I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1557 

To establish a commission to develop legislation designed to reform tax 

policy and entitlement benefit programs and ensure a sound fiscal future 

for the United States, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 17, 2009 

Mr. COOPER (for himself, Mr. WOLF, Mr. BOYD, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. 

ROSS, Mr. MELANCON, Mr. GORDON of Tennessee, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. 

SHULER, Ms. BEAN, Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana, Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN, 

Ms. GIFFORDS, Mr. MATHESON, Mr. COSTA, Mr. HILL, Mr. KIND, Mr. 

MORAN of Virginia, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. CHILDERS, Mr. 

MINNICK, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. WILSON of Ohio, Mr. ELLSWORTH, Mr. GRIFFITH, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. KRATOVIL, Mr. 

CASTLE, Mr. JONES, Mr. BARTLETT, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. WAMP, Mr. 

BLUNT, Mr. LATHAM, Mr. INGLIS, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. 

GOHMERT, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. HELLER, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. TIBERI, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. GOODLATTE, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. HENSARLING, Mr. CARTER, Mr. COLE, Mr. 

PUTNAM, Mr. STEARNS, and Mr. KIRK) 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 establish a commission to develop legislation designed 

to reform tax policy and entitlement benefit programs 

and ensure a sound fiscal future for the United States, 

and for other purposes. 


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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 ‘‘Securing America’s 

5 Future Economy Commission Act’’ or the ‘‘SAFE Com6 mission Act’’. 

7 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 

8 There is established a commission to be known as the 

9 ‘‘Securing America’s Future Economy Commission’’ 

10 (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

11 SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 

12 (a) MANDATORY LEGISLATION DEVELOPMENT.— 

13 (1) ISSUES TO ADDRESS.—The Commission 

14 shall examine the long-term fiscal challenges facing 

15 the United States and develop legislation designed to 

16 address the following issues: 

17 (A) The unsustainable imbalance between 

18 long-term Federal spending commitments and 

19 projected revenues. 

20 (B) Increasing net national savings to pro21 vide for domestic investment and economic 

22 growth. 

23 (C) The implications of foreign ownership 

24 of debt instruments issued by the United States 

25 Government. 


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1 (D) Improving the budget process to place 

2 greater emphasis on long-term fiscal issues. 

3 (2) POLICY SOLUTIONS.—Legislation developed 

4 to address the issues described in paragraph (1) may 

5 include the following: 

6 (A) Reforms that limit the growth of enti7 tlement spending to ensure that the programs 

8 are fiscally sustainable. 

9 (B) Reforms that strengthen the safety net 

10 functions of entitlement programs to provide 

11 assistance to the neediest people. 

12 (C) Reforms that make United States tax 

13 laws more efficient and more conducive to en14 couraging economic growth. 

15 (D) Incentives to increase private savings. 

16 (E) Any other reforms designed to address 

17 the issues described in paragraph (1). 

18 (b) OPTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF COST ESTIMATE

19 ALTERNATIVES.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall by an 

21 affirmative vote of 5 members develop not more than 

22 2 methods for estimating the cost of legislation as 

23 an alternative to the method currently used by the 

24 Congressional Budget Office. 


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1 (2) SPECIFICALLY.—Any such alternative meth2 od must— 

3 (A) be designed to address any short4 comings in the method currently used with re5 gard to estimating the positive economic effects 

6 of legislation; and 

7 (B) consider the use of automatic stabi8 lizers or triggers to enforce spending and rev9 enue targets, in the event that policies based on 

10 the alternative method fail to achieve targets 

11 for outlays and revenues. 

12 (3) LIMITATION.—Any alternative developed 

13 pursuant to this subsection shall generally comply 

14 with subsections (b), (c), and (d) of section 14. 

15 SEC. 4. INITIAL TOWN HALL STYLE PUBLIC HEARINGS. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall hold at 

17 least 1 town hall style public hearing within each Federal 

18 reserve district, and shall, to the extent feasible, ensure 

19 that there is broad public participation in the hearings. 

20 (b) HEARING FORMAT.—During each hearing, the 

21 Commission shall present to the public, and generate com22 ments and suggestions regarding, the issues described in 

23 section 3, policies designed to address the issues, and 

24 tradeoffs between the policies. 


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1 SEC. 5. REPORT. 

2 The Commission shall, not later than 1 year after the 

3 date of the enactment of this Act, submit a report to Con4 gress and the President containing the following: 

5 (1) A detailed description of the activities of the 

6 Commission. 

7 (2) A summary of comments and suggestions 

8 generated from the town hall style public hearings. 

9 (3) A detailed statement of any findings of the 

10 Commission as to public preferences regarding the 

11 issues, policies, and tradeoffs presented in the town 

12 hall style public hearings. 

13 (4) A detailed description of the long-term fis14 cal problems faced by the United States. 

15 (5) A list of policy options for addressing those 

16 problems. 

17 (6) Criteria for the legislative proposal to be de18 veloped by the Commission. 

19 SEC. 6. LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 

21 date the report is submitted under section 5 and by a vote 

22 of three-fourths of the members, the Commission shall 

23 submit a legislative proposal to Congress and the Presi24 dent designed to address the issues described section 3. 

25 (b) PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS.—The proposal must, 

26 to the extent feasible, be designed— 


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1 (1) to achieve generational equity and long-term 

2 economic stability; 

3 (2) to address the comments and suggestions of 

4 the public; and 

5 (3) to meet the criteria set forth in the Com6 mission report. 

7 (c) INCLUSION OF COST ESTIMATE.—The Commis8 sion shall submit with the proposal— 

9 (1) a long-term CBO cost estimate prepared 

10 under section 14 for the proposal; and 

11 (2) if an alternative cost estimate method is de12 veloped by the Commission, a 50-year cost estimate 

13 using such method. 

14 SEC. 7. MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be com16 posed of 16 voting members appointed pursuant to para17 graph (1) and 2 nonvoting members described in para18 graph (2). 

19 (1) VOTING MEMBERS.—The Commission shall 

20 be composed of 16 voting members of whom— 

21 (A) one shall be the Director of the Office 

22 of Management and Budget; 

23 (B) one shall be the Secretary of the 

24 Treasury; 


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1 (C) four shall be appointed by the Speaker 

2 of the House of Representatives; 

3 (D) three shall be appointed by the minor4 ity leader of the House of Representatives; 

5 (E) four shall be appointed by the majority 

6 leader of the Senate; and 

7 (F) three shall be appointed by the minor8 ity leader of the Senate. 

9 (2) NONVOTING MEMBERS.—The Comptroller 

10 General of the United States and the Director of the 

11 Congressional Budget Office shall each be nonvoting 

12 members of the Commission and shall advise and as13 sist at the request of the Commission. 

14 (3) CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR.—The President shall 

15 designate 2 co-chairpersons of the Commission from 

16 the members appointed under paragraph (1), one of 

17 whom must be a Republican and one of whom must 

18 be a Democrat. 

19 (b) LIMITATIONS AS TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.— 

20 (1) FOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON COMMIS21 SION.—Each appointing authority described in sub22 section (a)(1) who is a Member of Congress shall ap23 point 1 Member of Congress to the Commission but 

24 may not appoint more than 1 Member of Congress 

25 to the Commission. 


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1 (2) CONTINUATION OF VOTING MEMBERSHIP.— 

2 In the case of an individual appointed pursuant to 

3 subsection (a)(1) who was appointed as a Member of 

4 Congress under paragraph (1), if such individual 

5 ceases to be a Member of Congress, that individual 

6 shall cease to be a member of the Commission. 

7 (c) DATE FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT.—The ap8 pointing authorities described in subsection (a)(1) shall 

9 appoint the initial members of the Commission not later 

10 than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 

11 (d) TERMS.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—The term of each member is 

13 for the life of the Commission. 

14 (2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission 

15 shall be filled not later than 30 days after such va16 cancy occurs and in the manner in which the origi17 nal appointment was made. 

18 (e) PAY AND REIMBURSEMENT.— 

19 (1) NO COMPENSATION FOR MEMBERS OF COM20 MISSION.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 

21 member of the Commission may not receive pay, al22 lowances, or benefits by reason of their service on 

23 the Commission. 

24 (2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall 

25 receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 


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1 subsistence under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 

2 5, United States Code. 

3 (f) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet upon 

4 the call of the chairperson or a majority of its voting mem5 bers. 

6 (g) QUORUM.—Six voting members of the Commis7 sion shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may 

8 hold hearings. 

9 SEC. 8. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION. 

10 (a) DIRECTOR.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (c) 

12 and to the extent provided in advance in appropria13 tion Acts, the Commission shall appoint and fix the 

14 pay of a director. 

15 (2) DUTIES.—The director of the Commission 

16 shall be responsible for the administration and co17 ordination of the duties of the Commission and shall 

18 perform other such duties as the Commission may 

19 direct. 

20 (b) STAFF.—In accordance with rules agreed upon 

21 by the Commission, subject to subsection (c), and to the 

22 extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the di23 rector may appoint and fix the pay of additional personnel. 

24 (c) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE

25 LAWS.—The director and staff of the Commission may be 


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1 appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, 

2 United States Code, governing appointments in the com3 petitive service, and may be paid without regard to the 

4 provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 

5 of that title relating to classification and General Schedule 

6 pay rates, except that pay fixed under subsection (a) may 

7 not exceed $150,000 per year and pay fixed under sub8 section (b) may not exceed a rate equal to the daily equiva9 lent of the annual rate of basic pay for level V of the Exec10 utive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States 

11 Code. 

12 (d) DETAILEES.—Any Federal Government employee 

13 may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement 

14 from the Commission, and such detailee shall retain the 

15 rights, status, and privileges of their regular employment 

16 without interruption. 

17 (e) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—In accordance 

18 with rules agreed upon by the Commission and to the ex19 tent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the direc20 tor may procure the services of experts and consultants 

21 under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but 

22 at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 

23 rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule 

24 under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 


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1 SEC. 9. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 

2 (a) HEARINGS AND EVIDENCE.—The Commission 

3 may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such 

4 hearings in addition to the town hall style public hearings, 

5 sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, 

6 and receive such evidence as the Commission considers ap7 propriate. The Commission may administer oaths or affir8 mations to witnesses appearing before it. 

9 (b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem10 ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the 

11 Commission, take any action which the Commission is au12 thorized to take under this section. 

13 (c) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United 

14 States mails in the same manner and under the same con15 ditions as other departments and agencies of the United 

16 States. 

17 (d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon 

18 the request of the Commission, the Administrator of Gen19 eral Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reim20 bursable basis, the administrative support services nec21 essary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 

22 under this Act. 

23 (e) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—To the extent provided 

24 in advance in appropriation Acts, the Commission may 

25 enter into contracts to enable the Commission to discharge 

26 its duties under this Act. 


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1 (f) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and 

2 dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. 

3 SEC. 10. TERMINATION. 

4 The Commission shall terminate the earlier of— 

5 (1) 60 days after submitting its legislative pro6 posal; or 

7 (2) the date on which the Comptroller General 

8 of the United States determines and publishes in the 

9 Federal Register a statement that new legislation 

10 has been enacted that is estimated to reduce the fis11 cal gap by— 

12 (A) 1 percent of gross domestic product, 

13 measured over the 20-year period beginning 

14 with the first fiscal year after the date of enact15 ment of such legislation; and 

16 (B) 2 percent of gross domestic product, 

17 measured over the 50-year period beginning 

18 with the first fiscal year after the date of enact19 ment of such legislation. 

20 SEC. 11. ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL OF PRESI21 DENT. 

22 The President may, not later than 90 calendar days 

23 after the Commission submits its legislative proposal, sub24 mit to Congress an alternative to the legislative proposal 

25 submitted by the Commission. 


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1 SEC. 12. ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL FROM THE 

2 COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET. 

3 (a) FROM COMMITTEE.—The Committee on the 

4 Budget of either House may, in consultation with the rel5 evant committees of their respective House and not later 

6 than 90 calendar days after the Commission submits its 

7 legislative proposal, have published in the Congressional 

8 Record an alternative to the legislative proposal submitted 

9 by the Commission. 

10 (b) FROM RANKING MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE.— 

11 The ranking minority member of the Committee on the 

12 Budget of either House may, not later than 90 calendar 

13 days after the Commission submits its legislative proposal, 

14 have published in the Congressional Record an alternative 

15 to the legislative proposal submitted by the Commission. 

16 SEC. 13. CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION. 

17 (a) INTRODUCTION.—Not later than the fifth legisla18 tive day after the Commission submits its legislative pro19 posal, the majority leader of each House, or his designee, 

20 shall introduce (by request) the legislation submitted by 

21 the Commission. 

22 (b) IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.— 

23 (1) PRIVILEGED CONSIDERATION.—In the 

24 House of Representatives, the legislation shall be re25 ferred to the Committee on the Budget, which shall 

26 report the bill without substantive revision. If the 


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1 Committee on the Budget has not reported the legis2 lation before the expiration of the 90-day period de3 scribed in section 12, then— 

4 (A) that committee shall be discharged 

5 from consideration of the legislation; 

6 (B) the legislation shall be placed on the 

7 appropriate calendar; and 

8 (C) a motion to proceed to the consider9 ation of the legislation shall be highly privileged 

10 and shall not be debatable, and a motion to re11 consider the vote by which the motion is dis12 posed of shall not be in order. 

13 (2) CONSIDERATION CONSISTENT WITH CON14 GRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT.—Consideration of such 

15 legislation shall be pursuant to the procedures set 

16 forth in paragraphs (2), (5), and (6) of section 

17 305(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to 

18 the extent not inconsistent with this Act. 

19 (3) AMENDMENTS LIMITED.— 

20 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

21 subparagraph (B), an amendment to the legis22 lation may not be offered in the House of Rep23 resentatives. 

24 (B) PERMITTED AMENDMENTS.—(i) Any 

25 Member may offer, as an amendment in the naVerDate Nov 24 2008 00:11 Mar 19, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1557.IH H1557

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1 ture of a substitute, the alternative legislative 

2 proposal submitted by the President. 

3 (ii) The chairman of the House Committee 

4 on the Budget may offer, as an amendment in 

5 the nature of a substitute, the alternative legis6 lative proposal published in the Congressional 

7 Record by the House Committee on the Budget. 

8 (iii) The ranking minority member of the 

9 House Committee on the Budget may offer, as 

10 an amendment in the nature of a substitute, 

11 the alternative legislative proposal published in 

12 the Congressional Record by such ranking mi13 nority member. 

14 (C) POINT OF ORDER.— 

15 (i) IN GENERAL.—An amendment of16 fered under subparagraph (B) is subject to 

17 a point of order if— 

18 (I) the amendment is not accom19 panied by a long-term CBO cost esti20 mate of the amendment or a long21 term revenue estimate of the amend22 ment, which includes the information 

23 described in section 14, by the Joint 

24 Committee on Taxation; or 


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1 (II) it would increase the deficit 

2 or cause a deficit either for the period 

3 of the first 20 fiscal years beginning 

4 with the first fiscal year after the cur5 rent fiscal year or for the period of 

6 the first 50 fiscal years beginning 

7 with the first fiscal year after the cur8 rent fiscal year, as judged against the 

9 baseline. 

10 (ii) BASELINE.—For purposes of 

11 clause (i)(II), the baseline shall be cal12 culated using the assumption that the leg13 islation submitted by the Commission has 

14 been enacted into law, subject to the limi15 tation imposed by section 14(d). 

16 (iii) WAIVER.—A point of order raised 

17 under clause (i) may only be waived or sus18 pended in the House of Representatives by 

19 a resolution devoted solely to the subject of 

20 waiving that point of order. 

21 (D) MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS.—If more 

22 than one amendment is offered under this para23 graph, then each amendment shall be consid24 ered separately, and the amendment receiving 


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1 both a majority and the highest number of 

2 votes shall be the amendment adopted. 

3 (4) TRANSMITTAL TO THE SENATE.—If the leg4 islation passed in the House of Representatives pur5 suant to this section, the Clerk of the House of Rep6 resentatives shall cause the legislation to be en7 grossed, certified, and transmitted to the Senate not 

8 later than 1 calendar day after the day on which the 

9 legislation is passed. Such legislation shall be re10 ferred to the Senate Committee on the Budget. 

11 (c) IN THE SENATE.— 

12 (1) AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE OF SENATE BUDG13 ET COMMITTEE.—If the Senate Committee on the 

14 Budget has not reported the legislation before the 

15 expiration of the 90-day period described in section 

16 12, then— 

17 (A) the committee shall be discharged from 

18 consideration of the legislation; and 

19 (B) a motion to proceed to the consider20 ation of the legislation is highly privileged and 

21 is not debatable. 

22 (2) CONSIDERATION.—Consideration of such 

23 legislation shall be pursuant to the procedures set 

24 forth in paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (6) of section 


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1 305(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to 

2 the extent not inconsistent with this Act. 

3 (3) AMENDMENTS LIMITED.— 

4 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

5 subparagraph (B), an amendment to the legis6 lation may not be offered in the Senate. 

7 (B) PERMITTED AMENDMENTS.—(i) Any 

8 Member may offer, as an amendment in the na9 ture of a substitute, the alternative legislative 

10 proposal submitted by the President. 

11 (ii) The chairman of the Senate Committee 

12 on the Budget may offer, as an amendment in 

13 the nature of a substitute, the alternative legis14 lative proposal published in the Congressional 

15 Record by the Senate Committee on the Budg16 et. 

17 (iii) The ranking minority member of the 

18 Senate Committee on the Budget may offer, as 

19 an amendment in the nature of a substitute, 

20 the alternative legislative proposal published in 

21 the Congressional Record by such ranking mi22 nority member. 

23 (C) POINT OF ORDER.— 


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1 (i) IN GENERAL.—An amendment of2 fered under subparagraph (B) is subject to 

3 a point of order if— 

4 (I) the amendment is not accom5 panied by a long-term CBO cost esti6 mate of the amendment or a long7 term revenue estimate of the amend8 ment, which includes the information 

9 described in section 14, by the Joint 

10 Committee on Taxation; or 

11 (II) it would increase the deficit 

12 or cause a deficit either for the period 

13 of the first 20 fiscal years beginning 

14 with the first fiscal year after the cur15 rent fiscal year or for the period of 

16 the first 50 fiscal years beginning 

17 with the first fiscal year after the cur18 rent fiscal year, as judged against the 

19 baseline. 

20 (ii) BASELINE.—For purposes of 

21 clause (i)(II), the baseline shall be cal22 culated using the assumption that the leg23 islation submitted by the Commission has 

24 been enacted into law, subject to the limi25 tation imposed by section 14(d). 


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1 (iii) WAIVER OF POINT OF ORDER.— 

2 A point of order raised under clause (i) 

3 may only be waived or suspended in the 

Senate by an affirmative vote of 3 4 ⁄5 of the 

5 Members duly chosen and sworn. 

6 (D) MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS.—If more 

7 than one amendment is offered under this para8 graph, then each amendment shall be consid9 ered separately, and the amendment receiving 

10 both a majority and the highest number of 

11 votes shall be the amendment adopted. 

12 (d) PROHIBITION ON CONCURRENT CONSIDERATION

13 OF OTHER BUDGET-RELATED LEGISLATION.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Until a bill or joint resolu15 tion considered pursuant to the procedures of this 

16 section or a conference report thereon has been en17 rolled and presented to the President of the United 

18 States, it shall not be in order in either the House 

19 of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill 

20 or joint resolution, amendment or motion thereto, or 

21 conference report thereon that— 

22 (A) provides new budget authority for any 

23 fiscal year; 

24 (B) provides for an increase in outlays for 

25 any fiscal year; 


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1 (C) provides a decrease in revenues during 

2 any fiscal year; or 

3 (D) provides an increase in the public debt 

4 limit to become effective during any fiscal year. 

5 Subparagraphs (A) through (D) shall be applied on 

6 a provision-by-provision basis. 

7 (2) EXCEPTIONS.—Paragraph (1) does not 

8 apply— 

9 (A) to any measure under consideration 

10 prior to the introduction, in either House, of a 

11 bill or joint resolution considered pursuant to 

12 the procedures of this section; 

13 (B) to any measure considered after a bill 

14 or joint resolution considered pursuant to the 

15 procedures of this section has been defeated in 

16 either House; or 

17 (C) to any general appropriation bill or 

18 amendment thereto, but only to the extent of 

19 discretionary new budget authority provided for 

20 the budget year or for the first or second fiscal 

21 year after the budget year. 

22 (3) WAIVER.— 

23 (A) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—In the 

24 House of Representatives, if a special rule is 

25 considered that would waive points of order 


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1 pursuant to paragraph (1), a motion to strike 

2 the provision waiving such points of order shall 

3 be in order. 

4 (B) SENATE.—In the Senate, a point of 

5 order properly raised pursuant to paragraph (1) 

6 shall be waived only by an affirmative vote of 

2 7 ⁄3 of the Members senators duly chosen and 

8 sworn. 

9 (e) APPLICATION OF CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET

10 ACT.—To the extent that they are relevant and not incon11 sistent with this Act, the provisions of title III of the Con12 gressional Budget Act of 1974 shall apply in the House 

13 of Representatives and the Senate to any bill or joint reso14 lution, any amendment thereto, and any conference report 

15 thereon that is considered pursuant to this section. 

16 (f) RULES OF SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTA17 TIVES.—This section is enacted by Congress— 

18 (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of 

19 the Senate and the House of Representatives, re20 spectively, and is deemed to be part of the rules of 

21 each House, respectively, but applicable only with re22 spect to the procedure to be followed in that House 

23 in the case of a bill introduced pursuant to this sec24 tion, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent 

25 that it is inconsistent with such rules; and 


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1 (2) with full recognition of the constitutional 

2 right of either House to change the rules (so far as 

3 they relate to the procedure of that House) at any 

4 time, in the same manner, and to the same extent 

5 as in the case of any other rule of that House. 

6 SEC. 14. LONG-TERM CBO COST ESTIMATE. 

7 (a) PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION.—When the 

8 Commission, the President, or the chairman or ranking 

9 minority member of the Committee on the Budget of ei10 ther House submits a written request to the Director of 

11 the Congressional Budget Office for a long-term CBO cost 

12 estimate of legislation proposed under this Act or an 

13 amendment referred to in section 13(b)(3)(B) or section 

14 13(c)(3)(B), the Director shall prepare the estimate and 

15 have it published in the Congressional Record as expedi16 tiously as possible. 

17 (b) CONTENT.—A long-term CBO cost estimate shall 

18 include— 

19 (1) an estimate of the cost of each provision (if 

20 practicable) or group of provisions of the legislation 

21 or amendment for first fiscal year it would take ef22 fect and for each of the 49 fiscal years thereafter; 

23 and 


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1 (2) a statement of any estimated future costs 

2 not reflected by the estimate described in paragraph 

3 (1). 

4 (c) FORM.—To the extent that a long-term CBO cost 

5 estimate presented in dollars is impracticable, the Director 

6 of the Congressional Budget Office may instead present 

7 the estimate in terms of percentages of gross domestic 

product, with rounding to the nearest 1 8 ⁄10 of 1 percent 

9 of gross domestic product. 

10 (d) LIMITATIONS ON DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.— 

11 A long-term CBO cost estimate shall only consider the ef12 fects of provisions affecting revenues and direct spending 

13 (as defined by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Def14 icit Control Act of 1985), and shall not assume that any 

15 changes in outlays will result from limitations on, or re16 ductions in, annual appropriations. 

Æ 


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