Bipartisan Budget and Appropriations Reform Act of 2018
This bill amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require biennial congressional budget resolutions, instead of the annual budget resolutions required under current law. The bill retains the existing annual process for budget reconciliation and appropriations bills.
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7191 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7191
To implement reforms to the budget and appropriations process in the
House of Representatives.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 29, 2018
Mr. Womack (for himself and Mr. Yarmuth) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to
the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To implement reforms to the budget and appropriations process in the
House of Representatives.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Bipartisan Budget
and Appropriations Reform Act of 2018''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--BIENNIAL BUDGET RESOLUTIONS
Sec. 101. Purposes.
Sec. 102. Definitions.
Sec. 103. Revision of timetable.
Sec. 104. Biennial concurrent resolutions on the budget.
Sec. 105. Committee allocations.
Sec. 106. Revision of biennial budget.
Sec. 107. Additional amendments to the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
to effectuate biennial budgeting.
Sec. 108. Reconciliation process.
Sec. 109. Amendments to the Rules of the House of Representatives to
effectuate biennial budgeting.
Sec. 110. Membership of the Committee on the Budget.
Sec. 111. Rulemaking authority.
Sec. 112. Effective date.
TITLE II--OTHER MATTERS
Sec. 201. Views and estimates of committees.
Sec. 202. Annual supplemental budget submission by the President.
Sec. 203. Hearing on the fiscal state of the Nation.
TITLE I--BIENNIAL BUDGET RESOLUTIONS
SEC. 101. PURPOSES.
Paragraph (2) of section 2 of the Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended to read as follows:
``(2) to facilitate the determination biennially of the
appropriate level of Federal revenues and expenditures by the
Congress;''.
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
Section 3 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act
of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``for a fiscal year''
each place it appears and inserting ``for a biennium''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(12) The term `direct spending' has the meaning given to
such term in section 250(c)(8) of the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
``(13) The term `biennium' means any period of 2
consecutive fiscal years beginning with an even-numbered fiscal
year.
``(14) The term `budget year' has the meaning given that
term in section 250(c)(12) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Control Act of 1985.''.
SEC. 103. REVISION OF TIMETABLE.
Section 300 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631)
is amended to read as follows:
``timetable
``Sec. 300. The timetable with respect to the congressional budget
process for any Congress is as follows:
``First Session
On or before: Action to be completed:
First Monday in February................ President submits budget.
February 15............................. Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees.
March 1................................ Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees.
April 1................................. Senate Budget Committee reports biennial budget.
May 1................................... Congress completes action on the biennial budget.
May 15.................................. Appropriation bills may be considered in the House of Representatives.
June 10................................. House Appropriations Committee reports last annual appropriation bill.
October 1............................... First fiscal year of the biennium begins.
``Second Session
On or before: Action to be completed:
First Monday in February................ President submits budget.
February 15............................. Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees.
June 10................................. House Appropriations Committee reports last annual appropriation bill.
October 1............................... Second fiscal year of the biennium begins.''.
SEC. 104. BIENNIAL CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS ON THE BUDGET.
(a) Contents of Resolution.--
(1) In general.--Section 301(a) of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 632(a)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``On or before April 15'' and all
that follows through ``the following:'' and inserting
the following: ``On or before May 1 of each odd-
numbered calendar year, the Congress shall complete
action on a concurrent resolution on the budget for the
biennium beginning on October 1 of that calendar year.
The concurrent resolution shall set forth appropriate
levels for each fiscal year in the biennium and for at
least each fiscal year in the next 2 bienniums for the
following--'';
(B) in paragraph (6)--
(i) by striking ``for the fiscal year'' and
inserting ``for each fiscal year in the
biennium''; and
(ii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(C) in paragraph (7)--
(i) by striking ``for the fiscal year'' and
inserting ``for each fiscal year in the
biennium''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and'';
(D) by adding after paragraph (7) the following:
``(8) subtotals of new budget authority and outlays for
nondefense discretionary spending; defense discretionary
spending; direct spending; and net interest.''; and
(E) by adding at the end of the matter following
paragraph (8) (as added by subparagraph (D)) the
following: ``The concurrent resolution on the budget
for a biennium shall include procedures for adjusting
spending and revenue levels, committee allocations, and
other amounts in the resolution during the second
session of a Congress to reflect an updated baseline
that will be used for scoring purposes.''.
(b) Additional Matters in Concurrent Resolution.--Section 301(b) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 632(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``for such fiscal year''
and inserting ``for either fiscal year in such biennium'';
(2) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(3) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) include total combined outlays and revenues for tax
expenditures.''.
(c) Hearings and Report.--Section 301(e)(1) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 632(e)) is amended by striking ``fiscal
year'' and inserting ``biennium''.
(d) Goals for Reducing Unemployment.--Section 301(f) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 632(f)) is amended by
striking ``fiscal year'' each place it appears and inserting
``biennium''.
(e) Economic Assumptions.--Section 301(g)(1) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 632(g)(1)) is amended by striking ``for a
fiscal year'' and inserting ``for a biennium''.
(f) Section Heading.--The section heading of section 301 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 632) is amended by striking
``annual adoption of'' and inserting ``adoption of biennial''.
SEC. 105. COMMITTEE ALLOCATIONS.
Section 302 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 633)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) by striking ``for that period of fiscal years''
and inserting ``for all fiscal years covered by the
resolution''; and
(B) by striking ``only for the fiscal year of that
resolution'' and inserting ``only for each fiscal year
of the biennium'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``subsection (a)'' and inserting
``subsection (a)(1)'';
(B) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and inserting
``for a budget year''; and
(C) by striking ``for that fiscal year'' and
inserting ``for that budget year'';
(3) in subsection (f)(1)--
(A) by striking ``for a fiscal year''; and
(B) by striking ``the first fiscal year'' and
inserting ``either fiscal year of the biennium of that
resolution''; and
(4) in subsection (f)(2)(A), by--
(A) striking ``the first fiscal year'' and
inserting ``either fiscal year of the biennium of that
resolution''; and
(B) striking ``the total of fiscal years'' and
inserting ``the total of all fiscal years covered by
the resolution''.
SEC. 106. REVISION OF BIENNIAL BUDGET.
Section 304 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 635)
is amended to read as follows:
``permissible revisions of concurrent resolutions on the budget
``Sec. 304. At any time after the concurrent resolution on the
budget has been agreed to pursuant to section 301 and before the end of
the biennium, the two Houses may adopt a concurrent resolution that
revises or reaffirms the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution
on the budget. Any concurrent resolution that revises or reaffirms the
most recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget shall be
considered under the procedures set forth in section 305.''.
SEC. 107. ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT OF 1974
TO EFFECTUATE BIENNIAL BUDGETING.
(a) Enforcement of Section 303.--Section 303 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 634) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and inserting
``for a biennium''; and
(B) by striking ``the first fiscal year covered by
that resolution'' and inserting ``either fiscal year of
that biennium'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1)(B), by striking ``the fiscal
year'' and inserting ``the biennium''; and
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and
inserting ``for a biennium''; and
(ii) by striking ``for that year'' each
place it appears and inserting ``for each year
of that biennium''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``after the year
the allocation referred to in that paragraph is made''
and inserting ``after the years the allocations
referred to in that paragraph are made''.
(b) Section 305.--Subsections (a)(3) and (b)(3) of section 305 of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 636) are amended by
striking ``for a fiscal year''.
(c) Section 311 Point of Order.--
(1) In the house of representatives.--Section 311(a)(1) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 642(a)) is
amended--
(A) by striking ``for a fiscal year'';
(B) by striking ``the first fiscal year'' each
place it appears and inserting ``either of the first
two fiscal years covered by such resolution''; and
(C) by striking ``that first fiscal year'' and
inserting ``either of the first two fiscal years''.
(2) In the senate.--Section 311(a)(2) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 642(a)(2)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``for the
first fiscal year'' and inserting ``for either of the
first two fiscal years''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by striking ``that first fiscal year''
the first place it appears and inserting
``either of the first two fiscal years''; and
(ii) by striking ``that first fiscal year
and the ensuing fiscal years'' and inserting
``all fiscal years''.
(3) Social security levels.--Section 311(a)(3) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 642(a)(2)) is
amended by--
(A) striking ``for the first fiscal year'' and
inserting ``for either of the first two fiscal years'';
and
(B) striking ``that fiscal year and the ensuing
fiscal years'' and inserting ``all fiscal years''.
SEC. 108. RECONCILIATION PROCESS.
Section 310(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C.
641(a)) is amended--
(1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking ``A
concurrent'' and all that follows through ``shall'' and
inserting ``A concurrent resolution on the budget for a
biennium shall, for each fiscal year of the biennium'';
(2) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``for such fiscal
year'' and inserting ``for each fiscal year of the biennium'';
(3) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ``such fiscal year''
and inserting ``each fiscal year of the biennium''; and
(4) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking ``such fiscal year''
and inserting ``each fiscal year of the biennium''.
SEC. 109. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO
EFFECTUATE BIENNIAL BUDGETING.
(a) Clause 4(a)(4) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives is amended by striking ``any allocations'' and
inserting ``its allocations for the budget year'' and by striking
``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium''.
(b) Clause 4(b)(2) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives is amended by striking ``for each fiscal year''.
(c) Clause 4(b) of rule X is amended by striking ``and'' at the end
of subparagraph (5), by striking the period and inserting ``; and'' at
the end of subparagraph (6), and by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(7) use the second session of each Congress to study
issues with long-term budgetary and economic implications.''.
(d) Clause 4(f) of rule X is amended--
(1) by striking ``fiscal year'' the first place it appears
and inserting ``biennium'';
(2) by striking ``that fiscal year'' and inserting ``each
fiscal year in such ensuing biennium''; and
(3) in subparagraph (1) by striking ``six weeks after the
submission of the budget by the President'' and inserting
``March 1''.
(e) Clause 3(d)(1)(A) of rule XIII is amended by striking ``five''
both places it appears and inserting ``six''.
SEC. 110. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET.
(a) Clause 5(a)(2) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives is amended--
(1) by striking subdivisions (B) and (C); and
(2) in subdivision (A), by striking ``(A)'' and by
redesignating items (i), (ii), and (iii) as subdivisions (A),
(B), and (C), respectively.
(b) The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect
immediately before noon, January 3, 2019.
SEC. 111. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.
Sections 109 and 110 are enacted by the Congress--
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the House of
Representatives, and as such they shall be considered as part
of the rules of the House and such rules shall supersede other
rules only to the extent that they are inconsistent therewith;
and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of
the House to change such rules at any time, in the same manner,
and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of the
House.
SEC. 112. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect
immediately before noon January 3, 2019.
TITLE II--OTHER MATTERS
SEC. 201. VIEWS AND ESTIMATES OF COMMITTEES.
Section 301(d) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control
Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 632(d)) is amended to read as follows:
``(d) Views and Estimates of Other Committees.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than March 1 of the first
session of a Congress, or upon the request of the Committee on
the Budget of the House of Representatives or the Senate, each
committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate having
legislative jurisdiction shall submit to its respective
Committee on the Budget its views and estimates (as determined
by the committee making such submission) with respect to the
following:
``(A) Any legislation to be considered during that
Congress that is a priority for the committee.
``(B) Any legislation within the jurisdiction of
the committee that would establish, amend, or
reauthorize any Federal program and likely have a
significant budgetary impact.
``(2) Additional matters.--Any committee of the House of
Representatives or the Senate and any joint committee of the
Congress may submit to the appropriate Committees on the Budget
its views and estimates with respect to all matters set forth
in subsections (a) and (b) which relate to matters within its
jurisdiction.
``(3) Joint economic committee.--The Joint Economic
Committee shall submit to the Committees on the Budget of both
Houses its recommendations as to the fiscal policy appropriate
to the goals of the Employment Act of 1946.''.
SEC. 202. ANNUAL SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET SUBMISSION BY THE PRESIDENT.
Section 1106 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(d) On or before December 1 of each calendar year, the President
shall submit to Congress an administrative budget for the fiscal year
beginning in the ensuing calendar year, which shall include up-to-date
estimates for current year and prior year data and credit reestimates
for the current year (as included in the Federal credit supplement of
such budget).''.
SEC. 203. HEARING ON THE FISCAL STATE OF THE NATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 45 days (excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, and holidays) after the date on which the Secretary of the
Treasury submits to Congress the audited financial statement required
under paragraph (1) of section 331(e) of title 31, United States Code,
on a date agreed upon by the chairs of the Committees on the Budget of
the House of Representatives and the Senate and the Comptroller General
of the United States, the chairs shall conduct a hearing to receive a
presentation from the Comptroller General reviewing the findings of the
audit required under paragraph (2) of such section and providing, with
respect to the information included by the Secretary in the report
accompanying such audited financial statement, an analysis of the
financial position and condition of the Federal Government, including
financial measures (such as the net operating cost, income, budget
deficits, or budget surpluses) and sustainability measures (such as the
long-term fiscal projection or social insurance projection) described
in such report.
(b) Effective Date.--The requirement under subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to any audited financial statement submitted on or
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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