I

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 493

To provide for a biennial budget process and a biennial appropriations process

and to enhance oversight and the performance of the Federal Government.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 2, 1999

Mr. STEARNS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To provide for a biennial budget process and a biennial

appropriations process and to enhance oversight and the

performance of the Federal Government.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Biennial Budgeting

5 and Appropriations Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. REVISION OF TIMETABLE.

7 Section 300 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974

8 (2 U.S.C. 631) is amended to read as follows:
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1 ‘‘TIMETABLE

2 ‘‘SEC. 300. (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided by

3 subsection (b), the timetable with respect to the congres4 sional budget process for any Congress (beginning with

5 the One Hundred Seventh Congress) is as follows:

‘‘First Session

‘‘On or before: Action to be completed:

First Monday in

February.

President submits budget recommendations.

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

to Budget Committees.

Not later than 6 weeks

after budget submission.

Committees submit views and estimates to

Budget Committees.

April 1 ............................. Budget Committees report concurrent resolution on the biennial budget.

May 15 ............................ Congress completes action on concurrent resolution on the biennial budget.

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

June 10 ........................... House Appropriations Committee reports last

biennial appropriation bill.

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

August 1 .......................... Congress completes action on reconciliation

legislation.

October 1 ......................... Biennium begins.

‘‘Second Session

‘‘On or before: Action to be completed:

February 15 .................... President submits budget review.

Not later than 6 weeks

after President submits

budget review.

Congressional Budget Office submits report

to Budget Committees.

The last day of the

session.

Congress completes action on bills and resolutions authorizing new budget authority for

the succeeding biennium.

6 ‘‘(b) SPECIAL RULE.—In the case of any first session

7 of Congress that begins in any year immediately following

8 a leap year and during which the term of a President (ex-
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1 cept a President who succeeds himself) begins, the follow2 ing dates shall supersede those set forth in subsection (a):

‘‘First Session

‘‘On or before: Action to be completed:

First Monday in April ..... President submits budget recommendations.

April 20 ........................... Committees submit views and estimates to

Budget Committees.

May 15 ............................ Budget Committees report concurrent resolution on the biennial budget.

June 1 ............................. Congress completes action on concurrent resolution on the biennial budget.

July 1 .............................. Biennial appropriation bills may be considered in the House.

July 20 ............................ House completes action on biennial appropriation bills.

August 1 .......................... Congress completes action on reconciliation

legislation.

October 1 ......................... Biennium begins.’’.

3 SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET

4 AND IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL ACT OF 1974.

5 (a) DECLARATION OF PURPOSE.—Section 2(2) of the

6 Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of

7 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘each

8 year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennially’’.

9 (b) DEFINITIONS.—

10 (1) BUDGET RESOLUTION.—Section 3(4) of

11 such Act (2 U.S.C. 622(4)) is amended by striking

12 ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘bi13 ennium’’.

14 (2) BIENNIUM.—Section 3 of such Act (2

15 U.S.C. 622) is further amended by adding at the

16 end the following new paragraph:
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1 ‘‘(11) The term ‘biennium’ means the period of

2 2 consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of

3 any odd-numbered year.’’.

4 (c) BIENNIAL CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE

5 BUDGET.—

6 (1) CONTENTS OF RESOLUTION.—Section

7 301(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(a)) is amended—

8 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)

9 by—

10 (i) striking ‘‘April 15 of each year’’

11 and inserting ‘‘May 15 of each odd-num12 bered year’’;

13 (ii) striking ‘‘the fiscal year beginning

14 on October 1 of such year’’ the first place

15 it appears and inserting ‘‘the biennium be16 ginning on October 1 of such year’’; and

17 (iii) striking ‘‘the fiscal year beginning

18 on October 1 of such year’’ the second

19 place it appears and inserting ‘‘each fiscal

20 year in such period’’;

21 (B) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘for the

22 fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for each fiscal year

23 in the biennium’’; and
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1 (C) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘for the

2 first fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for each fiscal

3 year in the biennium’’.

4 (2) ADDITIONAL MATTERS.—Section 301(b)(3)

5 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(b)) is amended by strik6 ing ‘‘for such fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for either

7 fiscal year in such biennium’’.

8 (3) VIEWS OF OTHER COMMITTEES.—Section

9 301(d) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(d)) is amended by

10 inserting ‘‘(or, if applicable, as provided by section

11 300(b))’’ after ‘‘United States Code’’.

12 (4) HEARINGS.—Section 301(e)(1) of such Act

13 (2 U.S.C. 632(e)) is amended by—

14 (A) striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting

15 ‘‘biennium’’; and

16 (B) inserting after the second sentence the

17 following: ‘‘On or before April 1 of each odd18 numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by

19 section 300(b)), the Committee on the Budget

20 of each House shall report to its House the con21 current resolution on the budget referred to in

22 subsection (a) for the biennium beginning on

23 October 1 of that year.’’.

24 (5) GOALS FOR REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT.—

25 Section 301(f) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(f)) is
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1 amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it ap2 pears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.

3 (6) ECONOMIC ASSUMPTIONS.—Section

4 301(g)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(g)(1)) is

5 amended by striking ‘‘for a fiscal year’’ and insert6 ing ‘‘for a biennium’’.

7 (7) SECTION HEADING.—The section heading of

8 section 301 of such Act is amended by striking ‘‘AN9 NUAL’’ and inserting ‘‘BIENNIAL’’.

10 (8) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The item relating

11 to section 301 in the table of contents set forth in

12 section 1(b) of such Act is amended by striking ‘‘An13 nual’’ and inserting ‘‘Biennial’’.

14 (d) COMMITTEE ALLOCATIONS.—Section 302 is

15 amended—

16 (1) in subsection (a)(1) by striking ‘‘for the

17 first fiscal year of the resolution,’’ and inserting ‘‘for

18 each fiscal year in the biennium, for at least each of

19 4 ensuing fiscal years,’’;

20 (2) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘‘for a fiscal

21 year’’ and inserting ‘‘for a biennium’’;

22 (3) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘‘first fiscal

23 year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year of the

24 biennum’’;
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1 (4) in subsection (f)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘first

2 fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year of the bi3 ennium’’; and

4 (5) in subsection (g)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘April’’

5 and inserting ‘‘May’’.

6 (e) SECTION 303 POINT OF ORDER.—

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 303(a) of such Act

8 (2 U.S.C. 634(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘first fis9 cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year of the bien10 nium’’.

11 (2) EXCEPTIONS IN THE HOUSE.—Section

12 303(b)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(b)) is

13 amended—

14 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘the

15 budget year’’ and inserting ‘‘the biennium’’;

16 and

17 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘the

18 fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘the biennium’’.

19 (3) APPLICATION TO THE SENATE.—Section

20 303(c)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(c)) is amended

21 by—

22 (A) striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting

23 ‘‘biennium’’; and

24 (B) striking ‘‘that year’’ and inserting

25 ‘‘each fiscal year of that biennium’’.
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1 (f) PERMISSIBLE REVISIONS OF CONCURRENT RESO2 LUTIONS ON THE BUDGET.—Section 304(a) of such Act

3 (2 U.S.C. 635) is amended—

4 (1) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ the first two places

5 it appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’;

6 (2) by striking ‘‘for such fiscal year’’; and

7 (3) by inserting before the period ‘‘for such bi8 ennium’’.

9 (g) PROCEDURES FOR CONSIDERATION OF BUDGET

10 RESOLUTIONS.—Section 305(a)(3) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

11 636(b)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and in12 serting ‘‘biennium’’.

13 (h) COMPLETION OF HOUSE ACTION ON APPROPRIA14 TION BILLS.—Section 307 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 638) is

15 amended—

16 (1) by striking ‘‘each year’’ and inserting ‘‘each

17 odd-numbered year’’;

18 (2) by striking ‘‘annual’’ and inserting ‘‘bien19 nial’’;

20 (3) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bi21 ennium’’; and

22 (4) by striking ‘‘that year’’ and inserting ‘‘each

23 odd-numbered year’’.
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1 (i) COMPLETION OF ACTION ON REGULAR APPRO2 PRIATION BILLS.—Section 309 of such Act (2 U.S.C.

3 640) is amended—

4 (1) by inserting ‘‘of any odd-numbered calendar

5 year’’ after ‘‘July’’;

6 (2) by striking ‘‘annual’’ and inserting

7 ‘‘biennial’’; and

8 (3) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bi9 ennium’’.

10 (j) RECONCILIATION PROCESS.—Section 310(a) of

11 such Act (2 U.S.C. 641(a)) is amended—

12 (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by

13 striking ‘‘any fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘any bien14 nium’’; and

15 (2) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘such fiscal

16 year’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘any fiscal

17 year covered by such resolution’’.

18 (k) SECTION 311 POINT OF ORDER.—

19 (1) IN THE HOUSE.—Section 311(a)(1) of such

20 Act (2 U.S.C. 642(a)) is amended—

21 (A) by striking ‘‘for a fiscal year’’ and in22 serting ‘‘for a biennium’’;

23 (B) by striking ‘‘the first fiscal year’’ each

24 place it appears and inserting ‘‘either fiscal

25 year of the biennium’’; and
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1 (C) by striking ‘‘that first fiscal year’’ and

2 inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium’’.

3 (2) IN THE SENATE.—Section 311(a)(2) of

4 such Act is amended—

5 (A) by striking ‘‘for the first fiscal year’’

6 and inserting ‘‘for either fiscal year of the bien7 nium’’; and

8 (B) by striking ‘‘that first fiscal year’’ each

9 place it appears and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year

10 in the biennium’’.

11 (3) SOCIAL SECURITY LEVELS.—Section

12 311(a)(3) of such Act is amended by—

13 (A) striking ‘‘for the first fiscal year’’ and

14 inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium’’;

15 and

16 (B) striking ‘‘that fiscal year’’ and insert17 ing ‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium’’.

18 (l) MDA POINT OF ORDER.—Section 312(c) of the

19 Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 643) is

20 amended—

21 (1) by striking ‘‘for a fiscal year’’ and inserting

22 ‘‘for a biennium’’;

23 (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘first fiscal

24 year’’ and inserting ‘‘either fiscal year in the

25 biennium’’;
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1 (3) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘that fiscal

2 year’’ and inserting ‘‘either fiscal year in the bien3 nium’’; and

4 (4) in the matter following paragraph (2), by

5 striking ‘‘that fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘the appli6 cable fiscal year’’.

7 SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO RULES OF HOUSE OF REP8 RESENTATIVES.

9 (a) Clause 4(a)(1)(A) of rule X of the Rules of the

10 House of Representatives is amended by inserting ‘‘odd11 numbered’’ after ‘‘each’’.

12 (b) Clause 4(a)(2) of rule X of the Rules of the House

13 of Representatives is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal year

14 involved’’ and inserting ‘‘the biennium involved’’.

15 (c) Clause 4(f) of rule X of the Rules of the House

16 of Representatives is amended by striking ‘‘annually’’ each

17 place it appears and inserting ‘‘biennially’’.

18 (d) Clause 4(g) of rule X of the Rules of the House

19 of Representatives is amended—

20 (1) by inserting ‘‘during each odd-numbered

21 year’’ after ‘‘submits his budget’’;

22 (2) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ the first place it

23 appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’; and

24 (3) by striking ‘‘that fiscal year’’ and inserting

25 ‘‘each fiscal year in such ensuing biennium’’.
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1 (e) Clause 4(h) of rule X of the Rules of the House

2 of Representatives is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’

3 and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.

4 (f) Clause 4(a) of rule XI of the Rules of the House

5 of Representatives is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year if

6 reported after September 15 preceding the beginning of

7 such fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium if reported after

8 August 1 of the year in which such biennium begins’’.

9 SEC. 5. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 31, UNITED STATES CODE.

10 (a) DEFINITION.—Section 1101 of title 31, United

11 States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the

12 following new paragraph:

13 ‘‘(3) ‘biennium’ has the meaning given to such

14 term in paragraph (11) of section 3 of the Congres15 sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of

16 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(11)).’’.

17 (b) BUDGET CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION TO THE

18 CONGRESS.—

19 (1) SCHEDULE.—The matter preceding para20 graph (1) in section 1105(a) of title 31, United

21 States Code, is amended to read as follows:

22 ‘‘(a) On or before the first Monday in February of

23 each odd-numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by

24 section 300(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974),

25 beginning with the One Hundred Seventh Congress, the
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1 President shall transmit to the Congress, the budget for

2 the biennium beginning on October 1 of such calendar

3 year. The budget transmitted under this subsection shall

4 include a budget message and summary and supporting

5 information. The President shall include in each budget

6 the following:’’.

7 (2) EXPENDITURES.—Section 1105(a)(5) of

8 title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking

9 ‘‘the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted

10 and the 4 fiscal years after that year’’ and inserting

11 ‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium for which the

12 budget is submitted and in the succeeding 4 years’’.

13 (3) RECEIPTS.—Section 1105(a)(6) of title 31,

14 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fis15 cal year for which the budget is submitted and the

16 4 fiscal years after that year’’ and inserting ‘‘each

17 fiscal year in the biennium for which the budget is

18 submitted and in the succeeding 4 years’’.

19 (4) BALANCE STATEMENTS.—Section

20 1105(a)(9)(C) of title 31, United States Code, is

21 amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal year’’ and inserting

22 ‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium’’.

23 (5) FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES.—Section

24 1105(a)(12) of title 31, United States Code, is

25 amended in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘the fis-
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1 cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien2 nium’’.

3 (6) ALLOWANCES.—Section 1105(a)(13) of title

4 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the

5 fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the

6 biennium’’.

7 (7) ALLOWANCES FOR UNCONTROLLED EX8 PENDITURES.—Section 1105(a)(14) of title 31,

9 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘that

10 year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien11 nium for which the budget is submitted’’.

12 (8) TAX EXPENDITURES.—Section 1105(a)(16)

13 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by strik14 ing ‘‘the fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year

15 in the biennium’’.

16 (9) FUTURE YEARS.—Section 1105(a)(17) of

17 title 31, United States Code, is amended—

18 (A) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year following

19 the fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year

20 in the biennium following the biennium’’;

21 (B) by striking ‘‘that following fiscal year’’

22 and inserting ‘‘each such fiscal year’’; and

23 (C) by striking ‘‘fiscal year before the fis24 cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium before the

25 biennium’’.
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1 (10) PRIOR YEAR OUTLAYS.—Section

2 1105(a)(18) of title 31, United States Code, is

3 amended—

4 (A) by striking ‘‘the prior fiscal year’’ and

5 inserting ‘‘each of the 2 most recently com6 pleted fiscal years,’’;

7 (B) by striking ‘‘for that year’’ and insert8 ing ‘‘with respect to those fiscal years’’; and

9 (C) by striking ‘‘in that year’’ and insert10 ing ‘‘in those fiscal years’’.

11 (11) PRIOR YEAR RECEIPTS.—Section

12 1105(a)(19) of title 31, United States Code, is

13 amended—

14 (A) by striking ‘‘the prior fiscal year’’ and

15 inserting ‘‘each of the 2 most recently com16 pleted fiscal years’’;

17 (B) by striking ‘‘for that year’’ and insert18 ing ‘‘with respect to those fiscal years’’; and

19 (C) by striking ‘‘in that year’’ each place

20 it appears and inserting ‘‘in those fiscal years’’.

21 (c) ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES OF LEGISLATIVE

22 AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES.—Section 1105(b) of title 31,

23 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘each year’’

24 and inserting ‘‘each even-numbered year’’.
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1 (d) RECOMMENDATIONS TO MEET ESTIMATED DE2 FICIENCIES.—Section 1105(c) of title 31, United States

3 Code, is amended—

4 (1) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year for’’ the first

5 place it appears and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in

6 the biennium for’’;

7 (2) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year for’’ the second

8 place it appears and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year of

9 the biennium, as the case may be,’’; and

10 (3) by striking ‘‘that year’’ and inserting ‘‘for

11 each year of the biennium’’.

12 (e) CAPITAL INVESTMENT ANALYSIS.—Section

13 1105(e)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is amended

14 by striking ‘‘ensuing fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium

15 to which such budget relates’’.

16 (f) SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET ESTIMATES AND

17 CHANGES.—

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1106(a) of title 31,

19 United States Code, is amended—

20 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1),

21 by—

22 (i) striking ‘‘Before July 16 of each

23 year,’’ and inserting ‘‘Before February 15

24 of each even numbered year,’’; and
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1 (ii) striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and insert2 ing ‘‘biennium’’;

3 (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘that fis4 cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in

5 such biennium’’;

6 (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘4 fiscal

7 years following the fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘4

8 fiscal years following the biennium’’; and

9 (D) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘fiscal

10 year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.

11 (2) CHANGES.—Section 1106(b) of title 31,

12 United States Code, is amended by—

13 (A) striking ‘‘the fiscal year’’ and inserting

14 ‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium’’;

15 (B) striking ‘‘April 11 and July 16 of each

16 year’’ and inserting ‘‘February 15 of each even17 numbered year’’; and

18 (C) striking ‘‘July 16’’ and inserting ‘‘Feb19 ruary 15 of each even-numbered year.’’.

20 (g) CURRENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

21 ESTIMATES.—

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1109(a) of title 31,

23 United States Code, is amended—

24 (A) by striking ‘‘On or before the first

25 Monday after January 3 of each year (on or be-
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1 fore February 5 in 1986)’’ and inserting ‘‘At

2 the same time the budget required by section

3 1105 is submitted for a biennium’’; and

4 (B) by striking ‘‘the following fiscal year’’

5 and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year of such period’’.

6 (2) JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE.—Section

7 1109(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended

8 by striking ‘‘March 1 of each year’’ and inserting

9 ‘‘within 6 weeks of the President’s budget submis10 sion for each odd-numbered year (or, if applicable,

11 as provided by section 300(b) of the Congressional

12 Budget Act of 1974)’’.

13 (h) YEAR-AHEAD REQUESTS FOR AUTHORIZING

14 LEGISLATION.—Section 1110 of title 31, United States

15 Code, is amended by—

16 (1) striking ‘‘May 16’’ and inserting ‘‘March

17 31’’; and

18 (2) striking ‘‘year before the year in which the

19 fiscal year begins’’ and inserting ‘‘calendar year pre20 ceding the calendar year in which the biennium

21 begins’’.

22 SEC. 6. TWO-YEAR APPROPRIATIONS; TITLE AND STYLE OF

23 APPROPRIATIONS ACTS.

24 Section 105 of title 1, United States Code, is amend25 ed to read as follows:
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1 ‘‘§ 105. Title and style of appropriations Acts

2 ‘‘(a) The style and title of all Acts making appropria3 tions for the support of the Government shall be as fol4 lows: ‘An Act making appropriations (here insert the ob5 ject) for each fiscal year in the biennium of fiscal years

6 (here insert the fiscal years of the biennium).’.

7 ‘‘(b) All Acts making regular appropriations for the

8 support of the Government shall be enacted for a biennium

9 and shall specify the amount of appropriations provided

10 for each fiscal year in such period.

11 ‘‘(c) For purposes of this section, the term ‘biennium’

12 has the same meaning as in section 3(11) of the Congres13 sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2

14 U.S.C. 622(11)).’’.

15 SEC. 7. MULTIYEAR AUTHORIZATIONS.

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

17 Budget Act of 1974 is amended by adding at the end the

18 following new section:

19 ‘‘AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS

20 ‘‘SEC. 316. (a) POINT OF ORDER.—It shall not be

21 in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate

22 to consider—

23 ‘‘(1) any bill, joint resolution, amendment, mo24 tion, or conference report that authorizes appropria25 tions for a period of less than 2 fiscal years, unless

26 the program, project, or activity for which the ap-
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1 propriations are authorized will require no further

2 appropriations and will be completed or terminated

3 after the appropriations have been expended; and

4 ‘‘(2) in any odd-numbered year, any authoriza5 tion or revenue bill or joint resolution until Congress

6 completes action on the biennial budget resolution,

7 all regular biennial appropriations bills, and all rec8 onciliation bills.

9 ‘‘(b) APPLICABILITY.—In the Senate, subsection (a)

10 shall not apply to—

11 ‘‘(1) any measure that is privileged for consid12 eration pursuant to a rule or statute;

13 ‘‘(2) any matter considered in Executive Ses14 sion; or

15 ‘‘(3) an appropriations measure or reconcili16 ation bill.’’.

17 (b) AMENDMENT TO TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The

18 table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congres19 sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is

20 amended by adding after the item relating to section 313

21 the following new item:

‘‘Sec. 316. Authorizations of appropriations.’’.

22 SEC. 8. GOVERNMENT PLANS ON A BIENNIAL BASIS.

23 (a) STRATEGIC PLANS.—Section 306 of title 5,

24 United States Code, is amended—
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1 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘September

2 30, 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2000’’;

3 (2) in subsection (b)—

4 (A) by striking ‘‘at least every three years’’

5 and inserting ‘‘at least every 4 years’’; and

6 (B) by striking ‘‘five years forward’’ and

7 inserting ‘‘six years forward’’; and

8 (3) in subsection (c), by inserting a comma

9 after ‘‘section’’ the second place it appears and add10 ing ‘‘including a strategic plan submitted by Sep11 tember 30, 1997 meeting the requirements of sub12 section (a)’’.

13 (b) BUDGET CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION TO CON14 GRESS.—Paragraph (28) of section 1105(a) of title 31,

15 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘beginning

16 with fiscal year 1999, a’’ and inserting ‘‘beginning with

17 fiscal year 2002, a biennial’’.

18 (c) PERFORMANCE PLANS.—Section 1115 of title 31,

19 United States Code, is amended—

20 (1) in subsection (a)—

21 (A) in the matter before paragraph (1)—

22 (i) by striking ‘‘section 1105(a)(29)’’

23 and inserting ‘‘section 1105(a)(28)’’; and

24 (ii) by striking ‘‘an annual’’ and in25 serting ‘‘a biennial’’;
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1 (B) in paragraph (1) by inserting after

2 ‘‘program activity’’ the following: ‘‘for both

3 years 1 and 2 of the biennial plan’’;

4 (C) in paragraph (5) by striking ‘‘and’’

5 after the semicolon,

6 (D) in paragraph (6) by striking the period

7 and inserting a semicolon; and inserting ‘‘and’’

8 after the inserted semicolon; and

9 (E) by adding after paragraph (6) the

10 following:

11 ‘‘(7) cover a 2-year period beginning with the

12 first fiscal year of the next biennial budget cycle.’’;

13 (2) in subsection (d) by striking ‘‘annual’’ and

14 inserting ‘‘biennial’’; and

15 (3) in paragraph (6) of subsection (f) by strik16 ing ‘‘annual’’ and inserting ‘‘biennial’’.

17 (d) MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND FLEXIBIL18 ITY.—Section 9703 of title 31, United States Code, relat19 ing to managerial accountability, is amended—

20 (1) in subsection (a)—

21 (A) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘an22 nual’’; and

23 (B) by striking ‘‘section 1105(a)(29)’’ and

24 inserting ‘‘section 1105(a)(28)’’;

25 (2) in subsection (e)—
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1 (A) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘one

2 or’’ before ‘‘years’’;

3 (B) in the second sentence by striking ‘‘a

4 subsequent year’’ and inserting ‘‘for a subse5 quent 2-year period’’; and

6 (C) in the third sentence by striking

7 ‘‘three’’ and inserting ‘‘four’’.

8 (e) PILOT PROJECTS FOR PERFORMANCE BUDGET9 ING.—Section 1119 of title 31, United States Code, is

10 amended—

11 (1) in paragraph (1) of subsection (d), by strik12 ing ‘‘annual’’ and inserting ‘‘biennial’’; and

13 (2) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘annual’’ and

14 inserting ‘‘biennial’’.

15 (f) STRATEGIC PLANS.—Section 2802 of title 39,

16 United States Code, is amended—

17 (1) is subsection (a), by striking ‘‘September

18 30, 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2000’’;

19 (2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘at least every

20 three years’’ and inserting ‘‘at least every 4 years’’;

21 (3) by striking ‘‘five years forward’’ and insert22 ing ‘‘six years forward’’; and

23 (4) in subsection (c), by inserting a comma

24 after ‘‘section’’ the second place it appears and in25 serting ‘‘including a strategic plan submitted by
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1 September 30, 1997 meeting the requirements of

2 subsection (a)’’.

3 (g) PERFORMANCE PLANS.—Section 2803(a) of title

4 39, United States Code, is amended—

5 (1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by

6 striking ‘‘an annual’’ and inserting ‘‘a biennial’’;

7 (2) in paragraph (1), by inserting after ‘‘pro8 gram activity’’ the following: ‘‘for both years 1 and

9 2 of the biennial plan’’;

10 (3) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ after

11 the semicolon;

12 (4) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and

13 inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

14 (5) by adding after paragraph (6) the following:

15 ‘‘(7) cover a 2-year period beginning with the

16 first fiscal year of the next biennial budget cycle.’’.

17 (h) COMMITTEE VIEWS OF PLANS AND REPORTS.—

18 Section 301(d) of the Congressional Budget Act (2 U.S.C.

19 632(d)) is amended by adding at the end ‘‘Each committee

20 of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall review

21 the strategic plans, performance plans, and performance

22 reports, required under section 306 of title 5, United

23 States Code, and sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31,

24 United States Code, of all agencies under the jurisdiction

25 of the committee. Each committee may provide its views
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1 on such plans or reports to the Committee on the Budget

2 of the applicable House.’’.

3 (i) EFFECTIVE DATE.—

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by

5 this section shall take effect on March 1, 2000.

6 (2) AGENCY ACTIONS.—Effective on and after

7 the date of enactment of this Act, each agency shall

8 take such actions as necessary to prepare and sub9 mit any plan or report in accordance with the

10 amendments made by this Act.

11 SEC. 9. BIENNIAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.

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

13 Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended

14 by adding at the end the following:

15 ‘‘CONSIDERATION OF BIENNIAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS

16 ‘‘SEC. 317. It shall not be in order in the House of

17 Representatives or the Senate in any odd-numbered year

18 to consider any regular bill providing new budget authority

19 or a limitation on obligations under the jurisdiction of any

20 of the subcommittees of the Committees on Appropria21 tions for only the first fiscal year of a biennium, unless

22 the program, project, or activity for which the new budget

23 authority or obligation limitation is provided will require

24 no additional authority beyond 1 year and will be com25 pleted or terminated after the amount provided has been

26 expended.’’.
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1 (b) AMENDMENT TO TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The

2 table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congres3 sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is

4 amended by adding after the item relating to section 313

5 the following new item:

‘‘Sec. 317. Consideration of biennial appropriations bills.’’.

6 SEC. 10. REPORT ON TWO-YEAR FISCAL PERIOD.

7 Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment

8 of this Act, the Director of OMB shall—

9 (1) determine the impact and feasibility of

10 changing the definition of a fiscal year and the

11 budget process based on that definition to a 2-year

12 fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on

13 the 2-year period; and

14 (2) report the findings of the study to the Com15 mittees on the Budget of the House of Representa16 tives and the Senate.

17 SEC. 11. EFFECTIVE DATE.

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sections 8

19 and 10 and subsection (b), this Act and the amendments

20 made by this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2001,

21 and shall apply to budget resolutions and appropriations

22 for the biennium beginning with fiscal year 2002.

23 (b) AUTHORIZATIONS FOR THE BIENNIUM.—For

24 purposes of authorizations for the biennium beginning

25 with fiscal year 2002, the provisions of this Act and the
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1 amendments made by this Act relating to 2-year author2 izations shall take effect January 1, 2000.

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