targeted tax benefits.
Methodology
The estimates required by subparagraph (A) shall be made relative to the most recent levels calculated consistent with the methodology used to calculate a baseline under section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Control Act of 1985 and included with a budget submission under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, and transmitted to the chairmen of the Committees on the Budget of the House of Representatives and Senate.
Enactment of rescission bill
Deficit reduction
Amounts of budget authority or items of direct spending or targeted tax benefit that are rescinded pursuant to enactment of a bill as provided under this part shall be dedicated only to deficit reduction and shall not be used as an offset for other spending increases or revenue reductions.
Adjustment of budget targets
Not later than 5 days after the date of enactment of a rescission bill as provided under this part, the chairs of the Committees on the Budget of the Senate and the House of Representatives shall revise spending and revenue levels under section 311(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and adjust the committee allocations under section 302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 or any other adjustments as may be appropriate to reflect the rescission. The adjustments shall reflect the budgetary effects of such rescissions as estimated by the President pursuant to paragraph (1)(B)(iii). The appropriate committees shall report revised allocations pursuant to section 302(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the revised allocations and aggregates shall be considered to have been made under a concurrent resolution on the budget agreed to under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and shall be enforced under the procedures of that Act.
Adjustments to caps
After enactment of a rescission bill as provided under this part, the President shall revise applicable limits under the Second Look at Wasteful Spending Act of 2007, as appropriate.
Procedures for Expedited Consideration
In general
Introduction
Before the close of the second day of session of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, after the date of receipt of a special message transmitted to Congress under subsection (b), the majority leader of each House, for himself, or minority leader of each House, for himself, or a Member of that House designated by that majority leader or minority leader shall introduce (by request) the President’s draft bill to rescind the amounts of budget authority or items of direct spending or targeted tax benefits, as specified in the special message and the President’s draft bill. If the bill is not introduced as provided in the preceding sentence in either House, then, on the third day of session of that House after the date of receipt of that special message, any Member of that House may introduce the bill.
Referral and reporting
One committee
The bill shall be referred by the presiding officer to the appropriate committee. The committee shall report the bill without any revision and with a favorable, an unfavorable, or without recommendation, not later than the fifth day of session of that House after the date of introduction of the bill in that House. If the committee fails to report the bill within that period, the committee shall be automatically discharged from consideration of the bill, and the bill shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.
Multiple committees
Referrals
If a bill contains provisions in the jurisdiction of more than 1 committee, the bill shall be jointly referred to the committees of jurisdiction and the Committee on the Budget.
Views of committee
Any committee, other than the Committee on the Budget, to which a bill is referred under this clause may submit a favorable, an unfavorable recommendation, without recommendation with respect to the bill to the Committee on the Budget prior to the reporting or discharge of the bill.
Reporting
The Committee on the Budget shall report the bill not later than the fifth day of session of that House after the date of introduction of the bill in that House, without any revision and with a favorable or unfavorable recommendation, or with no recommendation, together with the recommendations of any committee to which the bill has been referred.
Discharge
If the Committee on the Budget fails to report the bill within that period, the committee shall be automatically discharged from consideration of the bill, and the bill shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.
Final passage
A vote on final passage of the bill shall be taken in the Senate and the House of Representatives on or before the close of the 10th day of session of that House after the date of the introduction of the bill in that House. If the 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.
Consideration in the house of representatives
Motion to proceed to consideration
A motion in the House of Representatives to proceed to the consideration of a bill under this subsection shall be highly privileged and not debatable. An amendment to the motion shall not be in order, nor shall it be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to.
Limits on debate
Debate in the House of Representatives on a bill under this subsection shall not exceed 4 hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the bill. A motion further to limit debate shall not be debatable. It shall not be in order to move to recommit a bill under this subsection or to move to reconsider the vote by which the bill is agreed to or disagreed to.
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 bill under this part shall be decided without debate.
Application of house rules
Except to the extent specifically provided in this part, consideration of a bill under this part 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 bill introduced pursuant to the provisions of this part under a suspension of the rules or under a special rule.
Consideration in the senate
Motion to proceed to consideration
A motion to proceed to the consideration of a bill under this subsection in the Senate shall not be debatable. A motion to proceed to consideration of the bill may be made even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to. It shall not be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion to proceed is agreed to or disagreed to.
Limits on debate
Debate in the Senate on a bill under this subsection, and all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall not exceed a total of 10 hours, equally divided and controlled in the usual form.
Debatable motions and appeals
Debate in the Senate on any debatable motion or appeal in connection with a bill under this subsection shall be limited to not more than 1 hour from the time allotted for debate, to be equally divided and controlled in the usual form.
Motion to limit debate
A motion in the Senate to further limit debate on a bill under this subsection is not debatable.
Motion to recommit
A motion to recommit a bill under this subsection is not in order.
Consideration of the house bill
In general
If the Senate has received the House companion bill to the bill introduced in the Senate prior to the vote required under paragraph (1)(C), then the Senate shall consider, and the vote under paragraph (1)(C) shall occur on, the House companion bill.
Procedure after vote on senate bill
If the Senate votes, pursuant to paragraph (1)(C), 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, 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.
Conference
Proceeding to conference
If, after a bill is agreed to in the Senate or House of Representatives, the bill has been amended, the bill shall be deemed to be at a stage of disagreement and motions to proceed to conference are deemed to be agreed to. There shall be no motions to instruct. The Senate and the House of Representatives shall appoint conferees not later than 1 day of session after the vote of the second House under paragraph (1)(C). Debate on any debatable motion in relation to the conference report shall be limited to 1 hour to be equally divided between and controlled by the mover and manager of a bill, or their designees.
Period of consideration
A conference report on a bill considered under this section shall be reported out not later than 3 days of session after the vote of the second House under paragraph (1)(C). If the 2 Houses are unable to agree in conference, the committee on conference shall report out the text of the President's original bill.
Scope of conference
The matter committed to conference for purposes of scope of conference shall be limited to the matter stricken from the text of the bills passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Procedure
Debate on a conference report on any bill considered under this section shall be limited to 2 hours equally divided between the manager of the conference report and the minority leader, or his designee.
Final passage
A vote on final passage of the conference report shall be taken in the Senate and the House of Representatives on or before the close of the second day of session of that House after the date the conference report is submitted in that House. If the conference report is passed, the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, shall cause the conference report to be transmitted to the other House before the close of the next day of session of that House.
Action of second house
In general
If the Senate has received from the House, the conference report in relation to the special message from the President, prior to the vote required under subparagraph (E), then the Senate shall consider, and the vote under subparagraph (E) shall occur on the House conference report.
Procedure after vote on senate conference report
If the Senate votes, pursuant to subparagraph (E), on the conference report in relation to the special message from the President, then immediately following that vote, or upon receipt of the House conference report, the House conference report shall be deemed to be considered, read the third time, and the vote on passage of the Senate conference report shall be considered to be the vote on the conference report received from the House.
Amendments and divisions prohibited
In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), no amendment to a bill considered under this section shall be in order in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.
Motion to strike
Senate
During consideration of a bill in the Senate, any Member of the Senate may move to strike any proposed rescission of a dollar amount of discretionary budget authority, an item of direct spending, or a targeted tax benefit if supported by 11 other Members.
House
During consideration of a bill in the House of Representatives, any Member of the House of Representatives may move to strike any proposed rescission of a dollar amount of discretionary budget authority, an item of direct spending, or a targeted tax benefit if supported by 49 other Members.
No division
It shall not be in order to demand a division of any motions to strike in the Senate, or the division of the question in the House of Representatives (or in a Committee of the Whole).
No suspension
No motion to suspend the application of this subsection shall be in order in the Senate or in the House of Representatives, nor shall it be in order in the House of Representatives to suspend the application of this subsection by unanimous consent.
Temporary Presidential Authority To Withhold
Availability
The President may not withhold any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority until the President transmits and Congress receives a special message pursuant to subsection (b). Upon receipt by Congress of a special message pursuant to subsection (b), the President may direct that any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority proposed to be rescinded in that special message shall be withheld from obligation for a period not to exceed 45 calendar days from the date of receipt by Congress.
Early availability
The President may make any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority withheld from obligation pursuant to paragraph (1) available at an earlier time if the President determines that continued withholding would not further the purposes of this Act.
Temporary Presidential Authority To Suspend
Suspend
In general
The President may not suspend the execution of any item of direct spending or targeted tax benefit until the President transmits and Congress receives a special message pursuant to subsection (b). Upon receipt by Congress of a special message, the President may suspend the execution of any item of direct spending or targeted tax benefit proposed to be rescinded in that message for a period not to exceed 45 calendar days from the date of receipt by Congress.
Limitation on 45-day period
The 45-day period described in subparagraph (A) shall be reduced by the number of days contained in the period beginning on the effective date of the item of direct spending or targeted tax benefit; and ending on the date that is the later of—
the effective date of the item of direct spending or targeted benefit; or
the date that Congress receives the special message.
Clarification
Notwithstanding subparagraph (B), in the case of an item of direct spending or targeted tax benefit with an effective date within 45 days after the date of enactment, the beginning date of the period calculated under subparagraph (B) shall be the date that is 45 days after the date of enactment and the ending date shall be the date that is the later of—
the date that is 45 days after enactment; or
the date that Congress receives the special message.
Early availability
The President may terminate the suspension of any item of direct spending or targeted tax benefit suspended pursuant to paragraph (1) at an earlier time if the President determines that continuation of the suspension would not further the purposes of this Act.
Definitions
In this part:
Appropriation law
The term appropriation law means any general or special appropriation Act, and any Act or joint resolution making supplemental, deficiency, or continuing appropriations.
Calendar day
The term calendar day means a standard 24-hour period beginning at midnight.
Days of session
The term days of session means only those days on which both Houses of Congress are in session.
Dollar amount of discretionary budget authority
The term dollar amount of discretionary budget authority means the dollar amount of budget authority and obligation limitations—
specified in an appropriation law, or the dollar amount of budget authority required to be allocated by a specific proviso in an appropriation law for which a specific dollar figure was not included;
represented separately in any table, chart, or explanatory text included in the statement of managers or the governing committee report accompanying such law;
required to be allocated for a specific program, project, or activity in a law (other than an appropriation law) that mandates obligations from or within accounts, programs, projects, or activities for which budget authority or an obligation limitation is provided in an appropriation law;
represented by the product of the estimated procurement cost and the total quantity of items specified in an appropriation law or included in the statement of managers or the governing committee report accompanying such law; or
represented by the product of the estimated procurement cost and the total quantity of items required to be provided in a law (other than an appropriation law) that mandates obligations from accounts, programs, projects, or activities for which dollar amount of discretionary budget authority or an obligation limitation is provided in an appropriation law.
Rescind or rescission
The term rescind or rescission means—
in the case of a dollar amount of discretionary budget authority, to reduce or repeal a provision of law to prevent that budget authority or obligation limitation from having legal force or effect; and
in the case of direct spending or targeted tax benefit, to repeal a provision of law in order to prevent the specific legal obligation of the United States from having legal force or effect.
Direct spending
The term direct spending means budget authority provided by law (other than an appropriation law), mandatory spending provided in appropriation Acts, and entitlement authority.
Item of direct spending
The term item of direct spending means any specific provision of law enacted after the effective date of the Second Look at Wasteful Spending Act of 2007 that is estimated to result in an increase in budget authority or outlays for direct spending relative to the most recent levels calculated consistent with the methodology described in section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and included with a budget submission under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, and, with respect to estimates made after that budget submission that are not included with it, estimates consistent with the economic and technical assumptions underlying the most recently submitted President’s budget.
Suspend the execution
The term suspend the execution means, with respect to an item of direct spending or a targeted tax benefit, to stop the carrying into effect of the specific provision of law that provides such benefit.
Targeted tax benefit
The term targeted tax benefit means—
any revenue provision that has the practical effect of providing more favorable tax treatment to a particular taxpayer or limited group of taxpayers when compared with other similarly situated taxpayers; or
any Federal tax provision which provides 1 beneficiary temporary or permanent transition relief from a change to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
.
Exercise of Rulemaking Powers
Section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621 note) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking and 1017
and inserting 1017, and 1021
; and
in subsection (d), by striking section 1017
and inserting sections 1017 and 1021
.
Clerical Amendments
Short title
Section 1(a) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by—
striking Parts A and B
before title X
and inserting Parts A, B, and C
; and
striking the last sentence and inserting at the end the following new sentence: Part C of title X also may be cited as the
.Second Look at Wasteful Spending Act of 2007
.
Table of contents
The table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by deleting the contents for part C of title X and inserting the following:
Part C—Enhanced rescission authority
Sec. 1021. Expedited consideration of certain proposed rescissions.
.
Severability
If any provision of this title or the amendments made by it is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this title and the amendments made by it shall not be affected by the holding.
Effective Date and Expiration
Effective date
The amendments made by this title shall—
take effect on the date of enactment of this title; and
apply to any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority, item of direct spending, or targeted tax benefit provided in an Act enacted on or after the date of enactment of this title.
Expiration
The amendments made by this title shall expire on December 31, 2010.
Deficit reduction
Definitions, Administration, and Sequestration
Definitions
In this title:
Account
The term account means—
for discretionary budget authority, an item for which appropriations are made in any appropriation Act; and
for items not provided for in appropriation Acts, direct spending and outlays therefrom identified in the program and finance schedules contained in the appendix to the Budget of the United States for the current year.
Breach
The term breach means, for any fiscal year, the amount by which discretionary budget authority enacted for that year exceeds the spending limit for budget authority for that year.
Budget authority; new budget authority; and outlays
The terms budget authority, new budget authority, and outlays have the meanings given to such terms in section 3 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622).
Budget year
The term budget year means, with respect to a session of Congress, the fiscal year of the Government that starts on October 1 of the calendar year in which that session begins.
CBO
The term CBO means the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.
Current
The term current means—
with respect to the Office of Management and Budget estimates included with a budget submission under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, the estimates consistent with the economic and technical assumptions underlying that budget;
with respect to estimates made after that budget submission that are not included with it, the estimates consistent with the economic and technical assumptions underlying the most recently submitted President’s budget; and
with respect to the Congressional Budget Office, estimates consistent with the economic and technical assumptions as required by section 202(e)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Current year
The term current year means, with respect to a budget year, the fiscal year that immediately precedes that budget year.
Deficit
The term deficit means, with respect to any fiscal year, the amount by which total budget outlays for such fiscal year exceed total governmental receipts for such fiscal year. In calculating the deficit for purposes of comparison with the maximum deficit amount under section 221 and in calculating the excess deficit for purposes of subtitle C (notwithstanding section 710(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 911)) for any fiscal year, the receipts of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund for such fiscal year and the taxes payable under sections 1401(a), 3101(a), and 3111(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (26 U.S.C. 1401, 3101, 3111) during such fiscal year shall be included in total revenues for such fiscal year, and the disbursements of each such Trust Fund for such fiscal year shall be included in total budget outlays for such fiscal year. Notwithstanding any other provision of law except to the extent provided by section 710(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 911) the receipts, revenues, disbursements, budget authority, and outlays of each off-budget Federal entity for a fiscal year shall be included in total budget authority, total budget outlays, and total revenues and the amounts of budget authority and outlays set forth for each major functional category, for such fiscal year.
Direct spending and mandatory spending
The terms direct spending and mandatory spending shall have the meaning given such terms in section 3(3) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Discretionary appropriations and discretionary budget authority
The terms discretionary appropriations and discretionary budget authority shall have the meaning given such terms in section 3(4) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Discretionary spending limit
The term discretionary spending limit shall mean the amounts specified in section 212.
Excess deficit amount
The term excess deficit amount, with respect to any fiscal year, means the amount of the deficit reduced by the estimated reductions of outlays resulting from any sequestration in subtitle C, that exceeds the maximum deficit amount.
OMB
The term OMB means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Sequestration
The term sequestration—
with respect to discretionary budget authority, means the cancellation or reduction of budget authority (except budget authority to fund mandatory programs) provided in appropriation Acts; and
with respect to the excess deficit amount, means the amount canceled or reduced from direct spending and outlays flowing therefrom.
Administration, reconciliation, and effect of sequestration
Timetable
The timetable with respect to this title is as follows:
| 5 days before the President's budget submission | CBO Discretionary Sequestration and Maximum Deficit Amount Preview Report |
| The President's budget submission | OMB Discretionary Sequestration and Maximum Deficit Amount Preview Report |
| August 15 | CBO Discretionary Sequestration and Maximum Deficit Amount Reconciliation Report |
| August 20 | OMB Discretionary Sequestration and Maximum Deficit Amount Reconciliation Report |
| September 15 | Budget Committee Reconciliation Directives |
| 20 days after Budget Committee Action | Committees Respond to Reconciliation Directives |
| 10 days after end of session | CBO Final Discretionary Sequestration and Maximum Deficit Amount Sequestration Report |
| 15 days after end of session | OMB Final Discretionary Sequestration and Maximum Deficit Amount Sequestration Report/Presidential Sequestration Order |
Presidential Order
In general
On the date specified in subsection (a), if in its Final Sequestration Report, OMB estimates that any sequestration is required, the President shall issue an order fully implementing without change all sequestrations required by the OMB calculations set forth in that report. This order shall be effective on issuance.
Special rule
If the date specified for the submission of a Presidential order under subsection (a) falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, such order shall be issued on the following day.
Effects of Sequestration
The effects of sequestration shall be as follows:
Budgetary resources sequestered from any account shall be permanently cancelled, except as provided in paragraph (5).
Except as otherwise provided, the same percentage sequestration shall apply to all programs, projects, and activities within a budget account (with programs, projects, and activities as delineated in the appropriation Act or accompanying report for the relevant fiscal year covering that account).
Administrative regulations or similar actions implementing a sequestration shall be made within 120 days of the sequestration order. To the extent that formula allocations differ at different levels of budgetary resources within an account, program, project, or activity, the sequestration shall be interpreted as producing a lower total appropriation, with the remaining amount of the appropriation being obligated in a manner consistent with program allocation formulas in substantive law.
Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, obligations or budgetary resources in sequestered accounts shall be reduced only in the fiscal year in which a sequester occurs.
Budgetary resources sequestered in special fund accounts and offsetting collections sequestered in appropriation accounts shall not be available for obligation during the fiscal year in which the sequestration occurs, but shall be available in subsequent years to the extent otherwise provided in law.
Submission and Availability of Reports
Each report required by this section shall be submitted, in the case of CBO, to the House of Representatives, the Senate, and OMB and, in the case of OMB, to the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the President on the day it is issued. On the following day a notice of the report shall be printed in the Federal Register.
GAO compliance report
Upon request of the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives or the Senate, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Congress and the President a report on—
the extent to which each order issued by the President under this title complies with all of the requirements contained in this title, either certifying that the order fully and accurately complies with such requirements or indicating the respects in which it does not; and
the extent to which each report issued by OMB or CBO under this section complies with all of the requirements contained in this title, either certifying that the report fully and accurately complies with such requirements or indicating the respects in which it does not.
Discretionary Spending Limits
Discretionary Sequestration Reports
Discretionary Sequestration Preview Reports
Reporting requirement
In general
On the dates specified in section 202(a), OMB shall report to the President and Congress and CBO shall report to Congress a Discretionary Sequestration Preview Report regarding discretionary sequestration based on laws enacted through those dates.
President’s budget
When the President submits the budget under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, OMB shall calculate and the budget shall include adjustments to discretionary spending limits (and those limits as cumulatively adjusted) for the budget year and each outyear to reflect adjustments under section 212(b).
Consultation
Any determination or change under subparagraph (B) may only be made after consultation with the Committees on Appropriations and the Budget of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and that consultation shall include written communication to such committees that affords such committees the opportunity to comment before official action is taken with respect to such changes.
Discretionary
The Discretionary Sequestration Preview Report shall set forth estimates for the current year and each subsequent year through 2010 of the applicable discretionary spending limits and an explanation of any adjustments in such limits under section 212, and a projection of budget authority exceeding discretionary limits subject to sequester.
Explanation of differences
The OMB reports shall explain the differences between OMB and CBO estimates for each item set forth in this subsection.
Discretionary Sequestration Reports
On the dates specified in section 202(a), OMB and CBO shall issue Discretionary Sequestration Reports, reflecting laws enacted through those dates, containing all of the information required in the Discretionary Sequestration Preview Reports.
Final Discretionary Sequestration Reports
Reporting requirements
On the dates specified in section 202(a), OMB and CBO shall each issue a Final Discretionary Sequestration Report, updated to reflect laws enacted through those dates.
Discretionary spending
The Final Discretionary Sequestration Reports shall set forth estimates for each of the following:
For the current year and each subsequent year through 2010; the applicable discretionary spending limits.
For the current year, if applicable, and the budget year; the new budget authority and the breach, if any.
The sequestration percentages necessary to eliminate the breach.
For the budget year, for each account to be sequestered, the level of enacted, sequesterable budget authority and resulting estimated outlays flowing therefrom.
Explanation of differences
The OMB report shall explain—
any differences between OMB and CBO estimates for the amount of any breach and for any required discretionary sequestration percentages; and
differences in the amount of sequesterable resources for any budget account to be reduced if such difference is greater than $5,000,000.
Economic and Technical Assumptions
In all reports required by this section, OMB shall use the same economic and technical assumptions as used in the most recent budget submitted by the President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code.
Adjustments
When OMB submits a report under this section for a fiscal year, OMB shall calculate, and the subsequent reports and budgets submitted by the President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code shall include, adjustments to discretionary spending limits under section 212(b) (and those limits as adjusted) for the fiscal year and each succeeding year.
Limits
Discretionary Spending Limits
As used in this subtitle, the term discretionary spending limit means—
with respect to fiscal year 2008, $926,584,000,000 in new budget authority;
with respect to fiscal year 2009, $955,934,000,000 in new budget authority;
with respect to fiscal year 2010, $971,430,000,000 in new budget authority; and
with respect to fiscal years following 2010, the President shall recommend and the Congress shall consider legislation setting limits for those fiscal years.
Adjustments
Global war on terrorism funding
If an appropriation bill or joint resolution is enacted for fiscal year 2008, 2009, or 2010, that provides funding for the military for conducting the war on terrorism overseas, the adjustment for purposes of section 211(c) shall be the amount of budget authority in that measure for that purpose but not to exceed—
with respect to fiscal year 2008, $145,162,000,000 in new budget authority;
with respect to fiscal year 2009, $100,000,000,000 in new budget authority; and
with respect to fiscal year 2010, $50,000,000,000 in new budget authority.
United States forces in the global war on terrorism
If an appropriation bill or joint resolution is enacted for fiscal year 2008 that provides funding for activities that—
address training, equipment, force protection, logistics, or other matters necessary for the protection of United States forces; or
address deficiencies at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other facilities within the military medical system providing treatment to service members injured while performing their duties in the Global War on Terrorism;
the adjustment for purposes of section 211(c) shall be the amount of budget authority in that measure for that purpose but not to exceed $5,000,000,000 in new budget authority.
Emergency spending
If, for fiscal year 2008, 2009, or 2010 appropriations for discretionary accounts are enacted that the President designates as emergency requirements, and that the Congress so designates in statute, the adjustment for purposes of section 211(c) shall be the total of such appropriations in discretionary accounts designated as emergency requirements, but not to exceed $5,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $5,000,000,000 for 2009, and $5,000,000,000 for 2010. Appropriations designated as emergencies in excess of these limitations shall be treated as new budget authority for the purpose of calculating a breach of the discretionary spending limits.
Federal tax gap initiative
If an appropriation bill or joint resolution is enacted for fiscal year 2008, 2009, or 2010, that includes $6,788,000,000 plus an additional amount for the enhanced tax enforcement initiative of the Internal Revenue Service, the adjustment for purposes of section 211(c) shall be the amount of budget authority in that measure for that initiative but not to exceed—
with respect to fiscal year 2008, $440,000,000 in new budget authority;
with respect to fiscal year 2009, $619,000,000 in new budget authority; and
with respect to fiscal year 2010, $826,000,000 in new budget authority.
Continuing disability reviews and ssi redeterminations
If an appropriation bill or joint resolution is enacted for fiscal year 2008, 2009, or 2010, that includes $264,000,000 plus an additional amount for continuing disability reviews and supplemental security income redeterminations for the Social Security Administration, the adjustment for purposes of section 211(c) shall be the amount of budget authority in that measure for that initiative but not to exceed—
with respect to fiscal year 2008, $213,000,000 in new budget authority;
with respect to fiscal year 2009, $453,000,000 in new budget authority; and
with respect to fiscal year 2010, $485,000,000 in new budget authority.
Health care fraud and abuse
If an appropriation bill or joint resolution is enacted for fiscal year 2008 that includes $1,156,000,000, or for fiscal year 2009 that includes $1,178,000,000, or for fiscal year 2010 that includes $1,200,000,000, plus an additional amount for Health Care, Fraud, and Abuse Control Program at the Department of Health and Human Services, the adjustment for purposes of section 211(c) shall be the amount of budget authority in that measure for that initiative but not to exceed—
with respect to fiscal year 2008, $183,000,000 in new budget authority;
with respect to fiscal year 2009, $198,000,000 in new budget authority; and
with respect to fiscal year 2010, $211,000,000 in new budget authority.
Unemployment insurance improper payment reviews
If an appropriation bill or joint resolution is enacted for fiscal year 2008, 2009, or 2010 that includes $10,000,000, plus an additional amount for unemployment improper payment reviews for the Department of Labor, the adjustment for purposes of section 211(c) shall be the amount of budget authority in that measure for that initiative but not to exceed—
with respect to fiscal year 2008, $40,000,000 in new budget authority;
with respect to fiscal year 2009, $40,000,000 in new budget authority; and
with respect to fiscal year 2010, $40,000,000 in new budget authority.
Enforcement
Sequestration
On the date specified in section 202(a), there shall be a sequestration to eliminate a budget-year breach.
Eliminating a breach
Each account shall be reduced by a dollar amount calculated by multiplying the enacted level of budget authority for that year in that account at that time by the uniform percentage necessary to eliminate a breach of the discretionary spending limit.
Optional exemption of military personnel
In general
The President may, with respect to any military personnel account, exempt that account from sequestration or provide for a lower uniform percentage reduction than would otherwise apply.
Limitation
The President may not use the authority provided in subparagraph (a) unless the President notifies Congress of the manner in which such authority will be exercised on or before the date in section 202(a).
Part-year appropriations
If, on the date the report is issued under paragraph (1), there is in effect an Act making continuing appropriations for part of a fiscal year for any budget account, then the dollar sequestration calculated for that account under paragraph (2) shall be subtracted from—
the annualized amount otherwise available by law in that account under that or a subsequent part-year appropriation; and
when a full-year appropriation for that account is enacted, from the amount otherwise provided by the full-year appropriation.
Look-back
If, after June 30, an appropriation for the fiscal year in progress is enacted that causes a breach for that year (after taking into account any previous sequestration), the discretionary spending limit for the next fiscal year shall be reduced by the amount of that breach.
Within-session sequestration reports and order
If an appropriation for a fiscal year in progress is enacted (after Congress adjourns to end the session for that budget year and before July 1 of that fiscal year) that causes a breach, 10 days later CBO shall issue a report containing the information required in section 211(c). Fifteen days after enactment, OMB shall issue a report containing the information required in section 211(c). On the same day as the OMB report, the President shall issue an order fully implementing without change all sequestrations required by the OMB calculations set forth in that report. This order shall be effective on issuance.
Estimates
CBO estimates
As soon as practicable after Congress completes action on any legislation providing discretionary appropriations, CBO shall provide an estimate to OMB of that legislation.
OMB estimates
Not later than 7 calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) after the date of enactment of any discretionary appropriations, OMB shall transmit a report to the Senate and to the House of Representatives containing—
the CBO estimate of that legislation;
an OMB estimate of that legislation using current economic and technical assumptions; and
an explanation of any difference between the 2 estimates.
Differences
If during the preparation of the report under paragraph (2), OMB determines that there is a difference between the OMB and CBO estimates, OMB shall consult with the Committees on the Budget of the House of Representatives and the Senate regarding that difference and that consultation, to the extent practicable, shall include written communication to such committees that affords such committees the opportunity to comment before the issuance of that report.
Assumptions and guidelines
OMB and CBO shall prepare estimates under this paragraph in conformance with scorekeeping guidelines determined after consultation among the House and Senate Committees on the Budget, CBO, and OMB.
Maximum Deficit Amount Limitation
Maximum deficit amount
In this subtitle, the term maximum deficit amount
—
with respect to 2008, equals 1.75 percent of the Gross Domestic Product for 2008, as estimated by OMB for 2008;
with respect to 2009, equals 1.25 percent of the Gross Domestic Product for 2009, as estimated by OMB for 2009;
with respect to 2010, equals 0.75 percent of the Gross Domestic Product for 2010, as estimated by OMB for 2010;
with respect to 2011, equals 0.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product as estimated by OMB for 2011; and
with respect to 2012 and thereafter, 0.00 percent as estimated by OMB for 2012, and thereafter.
Reporting of excess deficits
Maximum Deficit Amount Preview Report by OMB and CBO
Estimates and determinations
On the dates specified in section 202(a), OMB and CBO shall with respect to each fiscal year estimate—
the deficit;
the maximum deficit amount; and
any excess deficit amount for the budget year.
Report
OMB shall report to the President and Congress and CBO shall report to Congress estimating the budget base levels of total revenues and total budget outlays for the budget year, identifying the deficit, the maximum deficit amount, and the amount of any deficit excess for such fiscal year, the base from which direct spending reductions are taken and the amounts based upon uniform percentages, by which such direct spending accounts must be reduced for the budget year, in accordance with the succeeding provisions of this part, in order to eliminate such excess based on laws enacted through those dates.
Determination of reductions
The amounts based upon uniform percentages, by which accounts must be reduced for the budget year shall be determined by, subject to the exemptions set forth in section 227, the reductions necessary to eliminate the excess deficit amount for the fiscal year.
Basis for directors’ estimates, determinations, and specifications
Budget base
In computing the amounts and percentages by which accounts must be reduced during a fiscal year as set forth in the report required under paragraph (2) for such fiscal year, OMB and CBO shall use current economic and technical assumptions consistent with the methodology set forth in section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Enforcement Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Explanation of differences
The OMB shall explain the differences between OMB and CBO estimates for each item in the report.
Revised Estimates and Maximum Deficit Amount Reconciliation Reports
Reconciliation report by omb and cbo
On the dates specified in section 202(a), the Director of OMB shall submit to the President and Congress, and the Director of CBO shall submit to Congress, a revised report—
indicating whether and to what extent, as a result of laws enacted and regulations promulgated after the submission of their maximum deficit amount preview report under subsection (a), the excess deficit identified in the report submitted under such subsection has been eliminated, reduced, or increased; and
adjusting the determinations for the effects of any discretionary sequestration that may be required under subtitle B.
Explanation of differences
The OMB shall explain the differences between OMB and CBO estimates for each item in the reconciliation report.
Dates for Submission of Reports and Issuance of Orders
If the date specified for the submission of a report by the Director of OMB or the issuance of a Presidential order under this section falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, such report shall be submitted or such order issued on the following day.
Printing of Reports
Each report submitted under this section shall be printed in the Federal Register on the date it is issued; and the reports of the Director of OMB submitted to the Congress under subsection (b) shall be printed as documents of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Estimates
CBO estimates
As soon as practicable after Congress completes action on any legislation under this section, CBO shall provide an estimate to OMB of that legislation.
OMB estimates
Not later than 7 calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) after the date of enactment of any direct spending, OMB shall transmit a report to the House of Representatives and to the Senate containing—
the CBO estimate of that legislation;
an OMB estimate of that legislation using current economic and technical assumptions; and
an explanation of any difference between the 2 estimates.
Differences
If during the preparation of the report under paragraph (2), OMB determines that there is a difference between the OMB and CBO estimates, OMB shall consult with the Committees on the Budget of the Senate and the House of Representatives regarding that difference and that consultation, to the extent practicable, shall include written communication to such committees that affords such committees the opportunity to comment before the issuance of that report.
Assumptions and guidelines
OMB and CBO shall prepare estimates under this paragraph in conformance with scorekeeping guidelines determined after consultation among the Senate and House Committees on the Budget, CBO, and OMB.
Congressional response to OMB and CBO Reconciliation Report
Reporting of Resolutions, and Reconciliation Bills and Resolutions, in the Senate
Committee alternatives to presidential order
For the purpose of assisting the Committees on the Budget of the Senate and House in preparing Reconciliation Directive Reports under paragraph (3) and not later than 20 days after the submission of the OMB Reconciliation Report, each standing committee of the Senate and House may submit to the Committees on the Budget of the Senate and House information of the type described in section 301(d) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 with respect to alternatives to the order envisioned by such report insofar as such order affects laws within the jurisdiction of the committee.
Application of the congressional budget act of 1974
Sections 305 and 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 shall apply to any bill considered under this section, except as otherwise provided in this section.
Reconciliation directives
On the date specified in section 202(a), the Chairmen and Ranking Minority Members of the Committees on the Budget of the Senate and House shall submit a Reconciliation Directive Report to the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House for appropriate referral to the committees of its House, the OMB Reconciliation Report containing the maximum deficit amount and the excess deficit and reconciliation directives. Such directives shall—
specify the total amount by which—
direct spending budget authority and outlays for such fiscal year; and
governmental receipts, other than income taxes, estate and gift taxes, excise taxes, payroll taxes, or tariffs, for such fiscal year;
include directives to committees to recommend changes in laws within their jurisdiction—
to accomplish the total amount of deficit reduction necessary to eliminate the excess deficit so that the deficit does not exceed the maximum deficit amount set forth in the OMB Reconciliation Report; and
with amounts required for each committee proportionally based on the outlays allocated to that committee for programs under section 302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 in the most recent adopted concurrent resolution on the budget.
Response of committees
Committees directed pursuant to paragraph (3), shall submit their recommendations to comply with the directives to the Budget Committee no later than 20 days after the directives referred to in paragraph (3) are issued.
Budget committee action
Upon receipt of the recommendations received in response to directives referred to in paragraph (3), the Budget Committees shall report to the Senate and House, a reconciliation bill carrying out all such recommendations.
Legislative Procedure
If a Reconciliation Directive Report containing reconciliation directives to committees to determine and recommend changes in laws, bills, or resolutions is issued in accordance with subsection (a)(3)—
each such committee so directed shall make such recommendations to the Committee on the Budget of its House, which upon receiving all such recommendations, shall report to its House reconciliation legislation carrying out all such recommendations without any substantive revision; and
in the event that any committee fails to comply with its directive, then the Committees on the Budget may report amendments recommending changes within the jurisdiction of the noncompliant committee to achieve the changes contained in the directive.
Adjustment of Budget Targets
Upon enactment of a reconciliation bill conference report, the chairmen of the Committees on the Budget of the Senate and the House of Representatives shall revise spending and revenue levels under section 311(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and adjust the committee allocations under section 302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, or any other adjustments as may be appropriate to reflect any changes made in the reconciliation bill. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the revised allocations and aggregates shall be considered to have been made under a concurrent resolution on the budget agreed to under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and shall be enforced under the procedures of that Act.
Compliance With Reconciliation Directives
Secondary or indirect effects of the legislative recommendations submitted by any committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives that is directed, shall be attributed to the committee proposing the change in law, but shall not be considered for the purpose of determining compliance with such directives.
Limitation on Amendments to Reconciliation Bills
House of representatives
It shall not be in order in the House of Representatives to consider any amendment to a reconciliation bill if such amendment would have the effect of increasing any specific budget outlays above the level of such outlays provided in the bill (for the fiscal years covered by the reconciliation directives), or would have the effect of reducing any specific governmental receipts below the level of such governmental receipts provided in the bill (for such fiscal year), unless such amendment makes at least an equivalent reduction in other specific budget outlays, an equivalent increase in other specific governmental receipts, or an equivalent combination thereof (for such fiscal year).
Senate
It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any amendment to a reconciliation bill if such amendment would have the effect of increasing any specific budget outlay level above the level of such outlay reductions provided (for the fiscal year covered) in the reconciliation directives or would have the effect of reducing governmental receipts increases below the level of such increases in such governmental receipts provided (for such fiscal year) in the reconciliation directives, unless such amendment makes a reduction in other specific budget outlays, an increase in other specific governmental receipts, or a combination thereof (for such fiscal year) at least equivalent to any increase in outlays or decrease in governmental receipts provided by such amendment, except that a motion to strike a provision shall always be in order.
Budget authority, outlays, and receipts
For purposes of this section, the levels of budget authority, outlays, and governmental receipts for a fiscal year shall be determined on the basis of estimates made by the Committee on the Budget of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, as the case may be.
House rules
The Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives may make in order amendments to achieve changes specified by reconciliation directives if a committee or committees of the House fail to submit recommended changes to its Committee on the Budget pursuant to its instruction.
Procedure in the Senate
Consideration in the Senate on any reconciliation bill reported under this subsection, and all amendments thereto and debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 20 hours.
Limitation on Changes to the Social Security Act
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any reconciliation bill, or any amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that contains recommendations with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act.
Extraneous Matter in Reconciliation Legislation
In general
When the Senate is considering a reconciliation bill pursuant to this section (whether that bill originated in the Senate or the House), upon a point of order being made by any Senator against material extraneous to the instructions to a committee which is contained in any title or provision of the bill or offered as an amendment to the bill, and the point of order is sustained by the Chair, any part of said title or provision that contains material extraneous to the directives to said Committee as defined in paragraph (2), shall be deemed stricken from the bill and may not be offered as an amendment from the floor.
Extraneous provisions
Except as provided in paragraph (3)—
a provision of a reconciliation bill considered pursuant to this subsection shall be considered extraneous if such provision does not produce a decrease in outlays or an increase in governmental receipts, including changes in outlays and governmental receipts brought about by changes in the terms and conditions under which outlays are made or governmental receipts are required to be collected;
a provision that is not in the jurisdiction of the Committee with jurisdiction over said title or provision shall be considered extraneous (except that amendments reported by the Committee on the Budget to achieve compliance with reconciliation directives shall be in order notwithstanding any other rule of the Senate and not be deemed extraneous);
a provision shall be considered to be extraneous if it increases, or would increase, net outlays, or if it decreases, or would decrease, governmental receipts during a fiscal year after the fiscal years covered by such reconciliation bill, and such increases or decreases are greater than outlay reductions or governmental receipts increases resulting from other provisions in such title in such year; and
a provision shall be considered extraneous if it violates section 310(g) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Senate-originated provisions
A Senate-originated provision shall not be considered extraneous under paragraph (2) if the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on the Budget and the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee which reported the provision certify that—
the provision mitigates direct effects clearly attributable to a provision changing outlays or revenue and both provisions together produce a net reduction in the deficit;
the provision will result in a substantial reduction in outlays or a substantial increase in governmental receipts during fiscal years after the fiscal years covered by the reconciliation bill or reconciliation resolution;
a reduction of outlays or an increase in governmental receipts is likely to occur as a result of the provision, in the event of new regulations authorized by the provision or likely to be proposed, court rulings on pending litigation, or relationships between economic indices and stipulated statutory triggers pertaining to the provision, other than the regulations, court rulings, or relationships currently projected by the Congressional Budget Office for scorekeeping purposes; or
such provision will be likely to produce a significant reduction in outlays or increase in governmental receipts but, due to insufficient data, such reduction or increase cannot be reliably estimated.
Committee reported provisions
a provision reported by a committee shall not be considered extraneous under paragraph (2) if—
the provision is an integral part of a provision or title, which if introduced as a bill, would be referred to such committee, and the provision sets forth the procedure to carry out or implement the substantive provisions that were reported and which fall within the jurisdiction of such committee; or
the provision states an exception to, or a special application of, the general provision or title of which it is a part and such general provision or title if introduced as a bill, would be referred to such committee.
Technical and conforming amendments
Technical and conforming provisions shall not be considered extraneous under this subsection.
Extraneous materials
Upon the reporting of a reconciliation bill pursuant to this subsection in the Senate, and again upon the submission of a conference report on such a reconciliation bill, the Committee on the Budget of the Senate shall submit for the record a list of material considered to be extraneous under paragraph (2) (A), (C), and (D), to the instructions of a committee as provided in this section. The inclusion or exclusion of a provision shall not constitute a determination of extraneousness by the Presiding Officer of the Senate.
Conference reports
When the Senate is considering a conference report on, or an amendment between the Houses in relation to, a reconciliation bill pursuant to this section, upon a point of order being made by any Senator against extraneous material meeting the definition of this subsection, and such point of order being sustained, such material contained in such conference report or amendment shall be deemed stricken, and the Senate shall proceed, without intervening action or motion, to consider the question of whether the Senate shall recede from its amendment and concur with a further amendment, or concur in the House amendment with a further amendment, as the case may be, which further amendment shall consist of only that portion of the conference report or House amendment, as the case may be, not so stricken. Any such motion in the Senate shall be debatable for two hours. In any case in which such point of order is sustained against a conference report (or Senate amendment derived from such conference report by operation of this subsection), no further amendment shall be in order.
Determinations and Points of Order
Notwithstanding any other law or rule of the Senate, it shall be in order for a Senator to raise a single point of order that several provisions of a bill, resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report violate this section. The Presiding Officer may sustain the point of order as to some or all of the provisions against which the Senator raised the point of order. If the Presiding Officer so sustains the point of order as to some of the provisions (including provisions of an amendment, motion, or conference report) against which the Senator raised the point of order, then only those provisions (including provisions of an amendment, motion, or conference report) against which the Presiding Officer sustains the point of order shall be deemed stricken pursuant to this section. Before the Presiding Officer rules on such a point of order, any Senator may move to waive such a point of order as it applies to some or all of the provisions against which the point of order was raised. Such a motion to waive is amendable in accordance with the rules and precedents of the Senate. After the Presiding Officer rules on such a point of order, any Senator may appeal the ruling of the Presiding Officer on such a point of order as it applies to some or all of the provisions on which the Presiding Officer ruled.
Revised estimates and final maximum deficit amount sequestration reports
Revised Estimates, Determinations, and Final Maximum Deficit Amount Sequestration Reports
On the dates specified in section 202(a), OMB shall submit to the President and Congress, and CBO shall submit to Congress, a revised report—
indicating whether and to what extent, as a result of laws enacted and regulations promulgated after the submission of their preview report under section 222(a), the excess deficit identified in the report submitted under such subsection has been eliminated, reduced, or increased; and
adjusting the determinations made under section 222(a) to the extent necessary.
Dates for Submission of Reports and Issuance of Orders
If the date specified for the submission of a report by the Director of OMB under this section falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, such report shall be submitted or such order issued on the following day.
Printing of Reports
Each report submitted under this section shall be printed in the Federal Register on the date it is issued; and the reports of the Director of OMB submitted to the Congress under subsection (a)(1) shall be printed as documents of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Maximum deficit amount—presidential order
In General
On the date specified in section 202(a) and following the submission of a report by the Director of OMB to the President and Congress under section 224 that identifies an amount by which the deficit for a fiscal year will exceed the maximum deficit amount for such fiscal year the President, in strict accordance with the requirements set forth in section 227, shall eliminate the full amount of the deficit excess by issuing an order that eliminates the direct spending authority and outlays resulting therefrom in accordance with such report from each budget account activity as identified in the program and financing schedules contained in the appendix to the Budget of the United States Government for that fiscal year, applying the same reduction percentage as the percentage by which the account is reduced in such report.
Order To Be Based on OMB Report
The order must provide for reductions in the manner specified in section 224, and must be consistent with such report in all respects. The President may not modify or recalculate any of the estimates, determinations, specifications, bases, amounts or percentages set forth in the report submitted under section 224 in determining the reductions to be specified in the order with respect to budget activities, within an account.
Effect of Sequestration Under Presidential Order
Amounts sequestered under an order issued by the President under subsection (a) for a fiscal year shall be permanently cancelled in accordance with such final order.
Accompanying Message
At the time the actions described in the preceding provisions of this subsection with respect to any fiscal year are taken, the President shall transmit to both Houses of the Congress a message containing all the information required by this section and further specifying in strict accordance with subsection (b)—
within each account, and the amounts which are to be sequestered or reduced for each such program, project, and activity or budget account activity; and
such other supporting details as the President may determine to be appropriate.
Effective Date of Order
The order issued by the President under subsection (a) with respect to any fiscal year shall be effective as of the date of its issuance.
Congressional response to low growth
Special Procedures in the Event of Low Economic Growth
In general
The Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall notify the Congress at any time if—
during the period consisting of the quarter during which such notification is given, the quarter preceding such notification, and the four quarters following such notification, such Office or the Office of Management and Budget has determined that real economic growth is projected or estimated to be less than zero with respect to each of any two consecutive quarters within such period, or
the Department of Commerce preliminary reports of actual real economic growth (or any subsequent revision thereof) indicate that the rate of real economic growth for each of the most recent reported quarter and the immediately preceding quarter is less than one percent.
Form of joint resolution
Matter
The matter after the resolving clause in any joint resolution introduced pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be as follows: “That the Congress declares that the conditions specified in section 226(a)(1) of the Stop Over Spending Act of 2006 are met and the provisions of that Act, including sequestration of discretionary spending under subtitle B and sequestration of direct spending under subtitle C of that Act are suspended for the remainder of the current year, and for the fiscal year following the current year. This joint resolution shall not have the effect of suspending any final order which was issued for the current fiscal year under the SOS Act if such order was issued before the date of the enactment of this joint resolution.
Title
The title of the joint resolution shall be Joint resolution suspending certain provisions of law pursuant to SOS Act.
and the joint resolution shall not contain any preamble.
Committee Action
Each joint resolution introduced pursuant to subsection (a) shall be referred to the Committee on the Budget of the appropriate House; and such Committee shall report the joint resolution to its House without amendment on or before the fifth day on which such House is in session after the date on which the joint resolution is introduced. If the Committee fails to report the joint resolution within the 5-day period referred to in the preceding sentence, it shall be automatically discharged from further consideration of the joint resolution, and the joint resolution shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.
Consideration of Joint Resolution
In general
A vote on final passage of a joint resolution reported to a House of the Congress or discharged pursuant to subsection (b) shall be taken on or before the close of the fifth calendar day of session of such House after the date on which the joint resolution is reported to such House or after the Committee has been discharged from further consideration of the joint resolution. If prior to the passage by 1 House of a joint resolution of that House, that House received the same joint resolution from the other House, then—
the procedure in that House shall be the same as if no such joint resolution had been received from the other House; and
the vote on final passage shall be on the joint resolution of the other House.
House
Proceeding
A motion in the House of Representatives to proceed to the consideration of a joint resolution under this subsection shall be highly privileged and not debatable. An amendment to the motion shall not be in order, nor shall it be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to.
Debate
Debate in the House of Representatives on a joint resolution under this subsection shall be limited to not more than 5 hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the joint resolution. A motion to postpone, made in the House of Representatives with respect to the consideration of a joint resolution under this subsection, and a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, shall not be in order. A motion further to limit debate shall not be debatable. It shall not be in order to move to table or to recommit a joint resolution under this subsection or to move to reconsider the vote by which the joint resolution is agreed to or disagreed to.
Appeals
All appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the Rules of the House of Representatives to the procedure relating to a joint resolution under this subsection shall be decided without debate.
Form of resolution
Except to the extent specifically provided in this subsection or in paragraph (4), consideration of a joint resolution under this paragraph shall be governed by the Rules of the House of Representatives.
Senate
Proceeding
A motion in the Senate to proceed to the consideration of a joint resolution under this subsection shall be privileged and not debatable. An amendment to the motion shall not be in order, nor shall it be in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to.
Debate
Debate in the Senate on a joint resolution under this subsection, and all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than five hours. The time shall be equally divided between, and controlled by, the majority leader and the minority leader or their designees.
Motions and appeals
Debate in the Senate on any debatable motion or appeal in connection with a joint resolution under this subsection shall be limited to not more than one hour, to be equally divided between, and controlled by, the mover and the manager of the joint resolution, except that in the event the manager of the joint resolution is in favor of any such motion or appeal, the time in opposition thereto shall be controlled by the minority leader or his designee.
Limit debate or recommit
A motion in the Senate to further limit debate on a joint resolution under this subsection is not debatable. A motion to table or to recommit a joint resolution under this subsection is not in order.
No amendments
No amendment to a joint resolution considered under this subsection shall be in order in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.
Exemptions from sequestration
In General
Except as provided in subsection (b), all direct spending and outlays flowing therefrom shall be subject to the sequestration procedures under this subtitle.
Exemptions
Social security benefits and tier i railroad retirement benefits
Benefits payable under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act, or in benefits payable under section 3(a), 3(f)(3), 4(a), or 4(f) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, shall be exempt from any reduction under any order issued under this part.
In budget
President’s budget
The President shall include in the budget submitted pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, specific accounts or activities where amounts are not available for sequestration in order to prevent Federal default (including outlays for interest on the public debt, outlays for claims against the United States, outlays for miscellaneous permanent appropriations and outlays for existing contracts.)
Justification
The President shall include a justification for each exemption submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A).
Application
The exemptions provided in paragraph (1) and the exemptions submitted by the President under this paragraph shall stand as the only exemptions to sequestration procedures under this subtitle, unless otherwise provided by law.
Submission of President’s budget; maximum deficit amount may not be exceeded
Section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following:
The budget transmitted pursuant to subsection (a) for a fiscal year shall be prepared consistent with section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, in such a manner as to ensure that the discretionary spending limits under section 212 of the Stop Over Spending Act of 2006 and the deficit for such fiscal year shall not exceed the maximum deficit amount for such fiscal year.
.
Biennial budget and appropriations
Revision of timetable
Section 300 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631) is amended to read as follows:
Timetable
In general
Except as provided by subsection (b), the timetable with respect to the congressional budget process for any Congress (beginning with the 110th Congress) is as follows:
| On or before: | Action to be completed: |
| First Monday in February | President submits budget recommendations. |
| February 15 | Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees. |
| Not later than 6 weeks after budget submission | Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees. |
| April 1 | Budget Committees report concurrent resolution on the biennial budget. |
| May 15 | Congress completes action on concurrent resolution on the biennial budget. |
| May 15 | Biennial appropriation bills may be considered in the House. |
| June 10 | House Appropriations Committee reports last biennial appropriation bill. |
| June 30 | House completes action on biennial appropriation bills. |
| August 1 | Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation. |
| October 1 | Biennium begins. |
| On or before: | Action to be completed: |
| February 15 | President submits budget review. |
| Not later than 6 weeks after President submits budget review | Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees. |
| The last day of the session | Congress completes action on bills and resolutions authorizing new budget authority for the succeeding biennium. |
Special Rule
In the case of any first session of Congress that begins in any year immediately following a leap year and during which the term of a President (except a President who succeeds himself or herself) begins, the following dates shall supersede those set forth in subsection (a):
| On or before: | Action to be completed: |
| First Monday in April | President submits budget recommendations. |
| April 20 | Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees. |
| May 15 | Budget Committees report concurrent resolution on the biennial budget. |
| June 1 | Congress completes action on concurrent resolution on the biennial budget. |
| July 1 | Biennial appropriation bills may be considered in the House. |
| July 20 | House completes action on biennial appropriation bills. |
| August 1 | Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation. |
| October 1 | Biennium begins. |
.
Amendments to the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
Declaration of Purpose
Section 2(2) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621(2)) is amended by striking each year
and inserting biennially
.
Definitions
Budget resolution
Section 3(4) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 622(4)) is amended by striking fiscal year
each place it appears and inserting biennium
.
Biennium
Section 3 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 622) is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
The term biennium means the period of 2 consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year.
.
Biennial Concurrent Resolution on the Budget
Section heading
The section heading of section 301 of such Act is amended by striking annual
and inserting biennial
.
Contents of resolution
Section 301(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(a)) is amended—
in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by—
striking April 15 of each year
and inserting May 15 of each odd-numbered year
;
striking the fiscal year beginning on October 1 of such year
the first place it appears and inserting the biennium beginning on October 1 of such year
; and
striking the fiscal year beginning on October 1 of such year
the second place it appears and inserting each fiscal year in such period
;
in paragraph (6), by striking for the fiscal year
and inserting for each fiscal year in the biennium
; and
in paragraph (7), by striking for the fiscal year
and inserting for each fiscal year in the biennium
.
Additional matters
Section 301(b)(3) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(b)) is amended by striking for such fiscal year
and inserting for either fiscal year in such biennium
.
Views of other committees
Section 301(d) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(d)) is amended by inserting (or, if applicable, as provided by section 300(b))
after United States Code
.
Hearings
Section 301(e)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(e)) is amended by—
striking fiscal year
and inserting biennium
; and
inserting after the second sentence the following: On or before April 1 of each odd-numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by section 300(b)), the Committee on the Budget of each House shall report to its House the concurrent resolution on the budget referred to in subsection (a) for the biennium beginning on October 1 of that year.
.
Goals for reducing unemployment
Section 301(f) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(f)) is amended by striking fiscal year
each place it appears and inserting biennium
.
Economic assumptions
Section 301(g)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(g)(1)) is amended by striking for a fiscal year
and inserting for a biennium
.
Table of contents
The item relating to section 301 in the table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by striking Annual
and inserting Biennial
.
Committee Allocations
Section 302 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 633) is amended—
in subsection (a)
in paragraph (1), by—
striking for the first fiscal year of the resolution,
and inserting for each fiscal year in the biennium,
;
striking for that period of fiscal years
and inserting for all fiscal years covered by the resolution
; and
striking for the fiscal year of that resolution
and inserting for each fiscal year in the biennium
; and
in paragraph (5), by striking April 15
and inserting May 15 or June 1 (under section 300(b))
;
in subsection (b), by striking budget year
and inserting biennium
;
in subsection (c) by striking for a fiscal year
each place it appears and inserting for each fiscal year in the biennium
;
in subsection (f)(1), by striking for a fiscal year
and inserting for a biennium
;
in subsection (f)(1), by striking the first fiscal year
and inserting each fiscal year of the biennium
;
in subsection (f)(2)(A), by—
striking the first fiscal year
and inserting each fiscal year of the biennium
; and
striking the total of fiscal years
and inserting the total of all fiscal years covered by the resolution
; and
in subsection (g)(1)(A), by striking April
and inserting May
.
Section 303 Point of Order
In general
Section 303(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(a)) is amended by—
striking the first fiscal year
and inserting each fiscal year of the biennium
; and
striking that fiscal year
each place it appears and inserting that biennium
.
Exceptions in the house
Section 303(b)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(b)) is amended—
in subparagraph (A), by striking the budget year
and inserting the biennium
; and
in subparagraph (B), by striking the fiscal year
and inserting the biennium
.
Application to the senate
Section 303(c)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(c)) is amended by—
striking fiscal year
and inserting biennium
; and
striking that year
and inserting each fiscal year of that biennium
.
Permissible Revisions of Concurrent Resolutions on the Budget
Section 304 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 635) is amended by—
striking fiscal year
the first two places it appears and inserting biennium
; and
striking for such fiscal year
and inserting for such biennium
.
Procedures for Consideration of Budget Resolutions
Section 305 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 636(3)) is amended—
in subsection (a)(3), by striking fiscal year
and inserting biennium
; and
in subsection (b)(3), by striking fiscal year
and inserting biennium
.
Completion of House Action on Appropriation Bills
Section 307 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 638) is amended by—
striking each year
and inserting each odd-numbered year
;
striking annual
and inserting biennial
;
striking fiscal year
and inserting biennium
; and
striking that year
and inserting each odd-numbered year
.
Completion of Action on Regular Appropriation Bills
Section 309 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 640) is amended by—
inserting of any odd-numbered calendar year
after July
;
striking annual
and inserting biennial
; and
striking fiscal year
and inserting biennium
.
Reconciliation Process
Section 310(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 641(a)) is amended—
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking any fiscal year
and inserting any biennium
; and
in paragraph (1) by striking such fiscal year
each place it appears and inserting any fiscal year covered by such resolution
.
Section 311 Point of Order
In the house
Section 311(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 642(a)) is amended by—
striking for a fiscal year
and inserting for a biennium
;
striking the first fiscal year
each place it appears and inserting either fiscal year of the biennium
; and
striking that first fiscal year
and inserting each fiscal year in the biennium
.
In the senate
Section 311(a)(2) of such Act is amended—
in subparagraph (A), by striking for the first fiscal year
and inserting for either fiscal year of the biennium
; and
in subparagraph (B) by—
striking that first fiscal year
the first place it appears and inserting each fiscal year in the biennium
; and
striking that first fiscal year and the ensuing fiscal years
and inserting all fiscal years
.
Social security levels
Section 311(a)(3) of such Act is amended by—
striking for the first fiscal year
and inserting each fiscal year in the biennium
; and
striking that fiscal year and the ensuing fiscal years
and inserting all fiscal years
.
Maximum Deficit Amount Point of Order
Section 312(c) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 643) is amended—
by striking for a fiscal year
and inserting for a biennium
;
in paragraph (1), by striking the first fiscal year
and inserting either fiscal year in the biennium
;
in paragraph (2), by striking that fiscal year
and inserting either fiscal year in the biennium
; and
in the matter following paragraph (2), by striking that fiscal year
and inserting the applicable fiscal year
.
Amendments to title 31, United States Code
Definition
Section 1101 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph:
biennium
has the meaning given to such term in paragraph (11) of section 3 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(11)).
.
Budget Contents and Submission to the Congress
Schedule
The matter preceding paragraph (1) in section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
On or before the first Monday in February of each odd-numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by section 300(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974), beginning with the One Hundred Tenth Congress, the President shall transmit to the Congress, the budget for the biennium beginning on October 1 of such calendar year. The budget of the United States Government transmitted under this subsection shall include a budget message and summary and supporting information. The President shall include in each budget the following:
.
Expenditures
Section 1105(a)(5) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted and the 4 fiscal years after that year
and inserting each fiscal year in the biennium for which the budget is submitted and in the succeeding 4 fiscal years
.
Receipts
Section 1105(a)(6) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted and the 4 fiscal years after that year
and inserting each fiscal year in the biennium for which the budget is submitted and in the succeeding 4 years
.
Balance statements
Section 1105(a)(9)(C) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking the fiscal year
and inserting each fiscal year in the biennium
.
Functions and activities
Section 1105(a)(12) of title 31, United States Code, is amended in subparagraph (A), by striking the fiscal year
and inserting each fiscal year in the biennium
.
Allowances
Section 1105(a)(13) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking the fiscal year
and inserting each fiscal year in the biennium
.
Allowances for uncontrolled expenditures
Section 1105(a)(14) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking that year
and inserting each fiscal year in the biennium for which the budget is submitted
.
Tax expenditures
Section 1105(a)(16) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking the fiscal year
and inserting each fiscal year in the biennium
.
Future years
Section 1105(a)(17) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by—
striking the fiscal year following the fiscal year
and inserting each fiscal year in the biennium following the biennium
;
striking that following fiscal year
and inserting each such fiscal year
; and
striking fiscal year before the fiscal year
and inserting biennium before the biennium
.
Prior year outlays
Section 1105(a)(18) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by—
striking the prior fiscal year
and inserting each of the 2 most recently completed fiscal years,
;
striking for that year
and inserting with respect to those fiscal years
; and
striking in that year
and inserting in those fiscal years
.
Prior year receipts
Section 1105(a)(19) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by—
striking the prior fiscal year
and inserting each of the 2 most recently completed fiscal years
;
striking for that year
and inserting with respect to those fiscal years
; and
striking in that year
each place it appears and inserting in those fiscal years
.
Estimated Expenditures of Legislative and Judicial Branches
Section 1105(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking each year
and inserting each even-numbered year
.
Recommendations To Meet Estimated Deficiencies
Section 1105(c) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by—
striking the fiscal year for
the first place it appears and inserting each fiscal year in the biennium for
;
striking the fiscal year for
the second place it appears and inserting each fiscal year of the biennium, as the case may be, for
; and
striking for that year
and inserting for each fiscal year of the biennium
.
Capital Investment Analysis
Section 1105(e)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ensuing fiscal year
and inserting biennium to which such budget relates
.
Supplemental Budget Estimates and Changes
In general
Section 1106(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended—
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by—
inserting after Before July 16 of each year
the following: and February 15 of each even-numbered year
; and
striking fiscal year
and inserting biennium
;
in paragraph (1), by striking that fiscal year
and inserting each fiscal year in such biennium
;
in paragraph (2), by striking fiscal year
and inserting biennium
; and
in paragraph (3), by striking fiscal year
and inserting biennium
.
Changes
Section 1106(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by—
striking the fiscal year
and inserting each fiscal year in the biennium
;
inserting after Before July 16 of each year
the following: and February 15 of each even-numbered year
; and
striking submitted before July 16
and inserting required by this subsection
.
Current Programs and Activities Estimates
In general
Section 1109(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by—
striking On or before the first Monday after January 3 of each year (on or before February 5 in 1986)
and inserting At the same time the budget required by section 1105 is submitted for a biennium
; and
striking the following fiscal year
and inserting each fiscal year of such period
.
Joint economic committee
Section 1109(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking March 1 of each year
and inserting within 6 weeks of the President’s budget submission for each odd-numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by section 300(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974)
.
Year-Ahead Requests for Authorizing Legislation
Section 1110 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by—
striking May 16
and inserting March 31
; and
striking year before the year in which the fiscal year begins
and inserting calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the biennium begins
.
Two-year appropriations; title and style of appropriations Acts
Section 105 of title 1, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
Title and style of appropriations Acts
The style and title of all Acts making appropriations for the support of the Government shall be as follows: An Act making appropriations (here insert the object) for each fiscal year in the biennium of fiscal years (here insert the fiscal years of the biennium).
.
All Acts making regular appropriations for the support of the Government shall be enacted for a biennium and shall specify the amount of appropriations provided for each fiscal year in such period.
For purposes of this section, the term biennium has the same meaning as in section 3(11) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(11)).
.
Multiyear authorizations
In General
Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
Authorizations of appropriations
Point of order
It shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider—
any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that authorizes appropriations for a period of less than 2 fiscal years, unless the program, project, or activity for which the appropriations are authorized will require no further appropriations and will be completed or terminated after the appropriations have been expended; and
in any odd-numbered year, any authorization or revenue bill or joint resolution until Congress completes action on the biennial budget resolution, all regular biennial appropriations bills, and all reconciliation bills.
Applicability
In the Senate, subsection (a) shall not apply to—
any measure that is privileged for consideration pursuant to a rule or statute;
any matter considered in Executive Session; or
an appropriations measure or reconciliation bill.
.
Amendment to Table of Contents
The table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by adding after the item relating to section 315 the following new item:
Sec. 316. Authorizations of appropriations.
.
Government plans on a biennial basis
Strategic Plans
Section 306 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking September 30, 1997
and inserting September 30, 2007
;
in subsection (b) by—
striking five years forward
and inserting 6 years forward
;
striking at least every three years
and inserting at least every 4 years
; and
striking beginning with , except that
through four years
; and
in subsection (c), by inserting a comma after section
the second place it appears and adding including a strategic plan submitted by September 30, 2008 meeting the requirements of subsection (a)
.
Budget Contents and Submission to Congress
Paragraph (28) of section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking beginning with fiscal year 1999, a
and inserting beginning with fiscal year 2008, a biennial
.
Performance Plans
Section 1115 of title 31, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in the matter before paragraph (1) by striking an annual
and inserting a biennial
;
in paragraph (1) by inserting after program activity
the following: for both years 1 and 2 of the biennial plan
;
in paragraph (5) by striking and
after the semicolon ;
in paragraph (6) by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and inserting and
after the inserted semicolon; and
by adding after paragraph (6) the following:
cover a 2-year period beginning with the first fiscal year of the next biennial budget cycle.
;
in subsection (d) by striking annual
and inserting biennial
; and
in paragraph (6) of subsection (g) by striking annual
and inserting biennial
.
Managerial Accountability and Flexibility
Section 9703 of title 31, United States Code, relating to managerial accountability, is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in the first sentence by striking annual
; and
by striking section 1105(a)(29)
and inserting section 1105(a)(28)
; and
in subsection (e)—
in the first sentence by striking one or
before years
;
in the second sentence by striking a subsequent year
and inserting a subsequent 2-year period
; and
in the third sentence by striking three
and inserting 4
.
Pilot Projects for Performance Budgeting
Section 1119 of title 31, United States Code, is amended—
in paragraph (1) of subsection (d), by striking annual
and inserting biennial
; and
in subsection (e), by striking annual
and inserting biennial
.
Strategic Plans
Section 2802 of title 39, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking September 30, 1997
and inserting September 30, 2008
;
in subsection (b), by striking five years forward
and inserting 6 years forward
;
in subsection (b), by striking at least every three years
and inserting at least every 4 years
; and
in subsection (c), by inserting a comma after section
the second place it appears and inserting including a strategic plan submitted by September 30, 2008 meeting the requirements of subsection (a)
.
Performance Plans
Section 2803(a) of title 39, United States Code, is amended—
in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking an annual
and inserting a biennial
;
in paragraph (1), by inserting after program activity
the following: for both years 1 and 2 of the biennial plan
;
in paragraph (5), by striking and
after the semicolon;
in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting ; and
; and
by adding after paragraph (6) the following:
cover a 2-year period beginning with the first fiscal year of the next biennial budget cycle.
.
Committee Views of Plans and Reports
Section 301(d) of the Congressional Budget Act (2 U.S.C. 632(d)) is amended by adding at the end Each committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall review the strategic plans, performance plans, and performance reports, required under section 306 of title 5, United States Code, and sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31, United States Code, of all agencies under the jurisdiction of the committee. Each committee may provide its views on such plans or reports to the Committee on the Budget of the applicable House.
.
Effective Date
In general
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
Agency actions
Effective on and after the date of enactment of this Act, each agency shall take such actions as necessary to prepare and submit any plan or report in accordance with the amendments made by this Act.
Biennial appropriation bills
In General
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:
Consideration of biennial appropriations bills
It shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives in any odd-numbered year to consider any regular bill providing new budget authority or a limitation on obligations under the jurisdiction of any of the subcommittees of the Committees on Appropriations for only the first fiscal year of a biennium, unless the program, project, or activity for which the new budget authority or obligation limitation is provided will require no additional authority beyond 1 year and will be completed or terminated after the amount provided has been expended.
.
Amendment to Table of Contents
The table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by adding after the item relating to section 316 the following new item:
Sec. 317. Consideration of biennial appropriations bills.
.
Report on changes in law
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of OMB shall report to the Committees on the Budget of the Senate and the House of Representatives any changes in law to the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and the provisions of this Act required to conform with a biennial budget process.
Effective date
Except as provided in sections 306 and 308, this title and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2008, and shall apply to budget resolutions and appropriations for the biennium beginning with fiscal year 2009.
Commissions
National Commission on Entitlement Solvency
Definitions
In this subtitle:
Administrator
The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Calendar day
The term calendar day means a calendar day other than one in which either House is not in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 days to a date certain.
Commission
The term Commission means the National Commission on Entitlement Solvency established under section 402(a).
Commission bill
The term Commission bill means a bill consisting of the proposed legislative language provisions of the Commission introduced under section 403(a).
Commissioner
The term Commissioner means the Commissioner of Social Security.
Long-term
The term long-term means a period of not less than 75 years beginning on the date of enactment of this Act.
Medicaid
The term Medicaid means the program established under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
Medicare
The term Medicare means the program established under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.).
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.).
Establishment of Commission
Establishment
There is established a commission to be known as the National Commission on Entitlement Solvency
.
Purpose
The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive review of the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs for the following purposes:
Review
Reviewing analyses of the current and long-term actuarial financial condition of the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs.
Identifying problems
Identifying problems that may threaten the long-term solvency of the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs.
Analyzing potential solutions
Analyzing potential solutions to problems that threaten the long-term solvency of the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs.
Providing recommendations
Providing recommendations that will ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs and the provision of appropriate benefits.
Duties
In general
The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive review of the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs consistent with the purposes described in subsection (b) and shall submit the report required under paragraph (2).
Report and recommendations
In general
Not later than 120 days after the date on which the Commission holds its first meeting, the Commission shall submit a report on the long-term solvency of the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs that contains a detailed statement of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Commission to the President, Congress, the Commissioner, and the Administrator.
Approval of report
The report of the Commission submitted under subparagraph (A) shall require the approval of not less than 12 members of the Commission.
Legislative language
If a recommendation submitted under subparagraph (A) involves legislative action, the report shall include proposed legislative language to carry out such action.
Appointment of members
In general
Membership
The membership of the commission shall not exceed 16 members appointed pursuant to subparagraph (B) as voting members and 3 nonvoting members described in subparagraph (C).
Voting members
In general
Voting members of the commission shall be appointed as follows:
The President shall appoint 2 members, 1 of whom shall be the Secretary of the Treasury.
The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint 4 members.
The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint 3 members.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint 4 members.
The minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint 3 members.
Congressional appointees
The members of the Commission appointed under subclauses (II), (III), (IV), and (V) of clause (i) shall be Members of Congress.
Non-voting member
The following shall be nonvoting members of the Commission and shall advise and assist at the request of the Commission:
The Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration.
The Chief Actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
The Director of the Congressional Budget Office.
Chairperson
The Secretary of the Treasury shall be the chairperson of the Commission.
Date
Members of the Commission shall be appointed by not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Period of appointment
Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
Termination
The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 90 days after the Commission submits the report required under subsection (c)(2).
Administration
Quorum
Eight members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for purposes of voting, but a quorum is not required for members to meet and hold hearings.
Meetings
The Commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members.
Hearings
Subject to paragraph (7), the Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act—
hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths the Commission considers advisable;
require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses the Commission considers advisable; and
require, by subpoena or otherwise, the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, tapes, and other evidentiary materials relating to any matter under investigation by the Commission.
Subpoenas
Issuance
In general
A subpoena may be issued under this subsection only—
by the chairperson; or
by the affirmative vote of 8 members of the Commission.
Signature
Subpoenas issued under this subsection may be issued under the signature of the chairperson of the Commission and may be served by any person designated by the chairperson or by a member designated by a majority of the Commission.
Enforcement
In the case of contumacy or failure to obey a subpoena issued under this subsection, the United States district court for the judicial district in which the subpoenaed person resides, is served, or may be found, may issue an order requiring such person to appear at any designated place to testify or to produce documentary or other evidence. Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of that court.
Compensation
Members of the Commission shall serve without any additional compensation for their work on the Commission. 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 Commission.
Staff
In general
With the approval of a majority of the Commission, the chairperson of the Commission may appoint an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its duties.
Actuarial experts and consultants
With the approval of a majority of the Commission, the Executive Director may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
Compensation
Upon the approval of the chairperson, the executive director may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel may not exceed the maximum rate payable for a position at GS–15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of such title.
Personnel as Federal employees
In general
The executive director and any personnel of the Commission who are employees shall be employees under section 2105 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, 89A, 89B, and 90 of that title.
Members of commission
Clause (i) shall not be construed to apply to members of the Commission.
Federal agencies
Detail of government employees
Upon the request of the Commission, the head of any Federal agency may detail, without reimbursement by the Commission, any of the personnel of such agency to the Commission to assist in carrying out the duties of the Commission. Any such detail shall not interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service status or privileges of the Federal employee.
Technical assistance
Upon the request of the Commission, the head of a Federal agency shall provide such technical assistance to the Commission as the Commission determines to be necessary to carry out its duties.
Information
Resources
The Commission shall have reasonable access to materials, resources, statistical data, and other information the Commission 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 representatives of the executive and legislative branches of the Federal Government. The chairperson shall make requests for such access in writing when necessary.
Receipt, handling, storage, and dissemination of information
Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and disseminated by members of the Commission and its staff consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive orders.
Limitation of access to tax information
Information requested, subpoenaed, or otherwise accessed under this subtitle shall not include tax data from the United States Internal Revenue Service, the release of which would otherwise be in violation of law.
Postal services
The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
Funding
The Commission shall receive, from amounts appropriated to the Commissioner and the Administrator, respectively, for fiscal year 2008 for administrative expenses, such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
Expedited consideration of Commission recommendations
Introduction and committee consideration
Introduction
The aggregate legislative language provisions submitted pursuant to section 402(c)(2)(C) shall be combined into a Commission bill to be introduced in the Senate by the majority leader, or the majority leader’s designee, and in the House of Representatives, by the Speaker, or the Speaker’s designee. Upon such introduction, the Commission bill shall be referred to the appropriate committees of Congress under paragraph (2). If the Commission bill is not introduced in accordance with the preceding sentence, then any member of Congress may introduce the Commission bill in their respective House of Congress beginning on the date that is the 5th calendar day that such House is in session following the date of the submission of such aggregate legislative language provisions.
Committee consideration
Referral
A Commission bill introduced in the Senate shall be referred to the Committee on Finance of the Senate. A Commission bill introduced in the House of Representatives shall be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
Reporting
Not later than 30 calendar days after the introduction of the Commission bill, each Committee of Congress to which the Commission bill was referred shall report such bill or such bill as amended by the committee. All committee amendments must comply with the requirements of section 402(b)(4).
Discharge of committee
If a committee to which is referred a Commission bill has not reported a Commission bill or such bill as amended, at the end of 30 calendar days after its introduction or at the end of the first day after there has been reported to the House involved a Commission bill or such bill as amended, whichever is earlier, such committee shall be deemed to be discharged from further consideration of such Commission bill, and such Commission bill shall be placed on the appropriate calendar of the House involved.
Expedited procedure
Consideration
In general
Not later than 5 days of session after the date on which a committee reports a Commission bill, or such bill as amended, or has been discharged from consideration of a Commission bill, the majority leader of the Senate, or the majority leader’s designee, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Speaker’s designee, shall move to proceed to the consideration of the Commission bill or such bill as amended. It shall also be in order for any member of the Senate or the House of Representatives, respectively, to move to proceed to the consideration of the Commission bill at any time after the conclusion of such 5-day period.
Motion to proceed
A motion to proceed to the consideration of the Commission bill is highly privileged in the House of Representatives and 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 Commission 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 Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, shall immediately proceed to consideration of the Commission bill without intervening motion, order, or other business, and the Commission bill shall remain the unfinished business of the Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, until disposed of.
In the Senate
Consideration
In the Senate, consideration of the Commission bill and all amendments thereto and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith shall be limited to not more than 50 hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing amendments to the Commission bill or the Commission bill. A motion further to limit debate on the Commission bill is in order and is not debatable. All time used for consideration of the Commission bill, including time used for quorum calls (except quorum calls immediately preceding a vote) and voting, shall be counted against the 50 hours of consideration.
Amendments
No amendment that is not germane to the provisions of committee amendments to the Commission bill or the Commission bill shall be in order in the Senate. All amendments must comply with the requirements of section 402(b)(4). In the Senate, an amendment, any amendment to an amendment, or any debatable motion or appeal is debatable for not to exceed 1 hour, to be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the amendment, motion, or appeal.
Motion to recommit
Vote
Upon expiration of the time for consideration of the Commission bill, the measure shall be recommitted to the Committee on Finance of the Senate for further consideration unless by a 3/5 vote of the Members, duly chosen and sworn, the Senate agrees to proceed to final passage.
Recommital
If the bill is recommitted under subclause (I), any new amendments to the Commission bill shall be considered under the provisions of section 402(b)(4).
Vote on final passage
In the Senate, immediately following the conclusion of consideration of the Commission bill, the disposition of any pending amendments under clause (ii), a motion to recommit under clause (iii), and a request to establish the presence of a quorum, the vote on final passage of the Commission bill shall occur.
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 Commission bill is agreed to or not agreed to is not in order in the Senate.
Conference
Proceeding to conference
If, after a Commission bill is agreed to in the Senate or House of Representatives, the Commission bill has been amended, the Commission bill shall be deemed to be at a stage of disagreement and motions to proceed to conference are deemed to be agreed to. There shall be no motions to instruct. The Senate and the House of Representatives shall appoint conferees after the vote of the second House that results in such disagreement without any intervening action or debate. In the event that conferees are not appointed in accordance with the preceding sentence, the following shall be deemed to be the duly appointed conferees:
The majority leader of the Senate or the majority leader’s designee.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Speaker’s designee
The Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Budget.
The Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Finance.
The Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives.
The Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.
The Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
Motion to proceed in the senate
The motion to proceed to consideration in the Senate of the conference report on the Commission bill may be made even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to.
Procedure
Debate on the conference report on the Commission bill considered under this section shall be limited to 20 hours equally divided between the manager of the conference report and the minority leader, or his designee.
Final passage
A vote on final passage of the conference report on the Commission bill shall be taken in the Senate and the House of Representatives on or before the close of the 10th day of session of that House after the date the conference report is submitted in that House. If the conference report is passed, the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, shall cause the conference report to be transmitted to the other House before the close of the next day of session of that House.
Action of senate
In general
If the Senate has received from the House the conference report on the Commission bill prior to the vote required under subparagraph (E), then the Senate shall consider, and the vote under subparagraph (E) shall occur on, the House conference report or the version of the Commission bill passed by the House.
Motion to recommit
Vote
Upon expiration of the time for consideration, the conference report on the Commission bill shall be recommitted to the Committee of Conference for further consideration unless by a 3/5 vote of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, the Senate agrees to proceed to final passage.
Recommital
If the conference report is recommitted under subclause (I), the conference report accompanying the bill shall be recommitted to the Conference Committee or it shall be in order to immediately proceed without intervening action to consideration of the motions for a new conference.
Conference report defeated
Should the conference report be defeated, the provisions of this subsection shall apply to any request for a new conference and the appointment of conferees.
No suspension
No motion to suspend the application of this subsection shall be in order in the Senate or in the House of Representatives, nor shall it be in order in the House of Representatives to suspend the application of this subsection by unanimous consent.
Rules of the senate and the house of representatives
This section is enacted by Congress—
as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, and is deemed to be part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House in the case of a Commission bill, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and
with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as they relate to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House.
Commission on Congressional Budgetary Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies
Definitions
In this subtitle:
Agency
The term agency means—
an Executive agency, as defined under section 105 of title 5, United States Code; and
the Executive Office of the President.
Calendar day
The term calendar day means a calendar day other than 1 on which either House is not in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 days to a date certain.
Commission bill
The term Commission bill means only a bill which is introduced as provided under section 416, and contains the proposed legislation included in the report submitted to Congress under section 413(b)(3), without modification.
Program
The term program means any activity or function of an agency.
Establishment of Commission
Establishment
There is established the Commission on Congressional Budgetary Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies (referred to in this subtitle as the Commission
).
Membership
In general
The Commission shall consist of 15 members, of which, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act—
3 shall be appointed by the President;
3 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;
3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;
3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
Cochairpersons
The President shall designate 2 Cochairpersons from among the members of the Commission. The Cochairpersons may not be affiliated with the same political party.
Date
Members of the Commission shall be appointed by not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Period of Appointment; Vacancies
Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
Meetings
Initial meeting
Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting.
Subsequent meetings
The Commission shall meet at the call of the Cochairpersons or a majority of its members.
Quorum
Eight members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for purposes of voting, but a quorum is not required for members to meet and hold hearings.
Duties of the Commission
Systematic Assessment of Programs by the President
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and each of the next 3 years thereafter, the President shall—
establish a systematic method for assessing the effectiveness and accountability of agency programs in accordance with paragraph (2) and divide the programs into 4 approximately equal budgetary parts based on the size of the budget and number of personnel of the agency program; and
submit, to the Commission each year, an assessment of the programs within each part (1 each year) that use the method established under subparagraph (A).
Method objectives
The method established under paragraph (1) shall—
recognize different types of Federal programs;
assess programs based on the achievement of performance goals (as defined under section 1115(g)(4) of title 31, United States Code);
assess programs based in part on the adequacy of the program’s performance measures, financial management, and other factors determined by the President;
assess programs based in part on whether the program has fulfilled the legislative intent surrounding the creation of the program, taking into account any change in legislative intent during the program’s existence; and
assess programs based in part on collaborative analysis, with the program or agency, of program policy and goals which may not fit into easily measurable performance goals.
Common performance measures
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall identify common performance measures for programs covered in paragraph (1) that have similar functions and, to the extent feasible, provide the Commission with data on such performance measures.
Evaluation and Plan by Commission
Development
The method established under subsection (a) shall be subject to review and change by the Commission. If the Commission makes any changes in the method, the Commission shall notify Congress not later than 1 year after reviewing the first assessment from the President under this section.
Consideration of assessments
The Commission shall consider assessments submitted under subsection (a) when evaluating programs under this subsection.
Assessment and legislation
In general
The Commission shall—
evaluate all agencies and programs within those agencies in each unit identified in the systemic assessment under subsection (a) (1 each year over the next 4 years), using the criteria under subsection (a) subject to modification under paragraph (1); and
submit to Congress each of the next 4 years beginning January 1, 2008, with respect to each evaluation under clause (i)—
a plan with recommendations of the agencies and programs that should be realigned or eliminated within each part; and
proposed legislation to implement the plan described under subclause (I).
Relocation of federal employees
The proposed legislation under subparagraph (A) shall provide that if the position of an employee of an agency is eliminated as a result of the implementation of the plan under subparagraph (A)(i), the affected agency shall make reasonable efforts to relocate such employee to another position within the agency or within another Federal agency.
Criteria
Duplicative
If 2 or more agencies or programs are performing the same essential function and the function can be consolidated or streamlined into a single agency or program, the Commission shall recommend that the agencies or programs be realigned.
Wasteful or inefficient
The Commission may recommend the realignment or elimination of any agency or program that has wasted Federal funds by—
egregious spending;
mismanagement of resources and personnel; or
use of such funds for personal benefit or the benefit of a special interest group.
Outdated, irrelevant, or failed
The Commission shall recommend the elimination of any agency or program that—
has completed its intended purpose;
has become irrelevant; or
has failed to meet its objectives.
Powers of the Commission
Hearings
Subject to subsection (d), the Cochairpersons of the Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this subtitle—
hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as the chairperson of the Commission considers advisable;
require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses as the chairperson of the Commission considers advisable; and
require, by subpoena or otherwise, the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, tapes, and other evidentiary materials relating to any matter under investigation by the Commission.
Subpoenas
Issuance
In general
A subpoena may be issued under this subsection only by—
the agreement of the Cochairpersons; or
the affirmative vote of 8 members of the Commission.
Signature
Subpoenas issued under this subsection (a) may be issued under the signature of both Cochairpersons of the Commission and may be served by any person designated by the Cochairpersons or by a member designated by a majority of the Commission.
Enforcement
In the case of contumacy or failure to obey a subpoena issued under subsection (a), the United States district court for the judicial district in which the subpoenaed person resides, is served, or may be found, may issue an order requiring such person to appear at any designated place to testify or to produce documentary or other evidence. Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of that court.
Technical Assistance
Upon the request of the Commission, the head of a Federal agency shall provide such technical assistance to the Commission as the Commission determines to be necessary to carry out its duties.
Information
In general
The Commission shall have reasonable access to budgetary, performance or programmatic materials, resources, statistical data, and other information the Commission determines to be necessary to carry out its duties from the Congressional Budget Office, and other agencies and representatives of the executive and legislative branches of the Federal Government. The Cochairpersons shall make requests for such access in writing when necessary.
Receipt, handling, storage, and dissemination of information
Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and disseminated by members of the Commission and its staff consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive orders.
Limitation of access to personal tax information
Information requested, subpoenaed, or otherwise accessed under this subtitle shall not include tax data from the United States Internal Revenue Service, the release of which would otherwise be in violation of law.
Receipt, Handling, Storage, and Dissemination of Information
Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and disseminated by members of the Commission and its staff consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive orders.
Postal Services
The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
Commission personnel matters
Compensation of Members
Non-federal members
Except as provided under subsection (b), each member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall not be compensated.
Federal officers or employees
All members of the Commission who are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as officers or employees of the United States.
Travel Expenses
The members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission.
Staff
In general
With the approval of the majority of the Commission, the Cochairpersons of the Commission may, appoint an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its duties.
Compensation
Upon the approval of the Cochairpersons, the executive director may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel may not exceed the maximum rate payable for a position at GS–15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of such title.
Personnel as federal employees
In general
The executive director and any personnel of the Commission who are employees shall be employees under section 2105 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, 89A, 89B, and 90 of that title.
Members of commission
Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed to apply to members of the Commission.
Detail of Government Employees
Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement from the Commission, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services
With the approval of the majority of the Commission, the chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
Expedited Consideration of reform proposals
Introduction and Committee Consideration
Introduction
The Commission bill language provisions submitted pursuant to section 413(b)(3) shall be introduced in the Senate by the majority leader, or the majority leader’s designee, and in the House of Representatives, by the Speaker, or the Speaker’s designee. Upon such introduction, the Commission bill shall be referred to the appropriate committees of Congress under paragraph (2). If the Commission bill is not introduced in accordance with the preceding sentence, then any member of Congress may introduce the Commission bill in their respective House of Congress beginning on the date that is the 5th calendar day that such House is in session following the date of the submission of such aggregate legislative language provisions.
Committee consideration
Referral
A Commission bill introduced under paragraph (1) shall be referred to any appropriate committee of jurisdiction in the Senate, any appropriate committee of jurisdiction in the House of Representatives, the Committee on the Budget of the Senate and the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives. A committee to which a Commission bill is referred under this paragraph may review and comment on such bill, may report such bill to the respective House, and may not amend such bill.
Reporting
Not later than 30 calendar days after the introduction of the Commission bill, each Committee of Congress to which the Commission bill was referred shall report the bill.
Discharge of committee
If a committee to which is referred a Commission bill has not reported such Commission bill at the end of 30 calendar days after its introduction or at the end of the first day after there has been reported to the House involved a Commission bill, whichever is earlier, such committee shall be deemed to be discharged from further consideration of such Commission bill, and such Commission bill shall be placed on the appropriate calendar of the House involved.
Expedited Procedure
Consideration
In general
Not later than 5 calendar days after the date on which a committee has reported a Commission bill or been discharged from consideration of a Commission bill, the majority leader of the Senate, or the majority leader’s designee, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Speaker’s designee, shall move to proceed to the consideration of the Commission bill. It shall also be in order for any member of the Senate or the House of Representatives, respectively, to move to proceed to the consideration of the Commission bill at any time after the conclusion of such 5-day period.
Motion to proceed
A motion to proceed to the consideration of a Commission bill is highly privileged in the House of Representatives and 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 Commission 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 Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, shall immediately proceed to consideration of the Commission bill without intervening motion, order, or other business, and the Commission bill shall remain the unfinished business of the Senate or the House of Representatives, as the case may be, until disposed of.
Limited debate
Debate on the Commission bill and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith shall be limited to not more than 10 hours, which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the Commission bill. A motion further to limit debate on the Commission bill is in order and is not debatable. All time used for consideration of the Commission bill, including time used for quorum calls (except quorum calls immediately preceding a vote) and voting, shall come from the 10 hours of debate.
Amendments
No amendment to the Commission bill shall be in order in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Vote on final passage
Immediately following the conclusion of the debate on the Commission bill, the vote on final passage of the Commission bill shall occur.
Other motions not in order
A motion to postpone consideration of the Commission bill, a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the Commission bill is not in order. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the Commission bill is agreed to or not agreed to is not in order.
Consideration by other house
If, before the passage by one House of the Commission bill that was introduced in such House, such House receives from the other House a Commission bill as passed by such other House—
the Commission bill of the other House shall not be referred to a committee and may only be considered for final passage in the House that receives it under subparagraph (C);
the procedure in the House in receipt of the Commission bill of the other House, with respect to the Commission bill that was introduced in the House in receipt of the Commission bill of the other House, shall be the same as if no Commission bill had been received from the other House; and
notwithstanding subparagraph (B), the vote on final passage shall be on the Commission bill of the other House.
Rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives
This section is enacted by Congress—
as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, and is deemed to be part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House in the case of a Commission bill, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and
with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as they relate to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House.
Termination of the Commission
The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits the final evaluation and plan report under section 413.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for carrying out this Act for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
Budget process reforms
Definitions
Section 3 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622) is amended by—
redesignating paragraphs (3) through (10) as paragraphs (7) through (14), respectively;
adding after paragraph (2) the following:
Direct spending and mandatory spending
The terms direct spending and mandatory spending mean—
budget authority provided by law other than appropriation Acts;
budget authority provided in appropriation Acts to satisfy entitlement obligations created by pre-existing authorization laws, also known as appropriated entitlements; and
entitlement authority.
Discretionary appropriations and discretionary budget authority
The terms discretionary appropriations and discretionary budget authority mean budgetary resources provided in appropriation Acts, except those budgetary resources provided in appropriation Acts to fund mandatory program requirements as authorized under current law at the time of consideration of the appropriation measure.
Governmental receipts
The term governmental receipts means revenue or collections from the public based on the government’s exercise of its sovereign powers, including but not limited to individual and corporate income taxes, social insurance taxes, customs, fines, compulsory license fees, deposits of earnings by the Federal Reserve System, duties, tariffs, other fees, miscellaneous receipts, gifts, and contributions.
Secondary or indirect effects
The term secondary or indirect effects means changes in direct spending or government receipts other than the direct, observable effects of changes in legislation on related accounts, including—
the impact of changes in spending legislation on Federal tax receipts or the impact of changes in Federal tax laws on total Federal spending; or
the impacts on spending or government receipts if there is no statutory connection or established interaction between a legislative proposal and its impact on the operation of current law.
; and
adding at the end the following:
Budget year
The term budget year means, with respect to a session of Congress, the fiscal year of the Government that starts on October 1 of the calendar year in which that session begins.
Current year
The term current year means, with respect to a budget year, the fiscal year that immediately precedes that budget year.
.
Annual Concurrent Resolution on the Budget
Section 301 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 632) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (2), by striking Federal revenues
both places it appears and inserting governmental receipts
;
in paragraph (4), by striking major functional category
and inserting standing, select, or special committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as appropriate,
;
in paragraphs (6) and (7), by striking For
and inserting for
; and
in the matter following paragraph (7), by striking old age
and inserting old-age
;
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (3), by striking entitlement authority
and inserting direct spending
; and
in paragraph (7), by inserting is described in detail to allow the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget to determine whether it qualifies for such revision and the legislation
after that legislation
;
in subsection (d)—
in the caption, by striking and estimates of
and inserting , estimates, and recommendations for deficit reduction from all
;
in the first sentence, by striking its views
and inserting its specific recommendations for changes in law within the jurisdiction of the committee making the submission that result in deficit reduction and its views
; and
in the third sentence, by striking or functions
; and
in subsection (e)—
in paragraph (2) by—
redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D) as subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively;
redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively;
inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
with respect to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives, an estimate of total new budget authority and total outlays with the estimates divided between discretionary and mandatory amounts
; and
by adding after subparagraph (E), as redesignated, the following:
with respect to each standing, select, or special committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives, an estimate of governmental receipts within the jurisdiction of that committee;
; and
in paragraph (3)(B), by—
striking Federal revenues
and inserting governmental receipts
; and
striking such revenues
and insert such governmental receipts
.
Committee allocations
Section 302 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 633(a)) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
Further division of amounts in the house
The amounts allocated to each committee of the House of Representatives for each fiscal year, other than the Committee on Appropriations, shall be further divided between amounts provided or required by law on the date of filing of that conference report and amounts not so provided or required. The amounts allocated to the Committee on Appropriations shall be further divided between discretionary and mandatory amounts or programs, as appropriate.
; and
in subsection (g)(2), by striking committee
and inserting Committee
.
Budget resolution adoption
Section 303(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 634(a)) is amended to read as follows:
In General
Point of order
Beginning on the first day of a new session of Congress, and until the concurrent resolution for the fiscal year beginning in October of the year the new session of Congress begins has been agreed to, it shall not be in order to consider with respect to the budget year covered by that resolution, any bill or joint resolution, amendment or motion thereto, or conference report thereon that—
provides an increase in budget authority or outlays for the current year or the budget year; and
provides an increase or decrease in governmental receipts during the current year or the budget year.
Waiver and appeal
In general
Paragraph (1) may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under paragraph (1).
Appeals
Appeals in the Senate from the decisions of the Chair relating to any provision of paragraph (1) shall be limited to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and controlled by, the appellant and the manager of the bill or joint resolution, as the case may be. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under paragraph (1).
.
Procedure in the Senate for budget resolutions
In the Senate, section 305(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is amended by—
redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively; and
adding after paragraph (2) the following:
Priority recognition
Upon the completion of the opening statements on the concurrent resolution on the budget for a fiscal year by the chairman and ranking minority member (or designees) the Presiding Officer shall recognize the minority leader (or designees) who may offer an amendment.
.
Budget projections
Section 308(c) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 639(c)) is amended—
in paragraph (2), by striking revenues
and inserting governmental receipts
; and
in paragraph (4), by striking entitlement
and inserting direct spending
.
Reconciliation
Section 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 641) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following:
specify the total amount by which—
new budget authority;
budget authority;
new direct spending authority; and
governmental receipts other than income taxes, estate and gift taxes, excise taxes or payroll taxes, duties, or tariffs;
specify the total amount by which governmental receipts including income taxes, estate and gift taxes, excise taxes or social insurance taxes, miscellaneous receipts, duties, or tariffs are to be changed and direct that the committees having jurisdiction to determine and recommend changes in the governmental receipt laws, bills, and resolutions to accomplish a change of such total amount;
;
by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
Legislative Procedure
If a conference report on a concurrent resolution containing reconciliation instructions to 1 or more committees to determine and recommend changes in laws, bills, or resolutions is agreed to in accordance with subsection (a)—
each such committee so instructed shall promptly make such determination and recommendations and submit such recommendations to the Committee on the Budget of its House, which upon receiving all such recommendations, shall report to its House reconciliation legislation carrying out all such recommendations without any substantive revision; and
in the event that any committee fails to comply with its instruction, then the Committees on the Budget may report amendments recommending changes within the jurisdiction of the noncompliant committee to achieve the changes contained in the instruction.
For purposes of this subsection, a reconciliation resolution is a concurrent resolution directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate, as the case may be, to make specified changes in bills and resolutions which have not been enrolled.
;
in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
Secondary or indirect effects of the legislative recommendations submitted by any committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives that is instructed pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget, shall be attributed to the committee proposing the change in law, but shall not be considered for the purpose of determining compliance with such instructions.
;
by striking paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (d) and inserting the following:
It shall not be in order in the House of Representatives to consider any amendment to a reconciliation bill or reconciliation resolution if such amendment would have the effect of increasing any specific budget outlays above the level of such outlays provided in the bill or resolution (for the fiscal years covered by the reconciliation instructions set forth in the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget), or would have the effect of reducing any specific governmental receipts below the level of such governmental receipts provided in the bill or resolution (for such fiscal years), unless such amendment makes at least an equivalent reduction in other specific budget outlays, an equivalent increase in other specific governmental receipts, or an equivalent combination thereof (for such fiscal years), except that a motion to strike a provision providing new budget authority or new entitlement authority may be in order.
It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any amendment to a reconciliation bill or reconciliation resolution if such amendment would have the effect of decreasing any specific budget outlay reductions below the level of such outlay reductions provided (for the fiscal years covered) in the reconciliation instructions which relate to such bill or resolution set forth in a resolution providing for reconciliation, or would have the effect of reducing governmental receipts increases below the level of such increases in such governmental receipts provided (for such fiscal years) in such instructions relating to such bill or resolution, unless such amendment makes a reduction in other specific budget outlays, an increase in other specific governmental receipts, or a combination thereof (for such fiscal years) at least equivalent to any increase in outlays or decrease in governmental receipts provided by such amendment, except that a motion to strike a provision shall always be in order.
Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply if a declaration of war by the Congress is in effect.
For purposes of this section, the levels of budget authority, outlays, and governmental receipts for a fiscal year shall be determined on the basis of estimates made by the Committee on the Budget of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, as the case may be.
; and
in subsection (e)—
in paragraph (1), by inserting , motions in relation to a request for conference,
after under subsection (b)
; and
in paragraph (2), by striking Debate
and inserting Consideration
.
Budgeting levels
Section 311(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C.642(a)) is amended—
in the matter after subparagraph (C) in paragraph (1), by striking total revenues
and inserting total governmental receipts
; and
in paragraph (2)(B), by striking revenues
and inserting governmental receipts
.
Determinations and points of order
In General
Section 312 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 643) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking revenues
and inserting governmental receipts
;
by striking subsections (b) and (c);
by redesignating subsections (d) through (f) as subsections (b) through (d), respectively; and
by adding at the end the following:
Congressional Budget Office Score for Conference Reports
It shall not be in order to consider a report of a committee of conference unless an official written cost estimate or table by the Congressional Budget Office is available at the time of consideration.
.
Supermajority Points of Order
Subsections (c)(1) and (d)(2) of section 904 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621 note) are amended by—
inserting 312(e),
after 310(d)(2),
; and
inserting and section 223 of the Stop Over Spending Act of 2007
after of this Act
.
Extraneous matter in reconciliation legislation
Section 313 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 644) is amended—
in subsection (a) by striking or section 258C
through 1985
;
in subsection (b), by—
striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
Except as provided in paragraph (2), a provision of a reconciliation bill or reconciliation resolution considered pursuant to section 310 shall be considered extraneous if such provision does not produce a change in outlays or governmental receipts, including changes in outlays and governmental receipts brought about by changes in the terms and conditions under which outlays are made or governmental receipts are required to be collected (but a provision in which outlay decreases or governmental receipts increases exactly offset outlay increases or governmental receipts decreases shall not be considered extraneous by virtue of this subparagraph); (B) except with respect to consideration of conference reports, any provision producing an increase in outlays or decrease in governmental receipts shall be considered extraneous if the net effect of provisions reported by the committee reporting the title containing the provision is that the committee fails to achieve its reconciliation instructions, or if the increase in outlays or decreases in governmental receipts exceeds 20 percent of the total change required in a committee’s instruction; (C) a provision that is not in the jurisdiction of the Committee with jurisdiction over said title or provision shall be considered extraneous (except that amendments reported by the Committee on the Budget to achieve compliance with reconciliation instructions shall not be extraneous); (D) a provision shall be considered to be extraneous if it increases, or would increase, net outlays, or if it decreases, or would decrease governmental receipts during a fiscal year after the fiscal years covered by such reconciliation bill or reconciliation resolution, and such increases or decreases are greater than outlay reductions or governmental receipts increases resulting from other provisions in such title in such year; and (E) a provision shall be considered extraneous if it violates section 310(g).
; and
adding at the end the following:
Technical and conforming provisions shall not be considered extraneous under this section.
; and
in subsection (d)(1), by striking (b)(1)(E), or (b)(1)(F)
and inserting (b)(1)(E)
.
Adjustments
Title III of Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) is amended by—
striking section 314; and
redesignating section 315 as 314.
Direct spending limitation
Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Direct spending limitation
In general
The chairman or ranking member of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate may submit to the Senate a notification of a Medicare funding warning if the chairman or ranking member projects that within 7 years General Fund of the Treasury contributions to Medicare funding, expressed as a percentage of total Medicare outlays, will exceed 45 percent.
Point of Order
It shall not be in order to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment or conference report that would cause any increase in direct spending, net of proposals to change direct spending, receipts, or revenues contained in the measure, if a Medicare funding warning has been submitted to the Senate pursuant to subsection (a) for 2 consecutive calendar years.
Waiver
This section may be waived or suspended only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn.
Appeals
An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this section.
Cancellations
If legislation is enacted to reduce the general fund contribution below 45 percent, as determined by the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on the Budget, any notification of a Medicare funding warning is withdrawn.
.
Point of order against legislation that raises income tax rates
Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Point of order against legislation that raises income tax rates
In general
It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill, resolution, amendment, amendment between Houses, motion, or conference report that includes a Federal income tax rate increase. In this subsection, the term Federal income tax rate increase means any amendment to subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of section 1, or to section 11(b) or 55(b), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, that imposes a new percentage as a rate of tax and thereby increases the amount of tax imposed by any such section.
Supermajority Waiver and Appeal
Waiver
This section may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn.
Appeal
An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this section.
.
Circuit breaker to protect Social Security
Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Circuit breaker to protect Social Security
Circuit Breaker
If in any year the Congressional Budget Office, in its report pursuant to section 202(e)(1), projects an on-budget deficit (excluding Social Security) for the budget year or any subsequent fiscal year covered by those projections, then the concurrent resolution on the budget for the budget year shall reduce on-budget deficits relative to the projections of Congressional Budget Office and put the budget on a path to achieve on-budget balance within 5 years, and shall include such provisions as are necessary to protect Social Security and facilitate deficit reduction, except it shall not contain any reduction in Social Security benefits.
Point of Order
If in any year the Congressional Budget Office, in its report pursuant to section 202(e)(1), projects an on-budget deficit for the budget year or any subsequent fiscal year covered by those projections, it shall not be in order in the Senate to consider a concurrent resolution on the budget for the budget year or any conference report thereon that fails to reduce on-budget deficits relative to the projections of Congressional Budget Office and put the budget on a path to achieve on-budget balance within 5 years.
Amendments to Budget Resolution
If in any year the Congressional Budget Office, in its report pursuant to section 202(e)(1), projects an on-budget deficit for the budget year or any subsequent fiscal year covered by those projections, it shall not be in order in the Senate to consider an amendment to a concurrent resolution on the budget that would increase on-budget deficits relative to the concurrent resolution on the budget in any fiscal year covered by that concurrent resolution on the budget or cause the budget to fail to achieve on-budget balance within 5 years.
Suspension of Requirement During War or Low Economic Growth
Low growth
If the most recent of the Department of Commerce’s advance, preliminary, or final reports of actual real economic growth indicate that the rate of real economic growth (as measured by real GDP) for each of the most recently reported quarter and the immediately preceding quarter is less than 1 percent, this section is suspended.
War
If a declaration of war is in effect, this section is suspended.
Supermajority Waiver and Appeals
Waiver
Subsections (b) and (c) may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn.
Appeals
Appeals in the Senate from the decisions of the Chair relating to any provision of this subsection shall be limited to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and controlled by, the appellant and the manager of the bill or joint resolution, as the case may be. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this subsection.
Budget Year
In this section, the term budget year shall have the same meaning as in section 250(c)(12) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
.
Limitation on long-term spending proposals
Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Limitation on long-term spending proposals
Congressional Budget Office Analysis of Proposals
The Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall, to the extent practicable, prepare for each bill or joint resolution reported from committee (except measures within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Appropriations), or amendments thereto or conference reports thereon, an estimate of whether the measure would cause, relative to current law, a net increase in direct spending in excess of $5 billion in any of the four 10-year periods beginning in fiscal year 2016 through fiscal year 2055.
Point of Order
In the Senate, it shall not be in order to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that would cause a net increase in direct spending in excess of $5 billion in any of the four 10-year periods beginning in 2016 through 2055.
Waiver
This section may be waived or suspended only by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn.
Appeals
An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this section.
Determinations of Budget Levels
For purposes of this section, the levels of net direct spending shall be determined on the basis of estimates provided by the Committee on the Budget of the Senate.
Application to Reconciliation
This section shall not apply to any legislation reported pursuant to reconciliation directions contained in a concurrent resolution on the budget.
Sunset
This section shall expire on September 30, 2010.
.
Avoiding paygo point of order
Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Avoiding paygo point of order
In general
It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any provision in appropriations legislation, including any amendment thereto, motion in relation thereto, or conference report thereon, that would have been estimated as affecting direct spending under section 252 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (as in effect prior to September 30, 2002) were it included in legislation other than appropriations legislation, if the total of such provisions has a net cost over the total of all fiscal years after the year for which the legislation is providing appropriations.
Determination
For purposes of this section, the determination of whether a provision violates subsection (a) shall be made by the Committee on the Budget of the Senate.
Supermajority waiver and appeal
This section may be waived or suspended only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this section.
General point of order
It shall be in order for a Senator to raise a single point of order that several provisions of a bill, resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report violate this section. The Presiding Officer may sustain the point of order as to some or all of the provisions against which the Senator raised the point of order. If the Presiding Officer so sustains the point of order as to some of the provisions (including provisions of an amendment, motion, or conference report) against which the Senator raised the point of order, then only those provisions (including provision of an amendment, motion, or conference report) against which the Presiding Officer sustains the point of order shall be deemed stricken pursuant to this section. Before the Presiding Officer rules on such a point of order, any Senator may move to waive such a point of order as it applies to some or all of the provisions against which the point of order was raised. Such a motion to waive is amendable in accordance with rules and precedents of the Senate. After the Presiding Officer rules on such a point of order, any Senator may appeal the ruling of the Presiding Officer on such a point of order as it applies to some or all of the provisions on which the Presiding Officer ruled.
Form of the point of order
When the Senate is considering a conference report on, or an amendment between the Houses in relation to, a bill, upon a point of order being made by any Senator pursuant to this section, and such point of order being sustained, such material contained in such conference report or amendment shall be deemed stricken, and the Senate shall proceed to consider the question of whether the Senate shall recede from its amendment and concur with a further amendment, or concur in the House amendment with a further amendment, as the case may be, which further amendment shall consist of only that portion of the conference report or House amendment, as the case may be, not so stricken. Any such motion shall be debatable. In any case in which such point of order is sustained against a conference report (or Senate amendment derived from such conference report by operation of this subsection), no further amendment shall be in order.
.
Pay-as-you-go point of order in the Senate
Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Pay-as-you-go point of order in the Senate
Point of order
In general
It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any direct spending or revenue legislation that would decrease a projected on-budget surplus or increase or create an on-budget deficit beyond those surpluses or deficits that would result from the direct spending and revenue levels assumed in the most recently agreed to budget resolution, for any 1 of the 4 applicable time periods, as measured in paragraphs (5) and (6).
Applicable time periods
For purposes of this subsection, the term applicable time period means any 1 of the 4 following periods:
The fiscal year immediately preceding the first fiscal year covered by the most recently adopted concurrent resolution on the budget.
The first fiscal year covered by the most recently adopted concurrent resolution on the budget.
The period of the first 5 fiscal years covered by the most recently adopted concurrent resolution on the budget, starting with the fiscal year described in (B).
The period of the 5 fiscal years following the first 5 fiscal years described in (C) covered in the most recently adopted concurrent resolution on the budget.
Direct-spending legislation
For purposes of this subsection and except as provided in paragraph (4), the term direct-spending means any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that affects direct spending as that term is defined in section 3(3).
Exclusion
For purposes of this subsection, the terms direct-spending and revenue legislation do not include—
any concurrent resolution on the budget; or
any provision of legislation that affects the full funding of, and continuation of, the deposit insurance guarantee commitment in effect on the date of enactment of the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990.
Baseline
Estimates prepared pursuant to this section shall—
use the baseline surplus or deficit used for the most recently adopted concurrent resolution on the budget; and
be calculated consistent with the requirements of subsections (b) through (d) of section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 for fiscal years beyond those covered by that concurrent resolution on the budget.
Pay-as-you-go scorecard
In general
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget shall set the pay-as-you-go scorecard balance at the time of the adoption of the conference agreement on the Congressional Budget Resolution, and that balance shall reflect the sum of the direct spending and revenue effects (relative to the baseline described in (5)) of all revenue and direct spending legislation assumed by such resolution.
Adjustments for legislation other than appropriations bills
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget shall adjust the pay-as-you-go scorecard balance for the direct spending and revenue effects of legislation that has been approved by both Houses (and subject to presentment to the President) subsequent to the adoption of the conference agreement of the Congressional Budget Resolution, except that the pay-as-you-go scorecard shall not be adjusted by the direct spending effects of legislation cleared for the President pursuant to section 223 of the Stop Over Spending Act of 2007.
Adjustments for appropriations bills
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget shall adjust the pay-as-you-go scorecard balance for the direct spending effects of appropriations legislation that has been approved by both Houses (and subject to presentment to the President) that would have been estimated as affecting direct spending under section 252 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (as in effect prior to September 30, 2002) were it included in legislation other than appropriations legislation. The adjustment shall be for years after the year for which appropriations are made.
Waiver
This section may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn.
Appeals
Appeals in the Senate from the decisions of the Chair relating to any provision of this section shall be limited to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and controlled by, the appellant and the manager of the bill or joint resolution, as the case may be. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this section.
Determination of budget levels
For purposes of this section, the levels of new budget authority, outlays, and revenues for a fiscal year shall be determined on the basis of estimates made by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget.
Sunset
This section shall expire on September 30, 2012.
.
Appropriations requests of the President
Section 1108(e) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking Congress or a
and inserting Congress and a
.
Budget baseline
In general
Section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Control Act of 1985, as in effect on December 31, 2006, is reenacted effective January 1, 2007.
Amendment
Section 257(b) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Control Act of 1985, as reenacted by subsection (a), is amended by striking paragraph (2).