I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 879 

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 28, 2013 

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. GRIFFITH of Virginia, Mr. 

JONES, and Mrs. LUMMIS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committees on Rules and Oversight and Government Reform, 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’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. REVISION OF TIMETABLE. 

2 Section 300 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 

3 (2 U.S.C. 631) is amended to read as follows: 

4 ‘‘TIMETABLE

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

6 subsection (b), the timetable with respect to the congres7 sional budget process for any Congress (beginning with 

8 the One Hundred Fourteenth 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. 

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

10 of Congress that begins in any year immediately following 

11 a leap year and during which the term of a President (exVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:32 Mar 01, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H879.IH H879

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1 cept a President who succeeds himself or herself) begins, 

2 the following dates shall supersede those set forth in sub3 section (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.’’. 

4 SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET 

5 AND IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL ACT OF 1974. 

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

7 Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 

8 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘each 

9 year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennially’’. 

10 (b) DEFINITIONS.— 

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

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

13 ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘bi14 ennium’’. 

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

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

17 end the following new paragraph: 


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1 ‘‘(12) 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) SECTION HEADING.—The section heading of 

7 section 301 of such Act is amended by striking ‘‘AN8 NUAL’’ and inserting ‘‘BIENNIAL’’. 

9 (2) CONTENTS OF RESOLUTION.—Section 

10 301(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(a)) is amended— 

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

12 by— 

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

14 and inserting ‘‘May 15 of each odd-num15 bered year’’; 

16 (ii) striking ‘‘the fiscal year beginning 

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

18 it appears and inserting ‘‘the biennium be19 ginning on October 1 of such year’’; and 

20 (iii) striking ‘‘the fiscal year beginning 

21 on October 1 of such year’’ the second 

22 place it appears and inserting ‘‘each fiscal 

23 year in such period’’; 


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

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

3 in the biennium’’; and 

4 (C) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘for the 

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

6 in the biennium’’. 

7 (3) ADDITIONAL MATTERS.—Section 301(b)(3) 

8 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(b)) is amended by strik9 ing ‘‘for such fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for either 

10 fiscal year in such biennium’’. 

11 (4) VIEWS OF OTHER COMMITTEES.—Section 

12 301(d) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(d)) is amended by 

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

14 300(b))’’ after ‘‘United States Code’’. 

15 (5) HEARINGS.—Section 301(e)(1) of such Act 

16 (2 U.S.C. 632(e)) is amended by— 

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

18 ‘‘biennium’’; and 

19 (B) inserting after the second sentence the 

20 following: ‘‘On or before April 1 of each odd21 numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by 

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

23 of each House shall report to its House the con24 current resolution on the budget referred to in 


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1 subsection (a) for the biennium beginning on 

2 October 1 of that year.’’. 

3 (6) GOALS FOR REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT.— 

4 Section 301(f) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(f)) is 

5 amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it ap6 pears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’. 

7 (7) ECONOMIC ASSUMPTIONS.—Section 

8 301(g)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(g)(1)) is 

9 amended by striking ‘‘for a fiscal year’’ and insert10 ing ‘‘for a biennium’’. 

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

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

13 section 1(b) of such Act is amended by striking ‘‘An14 nual’’ and inserting ‘‘Biennial’’. 

15 (d) COMMITTEE ALLOCATIONS.—Section 302 of such 

16 Act (2 U.S.C. 633) is amended— 

17 (1) in subsection (a) 

18 (A) in paragraph (1), by— 

19 (i) striking ‘‘for the first fiscal year of 

20 the resolution,’’ and inserting ‘‘for each 

21 fiscal year in the biennium,’’; 

22 (ii) striking ‘‘for that period of fiscal 

23 years’’ and inserting ‘‘for all fiscal years 

24 covered by the resolution’’; and 


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1 (iii) striking ‘‘for the fiscal year of 

2 that resolution’’ and inserting ‘‘for each 

3 fiscal year in the biennium’’; and 

4 (B) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘April 

5 15’’ and inserting ‘‘May 15 or June 1 (under 

6 section 300(b))’’; 

7 (2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘budget year’’ 

8 and inserting ‘‘biennium’’; 

9 (3) in subsection (c) by striking ‘‘for a fiscal 

10 year’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘for each 

11 fiscal year in the biennium’’; 

12 (4) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘‘for a fiscal 

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

14 (5) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘‘the first 

15 fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year of the bi16 ennium’’; 

17 (6) in subsection (f)(2)(A), by— 

18 (A) striking ‘‘the first fiscal year’’ and in19 serting ‘‘each fiscal year of the biennium’’; and 

20 (B) striking ‘‘the total of fiscal years’’ and 

21 inserting ‘‘the total of all fiscal years covered by 

22 the resolution’’; and 

23 (7) in subsection (g)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘April’’ 

24 and inserting ‘‘May’’. 

25 (e) SECTION 303 POINT OF ORDER.— 


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

2 (2 U.S.C. 634(a)) is amended by— 

3 (A) striking ‘‘the first fiscal year’’ and in4 serting ‘‘each fiscal year of the biennium’’; and 

5 (B) striking ‘‘that fiscal year’’ each place 

6 it appears and inserting ‘‘that biennium’’. 

7 (2) EXCEPTIONS IN THE HOUSE.—Section 

8 303(b)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(b)) is amend9 ed— 

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

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

12 and 

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

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

15 (3) APPLICATION TO THE SENATE.—Section 

16 303(c)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(c)) is amended 

17 by— 

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

19 ‘‘biennium’’; and 

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

21 ‘‘each fiscal year of that biennium’’. 

22 (f) PERMISSIBLE REVISIONS OF CONCURRENT RESO23 LUTIONS ON THE BUDGET.—Section 304(a) of such Act 

24 (2 U.S.C. 635) is amended— 


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

2 it appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’; and 

3 (2) by striking ‘‘for such fiscal year’’ and in4 serting ‘‘for such biennium’’. 

5 (g) PROCEDURES FOR CONSIDERATION OF BUDGET

6 RESOLUTIONS.—Section 305 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 

7 636(3)) is amended— 

8 (1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘fiscal 

9 year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium’’; and 

10 (2) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘fiscal 

11 year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium’’. 

12 (h) COMPLETION OF HOUSE ACTION ON APPROPRIA13 TION BILLS.—Section 307 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 638) is 

14 amended— 

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

16 odd-numbered year’’; 

17 (2) by striking ‘‘annual’’ and inserting ‘‘bien18 nial’’; 

19 (3) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bi20 ennium’’; and 

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

22 odd-numbered year’’. 

23 (i) COMPLETION OF ACTION ON REGULAR APPRO24 PRIATION BILLS.—Section 309 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 

25 640) is amended— 


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

2 year’’ after ‘‘July’’; 

3 (2) by striking ‘‘annual’’ and inserting ‘‘bien4 nial’’; and 

5 (3) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bi6 ennium’’. 

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

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

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

10 striking ‘‘any fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘any bien11 nium’’; and 

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

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

14 year covered by such resolution’’. 

15 (k) SECTION 311 POINT OF ORDER.— 

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

17 Act (2 U.S.C. 642(a)) is amended— 

18 (A) by striking ‘‘for a fiscal year’’ and in19 serting ‘‘for a biennium’’; 

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

21 place it appears and inserting ‘‘either fiscal 

22 year of the biennium’’; and 

23 (C) by striking ‘‘that first fiscal year’’ and 

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


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

2 such Act is amended— 

3 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘for 

4 the first fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for either 

5 fiscal year of the biennium’’; and 

6 (B) in subparagraph (B)— 

7 (i) by striking ‘‘that first fiscal year’’ 

8 the first place it appears and inserting 

9 ‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium’’; and 

10 (ii) by striking ‘‘that first fiscal year 

11 and the ensuing fiscal years’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘all fiscal years’’. 

13 (3) SOCIAL SECURITY LEVELS.—Section 

14 311(a)(3) of such Act is amended by— 

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

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

17 and 

18 (B) striking ‘‘that fiscal year and the ensu19 ing fiscal years’’ and inserting ‘‘all fiscal 

20 years’’. 

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

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

23 amended— 

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

25 ‘‘for a biennium’’; 


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1 (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the first fis2 cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘either fiscal year in the bi3 ennium’’; 

4 (3) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘that fiscal 

5 year’’ and inserting ‘‘either fiscal year in the bien6 nium’’; and 

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

8 striking ‘‘that fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘the appli9 cable fiscal year’’. 

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

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

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

13 following new paragraph: 

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

15 term in paragraph (12) of section 3 of the Congres16 sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 

17 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(12)).’’. 

18 (b) BUDGET CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION TO THE

19 CONGRESS.— 

20 (1) SCHEDULE.—The matter preceding para21 graph (1) in section 1105(a) of title 31, United 

22 States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

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

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

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


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1 beginning with the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, 

2 the President shall transmit to the Congress, the budget 

3 for the biennium beginning on October 1 of such calendar 

4 year. The budget of the United States Government trans5 mitted under this subsection shall include a budget mes6 sage and summary and supporting information. The 

7 President shall include in each budget the following:’’. 

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

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

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

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

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

13 budget is submitted and in the succeeding 4 fiscal 

14 years’’. 

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

16 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fis17 cal year for which the budget is submitted and the 

18 4 fiscal years after that year’’ and inserting ‘‘each 

19 fiscal year in the biennium for which the budget is 

20 submitted and in the succeeding 4 years’’. 

21 (4) BALANCE STATEMENTS.—Section 

22 1105(a)(9)(C) of title 31, United States Code, is 

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

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


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1 (5) FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES.—Section 

2 1105(a)(12) of title 31, United States Code, is 

3 amended in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘the fis4 cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien5 nium’’. 

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

7 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the 

8 fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bi9 ennium’’. 

10 (7) ALLOWANCES FOR UNCONTROLLED EX11 PENDITURES.—Section 1105(a)(14) of title 31, 

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

13 year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien14 nium for which the budget is submitted’’. 

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

16 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by strik17 ing ‘‘the fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year 

18 in the biennium’’. 

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

20 title 31, United States Code, is amended— 

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

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

23 in the biennium following the biennium’’; 

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

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


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1 (C) by striking ‘‘fiscal year before the fis2 cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium before the bi3 ennium’’. 

4 (10) PRIOR YEAR OUTLAYS.—Section 

5 1105(a)(18) of title 31, United States Code, is 

6 amended— 

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

8 inserting ‘‘each of the 2 most recently com9 pleted fiscal years,’’; 

10 (B) by striking ‘‘for that year’’ and insert11 ing ‘‘with respect to those fiscal years’’; and 

12 (C) by striking ‘‘in that year’’ and insert13 ing ‘‘in those fiscal years’’. 

14 (11) PRIOR YEAR RECEIPTS.—Section 

15 1105(a)(19) of title 31, United States Code, is 

16 amended— 

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

18 inserting ‘‘each of the 2 most recently com19 pleted fiscal years’’; 

20 (B) by striking ‘‘for that year’’ and insert21 ing ‘‘with respect to those fiscal years’’; and 

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

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

24 (c) ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES OF LEGISLATIVE

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


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

2 and inserting ‘‘each even-numbered year’’. 

3 (d) RECOMMENDATIONS TO MEET ESTIMATED DE4 FICIENCIES.—Section 1105(c) of title 31, United States 

5 Code, is amended— 

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

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

8 the biennium for’’; 

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

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

11 the biennium, as the case may be, for’’; and 

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

13 ‘‘for each fiscal year of the biennium’’. 

14 (e) CAPITAL INVESTMENT ANALYSIS.—Section 

15 1105(e)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is amended 

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

17 to which such budget relates’’. 

18 (f) SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET ESTIMATES AND

19 CHANGES.— 

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

21 United States Code, is amended— 

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

23 by— 


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1 (i) inserting after ‘‘Before July 16 of 

2 each year’’ the following: ‘‘and February 

3 15 of each even-numbered year’’; and 

4 (ii) striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and insert5 ing ‘‘biennium’’; 

6 (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘that fis7 cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in 

8 such biennium’’; 

9 (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘fiscal 

10 year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium’’; and 

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

12 year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium’’. 

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

14 United States Code, is amended by— 

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

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

17 (B) inserting after ‘‘Before July 16 of each 

18 year’’ the following: ‘‘and February 15 of each 

19 even-numbered year’’; and 

20 (C) striking ‘‘submitted before July 16’’ 

21 and inserting ‘‘required by this subsection’’. 

22 (g) CURRENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ESTI23 MATES.— 

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

25 United States Code, is amended— 


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

2 Monday after January 3 of each year (on or be3 fore February 5 in 1986)’’ and inserting ‘‘At 

4 the same time the budget required by section 

5 1105 is submitted for a biennium’’; and 

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

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

8 (2) JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE.—Section 

9 1109(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended 

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

11 ‘‘within 6 weeks of the President’s budget submis12 sion for each odd-numbered year (or, if applicable, 

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

14 Budget Act of 1974)’’. 

15 (h) YEAR-AHEAD REQUESTS FOR AUTHORIZING

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

17 Code, is amended by— 

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

19 31’’; and 

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

21 fiscal year begins’’ and inserting ‘‘calendar year pre22 ceding the calendar year in which the biennium be23 gins’’. 


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

2 APPROPRIATIONS ACTS. 

3 Section 105 of title 1, United States Code, is amend4 ed to read as follows: 

5 ‘‘§ 105. Title and style of appropriations Acts 

6 ‘‘(a) The style and title of all Acts making appropria7 tions for the support of the Government shall be as fol8 lows: ‘An Act making appropriations (here insert the ob9 ject) for each fiscal year in the biennium of fiscal years 

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

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

12 support of the Government shall be enacted for a biennium 

13 and shall specify the amount of appropriations provided 

14 for each fiscal year in such period. 

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

16 has the same meaning as in section 3(12) of the Congres17 sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 

18 U.S.C. 622(12)).’’. 

19 SEC. 6. MULTIYEAR AUTHORIZATIONS. 

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

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

22 following new section: 

23 ‘‘AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS

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

25 in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate 

26 to consider— 


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1 ‘‘(1) any bill, joint resolution, amendment, mo2 tion, or conference report that authorizes appropria3 tions for a period of less than 2 fiscal years, unless 

4 the program, project, or activity for which the ap5 propriations are authorized will require no further 

6 appropriations and will be completed or terminated 

7 after the appropriations have been expended; and 

8 ‘‘(2) in any odd-numbered year, any authoriza9 tion or revenue bill or joint resolution until Congress 

10 completes action on the biennial budget resolution, 

11 all regular biennial appropriations bills, and all rec12 onciliation bills. 

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

14 shall not apply to— 

15 ‘‘(1) any measure that is privileged for consid16 eration pursuant to a rule or statute; 

17 ‘‘(2) any matter considered in Executive Ses18 sion; or 

19 ‘‘(3) an appropriations measure or reconcili20 ation bill.’’. 

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

22 table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congres23 sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is 

24 amended by adding after the item relating to section 315 

25 the following new item: 

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


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1 SEC. 7. GOVERNMENT PLANS ON A BIENNIAL BASIS. 

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

3 United States Code, is amended— 

4 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘September 

5 30, 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’; 

6 (2) in subsection (b)— 

7 (A) by striking ‘‘five years forward’’ and 

8 inserting ‘‘6 years forward’’; 

9 (B) by striking ‘‘at least every three years’’ 

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

11 (C) by striking beginning with ‘‘, except 

12 that’’ through ‘‘four years’’; and 

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

14 after ‘‘section’’ the second place it appears and add15 ing ‘‘including a strategic plan submitted by Sep16 tember 30, 2013 meeting the requirements of sub17 section (a)’’. 

18 (b) BUDGET CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION TO CON19 GRESS.—Paragraph (28) of section 1105(a) of title 31, 

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

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

22 fiscal year 2016, a biennial’’. 

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

24 United States Code, is amended— 

25 (1) in subsection (a)— 

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


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

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

3 (ii) by striking ‘‘an annual’’ and in4 serting ‘‘a biennial’’; 

5 (B) in paragraph (1) by inserting after 

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

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

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

9 after the semicolon; 

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

11 and inserting a semicolon; and inserting ‘‘and’’ 

12 after the inserted semicolon; and 

13 (E) by adding after paragraph (6) the fol14 lowing: 

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

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

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

18 inserting ‘‘biennial’’; and 

19 (3) in paragraph (6) of subsection (f) by strik20 ing ‘‘annual’’ and inserting ‘‘biennial’’. 

21 (d) MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND FLEXI22 BILITY.—Section 9703 of title 31, United States Code, re23 lating to managerial accountability, is amended— 

24 (1) in subsection (a)— 


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1 (A) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘an2 nual’’; and 

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

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

5 (2) in subsection (e)— 

6 (A) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘one 

7 or’’ before ‘‘years’’; 

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

9 subsequent year’’ and inserting ‘‘a subsequent 

10 2-year period’’; and 

11 (C) in the third sentence by striking 

12 ‘‘three’’ and inserting ‘‘4’’. 

13 (e) PILOT PROJECTS FOR PERFORMANCE BUDG14 ETING.—Section 1119 of title 31, United States Code, is 

15 amended— 

16 (1) in paragraph (1) of subsection (d), by strik17 ing ‘‘annual’’ and inserting ‘‘biennial’’; and 

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

19 inserting ‘‘biennial’’. 

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

21 United States Code, is amended— 

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

23 30, 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’; 

24 (2) by striking ‘‘five years forward’’ and insert25 ing ‘‘6 years forward’’; 


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1 (3) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘at least every 

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

3 and 

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

5 after ‘‘section’’ the second place it appears and in6 serting ‘‘including a strategic plan submitted by 

7 September 30, 2015 meeting the requirements of 

8 subsection (a)’’. 

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

10 39, United States Code, is amended— 

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

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

13 (2) in paragraph (1), by inserting after ‘‘pro14 gram activity’’ the following: ‘‘for both years 1 and 

15 2 of the biennial plan’’; 

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

17 the semicolon; 

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

19 inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

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

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

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

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

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

25 632(d)) is amended by adding at the end ‘‘Each committee 


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1 of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall review 

2 the strategic plans, performance plans, and performance 

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

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

5 United States Code, of all agencies under the jurisdiction 

6 of the committee. Each committee may provide its views 

7 on such plans or reports to the Committee on the Budget 

8 of the applicable House.’’. 

9 (i) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 

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

11 this section shall take effect on March 1, 2015. 

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

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

14 take such actions as necessary to prepare and sub15 mit any plan or report in accordance with the 

16 amendments made by this Act. 

17 SEC. 8. BIENNIAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS. 

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

19 Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) (as amended 

20 by section 6) is further amended by adding at the end 

21 the following: 

22 ‘‘CONSIDERATION OF BIENNIAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS

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

24 Representatives or the Senate in any odd-numbered year 

25 to consider any regular bill providing new budget authority 

26 or a limitation on obligations under the jurisdiction of any 


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1 of the subcommittees of the Committees on Appropria2 tions for only the first fiscal year of a biennium, unless 

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

4 authority or obligation limitation is provided will require 

5 no additional authority beyond 1 year and will be com6 pleted or terminated after the amount provided has been 

7 expended.’’. 

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

9 table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congres10 sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is 

11 amended by adding after the item relating to section 316 

12 the following new item: 

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

13 SEC. 9. REPORT ON TWO-YEAR FISCAL PERIOD. 

14 Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 

15 of this Act, the Director of OMB shall— 

16 (1) determine the impact and feasibility of 

17 changing the definition of a fiscal year and the 

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

19 fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on 

20 the 2-year period; and 

21 (2) report the findings of the study to the Com22 mittees on the Budget of the House of Representa23 tives and the Senate. 


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1 SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

2 Except as provided in section 7, this Act and the 

3 amendments made by this Act shall take effect on January 

4 1, 2015, and shall apply to budget resolutions and appro5 priations for the biennium beginning with fiscal year 

6 2016. 

Æ 


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