Biennial Appropriations Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Biennial Appropriations Act''.

SEC. 2. 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.  (a) Timetable.--
            ``(1) In general.--The timetable with respect to the 
        congressional budget process for any fiscal year is as follows:


``On or before:                           Action to be completed:
First Monday in February................  President submits his or her budget.
February 15.............................  Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees.
Not later than 6 weeks after President    Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees.
 submits budget.
April 1.................................  Budget Committees report concurrent resolution on the budget.
April 15................................  Congress completes action on concurrent resolution on the budget.
May 15..................................  Biennial appropriation bills and the defense appropriation bill may be
                                           considered in the House as provided in subsection (b).
June 10.................................  House Appropriations Committee reports last appropriation bill to be
                                           considered that year as provided in subsection (b).
June 15.................................  Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation.
June 30.................................  House completes action on biennial appropriation bills to be
                                           considered that year, as provided in subsection (b), and the defense
                                           appropriation bill.
August 1................................  Congress completes action on biennial appropriation bills to be
                                           considered that year, as provided in subsection (b), and the defense
                                           appropriation bill.
October 1...............................  Fiscal year begins.
 

            ``(2) 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 paragraph 
        (1):


``On or before:                           Action to be completed:
First Monday in April...................  President submits his or her budget.
April 15................................  Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees.
April 20................................  Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees.
May 15..................................  Budget Committees report concurrent resolution on the budget.
June 1..................................  Congress completes action on concurrent resolution on the budget.
July 1..................................  Biennial appropriation bills and the defense appropriation bill may be
                                           considered in the House as provided in subsection (b).
July 20.................................  House completes action on biennial appropriation bills to be
                                           considered that year, as provided in subsection (b), and the defense
                                           appropriation bill.
August 1................................  Congress completes action on biennial appropriation bills to be
                                           considered that year, as provided in subsection (b), the defense
                                           appropriation bill, and reconciliation legislation.
October 1...............................  Fiscal year begins.
 

    ``(b) Biennial Appropriation Bills and Defense Appropriation 
Bill.--Appropriation bills shall be enacted as follows:
            ``(1) Odd-numbered years.--In odd-numbered years Congress 
        shall consider pursuant to the budget process under this title 
        and enact--
                    ``(A) an annual defense appropriation bill; and
                    ``(B) biennial appropriation bills for--
                            ``(i) Financial Services;
                            ``(ii) Transportation, Housing and Urban 
                        Development;
                            ``(iii) Interior, Environment;
                            ``(iv) Labor, Health and Human Services, 
                        Education; and
                            ``(v) Military Construction, Veterans 
                        Affairs.
            ``(2) Even-numbered years.--In even-numbered years Congress 
        shall consider pursuant to the budget process in this title and 
        enact--
                    ``(A) an annual defense appropriation bill; and
                    ``(B) biennial appropriation bills for--
                            ``(i) Agriculture;
                            ``(ii) Commerce, Justice, Science;
                            ``(iii) Energy and Water;
                            ``(iv) Homeland Security;
                            ``(v) Legislative Branch; and
                            ``(vi) State-Foreign Operations.''.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET AND IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL 
              ACT OF 1974.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
(2 U.S.C. 622) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) The term `biennium' means the period of 2 
        consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1.''.
    (b) Committee Allocations.--Section 302 of the Congressional Budget 
Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 633) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), in the matter preceding 
        subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and for appropriations for each 
                fiscal year in the biennium and for the first fiscal 
                year of the resolution for defense,'' after ``for the 
                first fiscal year of the resolution,'';
                    (B) by striking ``for that period of fiscal years'' 
                and inserting ``for all fiscal years covered by the 
                resolution''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``for defense and for each fiscal 
                year in the biennium'' after ``for the fiscal year of 
                that resolution'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by inserting ``for defense and the 
        biennium'' after ``budget year''; and
            (3) in subsection (f)(2)(A)--
                    (A) by striking ``the first fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``each fiscal year of the biennium''; and
                    (B) by striking ``the total of fiscal years'' and 
                inserting ``the total of all fiscal years covered by 
                the resolution''.

SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 31, UNITED STATES CODE.

    (a) Definition.--Section 1101 of title 31, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following:
            ``(3) `biennium' has the meaning given to such term in 
        section 3(12) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
        Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(12)).''.
    (b) Budget Contents and Submission to the Congress.--
            (1) 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''.
            (2) 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''.
            (3) 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''.
            (4) Functions and activities.--Section 1105(a)(12)(A) of 
        title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ``the 
        fiscal year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in the 
        biennium''.
            (5) 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''.
            (6) 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''.
            (7) 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''.
            (8) Future years.--Section 1105(a)(17) of title 31, United 
        States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``the fiscal year following the 
                fiscal year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in the 
                biennium following the biennium'';
                    (B) by striking ``that following fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``each such fiscal year''; and
                    (C) by striking ``fiscal year before the fiscal 
                year'' and inserting ``biennium before the biennium''.
            (9) Prior year outlays.--Section 1105(a)(18) of title 31, 
        United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``the prior fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``each of the 2 most recently completed 
                fiscal years,'';
                    (B) by striking ``for that year'' and inserting 
                ``with respect to those fiscal years''; and
                    (C) by striking ``in that year'' and inserting ``in 
                those fiscal years''.
            (10) Prior year receipts.--Section 1105(a)(19) of title 31, 
        United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``the prior fiscal year'' and 
                inserting ``each of the 2 most recently completed 
                fiscal years'';
                    (B) by striking ``for that year'' and inserting 
                ``with respect to those fiscal years''; and
                    (C) by striking ``in that year'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``in those fiscal years''.
    (c) 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''.
    (d) Recommendations To Meet Estimated Deficiencies.--Section 
1105(c) of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``the fiscal year for'' the first place it 
        appears and inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium for'';
            (2) by 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
            (3) by striking ``for that year'' and inserting ``for each 
        fiscal year of the biennium''.
    (e) 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''.

SEC. 5. TWO-YEAR APPROPRIATIONS; TITLE AND STYLE OF APPROPRIATIONS 
              ACTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 105 of title 1, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 105. Title and style of appropriations Acts
    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Nondefense.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 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).'.
            ``(2) Defense.--The style and title of Acts making 
        appropriations for the support of defense shall be as follows: 
        `An Act making appropriations for defense for fiscal year (here 
        insert the fiscal year).'.
            ``(3) Amounts.--All Acts making regular appropriations for 
        the support of the Government shall specify the amount of 
        appropriations provided for each fiscal year in such period.
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `biennium' has the same meaning as in 
        section 3(12) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
        Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(12)); and
            ``(2) Acts described in subsection (a)(1) shall be 
        considered as provided in section 300(b) of the Congressional 
        Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631(b)).''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
chapter 2 of title 1, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
item relating to section 105 and inserting the following:

``105. Title and style of appropriations Acts.''.

SEC. 6. MULTIYEAR AUTHORIZATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

                   ``authorizations of appropriations

    ``Sec. 316.  (a) Point of Order.--It shall not be in order in the 
House of Representatives or the Senate to consider--
            ``(1) 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
            ``(2) for any year, any authorization or revenue bill or 
        joint resolution until Congress completes action on the budget 
        resolution, all appropriations bills to be considered during 
        the year under section 300(b), and all reconciliation bills.
    ``(b) Applicability.--In the Senate, subsection (a) shall not apply 
to--
            ``(1) defense;
            ``(2) any measure that is privileged for consideration 
        pursuant to a rule or statute;
            ``(3) any matter considered in Executive Session; or
            ``(4) an appropriations measure or reconciliation bill.''.
    (b) 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:

``Sec. 316. Authorizations of appropriations.''.

SEC. 7. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT.

    (a) In General.--In each year that the activities of an agency are 
not required to be funded pursuant to section 300(b) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the committee of the House and the 
Senate with legislative jurisdiction over that agency shall hold a 
joint oversight hearing with the corresponding subcommittee of the 
Committee on Appropriations of their respective House with jurisdiction 
over the agency.
    (b) Hearing.--A hearing required by subsection (a) shall review--
            (1) the mission of the agency;
            (2) the impact of biennial budgeting on agency efficiency;
            (3) the cost savings associated with biennial budgeting;
            (4) new programs created in the off year of the agency 
        budget; and
            (5) programs that were terminated in the off year of the 
        agency budget.

SEC. 8. REPORT ON TWO-YEAR FISCAL PERIOD.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall--
            (1) determine the impact and feasibility of changing the 
        definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on 
        that definition to a 2-year fiscal period with a biennial 
        budget process based on the 2-year period; and
            (2) submit to the Committee on the Budget of the Senate and 
        the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives a 
        report on the findings of the study.

SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as provided in section 8, this Act and the amendments made 
by this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2016, and shall apply to 
budget resolutions and appropriations for the biennium beginning with 
fiscal year 2017.

Summary: Biennial Appropriations Act This bill amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to change the annual appropriations process to a biennial process for nondefense spending. Congress must consider the defense appropriations bill annually and the remaining appropriations bills in either odd-numbered or even-numbered years. In each year that the appropriations bill for an agency is not considered, Congress must conduct oversight hearings. The bill requires the congressional budget resolution to be accompanied by committee allocations for biennial appropriations and the President's budget to include details that reflect the biennial process. It also creates a point of order against considering: (1) legislation authorizing appropriations for less than two years unless the program requires no further appropriations and will be completed after appropriations are expended, and (2) authorization or revenue legislation until Congress completes action on the budget resolution, appropriations bills, and reconciliation bills. The Office of Management and Budget must report to Congress on the impact and feasibility of a biennial budget process.