I

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 232

To provide for a two-year Federal budget cycle, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 6, 1999

Mr. REGULA (for himself, Mr. LUTHER, and Mr. BILBRAY) 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 two-year Federal budget cycle, and for

other purposes.

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 Budget Act

5 of 1999’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

7 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds and declares

8 that the present annual Federal budgeting process—
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1 (1) allows insufficient time for the fulfillment

2 by the Congress of its legislative and oversight re3 sponsibilities;

4 (2) allows insufficient time for the review and

5 consideration by the Congress of authorizing legisla6 tion, budget resolutions, and appropriation bills and

7 resolutions and other spending measures;

8 (3) allows insufficient time for the evaluation of

9 costly and complicated Federal programs, and there10 by contributes to the unrestrained growth of the

11 Federal budget; and

12 (4) allows insufficient time for agencies and

13 State and local governments to plan for the imple14 mentation of programs.

15 (b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act—

16 (1) to establish a process through which the

17 Federal budget will be adopted for a two-year

18 period;

19 (2) to improve congressional control over the

20 Federal budget process;

21 (3) to streamline the requirements of the budg22 et process in order to promote better accountability

23 to the public;
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1 (4) to improve the legislative and budgetary

2 processes by providing additional time for congres3 sional oversight and other vital legislative activities;

4 (5) to provide stability and coherence for recipi5 ents of Federal funds; and

6 (6) to implement other improvements in the

7 Federal budget process.

8 SEC. 3. REVISION OF TIMETABLE.

9 Section 300 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974

10 (2 U.S.C. 631) is amended to read as follows:

11 ‘‘TIMETABLE

12 ‘‘SEC. 300. The timetable with respect to the Con13 gressional budget process for any Congress (beginning

14 with the One Hundred Seventh Congress) is as follows:

‘‘First Session

‘‘On or before: Action to be completed:

First Monday after January 3.President submits budget recommendations.

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

Budget Committees.

February 25 .................... Committees submit views and estimates to Budget

Committees.

March 31 ......................... Senate Budget Committee reports concurrent resolution on the biennial budget.

April 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.

September 30 .................. Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation.

September 30 .................. Congress completes action on biennial appropriation bills.

October 1 ......................... Biennium begins.
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‘‘Second Session

‘‘On or before: Action to be completed:

May 15 ............................ Congressional Budget Office submits report to

Budget Committees.

The last day of the session.Congress completes action on bills and resolutions

authorizing a new budget authority for the succeeding biennium.’’.

1 SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET

2 AND IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL ACT OF 1974.

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

4 Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of

5 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘each

6 year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennially’’.

7 (b) DEFINITIONS.—

8 (1) Section 3(4) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 622(4))

9 is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it

10 appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.

11 (2) Section 3 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 622) is fur12 ther amended by adding at the end the following

13 new paragraph:

14 ‘‘(11) The term ‘biennium’ means the period of

15 2 consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of

16 any odd-numbered year.’’.

17 (c) DUTIES OF CBO.—

18 (1) Section 202(e)(1) of the Congressional

19 Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 602(e)(1)) is

20 amended—
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1 (A) by striking ‘‘February 15 of each

2 year’’ and inserting ‘‘February 15 of each odd3 numbered calendar year’’;

4 (B) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year commenc5 ing’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien6 nium commencing’’.

7 (C) by striking ‘‘such fiscal year’’ the first

8 place it appears and inserting ‘‘such biennium’’;

9 and

10 (D) by striking ‘‘such fiscal year’’ the sec11 ond place it appears and inserting ‘‘each fiscal

12 year in such biennium’’.

13 (2) Section 202(e) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

14 602(e)) is further amended—

15 (A) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘The Di16 rector shall from time to time’’ and inserting

17 ‘‘On May 15 of each even numbered year and

18 at such other times as he or she deems appro19 priate, the Director shall’’.

20 (B) in paragraph (3)—

21 (i) by striking ‘‘January 15’’ and in22 serting ‘‘February 15’’,

23 (ii) by striking ‘‘each year’’ and in24 serting ‘‘each even-numbered calendar

25 year’’,
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1 (iii) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year end2 ing September 30 of that calendar year’’ in

3 clause (A) and inserting ‘‘either fiscal year

4 in the biennium beginning October 1 of the

5 preceding calendar year’’,

6 (iv) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year ending

7 September 30 of that calendar year’’ in

8 clause (B) and inserting ‘‘either fiscal year

9 of such biennium’’, and

10 (v) by striking ‘‘fiscal year beginning

11 October 1 of that calendar year’’ and in12 serting ‘‘succeeding biennium’’.

13 (d) BIENNIAL CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE

14 BUDGET.—

15 (1) Section 301(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

16 632(a)) is amended—

17 (A) by striking ‘‘April 15 of each year’’

18 and inserting ‘‘April 15 of each odd-numbered

19 year’’;

20 (B) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year beginning

21 on October 1 of such year’’ the first place it ap22 pears and inserting ‘‘biennium beginning on Oc23 tober 1 of such year’’;

24 (C) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year beginning

25 on October 1 of such year’’ the second place it
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1 appears and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in such

2 period; and

3 (D) by striking ‘‘each of the 4 ensuing fis4 cal years’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the

5 succeeding bienniums’’.

6 (2) Section 301(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

7 632(b)) is amended—

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

9 by inserting ‘‘for a biennium’’ after ‘‘concurrent

10 resolution on the budget’’; and

11 (B) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘for such

12 fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for either fiscal year

13 in such biennium’’.

14 (3) Section 301(d) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

15 632(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘February 25 of

16 each year’’ and inserting ‘‘February 25 of each odd17 numbered year’’.

18 (4) Section 301(e)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

19 632(e)(1)) is amended—

20 (A) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘fiscal

21 year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium’’;

22 (B) by inserting between the second and

23 third sentences the following new sentence: ‘‘On

24 or before March 31 of each odd-numbered year

25 the Committee on the Budget of each House
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1 shall report to its House the concurrent resolu2 tion on the budget referred to in subsection (a)

3 for the biennium beginning on October 1 of

4 that year.’’.

5 (5) Section 301(f) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

6 632(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each

7 place it appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.

8 (6) The section heading of section 301 of such

9 Act is amended by striking ‘‘ANNUAL’’ and insert10 ing ‘‘BIENNIAL’’.

11 (7) The table of contents set forth in section

12 1(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment

13 Control Act of 1974 is amended by striking ‘‘An14 nual’’ in the item relating to section 301 and insert15 ing ‘‘Biennial’’.

16 (e) COMMITTEE ALLOCATIONS.—

17 (1) Section 302(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

18 633(a)(1)) is amended—

19 (A) by inserting ‘‘for a biennium’’ after

20 ‘‘budget’’ the first place it appears; and

21 (B) by striking ‘‘for the first fiscal year of

22 the resolution, for at least each of the 4 ensuing

23 fiscal years, and a total for that period of fiscal

24 years’’ and inserting ‘‘for each of the 2
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1 bienniums covered by the resolution and a total

2 for that period of 2 bienniums’’; and

3 (C) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ the last place

4 it appears and inserting ‘‘first biennium’’.

5 (2) Section 302(c) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

6 633(c)) is amended—

7 (A) by striking ‘‘for a fiscal year’’ and in8 serting ‘‘for either fiscal year in a biennium’’;

9 and

10 (B) by striking ‘‘for such fiscal year’’ and

11 inserting ‘‘for such biennium’’.

12 (3) Section 302(f)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

13 633(f)(1)) is amended—

14 (A) by striking ‘‘for a fiscal year’’ and in15 serting ‘‘for a biennium’’;

16 (B) by striking ‘‘any fiscal year’’ in the

17 matter preceding subparagraph (A) and insert18 ing ‘‘a fiscal year in such biennium’’; and

19 (C) by striking ‘‘first fiscal year or the

20 total of fiscal years’’ and inserting ‘‘first bien21 nium or the total of the first 2 bienniums’’.

22 (4) Section 302(f)(2) of such Act is amended by

23 striking ‘‘first fiscal year or the total of fiscal years’’

24 and inserting ‘‘first biennium or the total of the first

25 2 bienniums’’.
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1 (f) SECTION 303 POINT OF ORDER.—

2 (1) Section 303(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

3 634(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each

4 place it appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.

5 (2) Section 303(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

6 634(b)) is amended—

7 (A) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it

8 appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’;

9 (B) in paragraph (b)(1)(A) by striking

10 ‘‘first or second fiscal year after the budget

11 year’’ and inserting ‘‘the biennium after the

12 first biennium’’; and

13 (C) in paragraph (b)(2) by inserting ‘‘of

14 any odd-numbered calendar year’’ after ‘‘May

15 15’’.

16 (3) Section 303(c) of such Act is amended—

17 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘a fiscal

18 year’’ and inserting ‘‘a biennium’’, by striking

19 ‘‘that year’’ the first place it appears and in20 serting ‘‘that biennium’’, and by striking ‘‘that

21 year or any subsequent year’’ and inserting

22 ‘‘that biennium’’; and

23 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘for the

24 first or second fiscal year after the year’’ and
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1 inserting ‘‘for the biennium after the bien2 nium’’.

3 (g) PERMISSIBLE REVISIONS OF CONCURRENT RES4 OLUTIONS ON THE BUDGET.—Section 304 of such Act (2

5 U.S.C. 635) is amended—

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

7 it appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’;

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

9 (3) by inserting before the period ‘‘for such bi10 ennium’’.

11 (h) PROCEDURES FOR CONSIDERATION OF BUDGET

12 RESOLUTIONS.—Section 305(b)(3) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

13 636(b)(3)) is amended—

14 (1) striking ‘‘the concurrent’’ and inserting ‘‘a

15 concurrent’’; and

16 (2) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bi17 ennium’’.

18 (i) REPORT AND SUMMARIES OF CONGRESSIONAL

19 BUDGET ACTIONS.—

20 (1)(A) Section 308(a)(1) of the Congressional

21 Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 639(a)(1)) is

22 amended—

23 (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph

24 (A) by striking ‘‘fiscal year (or fiscal years)’’

25 and inserting ‘‘biennium’’,
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1 (ii) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘fiscal

2 year (or fiscal years)’’ and inserting ‘‘bien3 nium’’, and

4 (iii) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘such

5 fiscal year (or fiscal years)’’ and inserting

6 ‘‘such biennium’’.

7 (B) Section 308(a)(2) of such Act is amended

8 by striking ‘‘fiscal year (or fiscal years)’’ and insert9 ing ‘‘biennium’’.

10 (2) Section 308(b)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

11 639(b)(1)) is amended—

12 (A) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ the first place

13 it appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’;

14 (B) by inserting ‘‘for such biennium’’ after

15 ‘‘concurrent resolution on the budget’’; and

16 (C) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year preceding

17 the first fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal

18 year in the biennium preceding such biennium’’.

19 (3) Section 308(c) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

20 639(c)) is amended—

21 (A) by striking ‘‘Five’’ in the subsection

22 heading and inserting ‘‘Four’’;

23 (B) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it

24 appears in the matter preceding paragraph (1)

25 and inserting ‘‘biennium’’; and
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1 (C) by striking ‘‘5 fiscal years’’ and insert2 ing ‘‘4 fiscal years’’.

3 (j) COMPLETION OF ACTION ON REGULAR APPRO4 PRIATION BILLS.—Section 309 of such Act (2 U.S.C.

5 640) is amended—

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

7 year’’ after ‘‘July’’;

8 (2) by striking ‘‘annual’’ and inserting ‘‘regu9 lar’’; and

10 (3) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bi11 ennium’’.

12 (k) RECONCILIATION PROCESS.—

13 (1) Section 310(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

14 641(a)) is amended—

15 (A) by striking ‘‘any fiscal year’’ in the

16 matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting

17 ‘‘any biennium’’;

18 (B) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘such fis19 cal year’’ each place it appears and inserting

20 ‘‘each fiscal year in such biennium’’; and

21 (C) in paragraph (2) by inserting ‘‘for each

22 fiscal year in such biennium’’ after ‘‘revenues’’.

23 (2) Section 310(e) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

24 641(e)) is amended—
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1 (A) by striking ‘‘20 hours’’ in paragraph

2 (2) and inserting ‘‘100 hours’’; and

3 (B) by adding at the end the following new

4 paragraph:

5 ‘‘(3) It shall not be in order in the Senate or

6 the House of Representatives to consider any rec7 onciliation bill or resolution or any amendment

8 thereto or any conference report thereon which

9 changes any provision of law other than provisions

10 of law which—

11 ‘‘(A) provide new budget authority or

12 spending authority described in section

13 401(c)(2);

14 ‘‘(B) relate to revenues; or

15 ‘‘(C) specify the amount of the statutory

16 limit on the public debt.’’.

17 (3) Section 310(f) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

18 641(f)) is amended—

19 (A) by inserting ‘‘of any odd-numbered cal20 endar year’’ after ‘‘July’’,

21 (B) by striking ‘‘fiscal year beginning on

22 October 1 of the calendar year to which the ad23 journment resolution pertains’’ and inserting

24 ‘‘biennium beginning on October 1 of such cal25 endar year’’, and
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1 (C) by striking ‘‘for such fiscal year’’ and

2 inserting ‘‘for such biennium’’.

3 (l) SECTION 311 POINT OF ORDER.—

4 (1) Section 311(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

5 642(a)) is amended—

6 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘for a

7 fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for a biennium’’, by

8 striking ‘‘first fiscal year’’ each place it appears

9 and inserting ‘‘first biennium’’, and by striking

10 ‘‘ensuing fiscal years’’ and inserting ‘‘second bi11 ennium’’;

12 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘first fis13 cal year’’ each place it appears and inserting

14 ‘‘first biennium’’, and by striking ‘‘ensuing fis15 cal years’’ and inserting ‘‘second biennium’’;

16 (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘first fis17 cal year or for the total of that fiscal year and

18 the ensuing fiscal years’’ and inserting ‘‘first bi19 ennium or for the total of that biennium and

20 the next biennium’’.

21 (2) Section 311(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

22 642(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year or

23 years’’ both places it appears and inserting ‘‘bien24 nium’’.
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1 (3) Section 311(c) of such Act (2 U.S.C.

2 642(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ both

3 places it appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.

4 (m) DETERMINATIONS AND POINTS OF ORDER.—

5 Section 312 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 643) is amended—

6 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘for a fiscal

7 year’’; and

8 (2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘for a fiscal

9 year’’ and inserting ‘‘for a biennium’’.

10 (n) EXTRANEOUS MATTER IN RECONCILIATION LEG11 ISLATION.—Section 313 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 644) is

12 amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it appears

13 and inserting ‘‘biennium’’ and by striking ‘‘fiscal years’’

14 each place it appears and inserting ‘‘bienniums’’.

15 (o) BUDGET-RELATED LEGISLATION NOT SUBJECT

16 TO APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 401 of such Act (2 U.S.C.

17 651 is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it ap18 pears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.

19 (p) ANALYSIS BY CBO.—Section 402(1) of the Con20 gressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 652(1)) is

21 amended—

22 (1) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year’’ and inserting

23 ‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium’’; and
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1 (2) by striking ‘‘4 fiscal years following such

2 year’’ in paragraph (1) and inserting ‘‘each fiscal

3 year in the succeeding biennium’’.

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

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

6 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the follow7 ing new paragraph:

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

9 term in paragraph (11) of section 3 of the Congres10 sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of

11 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(11)’’.

12 (b) BUDGET CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION TO THE

13 CONGRESS.—

14 (1) So much of section 1105(a) of title 31,

15 United States Code, as precedes paragraph (1) is

16 amended to read as follows:

17 ‘‘(a) On or before the first Monday after January 3

18 of each odd-numbered year, beginning with the One Hun19 dred Sixth Congress, the President shall transmit to the

20 Congress, the budget for the biennium beginning on Octo21 ber 1 of such calendar year. The budget transmitted under

22 this subsection shall include a budget message and sum23 mary and supporting information. The President shall in24 clude in each budget the following:’’.
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1 (2) Section 1105(a)(5) of title 31, United

2 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal year

3 for which the budget is submitted and the 4 fiscal

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

5 year in the biennium for which the budget is submit6 ted and in the succeeding biennium’’.

7 (3) Section 1105(a)(6) of title 31, United

8 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal year

9 for which the budget is submitted and the 4 fiscal

10 years after that year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal

11 year in the biennium for which the budget is submit12 ted and in the succeeding biennium’’.

13 (4) Section 1105(a)(9)(C) of title 31, United

14 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal

15 year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien16 nium’’.

17 (5) Section 1105(a)(12) of title 31, United

18 States Code, is amended—

19 (A) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year’’ in sub20 paragraph (A) and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year

21 in the biennium’’; and

22 (B) by striking ‘‘4 fiscal years after that

23 year’’ in subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘‘2 fis24 cal years immediately following the second fiscal

25 year in such biennium’’.
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1 (6) Section 1105(a)(13) of title 31, United

2 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal

3 year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien4 nium’’.

5 (7) Section 1105(a)(14) of title 31, United

6 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘that year’’ and

7 inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium for which

8 the budget is submitted’’.

9 (8) Section 1105(a)(16) of title 31, United

10 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal

11 year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien12 nium’’.

13 (9) Section 1105(a)(17) of title 31, United

14 States Code, is amended—

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

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

17 in the biennium following the biennium’’;

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

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

20 (C) by striking ‘‘fiscal year before the fis21 cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium before the bi22 ennium’’.

23 (10) Section 1105(a)(18) of title 31, United

24 States Code, is amended—
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1 (A) by striking ‘‘the prior fiscal year’’ and

2 inserting ‘‘each of the 2 most recently com3 pleted fiscal years’’;

4 (B) by striking ‘‘for that year’’ and insert5 ing ‘‘with respect to that fiscal year’’; and

6 (C) by striking ‘‘in that year’’ and insert7 ing ‘‘in that fiscal year’’.

8 (11) Section 1105(a)(19) of title 31, United

9 States Code, is amended—

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

11 inserting ‘‘each of the 2 most recently com12 pleted fiscal years’’;

13 (B) by striking ‘‘for that year’’ and insert14 ing ‘‘with respect to that fiscal year’’; and

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

16 it appears and inserting ‘‘in that fiscal year’’.

17 (c) ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES OF LEGISLATIVE

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

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

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

21 (d) RECOMMENDATIONS TO MEET ESTIMATED DE22 FICIENCIES.—Section 1105(c) of title 31, United States

23 Code, is amended—

24 (1) by striking ‘‘fiscal year for’’ each place it

25 appears and inserting ‘‘biennium for’’;
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1 (2) by inserting ‘‘or current biennium, as the

2 case may be,’’ after ‘‘current fiscal year’’; and

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

4 period’’.

5 (e) STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN

6 CHANGES.—Section 1105(d) of title 31, United States

7 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting

8 ‘‘biennium’’.

9 (f) CAPITAL INVESTMENT ANALYSIS.—Section

10 1105(e) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by

11 striking ‘‘ensuing fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium to

12 which such budget relates’’.

13 (g) SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET ESTIMATES AND

14 CHANGES.—

15 (1) Section 1106(a) of title 31, United States

16 Code, is amended—

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

18 by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bien19 nium’’;

20 (B) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘that fis21 cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in

22 such biennium’’;

23 (C) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘4 fiscal

24 years following the fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘2

25 fiscal years following the biennium’’;
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1 (D) by striking ‘‘future fiscal years’’ in

2 paragraph (3) and inserting ‘‘the 2 fiscal years

3 following the biennium for which the budget is

4 submitted’’; and

5 (E) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ in paragraph

6 (3) and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.

7 (2) Section 1106(b) of title 31, United States

8 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal year’’ and

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

10 (h) CURRENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ESTI11 MATES.—

12 (1) Section 1109(a) of title 31, United States

13 Code, is amended—

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

15 Monday after January 3 of each year (on or be16 fore February 5 in 1994)’’ and inserting ‘‘At

17 the same time the budget required by section

18 1105 is submitted for a biennium’’; and

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

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

21 (2) Section 1109(b) of title 31, United States

22 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘March 1 of each

23 year’’ and inserting ‘‘February 25 of each odd-num24 bered year’’.
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1 (i) YEAR-AHEAD REQUESTS FOR AUTHORIZING LEG2 ISLATION.—Section 1110 of title 31, United States Code,

3 is amended—

4 (1) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bi5 ennium (beginning on or after October 1, 2001)’’,

6 and

7 (2) by striking ‘‘year before the year in which

8 the fiscal year begins’’ and inserting ‘‘second cal9 endar year preceding the calendar year in which the

10 biennium begins’’.

11 (j) BUDGET INFORMATION ON CONSULTING SERV12 ICES.—Section 1114 of title 31, United States Code, is

13 amended—

14 (1) by striking ‘‘The’’ each place it appears and

15 inserting ‘‘For each biennium beginning with the bi16 ennium beginning on October 1, 2001, the’’; and

17 (2) by striking ‘‘each year’’ each place it ap18 pears.

19 SEC. 6. TITLE AND STYLE OF APPROPRIATIONS ACTS.

20 Section 105 of title 1, United States Code, is amend21 ed to read as follows:

22 ‘‘§ 105. Title and style of appropriation Acts

23 ‘‘(a) The style and title of all Acts making appropria24 tions for the support of the Government shall be as fol25 lows: ‘An Act making appropriations (here insert the ob-
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1 ject) for the biennium ending September 30 (here insert

2 the odd-numbered calendar year).’.

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

4 support of the Government shall be enacted for a biennium

5 and shall specify the amount of appropriations provided

6 for each fiscal year in such period.

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

8 has the same meaning as in section 3(11) of the Congres9 sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2

10 U.S.C. 622(11)).’’.

11 SEC. 7. ASSISTANCE BY FEDERAL AGENCIES TO STANDING

12 COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE AND THE

13 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

14 (a) INFORMATION REGARDING AGENCY APPROPRIA15 TIONS REQUESTS.—To assist each standing committee of

16 the Senate and the House of Representatives in carrying

17 out its responsibilities, the head of each Federal agency

18 which administers the laws or parts of laws under the ju19 risdiction of such committee shall provide to such commit20 tee such studies, information, analyses, reports, and as21 sistance as may be requested by the chairman and ranking

22 minority member of the committee.

23 (b) INFORMATION REGARDING AGENCY PROGRAM

24 ADMINISTRATION.—
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1 (1) FURNISHING INFORMATION.—To assist

2 each standing committee of the Senate and the

3 House of Representatives in carrying out its respon4 sibilities, the head of any agency shall furnish with5 out charge to such committee computer tapes or

6 disks, together with explanatory documentation, con7 taining information received, compiled, or main8 tained by the agency as part of the operation or ad9 ministration of a program, or specifically compiled

10 pursuant to a request in support of a review of a

11 program, as may be requested by the chairman and

12 ranking minority member of such committee.

13 (2) MINIMIZING REQUESTS.—The Committee

14 on House Oversight of the House of Representatives

15 and the Committee on Rules and Administration of

16 the Senate shall prescribe rules and regulations for

17 their respective Houses which will minimize duplica18 tion of requests under paragraph (1) of this sub19 section.

20 (c) SUMMARIES BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—With21 in thirty days after the receipt of a request from a chair22 man and ranking minority member of a standing commit23 tee having jurisdiction over a program being reviewed and

24 studied by such committee under this section, the Comp25 troller General of the United States shall furnish to such
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1 committee summaries of any audits or reviews of such pro2 gram which the Comptroller General has completed during

3 the preceding six years.

4 (d) CONGRESSIONAL ASSISTANCE.—Consistent with

5 their duties and functions under law, the Comptroller Gen6 eral of the United States, the Director of the Congres7 sional Budget Office, the Director of the Office of Tech8 nology Assessment, and the Director of the Congressional

9 Research Service shall furnish to each standing committee

10 of the Senate or the House of Representatives such infor11 mation, studies, analyses, and reports as the chairman and

12 ranking minority member may request to assist the com13 mittee in conducting reviews and studies of programs

14 under this section.

15 (e) SECRET AND CLASSIFIED INFORMATION PRO16 TECTED.—This section does not require the public disclo17 sure of matters that are specifically authorized under cri18 teria established by an Executive order to be kept secret

19 in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and

20 are in fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive

21 order, or which are otherwise specifically protected by law.

22 This section does not require any committee of the Senate

23 to disclose publicly information the disclosure of which is

24 governed by any rule of the Senate.
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1 SEC. 8. AMENDMENTS TO RULES OF HOUSE OF REP2 RESENTATIVES.

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

4 House of Representatives is amended by inserting ‘‘odd5 numbered’’ after ‘‘each’’.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13 of Representatives is amended—

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

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

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

17 appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’; and

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

19 ‘‘each fiscal year in such ensuing biennium’’.

20 (e) Clause 4(h) of rule X of the Rules of the House

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

22 and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.

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

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

25 reported after September 15 preceding the beginning of
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1 such fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium if reported after

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

3 SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection

5 (b), this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall

6 become effective January 1, 2001, and shall apply to

7 bienniums beginning after September 30, 2001.

8 (b) FISCAL YEAR 2001.—Notwithstanding subsection

9 (a), the provisions of—

10 (1) the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and

11 (2) title 31, United States Code,

12 (as such provisions were in effect on the day before the

13 effective date of this Act) shall apply to the fiscal year

14 beginning on October 1, 2000.

15 (c) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the

16 term ‘‘biennium’’ shall have the meaning given to such

17 term in section 3(11) of the Congressional Budget and

18 Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(11)),

19 as added by section 4(b)(2) of this Act.

Æ