19–006 

112TH CONGRESS REPT. 112–379 " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session Part 1 

LEGALLY BINDING BUDGET ACT OF 2011 

JANUARY 31, 2012.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. DREIER, from the Committee on Rules, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 3575] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Rules, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 

3575) to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to establish 

joint resolutions on the budget, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with amendments and 

recommends that the bill as amended do pass. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 

Amendments ................................................................................................... 2 

Purpose and Summary ................................................................................... 2 

Background and Need for Legislation ........................................................... 3 

Hearings .......................................................................................................... 3 

Committee Consideration ............................................................................... 3 

Committee Votes ............................................................................................. 3 

Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations ............................... 5 

Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate ................................................. 5 

Performance Goals and Objectives ................................................................ 6 

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures .... 6 

Committee Cost Estimate .............................................................................. 6 

Federal Mandates Statement ........................................................................ 6 

Advisory Committee Statement ..................................................................... 7 

Applicability to the Legislative Branch ........................................................ 7 

Constitutional Authority Statement ............................................................. 7 

Statement Regarding Earmarks .................................................................... 7 

Exchange of Committee Correspondence ...................................................... 7 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ............................................. 10 

Changes in House Rules Made by the Legislation as Reported ................. 11 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Legislation as Reported ................ 14 


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AMENDMENTS

The amendments are as follows (page and line numbers refer to 

the introduced bill): 

Strike section 3 and insert: 

SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 300. 

Section 300 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is 

amended by striking ‘‘concurrent’’ in each place it appears 

and inserting ‘‘joint’’. 

Strike section 7 and insert: 

SEC. 7. AUTOMATIC CONGRESSIONAL ENFORCEMENT OF 

JOINT RESOLUTION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Congressional Budget 

Act of 1974 is amended by adding after section 315 the following new section: 

‘‘AUTOMATIC CONGRESSIONAL ENFORCEMENT OF JOINT

RESOLUTION

‘‘SEC. 316. For purposes of congressional enforcement 

under titles III and IV of this Act and the rules of the 

House of Representatives and the Senate, the aggregates, 

allocations, and any other matters that pertain solely to 

the Congress set forth in the joint resolution shall be considered as enforceable upon enactment or 15 days following presentment to the President, whichever occurs 

earlier.’’. 

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of contents set 

forth in section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by inserting 

after the item relating to section 315 the following new 

item: 

‘‘Sec. 316. Automatic congressional enforcement of joint resolution.’’. 

Page 6, strike lines 15 through 21 and redesignate succeeding 

sections accordingly. 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

H.R. 3575, the Legally Binding Budget Act of 2011, reforms the 

budget process by establishing a mechanism at the outset of the 

budget process to reach agreement between the House, Senate, and 

the President on the appropriate levels of budgetary resources for 

the upcoming fiscal year. This mechanism is a joint resolution on 

the budget, which has the force of law and, like all laws, requires 

the signature of the President (or a two-thirds majority of both 

Houses overriding a veto) to be enacted. However, if the President 

were to veto the joint budget resolution, or fail to sign it into law 

within 15 days, Congress will maintain its budget enforcement 

mechanisms by providing for automatic establishment of budget 

levels and allocations. 


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BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) established the annual concurrent resolution on the budget as the mechanism to develop, consider, and approve a comprehensive congressional budget 

plan. The budget resolution sets forth aggregate spending and revenue levels, spending totals by major functional categories, and 

may include reconciliation instructions to House or Senate committees. If adopted in identical form by both the House and Senate, 

the concurrent resolution serves as an agreement between the two 

chambers on a congressional budget plan for a session of Congress. 

A concurrent resolution is not presented to the President for a signature, and therefore, does not become law. 

When the CBA was developed, Congress established a concurrent 

budget resolution to create a budget process that was largely independent of the President. The concurrent budget resolution was intended to be Congress’ response to the President’s submitted budget. Critics have argued that the current budget resolution process 

often results in negotiations beginning late in the budget process 

as opposed to the beginning of the process, making it more difficult 

for the two branches to eventually reconcile their differences. 

In fact, since the creation of the budget resolution in 1974, all 

regular appropriation bills have been enacted by October 1, which 

is the beginning of the fiscal year, just four times—in 1976, 1988, 

1994, and 1996. 

Since the enactment of the CBA, reformers have frequently discussed the prospect of converting concurrent budget resolutions to 

joint resolutions as a potential solution to often stalled budget negotiations. 

H.R. 3575, introduced by Rep. Diane Black (R–TN) on December 

7, 2011, would establish a joint resolution on the budget that with 

the force of law, would foster early cooperation between the House, 

Senate, and the President in the budget process and lay a clearer 

path to finalizing budget resolution policies. 

HEARINGS

The Committee on Rules did not hold hearings on this measure. 

The Committee on the Budget held two oversight hearings on the 

budget process where witnesses dissused the topic of joint budget 

resolutions. On September 21, 2011, they held a hearing entitled 

‘‘The Broken Budget Process: Perspectives of Former CBO Directors’’; ‘‘The Broken Budget Process: Prespectives from Budget Experts’’ was held on September 22, 2011. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

The Committee on Rules met on January 23, 2012 in open session and ordered H.R. 3575 favorably reported to the House with 

an amendment by a record vote of 5 yeas and 2 nays, a quorum 

being present. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes on the motion 

to report legislation and amendments thereto. A motion by Mr. SesVerDate Mar 15 2010 21:41 Feb 01, 2012 Jkt 019006 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR379P1.XXX HR379P1

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sions to report the bill, as amended, to the House with a favorable 

recommendation was agreed to by a record vote of 5 yeas and 2 

nays, a quorum being present. 

The names of Members voting for and against follow: 

Rules Committee Record Vote No. 181 

Motion by Mr. Sessions to report the bill, as amended, to the House with a favorable recommendation. 

Agreed to: 5 yeas and 2 nays. 

Majority Members Vote Minority Members Vote 

Mr. Sessions ...................... Yea Ms. Slaughter .................... ....................

Ms. Foxx ............................. Yea Mr. McGovern ..................... Nay 

Mr. Bishop of Utah ............ .................... Mr. Hastings (FL) ............... ....................

Mr. Woodall ........................ .................... Mr. Polis ............................. Nay 

Mr. Nugent ......................... Yea ............................................ ....................

Mr. Scott ............................ Yea ............................................ ....................

Mr. Webster ........................ .................... ............................................ ....................

Mr. Dreier, Chairman ......... Yea ............................................ ....................

The Committee also disposed of the following amendments by 

record vote: 

Rules Committee Record Vote No. 179 

Amendment by Mr. McGovern #1a to the Dreier amendment #1 to strike section 7 from the bill. Not agreed 

to: 2 yeas and 5 nays. 

Majority Members Vote Minority Members Vote 

Mr. Sessions ...................... Nay Ms. Slaughter .................... ....................

Ms. Foxx ............................. Nay Mr. McGovern ..................... Yea 

Mr. Bishop of Utah ............ .................... Mr. Hastings (FL) ............... ....................

Mr. Woodall ........................ .................... Mr. Polis ............................. Yea 

Mr. Nugent ......................... Nay ............................................ ....................

Mr. Scott ............................ Nay ............................................ ....................

Mr. Webster ........................ .................... ............................................ ....................

Mr. Dreier, Chairman ......... Nay ............................................ ....................

Rules Committee Record Vote No. 180 

Amendment by Mr. Dreier #1, striking provisions relating to the schedule for consideration of the budget and 

inclusion of matter related to the debt limit, and clarifying the exepedited procedures in the bill. Agreed 

to: 5 yeas and 2 nays. 

Majority Members Vote Minority Members Vote 

Mr. Sessions ...................... Yea Ms. Slaughter .................... ....................

Ms. Foxx ............................. Yea Mr. McGovern ..................... Nay 

Mr. Bishop of Utah ............ .................... Mr. Hastings (FL) ............... ....................


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Rules Committee Record Vote No. 180—Continued 

Amendment by Mr. Dreier #1, striking provisions relating to the schedule for consideration of the budget and 

inclusion of matter related to the debt limit, and clarifying the exepedited procedures in the bill. Agreed 

to: 5 yeas and 2 nays. 

Majority Members Vote Minority Members Vote 

Mr. Woodall ........................ .................... Mr. Polis ............................. Nay 

Mr. Nugent ......................... Yea ............................................ ....................

Mr. Scott ............................ Yea ............................................ ....................

Mr. Webster ........................ .................... ............................................ ....................

Mr. Dreier, Chairman ......... Yea ............................................ ....................

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee made findings and recommendations that are reflected in this report. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate provided by 

the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974: 

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, January 27, 2012. 

Hon. DAVID DREIER, 

Chairman, Committee on Rules, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 3575, the Legally Binding 

Budget Act of 2012. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jared Brewster. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF. 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 3575—Legally Binding Budget Act of 2012 

H.R. 3575 would change the procedures for considering the Congressional budget resolution. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 

3575, by itself, would not have a significant impact on the federal 

budget. Any impact on the budget would depend on the extent of 

future legislative actions by the Congress and the President. Enacting H.R. 3575 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

The bill would change the budget resolution from a concurrent 

resolution (a legislative measure that is passed by both the House 

and Senate, but is not signed into law) to a joint resolution (a 

measure passed by both Houses of Congress, and signed into law 

by the President). Under H.R. 3575, if a budget resolution is 


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cleared by the Congress, the items contained in that resolution that 

pertain solely to the Congress would be enforceable upon enactment or 15 days after it is presented to the President, whichever 

occurs earlier. 

The impact of H.R. 3575 would depend on future actions of the 

Congress and the President. Therefore, this bill would not—by 

itself—have a significant impact on the federal budget. However, 

requiring a budget resolution to be signed into law may lead to additional difficulties in establishing the guidelines required for the 

Congressional budget process. CBO estimates that any additional 

administrative costs for implementing H.R. 3575 would not be significant because both the executive branch and the Congress already carry out activities similar to those that would be involved 

in preparing and responding to Presidential budget proposals. 

H.R. 3575 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates, as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, and—by 

itself—would have no impact on the budgets of state, local, or tribal 

governments. Any budgetary effects would depend on subsequent 

legislative action. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jared Brewster. The 

estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee establishes the following performance related goals and objectives for this legislation: 

The legislation will reform the budget process by establishing a 

mechanism at the beginning of the budget process to reach agreement between the House, Senate, and the President on the appropriate levels of budgetary resources for the upcoming fiscal year. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX

EXPENDITURES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues contained in the cost estimate prepared by 

the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE

The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by 

the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 

pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. 


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ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this legislation. 

APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of the section 102(b)(3) of the 

Congressional Accountability Act. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee finds that the Constitutional 

Authority of Congress to enact this legislation is provided by Article 1, section 5, clause 2 (relating to the right of each House of Congress to determine the rules of its proceedings), and section 9, 

clause 7 (relating to the prohibition on drawing money from the 

treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law). 

STATEMENT REGARDING EARMARKS

In compliance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R. 3575 does not 

contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited 

tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule XXI. 

EXCHANGE OF COMMITTEE CORRESPONDENCE


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SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Short Title. 

This section provides the short title for the bill, the ‘‘Legally 

Binding Budget Act of 2011.’’ 

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

This section strikes the definition of the term ‘‘concurrent resolution on the budget’’ from section 3 of the Congressional Budget Act 

of 1974 (CBA) and inserts a new definition of the term ‘‘joint resolution on the budget’’. 

Sec. 3. Conforming Amendments to Section 300. 

This section makes conforming changes to the schedule for consideration of the budget to reflect the change from using a concurrent resolution to a joint resolution. 

Sec. 4. Amendments to Section 303 and Conforming Amendments. 

This section makes conforming changes to the section 303 of the 

CBA to reflect the change from using a concurrent resolution to a 

joint resolution. 

Sec. 5. Permissible Revisions of Budget Resolutions. 

This section revises section 304 of the CBA to provide that a joint 

resolution on the budget enacted into law may be amended by another joint resolution. 

Sec. 6. Limitations on the Content of Budget Resolutions. 

This section clarifies that it will not be in order in the House of 

Representatives or in the Senate to consider any joint resolution on 

the budget or any amendment thereto or conference report thereon 

that include extraneous matters not listed in sections 301(a) or (b) 

of the CBA. The Committee intends that the joint resolution contain only those matters that have traditionally been included in 

past budget resolutions, and not be used as a vehicle for substantive changes in law. 

Sec. 7. Automatic Congressional Enforcement of Joint Resolution. 

This section adds a new section to title III of the CBA, which provides that if the President vetoes a joint resolution on the budget, 

or fails to sign it into law within 15 days, the aggregates, allocations, and any other matters that pertain solely to the Congress set 

forth in that joint resolution will, for purposes of titles III and IV, 

and be enforceable in the House of Representatives and the Senate 

as if the joint resolution had been enacted. 

Sec. 8. Additional Amendments to the Congressional Budget Act of 

1974 to Effectuate Joint Resolutions on the Budget. 

This section makes conforming amendments to sections 301, 302, 

303, 304, 305, 308, 310, 311, 312, 314, 405, and 904 of the CBA 

to reflect the change from using a concurrent resolution to a joint 

resolution. 


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Sec. 9. Amendments to the Rules of the House of Representatives to 

Effectuate Joint Budget Resolutions. 

This section makes conforming amendments to clauses 1(d)(1), 

4(a)(4), 4(b)(2), 4(f)(1)(A), and 4(f)(2) of rule X, clause 10 of rule 

XVIII, clause 10 of rule XX, and clauses 7 and 10 of rule XXI of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives to reflect the change 

from using a concurrent resolution to a joint resolution. 

Sec. 10. Conforming Amendments to the Balanced Budget and 

Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 

This section makes conforming changes to section 258 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to reflect 

the change from using a concurrent resolution to a joint resolution. 

CHANGES IN HOUSE RULES MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(g) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in the Rules of the House made 

by the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing rules proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is 

printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is 

shown in roman): 

RULE X. 

ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEES

Committees and their legislative jurisdictions 

1. There shall be in the House the following standing committees, each of which shall have the jurisdiction and related functions 

assigned by this clause and clauses 2, 3, and 4. All bills, resolutions, and other matters relating to subjects within the jurisdiction 

of the standing committees listed in this clause shall be referred 

to those committees, in accordance with clause 2 of rule XII, as follows: 

* * * * * * * 

(d) Committee on the Budget 

(1) øConcurrent¿ Joint resolutions on the budget (as defined in section 3(4) of the Congressional Budget Act of 

1974), other matters required to be referred to the committee under titles III and IV of that Act, and other measures setting forth appropriate levels of budget totals for 

the United States Government. 

* * * * * * * 

Additional functions of committees 

4.(a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(4) In the manner provided by section 302 of the Congressional 

Budget Act of 1974, the Committee on Appropriations (after consulting with the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate) shall 

subdivide any allocations made to it in the joint explanatory statement accompanying the conference report on such øconcurrent¿ 

joint resolution, and promptly report the subdivisions to the House 


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as soon as practicable after a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the 

budget for a fiscal year is agreed to. 

(b) The Committee on the Budget shall— 

* * * * * * * 

(2) hold hearings and receive testimony from Members, Senators, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, and such appropriate representatives of Federal departments and agencies, 

the general public, and national organizations as it considers 

desirable in developing øconcurrent¿ joint resolutions on the 

budget for each fiscal year; 

* * * * * * * 

Budget Act responsibilities 

(f) (1) Each standing committee shall submit to the Committee 

on the Budget not later than six weeks after the submission of the 

budget by the President, or at such time as the Committee on the 

Budget may request— 

(A) its views and estimates with respect to all matters to be 

set forth in the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget for 

the ensuing fiscal year that are within its jurisdiction or functions; and 

* * * * * * * 

(2) The views and estimates submitted by the Committee on 

Ways and Means under subparagraph (1) shall include a specific 

recommendation, made after holding public hearings, as to the appropriate level of the public debt that should be set forth in the 

øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget. 

* * * * * * * 

RULE XVIII. 

THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE

UNION

* * * * * * * 

øConcurrent¿ Joint Resolution on the Budget 

1.(a) At the conclusion of general debate in the Committee of the 

Whole House on the state of the Union on a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget under section 305(a) of the Congressional 

Budget Act of 1974, the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution shall be considered as read for amendment. 

(b) It shall not be in order in the House or in the Committee of 

the Whole House on the state of the Union to consider an amendment to a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget, or an 

amendment thereto, unless the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution, as 

amended by such amendment or amendments— 

(1) would be mathematically consistent except as limited by 

paragraph (c); and 

(2) would contain all the matter set forth in paragraphs (1) 

through (5) of section 301(a) of the Congressional Budget Act 

of 1974. 

(c)(1) Except as specified in subparagraph (2), it shall not be in 

order in the House or in the Committee of the Whole House on the 


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state of the Union to consider an amendment to a øconcurrent¿ 

joint resolution on the budget, or an amendment thereto, that proposes to change the amount of the appropriate level of the public 

debt set forth in the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution, as reported. 

(2) Amendments to achieve mathematical consistency under section 305(a)(5) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, if offered by 

direction of the Committee on the Budget, may propose to adjust 

the amount of the appropriate level of the public debt set forth in 

the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution, as reported, to reflect changes 

made in other figures contained in the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution. 

* * * * * * * 

RULE XX. 

VOTING AND QUORUM CALLS

* * * * * * * 

Automatic yeas and nays 

10. The yeas and nays shall be considered as ordered when the 

Speaker puts the question on passage of a bill or joint resolution, 

or on adoption of a conference report, making general appropriations, or increasing Federal income tax rates (within the meaning 

of clause 5 of rule XXI), or on final adoption of a øconcurrent¿ joint 

resolution on the budget or conference report thereon. 

* * * * * * * 

RULE XXI. 

RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN BILLS

* * * * * * * 

7. It shall not be in order to consider a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget, or an amendment thereto, or a conference report thereon that contains reconciliation directives under section 

310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 that specify changes 

in law such that the reconciliation legislation reported pursuant to 

such directives would cause an increase in net direct spending (as 

such term is defined in clause 10) for the period covered by such 

øconcurrent¿ joint resolution. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, 

existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT OF 1974 

SHORT TITLES; TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1. (a) * * * 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.— 


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Sec. 1. Short titles; table of contents. 

* * * * * * * 

Sec. 301. øAnnual adoption of concurrent resolution¿ Joint resolutions on the budget. 

* * * * * * * 

øSec. 303. Concurrent resolution on the budget must be adopted before budget-related legislation is considered.¿ 

Sec. 303. Consideration of budget-related legislation before budget becomes law. 

* * * * * * * 

Sec. 305. Provisions relating to consideration of øconcurrent¿ joint resolutions on 

the budget. 

* * * * * * * 

Sec. 316. Automatic congressional enforcement of joint resolution. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 3. IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this Act— 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

ø(4) The term ‘‘concurrent resolution on the budget’’ means— 

ø(A) a concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for a fiscal year as provided in section 301; and 

ø(B) any other concurrent resolution revising the congressional budget for the United States Government for a 

fiscal year as described in section 304.¿ 

(4) The term ‘‘joint resolution on the budget’’ means— 

(A) a joint resolution setting forth the budget for the 

United States Government for a fiscal year as provided in 

section 301; and 

(B) any other joint resolution revising the budget for the 

United States Government for a fiscal year as described in 

section 304. 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE III—CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET PROCESS 

TIMETABLE

SEC. 300. 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 budget.

February 15 .......................................... Congressional Budget Office submits 

report to Budget Committees.

Not later than 6 weeks after President submits budget.Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees.

April 1 ................................................... Senate Budget Committee reports 

øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the 

budget.

April 15 ................................................. Congress completes action on øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget.

May 15 ................................................... Annual appropriation bills may be considered in the House.

June 10 .................................................. House Appropriations Committee reports last annual appropriation bill.

June 15 .................................................. Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation.

June 30 .................................................. House completes action on annual appropriation bills.

October 1 ............................................... Fiscal year begins. 


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øANNUAL ADOPTION OF CONCURRENT RESOLUTION¿ JOINT

RESOLUTIONS ON THE BUDGET

SEC. 301. (a) CONTENT OF øCONCURRENT¿ JOINT RESOLUTION ON

THE BUDGET.—On or before April 15 of each year, the Congress 

shall complete action on a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the 

budget for the fiscal year beginning on October 1 of such year. The 

øconcurrent¿ joint resolution shall set forth appropriate levels for 

the fiscal year beginning on October 1 of such year and for at least 

each of the 4 ensuing fiscal years for the following— 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

The øconcurrent¿ joint resolution shall not include the outlays and 

revenue totals of the old age, survivors, and disability insurance 

program established under title II of the Social Security Act or the 

related provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in the surplus or deficit totals required by this subsection or in any other 

surplus or deficit totals required by this title. 

(b) ADDITIONAL MATTERS IN øCONCURRENT¿ JOINT RESOLUTION.—The øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget may— 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(3) require a procedure under which all or certain bills or 

resolutions providing new budget authority or new entitlement 

authority for such fiscal year shall not be enrolled until the 

Congress has completed action on any reconciliation bill or reconciliation resolution or both required by such øconcurrent¿ 

joint resolution to be reported in accordance with section 

310(b); 

* * * * * * * 

(5) include a heading entitled ‘‘Debt Increase as Measure of 

Deficit’’ in which the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution shall set 

forth the amounts by which the debt subject to limit (in section 

3101 of title 31 of the United States Code) has increased or 

would increase in each of the relevant fiscal years; 

(6) include a heading entitled ‘‘Display of Federal Retirement 

Trust Fund Balances’’ in which the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution shall set forth the balances of the Federal retirement trust 

funds; 

* * * * * * * 

(c) CONSIDERATION OF PROCEDURES OR MATTERS WHICH HAVE

THE EFFECT OF CHANGING ANY RULE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—If the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives reports any øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget which includes any procedure or matter which has the effect of 

changing any rule of the House of Representatives, such øconcurrent¿ joint resolution shall then be referred to the Committee on 

Rules with instructions to report it within five calendar days (not 

counting any day on which the House is not in session). The Committee on Rules shall have jurisdiction to report any øconcurrent¿ 

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ment or amendments changing or striking out any such procedure 

or matter. 

* * * * * * * 

(e) HEARINGS AND REPORT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—In developing the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget referred to in subsection (a) for each fiscal 

year, the Committee on the Budget of each House shall hold 

hearings and shall receive testimony from Members of Congress and such appropriate representatives of Federal departments and agencies, the general public, and national organizations as the committee deems desirable. Each of the recommendations as to short-term and medium-term goal set 

forth in the report submitted by the members of the Joint Economic Committee under subsection (d) may be considered by 

the Committee on the Budget of each House as part of its consideration of such øconcurrent¿ joint resolution, and its report 

may reflect its views thereon, including its views on how the 

estimates of revenues and levels of budget authority and outlays set forth in such øconcurrent¿ joint resolution are designed to achieve any goals it is recommending. 

* * * * * * * 

(f) ACHIEVEMENT OF GOALS FOR REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT.— 

(1) If, pursuant to section 4(c) of the Employment Act of 

1946, the President recommends in the Economic Report that 

the goals for reducing unemployment set forth in section 4(b) 

of such Act be achieved in a year after the close of the fiveyear period prescribed by such subsection, the øconcurrent¿ 

joint resolution on the budget for the fiscal year beginning 

after the date on which such Economic Report is received by 

the Congress may set forth the year in which, in the opinion 

of the Congress, such goals can be achieved. 

(2) After the Congress has expressed its opinion pursuant to 

paragraph (1) as to the year in which the goals for reducing 

unemployment set forth in section 4(b) of the Employment Act 

of 1946 can be achieved, if, pursuant to section 4(e) of such 

Act, the President recommends in the Economic Report that 

such goals be achieved in a year which is different from the 

year in which the Congress has expressed its opinion that such 

goals should be achieved, either in its action pursuant to paragraph (1) or in its most recent action pursuant to this paragraph, the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget for the 

fiscal year beginning after the date on which such Economic 

Report is received by the Congress may set forth the year in 

which, in the opinion of the Congress, such goals can be 

achieved. 

* * * * * * * 

(g) ECONOMIC ASSUMPTIONS.— 

(1) It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any 

øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget for a fiscal year, or 

any amendment thereto, or any conference report thereon, that 

sets forth amounts and levels that are determined on the basis 

of more than one set of economic and technical assumptions. 


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(2) The joint explanatory statement accompanying a conference report on a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget 

shall set forth the common economic assumptions upon which 

such joint statement and conference report are based, or upon 

which any amendment contained in the joint explanatory 

statement to be proposed by the conferees in the case of technical disagreement, is based. 

* * * * * * * 

(h) BUDGET COMMITTEES CONSULTATION WITH COMMITTEES.— 

The Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives 

shall consult with the committees of its House having legislative 

jurisdiction during the preparation, consideration, and enforcement 

of the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget with respect to 

all matters which relate to the jurisdiction or functions of such 

committees. 

(i) SOCIAL SECURITY POINT OF ORDER.—It shall not be in order 

in the Senate to consider any øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the 

budget (or amendment, motion, or conference report on the resolution) that would decrease the excess of social security revenues 

over social security outlays in any of the fiscal years covered by the 

øconcurrent¿ joint resolution. No change in chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be treated as affecting the amount 

of social security revenues unless such provision changes the income tax treatment of social security benefits. 

COMMITTEE ALLOCATIONS

SEC. 302. (a) COMMITTEE SPENDING ALLOCATIONS.— 

(1) ALLOCATION AMONG COMMITTEES.—The joint explanatory 

statement accompanying a conference report on a øconcurrent¿ 

joint resolution on the budget shall include an allocation, consistent with the resolution recommended in the conference report, of the levels for the first fiscal year of the resolution, for 

at least each of the ensuing 4 fiscal years, and a total for that 

period of fiscal years (except in the case of the Committee on 

Appropriations only for the fiscal year of that resolution) of— 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(5) ADJUSTING ALLOCATION OF DISCRETIONARY SPENDING IN

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—(A) If a øconcurrent¿ joint 

resolution on the budget is not adopted by April 15, the chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives shall submit to the House, as soon as practicable, 

an allocation under paragraph (1) to the Committee on Appropriations consistent with the discretionary spending levels in 

the most recently øagreed to concurrent¿ enacted joint resolution on the budget for the appropriate fiscal year covered by 

that resolution. 

* * * * * * * 

(b) SUBALLOCATIONS BY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES.—As soon 

as practicable after a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget 

is øagreed to¿ enacted, the Committee on Appropriations of each 

House (after consulting with the Committee on Appropriations of 

the other House) shall suballocate each amount allocated to it for 


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the budget year under subsection (a) among its subcommittees. 

Each Committee on Appropriations shall promptly report to its 

House suballocations made or revised under this subsection. The 

Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives shall 

further divide among its subcommittees the divisions made under 

subsection (a)(3)(B) and promptly report those divisions to the 

House. 

* * * * * * * 

(d) SUBSEQUENT øCONCURRENT¿ JOINT RESOLUTIONS.—In the 

case of a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget referred to in 

section 304, the allocations under subsection (a) and the subdivisions under subsection (b) shall be required only to the extent necessary to take into account revisions made in the ømost recently 

agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget¿ most recently enacted joint resolution on the budget. 

* * * * * * * 

(f) LEGISLATION SUBJECT TO POINT OF ORDER.— 

(1) IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—After the Congress 

has completed action on a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the 

budget for a fiscal year, it shall not be in order in the House 

of Representatives to consider any bill, joint resolution, or 

amendment providing new budget authority for any fiscal year, 

or any conference report on any such bill or joint resolution, 

if— 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(2) IN THE SENATE.—After a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on 

the budget is øagreed to¿ enacted, it shall not be in order in 

the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, 

motion, or conference report that would cause— 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(g) PAY-AS-YOU-GO EXCEPTION IN THE HOUSE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—(A) Subsection (f)(1) and, after April 15, 

section 303(a) shall not apply to any bill or joint resolution, as 

reported, amendment thereto, or conference report thereon if, 

for each fiscal year covered by the ømost recently agreed to 

concurrent resolution on the budget¿ most recently enacted 

joint resolution on the budget— 

(i) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

would not increase the deficit, and, if the sum of any revenue 

increases provided in legislation already enacted during the 

current session (when added to revenue increases, if any, in excess of any outlay increase provided by the legislation proposed 

for consideration) is at least as great as the sum of the 

amount, if any, by which the aggregate level of Federal revenues should be increased as set forth in that øconcurrent¿ joint 

resolution and the amount, if any, by which revenues are to be 

increased pursuant to pay-as-you-go procedures under section 

301(b)(8), if included in that øconcurrent¿ joint resolution. 


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(B) Section 311(a), as that section applies to revenues, shall 

not apply to any bill, joint resolution, amendment thereto, or 

conference report thereon if, for each fiscal year covered by the 

ømost recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget¿ 

most recently enacted joint resolution on the budget— (i) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

would not increase the deficit, and, if the sum of any outlay reductions provided in legislation already enacted during the current 

session (when added to outlay reductions, if any, in excess of any 

revenue reduction provided by the legislation proposed for consideration) is at least as great as the sum of the amount, if any, by 

which the aggregate level of Federal outlays should be reduced as 

required by that øconcurrent¿ joint resolution and the amount, if 

any, by which outlays are to be reduced pursuant to pay-as-you-go 

procedures under section 301(b)(8), if included in that øconcurrent¿ 

joint resolution. 

(2) REVISED ALLOCATIONS.—(A) * * * 

(B) Such revised allocations, functional levels, and budget 

aggregates shall be considered for the purposes of this Act as 

allocations, functional levels, and budget aggregates contained 

in the ømost recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the 

budget¿ most recently enacted joint resolution on the budget. 

øCONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET MUST BE ADOPTED

BEFORE BUDGET-RELATED LEGISLATION IS CONSIDERED¿ 

CONSIDERATION OF BUDGET-RELATED LEGISLATION BEFORE BUDGET

BECOMES LAW

SEC. 303. ø(a) IN GENERAL.—¿Until the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget for a fiscal year øhas been agreed to¿ takes 

effect, it shall not be in order in the House of Representatives, with 

respect to the first fiscal year covered by that resolution, or the 

Senate, with respect to any fiscal year covered by that resolution, 

to consider any bill or joint resolution, amendment or motion thereto, or conference report thereon that— 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

ø(b) EXCEPTIONS IN THE HOUSE.—In the House of Representatives, subsection (a) does not apply— 

ø(1)(A) to any bill or joint resolution, as reported, providing 

advance discretionary new budget authority that first becomes 

available for the first or second fiscal year after the budget 

year; or 

ø(B) to any bill or joint resolution, as reported, first increasing or decreasing revenues in a fiscal year following the fiscal 

year to which the concurrent resolution applies; 

ø(2) after May 15, to any general appropriation bill or 

amendment thereto; or 

ø(3) to any bill or joint resolution unless it is reported by a 

committee. 

ø(c) APPLICATION TO APPROPRIATION MEASURES IN THE SENATE.— 

ø(1) IN GENERAL.—Until the concurrent resolution on the 

budget for a fiscal year has been agreed to and an allocation 


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has been made to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate under section 302(a) for that year, it shall not be in order 

in the Senate to consider any appropriation bill or joint resolution, amendment or motion thereto, or conference report thereon for that year or any subsequent year. 

ø(2) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) does not apply to appropriations legislation making advance appropriations for the first or 

second fiscal year after the year the allocation referred to in 

that paragraph is made.¿ 

øPERMISSIBLE REVISIONS OF CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS ON THE

BUDGET

øSEC. 304. At any time after the concurrent resolution on the 

budget for a fiscal year has been agreed to pursuant to section 301, 

and before the end of such fiscal year, the two Houses may adopt 

a concurrent resolution on the budget which revises or reaffirms 

the concurrent resolution on the budget for such fiscal year most 

recently agreed to.¿ 

PERMISSIBLE REVISIONS OF BUDGET RESOLUTIONS

SEC. 304. At any time after the joint resolution on the budget for 

a fiscal year has been enacted pursuant to section 301, and before 

the end of such fiscal year, the two Houses and the President may 

enact a joint resolution on the budget which revises or reaffirms the 

joint resolution on the budget for such fiscal year most recently enacted, and for purposes of the enforcement of the Congressional 

Budget Act of 1974, the chairman of the Budget Committee of the 

House of Representatives or the Senate, as applicable, may adjust 

levels as needed for the enforcement of the budget resolution. 

PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE CONSIDERATION OF øCONCURRENT¿ 

JOINT RESOLUTIONS ON THE BUDGET

SEC. 305. (a) PROCEDURE IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AFTER

REPORT OF COMMITTEE; DEBATE.— 

(1) When a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget has 

been reported by the Committee on the Budget of the House 

of Representatives and has been referred to the appropriate 

calendar of the House, it shall be in order on any day thereafter, subject to clause 2(l)(6) of rule XI of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, to move to proceed to the consideration of the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution. The motion is highly 

privileged and is not debatable. An amendment to the motion 

is not in order and it is not in order to move to reconsider the 

vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to. 

(2) General debate on any øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on 

the budget in the House of Representatives shall be limited to 

not more than 10 hours, which shall be divided equally between the majority and minority parties, plus such additional 

hours of debate as are consumed pursuant to paragraph (3). A 

motion further to limit debate is not debatable. A motion to recommit the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution is not in order, and 

it is not in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the 

øconcurrent¿ joint resolution is agreed to or disagreed to. 


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(3) Following the presentation of opening statements on the 

øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget for a fiscal year by 

the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 

on the Budget of the House, there shall be a period of up to 

four hours for debate on economic goals and policies. 

(4) Only if a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget reported by the Committee on the Budget of the House sets forth 

the economic goals (as described in sections 3(a)(2) and (4)(b) 

of the Full Employment Act of 1946) which the estimates, 

amounts, and levels (as described in section 301(a)) set forth 

in such resolution are designed to achieve, shall it be in order 

to offer to such resolution an amendment relating to such 

goals, and such amendment shall be in order only if it also proposes to alter such estimates, amounts, and levels in germane 

fashion in order to be consistent with the goals proposed in 

such amendment. 

(5) Consideration of any øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the 

budget by the House of Representatives shall be in the Committee of the Whole, and the resolution shall be considered for 

amendment under the five-minute rule in accordance with the 

applicable provisions of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives. After the Committee rises and reports the 

resolution back to the House, the previous question shall be 

considered as ordered on the resolution and any amendments 

thereto to final passage without intervening motion; except 

that it shall be in order at any time prior to final passage (notwithstanding any other rule or provision of law) to adopt an 

amendment (or a series of amendments) changing any figure or 

figures in the resolution as so reported to the extent necessary 

to achieve mathematical consistency. 

(6) Debate in the House of Representatives on the conference 

report on any øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget shall 

be limited to not more than 5 hours, which shall be divided 

equally between the majority and minority parties. A motion 

further to limit debate is not debatable. A motion to recommit 

the conference report is not in order, and it is not in order to 

move to reconsider the vote by which the conference report is 

agreed to or disagreed to. 

(7) Appeals from decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the Rules of the House of Representatives to the procedure relating to any øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the 

budget shall be decided without debate. 

(b) PROCEDURE IN SENATE AFTER REPORT OF COMMITTEE; DEBATE; AMENDMENTS.— 

(1) Debate in the Senate on any øconcurrent¿ joint resolution 

on the budget, and all amendments thereto and debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to 

not more than 50 hours, except that with respect to any øconcurrent¿ joint resolution referred to in section 304(a) all such 

debate shall be limited to not more than 15 hours. The time 

shall be equally divided between, and controlled by, the majority leader and the minority leader or their designees. 

(2) Debate in the Senate on any amendment to a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget shall be limited to 2 hours, 

to be equally divided between, and controlled by, the mover 


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and the manager of the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution, and debate on any amendment to an amendment, debatable motion, 

or appeal shall be limited to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and controlled by, the mover and the manager of the 

øconcurrent¿ joint resolution, except that in the event the 

manager of the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution is in favor of any 

such amendment, motion, or appeal, the time in opposition 

thereto shall be controlled by the minority leader or his designee. No amendment that is not germane to the provisions of 

such øconcurrent¿ joint resolution shall be received. Such leaders, or either of them, may, from the time under their control 

on the passage of the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution, allot additional time to any Senator during the consideration of any 

amendment, debatable motion, or appeal. 

(3) Following the presentation of opening statements on the 

øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget for a fiscal year by 

the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 

on the Budget of the Senate, there shall be a period of up to 

four hours for debate on economic goals and policies. 

(4) Subject to the other limitations of this Act, only if a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget reported by the Committee on the Budget of the Senate sets forth the economic 

goals (as described in sections 3(a)(2) and 4(b) of the Employment Act of 1946) which the estimates, amounts, and levels (as 

described in section 301(a)) set forth in such resolution are designed to achieve, shall it be in order to offer to such resolution 

an amendment relating to such goals, and such amendment 

shall be in order only if it also proposes to alter such estimates, 

amounts, and levels in germane fashion in order to be consistent with the goals proposed in such amendment. 

(5) A motion to further limit debate is not debatable. A motion to recommit (except a motion to recommit with instructions to report back within a specified number of days, not to 

exceed 3, not counting any day on which the Senate is not in 

session) is not in order. Debate on any such motion to recommit shall be limited to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, 

and controlled by, the mover and the manager of the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution. 

(6) Notwithstanding any other rule, an amendment or series 

of amendments to a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget proposed in the Senate shall always be in order if such 

amendment or series of amendments proposes to change any 

figure or figures then contained in such øconcurrent¿ joint resolution so as to make such øconcurrent¿ joint resolution mathematically consistent or so as to maintain such consistency. 

(c) ACTION ON CONFERENCE REPORTS IN THE SENATE.— 

(1) A motion to proceed to the consideration of the conference 

report on any øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget (or 

a reconciliation bill or resolution) may be made even though a 

previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to. 

(2) During the consideration in the Senate of the conference 

report (or a message between Houses) on any øconcurrent¿ 

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ited to 10 hours, to be equally divided between, and controlled 

by, the majority leader and minority leader or their designees. 

Debate on any debatable motion or appeal related to the conference report (or a message between Houses) shall be limited 

to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and controlled by, the 

mover and the manager of the conference report (or a message 

between Houses). 

* * * * * * * 

(d) øCONCURRENT¿ JOINT RESOLUTION MUST BE CONSISTENT IN

THE SENATE.—It shall not be in order in the Senate to vote on the 

question of agreeing to— 

(1) a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget unless the 

figures then contained in such resolution are mathematically 

consistent; or 

(2) a conference report on a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on 

the budget unless the figures contained in such resolution, as 

recommended in such conference report, are mathematically 

consistent. 

(e) LIMITATION ON CONTENTS.—(1) It shall not be in order in the 

House of Representatives or in the Senate to consider any joint resolution on the budget or any amendment thereto or conference report 

thereon that contains any matter referred to in paragraph (2). 

(2) Any joint resolution on the budget or any amendment thereto 

or conference report thereon that contains any matter not permitted 

in section 301(a) or (b) shall not be treated in the House of Representatives or the Senate as a budget resolution under subsection 

(a) or (b) or as a conference report on a budget resolution under subsection (c) of this section. 

* * * * * * * 

REPORTS, SUMMARIES, AND PROJECTIONS OF CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET

ACTIONS

SEC. 308. (a) LEGISLATION PROVIDING NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY

OR PROVIDING AN INCREASE OR DECREASE IN REVENUES OR TAX EXPENDITURES.— 

(1) Whenever a committee of either House reports to its 

House a bill or joint resolution, or committee amendment 

thereto, providing new budget authority (other than continuing 

appropriations) or providing an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures for a fiscal year (or fiscal years), the 

report accompanying that bill or joint resolution shall contain 

a statement, or the committee shall make available such a 

statement in the case of an approved committee amendment 

which is not reported to its House, prepared after consultation 

with the Director of the Congressional Budget Office— 

(A) comparing the levels in such measure to the appropriate allocations in the reports submitted under section 

302(b) for the ømost recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget¿ most recently enacted joint resolution 

on the budget for such fiscal year (or fiscal years); 

* * * * * * * 

(b) UP-TO-DATE TABULATIONS OF CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACTION.— 


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(1) The Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall 

issue to the committees of the House of Representatives and 

the Senate reports on at least a monthly basis detailing and 

tabulating the progress of congressional action on bills and 

joint resolutions providing new budget authority or providing 

an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures for 

each fiscal year covered by a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on 

the budget. Such reports shall include but are not limited to 

an up-to-date tabulation comparing the appropriate aggregate 

and functional levels (including outlays) included in the most 

recently adopted øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget 

with the levels provided in bills and joint resolutions reported 

by committees or adopted by either House or by the Congress, 

and with the levels provided by law for the fiscal year preceding the first fiscal year covered by the appropriate øconcurrent¿ joint resolution. 

* * * * * * * 

RECONCILIATION

SEC. 310. (a) INCLUSION OF RECONCILIATION DIRECTIVES IN øCONCURRENT¿ JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT ACCOMPANYING CONFERENCE REPORT ON JOINT RESOLUTIONS ON THE BUDGET.—øA¿ 

The joint explanatory statement accompanying the conference report 

on a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget for any fiscal year, 

to the extent necessary to effectuate the provisions and requirements of such resolution, shall— 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(b) LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE.—øIf¿ If the joint explanatory statement accompanying the conference report on a øconcurrent¿ joint 

resolution containing directives to one or more committees to determine and recommend changes in laws, bills, or resolutions is 

øagreed to¿ enacted in accordance with subsection (a), and— 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

For purposes of this subsection, a reconciliation resolution is a 

øconcurrent¿ joint 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. 

(c) COMPLIANCE WITH RECONCILIATION DIRECTIONS.—(1) Any 

committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate that is directed, pursuant to the joint explanatory statement accompanying 

the conference report on a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the 

budget, to determine and recommend changes of the type described 

in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) with respect to laws 

within its jurisdiction, shall be deemed to have complied with such 

directions— 

(A) if— 

(i) the amount of the changes of the type described in 

paragraph (1) of such subsection recommended by such 

committee do not exceed or fall below the amount of the 

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rent¿ joint resolution to recommend under that paragraph 

by more than— 

(I) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(ii) the amount of the changes of the type described in 

paragraph (2) of such subsection recommended by such 

committee do not exceed or fall below the amount of the 

changes such committee was directed by such øconcurrent¿ joint resolution to recommend under that paragraph 

by more than— 

(I) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(2)(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(C) Allocations, functional levels, and aggregates revised pursuant to this paragraph shall be considered to be allocations, 

functional levels, and aggregates contained in the øconcurrent¿ 

joint resolution on the budget pursuant to section 301. 

* * * * * * * 

(d) LIMITATION ON AMENDMENTS TO RECONCILIATION BILLS AND

RESOLUTIONS.— 

(1) 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 ømost 

recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget¿ most 

recently enacted joint resolution on the budget), or would have 

the effect of reducing any specific Federal revenues below the 

level of such revenues 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 Federal revenues, 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. 

* * * * * * * 

(5) The Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives 

may make in order amendments to achieve changes specified 

by reconciliation directives contained in a øconcurrent¿ joint 

resolution on the budget if a committee or committees of the 

House fail to submit recommended changes to its Committee 

on the Budget pursuant to its instruction. 

(e) PROCEDURE IN THE SENATE.— 

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the provisions of section 305 for the consideration in the Senate of øconcurrent¿ 

joint resolutions on the budget and conference reports thereon 

shall also apply to the consideration in the Senate of reconciliation bills reported under subsection (b) and conference reports 

thereon. 

* * * * * * * 


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(f) COMPLETION OF RECONCILIATION PROCESS.—It shall not be in 

order in the House of Representatives to consider any resolution 

providing for an adjournment period of more than three calendar 

days during the month of July until the House of Representatives 

has completed action on the reconciliation legislation for the fiscal 

year beginning on October 1 of the calendar year to which the adjournment resolution pertains, if reconciliation legislation is required to be reported by the øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the 

budget for such fiscal year. 

(g) 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 reconciliation resolution reported pursuant to a 

øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget øagreed to¿ enacted 

under section 301 or 304, or a joint resolution pursuant to section 

258C of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act 

of 1985, 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. 

BUDGET-RELATED LEGISLATION MUST BE WITHIN APPROPRIATE

LEVELS

SEC. 311. (a) ENFORCEMENT OF BUDGET AGGREGATES.— (1) IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—Except as provided 

by subsection (c), after the Congress has completed action on 

a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget for a fiscal year, 

it shall not be in order in the House of Representatives to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report providing new budget authority or reducing revenues, if— 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

would cause the level of total new budget authority or total 

outlays set forth in the applicable øconcurrent¿ joint resolution 

on the budget for the first fiscal year to be exceeded, or would 

cause revenues to be less than the level of total revenues set 

forth in that øconcurrent¿ joint resolution for the first fiscal 

year or for the total of that first fiscal year and the ensuing 

fiscal years for which allocations are provided under section 

302(a), except when a declaration of war by the Congress is in 

effect. 

(2) IN THE SENATE.—After a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on 

the budget is øagreed to¿ enacted, it shall not be in order in 

the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, 

motion, or conference report that— 

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(3) ENFORCEMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY LEVELS IN THE SENATE.—After a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget is 

øagreed to¿ enacted, it shall not be in order in the Senate to 

consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that would cause a decrease in social security 

surpluses or an increase in social security deficits relative to 


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the levels set forth in the applicable resolution for the first fiscal year or for the total of that fiscal year and the ensuing fiscal years for which allocations are provided under section 

302(a). 

* * * * * * * 

DETERMINATIONS AND POINTS OF ORDER

SEC. 312. (a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(c) MAXIMUM DEFICIT AMOUNT POINT OF ORDER IN THE SEN- ATE.—It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget for a fiscal year, or to consider any amendment to that øconcurrent¿ joint resolution, or to 

consider a conference report on that øconcurrent¿ joint resolution, 

if— 

(1) the level of total outlays for the first fiscal year set forth 

in that øconcurrent¿ joint resolution or conference report exceeds; or 

* * * * * * * 

ADJUSTMENTS

SEC. 314. (a) ADJUSTMENTS.—After the reporting of a bill or joint 

resolution or the offering of an amendment thereto or the submission of a conference report thereon, the chairman of the Committee 

on the Budget of the House of Representatives or the Senate may 

make appropriate budgetary adjustments of new budget authority 

and the outlays flowing therefrom in the same amount as required 

by section 251(b) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 

Control Act of 1985. 

(b) APPLICATION OF ADJUSTMENTS.—The adjustments made pursuant to subsection (a) for legislation shall— 

(1) apply while that legislation is under consideration; 

(2) take effect upon the enactment of that legislation; and 

(3) be published in the Congressional Record as soon as practicable. 

(c) REPORTING REVISED SUBALLOCATIONS.—Following any adjustment made under subsection (a), the Committees on Appropriations 

of the Senate and the House of Representatives may report appropriately revised suballocations under section 302(b) to carry out 

this section. 

(d) EMERGENCIES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.— (1) In 

the House of Representatives, if a reported bill or joint resolution, 

or amendment thereto or conference report thereon, contains a provision providing new budget authority and outlays or reducing revenue, and a designation of such provision as an emergency requirement pursuant to 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the chair of the Committee on 

the Budget of the House of Representatives shall not count the 

budgetary effects of such provision for purposes of title III and title 

IV of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and the Rules of the 

House of Representatives. 

(2)(A) In the House of Representatives, if a reported bill or joint 

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tains a provision providing new budget authority and outlays or reducing revenue, and a designation of such provision as an emergency pursuant to paragraph (1), the chair of the Committee on the 

Budget shall not count the budgetary effects of such provision for 

purposes of this title and title IV and the Rules of the House of 

Representatives. 

(B) In the House of Representatives, a proposal to strike a designation under subparagraph (A) shall be excluded from an evaluation of budgetary effects for purposes of this title and title IV and 

the Rules of the House of Representatives. 

(C) An amendment offered under subparagraph (B) that also proposes to reduce each amount appropriated or otherwise made available by the pending measure that is not required to be appropriated or otherwise made available shall be in order at any point 

in the reading of the pending measure. 

(e) SENATE POINT OF ORDER AGAINST AN EMERGENCY DESIGNA- TION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—When the Senate is considering a bill, resolution, amendment, motion, amendment between the Houses, 

or conference report, if a point of order is made by a Senator 

against an emergency designation in that measure, that provision making such a designation shall be stricken from the 

measure and may not be offered as an amendment from the 

floor. 

(2) SUPERMAJORITY WAIVER AND APPEALS.— (A) WAIVER.—Paragraph (1) may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of threefifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. 

(B) 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. 

(3) DEFINITION OF AN EMERGENCY DESIGNATION.—For purposes of paragraph (1), a provision shall be considered an 

emergency designation if it designates any item pursuant to 

section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 

Deficit Control Act of 1985. 

(4) FORM OF THE POINT OF ORDER.—A point of order under 

paragraph (1) may be raised by a Senator as provided in section 313(e) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

(5) CONFERENCE REPORTS.—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 

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 


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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. 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. 

(f) ENFORCEMENT OF DISCRETIONARY SPENDING CAPS.—It shall 

not be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to 

consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that would cause the discretionary spending limits 

as set forth in section 251 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 

Deficit Control Act to be exceeded. 

* * * * * * * 

AUTOMATIC CONGRESSIONAL ENFORCEMENT OF JOINT RESOLUTION

SEC. 316. For purposes of congressional enforcement under titles 

III and IV of this Act and the rules of the House of Representatives 

and the Senate, the aggregates, allocations, and any other matters 

that pertain solely to the Congress set forth in the joint resolution 

shall be considered as enforceable upon enactment or 15 days following presentment to the President, whichever occurs earlier. 

TITLE IV—ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS TO IMPROVE FISCAL 

PROCEDURES 

PART A—GENERAL PROVISIONS

* * * * * * * 

OFF-BUDGET AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVITIES

SEC. 405. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, budget 

authority, credit authority, and estimates of outlays and receipts 

for activities of the Federal budget which are off-budget immediately prior to the date of enactment of this section, not including 

activities of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds, shall be included in a budget submitted pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States 

Code, and in a øconcurrent¿ joint resolution on the budget reported 

pursuant to section 301 or section 304 of this Act and shall be considered, for purposes of this Act, budget authority, outlays, and 

spending authority in accordance with definitions set forth in this 

Act. 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE IX—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS; EFFECTIVE 

DATES 

* * * * * * * 

EXERCISE OF RULEMAKING POWERS

SEC. 904. (a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(d) APPEALS.— 


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(1) PROCEDURE.—Appeals in the Senate from the decisions of 

the Chair relating to any provision of title III or IV or section 

1017 shall, except as otherwise provided therein, be limited to 

1 hour, to be equally divided between, and controlled by, the 

mover and the manager of the resolution, øconcurrent¿ joint 

resolution, reconciliation bill, or rescission bill, as the case may 

be. 

* * * * * * * 

BALANCED BUDGET AND EMERGENCY DEFICIT 

CONTROL ACT OF 1985 

* * * * * * * 

PART C—EMERGENCY POWERS TO ELIMINATE 

DEFICITS IN EXCESS OF MAXIMUM DEFICIT AMOUNT 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 258C. SPECIAL RECONCILIATION PROCESS. 

(a) * * * 

(b) PROCEDURES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), in the 

Senate the provisions of sections 305 and 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 for the consideration of øconcurrent¿ 

joint resolutions on the budget and conference reports thereon 

shall also apply to the consideration of resolutions, and reconciliation bills and reconciliation resolutions reported under 

this paragraph and conference reports thereon. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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