II 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2853 

To establish a Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action, to assure 

the long-term fiscal stability and economic security of the Federal Government of the United States, and to expand future prosperity and 

growth for all Americans. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 9, 2009 

Mr. CONRAD (for himself, Mr. GREGG, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. 

NELSON of Florida, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. BAYH, Mr. VOINOVICH, Mrs. 

MCCASKILL, Mr. LEMIEUX, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. ALEXANDER, 

Mr. BENNET, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. NELSON of Nebraska, Mr. BROWNBACK, 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. CORKER, Mr. WARNER, Mrs. HUTCHISON, Mrs. 

SHAHEEN, Mr. ENZI, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. BOND, Mr. BENNETT, Mr. ENSIGN, Mr. JOHANNS, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. MCCAIN, and Mr. CORNYN) 

introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 

Committee on the Budget 

A BILL 

To establish a Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal 

Action, to assure the long-term fiscal stability and economic security of the Federal Government of the United 

States, and to expand future prosperity and growth for 

all Americans. 

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


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bipartisan Task Force 

3 for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2009’’. 

4 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. 

5 Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 

6 (2 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 

7 the following new section: 

8 ‘‘ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE FOR RESPONSIBLE

9 FISCAL ACTION

10 ‘‘SEC. 316. (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

11 ‘‘(1) TASK FORCE.—The term ‘Task Force’ 

12 means the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible 

13 Fiscal Action established under subsection (b)(1). 

14 ‘‘(2) TASK FORCE BILL.—The term ‘Task 

15 Force bill’ means a bill consisting of the proposed 

16 legislative language of the Task Force recommended 

17 under subsection (b)(3)(B) and introduced under 

18 subsection (e)(1). 

19 ‘‘(3) FISCAL IMBALANCE.—The term ‘fiscal im20 balance’ means the gap between the projected reve21 nues and expenditures of the Federal Government. 

22 ‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE.— 

23 ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in 

24 the legislative branch a task force to be known as 

25 the ‘Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal 

26 Action’. 


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1 ‘‘(2) PURPOSES.— 

2 ‘‘(A) REVIEW.—The Task Force shall re3 view the fiscal imbalance of the Federal Govern4 ment, including— 

5 ‘‘(i) analyses of projected Federal ex6 penditures; 

7 ‘‘(ii) analyses of projected Federal 

8 revenues; and 

9 ‘‘(iii) analyses of the current and 

10 long-term actuarial financial condition of 

11 the Federal Government. 

12 ‘‘(B) IDENTIFY FACTORS.—The Task 

13 Force shall identify factors that affect the long14 term fiscal imbalance of the Federal Govern15 ment. 

16 ‘‘(C) ANALYZE POTENTIAL COURSES OF

17 ACTION.—The Task Force shall analyze poten18 tial courses of action to address factors that af19 fect the long-term fiscal imbalance of the Fed20 eral Government. 

21 ‘‘(D) PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS AND

22 LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE.—The Task Force 

23 shall provide recommendations and legislative 

24 language that will significantly improve the 

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1 ernment, including recommendations address2 ing— 

3 ‘‘(i) Federal expenditures; 

4 ‘‘(ii) Federal revenues; and 

5 ‘‘(iii) the current and long-term actu6 arial financial condition of the Federal 

7 Government. 

8 ‘‘(3) DUTIES.— 

9 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall 

10 address the Nation’s long-term fiscal imbal11 ances, consistent with the purposes described in 

12 paragraph (2), and shall submit the report and 

13 recommendations required under subparagraph 

14 (B). 

15 ‘‘(B) REPORT, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND

16 LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE.— 

17 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not earlier than 

18 November 3, 2010, and not later than No19 vember 9, 2010, the Task Force shall vote 

20 on a report that contains— 

21 ‘‘(I) a detailed statement of the 

22 findings, conclusions, and rec23 ommendations of the Task Force; 

24 ‘‘(II) the assumptions, scenarios, 

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1 ing such findings, conclusions, and 

2 recommendations; and 

3 ‘‘(III) proposed legislative lan4 guage to carry out such recommenda5 tions as described in paragraph 

6 (2)(D). 

7 ‘‘(ii) APPROVAL OF REPORT.—The re8 port of the Task Force submitted under 

9 clause (i) shall require the approval of not 

10 fewer than 14 of the 18 members of the 

11 Task Force. 

12 ‘‘(iii) ADDITIONAL VIEWS.—A member 

13 of the Task Force who gives notice of an 

14 intention to file supplemental, minority, or 

15 additional views at the time of final Task 

16 Force approval of the report under clause 

17 (ii), shall be entitled to not less than 3 cal18 endar days in which to file such views in 

19 writing with the staff director of the Task 

20 Force. Such views shall then be included in 

21 the Task Force report and printed in the 

22 same volume, or part thereof, and their in23 clusion shall be noted on the cover of the 

24 report. In the absence of timely notice, the 

25 Task Force report may be printed and 


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1 transmitted immediately without such 

2 views. 

3 ‘‘(iv) TRANSMISSION OF REPORT.—No 

4 later than November 15, 2010, the Task 

5 Force shall submit the Task Force bill and 

6 final report to the President, the Vice 

7 President, the Speaker of the House, and 

8 the majority and minority leaders of both 

9 Houses. 

10 ‘‘(v) REPORT TO BE MADE PUBLIC.— 

11 Upon the approval or disapproval of the 

12 Task Force report pursuant to clause (ii), 

13 the Task Force shall promptly make the 

14 full report, and a record of the vote, avail15 able to the public. 

16 ‘‘(4) MEMBERSHIP.— 

17 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall 

18 be composed of 18 members designated pursu19 ant to subparagraph (B). 

20 ‘‘(B) DESIGNATION.—Members of the 

21 Task Force shall be designated as follows: 

22 ‘‘(i) The President shall designate 2 

23 members, one of whom shall be the Sec24 retary of the Treasury, and the other of 


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1 whom shall be an officer of the executive 

2 branch. 

3 ‘‘(ii) The majority leader of the Sen4 ate shall designate 4 members from among 

5 Members of the Senate. 

6 ‘‘(iii) The minority leader of the Sen7 ate shall designate 4 members from among 

8 Members of the Senate. 

9 ‘‘(iv) The Speaker of the House of 

10 Representatives shall designate 4 members 

11 from among Members of the House of 

12 Representatives. 

13 ‘‘(v) The minority leader of the House 

14 of Representatives shall designate 4 mem15 bers from among Members of the House of 

16 Representatives. 

17 ‘‘(C) CO-CHAIRS.— 

18 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—There shall be 2 

19 Co-Chairs of the Task Force. The Presi20 dent, majority leader of the Senate, and 

21 Speaker of the House shall designate one 

22 Co-Chair among the members of the Task 

23 Force. The minority leader of the Senate 

24 and minority leader of the House shall des25 ignate the second Co-Chair among the 


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1 members of the Task Force. The Co2 Chairs shall be appointed not later than 14 

3 days after the date of enactment of this 

4 section. 

5 ‘‘(ii) STAFF DIRECTOR.—The Co6 Chairs, acting jointly, shall hire the staff 

7 director of the Task Force. 

8 ‘‘(D) DATE.—Members of the Task Force 

9 shall be designated by not later than 14 days 

10 after the date of enactment of this section. 

11 ‘‘(E) PERIOD OF DESIGNATION.—Members 

12 shall be designated for the life of the Task 

13 Force. Any vacancy in the Task Force shall not 

14 affect its powers, but shall be filled not later 

15 than 14 days after the date on which the va16 cancy occurs in the same manner as the origi17 nal designation. 

18 ‘‘(F) COMPENSATION.—Members of the 

19 Task Force shall serve without any additional 

20 compensation for their work on the Task Force. 

21 However, members may be allowed travel ex22 penses, including per diem in lieu of subsist23 ence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 

24 5703 of title 5, United States Code, while away 


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1 from their homes or regular places of business 

2 in performance of services for the Task Force. 

3 ‘‘(5) ADMINISTRATION.— 

4 ‘‘(A) AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH RULES

5 AND REGULATIONS.—The Co-Chairs, in con6 sultation with the other members of the Task 

7 Force, may establish rules and regulations for 

8 the conduct of Task Force business, if such 

9 rules and regulations are not inconsistent with 

10 this section or other applicable law. 

11 ‘‘(B) QUORUM.—Fourteen members of the 

12 Task Force shall constitute a quorum for pur13 poses of voting, meeting, and holding hearings. 

14 ‘‘(C) VOTING.— 

15 ‘‘(i) PROXY VOTING.—No proxy voting 

16 shall be allowed on behalf of the members 

17 of the Task Force. 

18 ‘‘(ii) REPORT, RECOMMENDATIONS

19 AND LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE.— 

20 ‘‘(I) DATES.—The Task Force 

21 may not vote on any version of the re22 port, recommendations, or legislative 

23 language before the timing provided 

24 for in paragraph (3)(B)(i). 


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1 ‘‘(II) CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET

2 OFFICE AND JOINT COMMITTEE ON

3 TAXATION ESTIMATES.—The Congres4 sional Budget Office and Joint Com5 mittee on Taxation shall provide esti6 mates of the Task Force report and 

7 recommendations (as described in 

8 subsection (b)(2)(D)) in accordance 

9 with section 308(a) and 201(f) of the 

10 Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

11 The Task Force may not vote on any 

12 version of the report, recommenda13 tions, or legislative language unless a 

14 final estimate is available for consider15 ation by all the members at least 72 

16 hours prior to the vote. 

17 ‘‘(D) MEETINGS.— 

18 ‘‘(i) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later 

19 than 45 days after the date of enactment 

20 of this section, the Task Force shall hold 

21 its first meeting. 

22 ‘‘(ii) MEETINGS.—The Task Force 

23 shall meet at the call of the Co-Chairs or 

24 at least 10 of its members. 


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1 ‘‘(iii) AGENDA.—An agenda shall be 

2 provided to the Task Force members at 

3 least 1 week in advance of any meeting. 

4 Task Force members who want to have 

5 items placed on the agenda for consider6 ation shall notify the staff director as early 

7 as possible, but not less than 48 hours in 

8 advance of a scheduled meeting. 

9 ‘‘(E) HEARINGS.— 

10 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to sub11 paragraph (G), the Task Force may, for 

12 the purpose of carrying out this section, 

13 hold such hearings, sit and act at such 

14 times and places, take such testimony, re15 ceive such evidence, and administer such 

16 oaths the Task Force considers advisable. 

17 ‘‘(ii) HEARING PROCEDURES AND RE18 SPONSIBILITIES OF CO-CHAIRS.— 

19 ‘‘(I) ANNOUNCEMENT.—The 

20 Task Force Co-Chairs shall make 

21 public announcement of the date, 

22 place, time, and subject matter of any 

23 hearing to be conducted at least 1 

24 week in advance of such hearing, un25 less the Co-Chairs determine that 


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1 there is good cause to begin such 

2 hearing at an earlier date. 

3 ‘‘(II) WRITTEN STATEMENT.—A 

4 witness appearing before the Task 

5 Force shall file a written statement of 

6 proposed testimony at least 2 days 

7 prior to appearance, unless the re8 quirement is waived by the Co-Chairs, 

9 following their determination that 

10 there is good cause for failure of com11 pliance. 

12 ‘‘(F) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Upon 

13 written request of the Co-Chairs, a Federal 

14 agency shall provide technical assistance to the 

15 Task Force in order for the Task Force to 

16 carry out its duties. 

17 ‘‘(G) INFORMATION.— 

18 ‘‘(i) RESOURCES.— 

19 ‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—Notwith20 standing section 1108 of title 31, 

21 United States Code, the Task Force 

22 shall have authority to access assist23 ance, materials, resources, statistical 

24 data, and other information the Task 

25 Force determines to be necessary to 


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1 carry out its duties directly from an 

2 officer or employee of any executive 

3 department, bureau, agency, board, 

4 commission, office, independent estab5 lishment, or instrumentality of the 

6 Government, including the Library of 

7 Congress, the Chief Actuary of the 

8 Social Security Administration, the 

9 Chief Actuary of the Centers for 

10 Medicare & Medicaid Services, the 

11 Congressional Budget Office, the De12 partment of the Treasury, the Depart13 ment of Health and Human Services, 

14 the Office of Management and Budg15 et, the Government Accountability Of16 fice, and the Joint Committee on Tax17 ation. Each agency or instrumentality 

18 shall, to the extent permitted by law, 

19 furnish such information to the Task 

20 Force upon written request of the Co21 Chairs. 

22 ‘‘(II) COPIES SUPPLIED.—Copies 

23 of written requests and all written or 

24 electronic responses provided under 

25 this clause shall be provided to the 


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1 staff director and shall be made avail2 able for review by all members of the 

3 Task Force upon request. 

4 ‘‘(ii) RECEIPT, HANDLING, STORAGE, 

5 AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.— 

6 Information shall only be received, han7 dled, stored, and disseminated by members 

8 of the Task Force and its staff consistent 

9 with all applicable statutes, regulations, 

10 and Executive orders. 

11 ‘‘(iii) LIMITATION OF ACCESS TO TAX

12 INFORMATION.—Information accessed 

13 under this subparagraph shall not include 

14 tax data from the United States Internal 

15 Revenue Service, the release of which 

16 would otherwise be in violation of law. 

17 ‘‘(H) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Task Force 

18 may use the United States mails in the same 

19 manner and under the same conditions as other 

20 departments and agencies of the Federal Gov21 ernment. 

22 ‘‘(I) ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL AGEN23 CIES.— 

24 ‘‘(i) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRA25 TION.—Upon the request of the Co-Chairs 


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1 of the Task Force, the Administrator of 

2 General Services shall provide to the Task 

3 Force, on a reimbursable basis, the admin4 istrative support services necessary for the 

5 Task Force to carry out its responsibilities 

6 under this section. These administrative 

7 services may include human resources 

8 management, budget, leasing, accounting, 

9 and payroll services. 

10 ‘‘(ii) OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND

11 AGENCIES.—In addition to the assistance 

12 prescribed in clause (i), departments and 

13 agencies of the United States may provide 

14 to the Task Force such services, funds, fa15 cilities, staff, and other support services as 

16 they may determine advisable and as may 

17 be authorized by law. 

18 ‘‘(J) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Task 

19 Force is authorized to enter into contracts with 

20 Federal and State agencies, private firms, insti21 tutions, and individuals for the conduct of activ22 ity necessary to the discharge of its duties and 

23 responsibilities. A contract, lease, or other legal 

24 agreement entered into by the Task Force may 


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1 not extend beyond the date of the termination 

2 of the Task Force. 

3 ‘‘(c) STAFF OF TASK FORCE.— 

4 ‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION OF

5 SHARED STAFF.—The Co-Chairs may appoint and 

6 fix the compensation of a staff director and such 

7 other personnel as may be necessary to enable the 

8 Task Force to carry out its functions, without re9 gard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 

10 governing appointments in the competitive service, 

11 but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a per12 son occupying a position at level III of the Executive 

13 Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United 

14 States Code. 

15 ‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR TASK FORCE

16 MEMBERS.—Each member of the Task Force may 

17 appoint up to 2 additional dedicated staff and fix 

18 the compensation of such dedicated personnel with19 out regard to the provisions of title 5, United States 

20 Code, governing appointments in the competitive 

21 service, but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid 

22 a person occupying a position at level III of the Ex23 ecutive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, 

24 United States Code. Dedicated staff shall report to 

25 each appointing member. 


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1 ‘‘(3) PERSONNEL AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.— 

2 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The staff director and 

3 any personnel of the Task Force who are em4 ployees shall be employees under section 2105 

5 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of 

6 chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, and 90 of 

7 that title. 

8 ‘‘(B) MEMBERS OF TASK FORCE.—Sub9 paragraph (A) shall not be construed to apply 

10 to members of the Task Force. 

11 ‘‘(4) OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS.—No outside con12 sultants or other personnel, either by contract, de13 tail, volunteer, or through a remunerative agree14 ment, may be hired without the approval of the Co15 Chairs. 

16 ‘‘(5) DETAILEES.—With the approval of the 

17 Co-Chairs any Federal Government employee may be 

18 detailed to the Task Force with or without reim19 bursement from the Task Force, and such detailee 

20 shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of his 

21 or her regular employment without interruption. Re22 imbursable amounts may include the fair value of 

23 equipment and supplies used by the detailee in sup24 port of the Task Force’s activities. For the purpose 


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1 of this paragraph, Federal Government employees 

2 shall include employees of the legislative branch. 

3 ‘‘(6) CONSULTANT SERVICES.—The Co-Chairs 

4 of the Task Force are authorized to procure the 

5 services of experts and consultants in accordance 

6 with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but 

7 at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a person 

8 occupying a position at level III of the Executive 

9 Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United 

10 States Code. 

11 ‘‘(7) TEMPORARY AND INTERMITTENT SERV12 ICES.—The Co-Chairs of the Task Force may pro13 cure temporary and intermittent services under sec14 tion 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates 

15 for individuals which do not exceed the daily equiva16 lent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 

17 level III of the Executive Schedule under section 

18 5316 of such title. 

19 ‘‘(8) VOLUNTEER SERVICES.— 

20 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the 

21 provisions of section 1342 of title 31, United 

22 States Code, the Co-Chairs of the Task Force 

23 are authorized to accept and utilize the services 

24 of volunteers serving without compensation. 

25 The Task Force may reimburse such volunteers 


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1 for local travel and office supplies, and for 

2 other travel expenses, including per diem in lieu 

3 of substance, as authorized by section 5703 of 

4 title 5, United States Code. 

5 ‘‘(B) EMPLOYEE STATUS.—A person pro6 viding volunteer services to the Task Force 

7 shall be considered an employee of the Federal 

8 Government in the performance of those serv9 ices for the purposes of Chapter 81 of title 5, 

10 United States Code, relating to compensation 

11 for work-related injuries, chapter 171 of title 

12 28, United States Code, relating to tort claims 

13 and chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code, 

14 relating to conflicts of interests. 

15 ‘‘(C) ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR STAFF.— 

16 In the absence of statutorily defined coverage, 

17 the staff, including staff director, shall follow 

18 the ethical rules and guidelines of the Senate. 

19 Staff coming from the private sector or outside 

20 public government may petition the Co-Chairs 

21 for a waiver from provisions of Senate Ethics 

22 rules. 

23 ‘‘(9) ADVISORY PANEL.—The Task Force may 

24 establish an advisory panel consisting of volunteers 

25 with knowledge and expertise relevant to the Task 


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1 Force’s purpose. Membership of the Advisory Panel, 

2 and the scope of the Panel’s activities, shall be de3 cided by the Co-Chairs in consultation with the other 

4 members of the Task Force. 

5 ‘‘(d) TERMINATION.— 

6 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall ter7 minate on the date that is 90 days after the Task 

8 Force submits the report required under paragraph 

9 (b)(3)(B). 

10 ‘‘(2) CONCLUDING ACTIVITIES.—The Task 

11 Force may use the 90-day period referred to in 

12 paragraph (1) for the purpose of concluding its ac13 tivities, including providing testimony to committees 

14 of Congress concerning its report and disseminating 

15 the final report. 

16 ‘‘(e) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF TASK FORCE

17 RECOMMENDATIONS.— 

18 ‘‘(1) INTRODUCTION.— 

19 ‘‘(A) RECONVENING.— 

20 ‘‘(i) IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA21 TIVES.—Upon receipt of a report under 

22 subsection (b)(3)(B), the Speaker, if the 

23 House would otherwise be adjourned, shall 

24 notify the Members of the House that, 

25 pursuant to this section, the House shall 


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1 convene not later than November 23, 

2 2010. 

3 ‘‘(ii) IN THE SENATE.— 

4 ‘‘(I) CONVENING.—Upon receipt 

5 of a report under subsection 

6 (b)(3)(B), if the Senate has adjourned 

7 or recessed for more than 2 days, the 

8 majority leader of the Senate, after 

9 consultation with the minority leader 

10 of the Senate, shall notify the Mem11 bers of the Senate that, pursuant to 

12 this section, the Senate shall convene 

13 not later than November 23, 2010. 

14 ‘‘(II) ADJOURNING.—No concur15 rent resolution adjourning the Senate 

16 for more than 3 days shall be in order 

17 until the Senate votes on passage of 

18 the Task Force bill under paragraph 

19 (2)(B)(iv). 

20 ‘‘(B) INTRODUCTION OF TASK FORCE

21 BILL.—The proposed legislative language con22 tained in the report submitted pursuant to sub23 section (b)(3)(B), upon receipt by the Congress, 

24 shall be introduced not later than November 23, 

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1 resentatives by the majority leader of each 

2 House of Congress, for himself, the minority 

3 leader of each House of Congress, for himself, 

4 or any member of the House designated by the 

5 majority leader or minority leader. If the Task 

6 Force bill is not introduced in accordance with 

7 the preceding sentence in either House of Con8 gress, then any Member of that House may in9 troduce the Task Force bill on any day there10 after. Upon introduction, the Task Force bill 

11 shall be referred to the appropriate committees 

12 under subparagraph (C). 

13 ‘‘(C) COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION.—A 

14 Task Force bill introduced in either House of 

15 Congress shall be jointly referred to the com16 mittee or committees of jurisdiction and the 

17 Committee on the Budget of that House, which 

18 committees shall report the bill without any re19 vision and with a favorable recommendation, an 

20 unfavorable recommendation, or without rec21 ommendation, not later than 7 calendar days 

22 after the date of introduction of the bill in that 

23 House, or the first day thereafter on which that 

24 House is in session. If any committee fails to 

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1 mittee shall be automatically discharged from 

2 consideration of the bill, and the bill shall be 

3 placed on the appropriate calendar. 

4 ‘‘(2) EXPEDITED PROCEDURES.— 

5 ‘‘(A) FAST TRACK CONSIDERATION IN

6 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.— 

7 ‘‘(i) PROCEEDING TO CONSIDER8 ATION.—It shall be in order, not later than 

9 2 days of session after the date on which 

10 a Task Force bill is reported or discharged 

11 from all committees to which it was re12 ferred, for the majority leader of the 

13 House of Representatives or the majority 

14 leader’s designee, to move to proceed to 

15 the consideration of the Task Force bill. It 

16 shall also be in order for any Member of 

17 the House of Representatives to move to 

18 proceed to the consideration of the Task 

19 Force bill at any time after the conclusion 

20 of such 2-day period. All points of order 

21 against the motion are waived. Such a mo22 tion shall not be in order after the House 

23 has disposed of a motion to proceed on the 

24 Task Force bill. The previous question 

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1 tion to its adoption without intervening 

2 motion. The motion shall not be debatable. 

3 A motion to reconsider the vote by which 

4 the motion is disposed of shall not be in 

5 order. 

6 ‘‘(ii) CONSIDERATION.—The Task 

7 Force bill shall be considered as read. All 

8 points of order against the Task Force bill 

9 and against its consideration are waived. 

10 The previous question shall be considered 

11 as ordered on the Task Force bill to its 

12 passage without intervening motion except 

13 100 hours of debate equally divided and 

14 controlled by the proponent and an oppo15 nent, and any motion to limit debate. A 

16 motion to reconsider the vote on passage of 

17 the Task Force bill shall not be in order. 

18 ‘‘(iii) APPEALS.—Appeals from deci19 sions of the chair relating to the applica20 tion of the Rules of the House of Rep21 resentatives to the procedure relating to a 

22 Task Force bill shall be decided without 

23 debate. 

24 ‘‘(iv) APPLICATION OF HOUSE

25 RULES.—Except to the extent specifically 


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1 provided in paragraph (2)(A), consider2 ation of a Task Force bill shall be gov3 erned by the Rules of the House of Rep4 resentatives. It shall not be in order in the 

5 House of Representatives to consider any 

6 Task Force bill introduced pursuant to the 

7 provisions of this subsection under a sus8 pension of the rules pursuant to Clause 1 

9 of House Rule XV, or under a special rule 

10 reported by the House Committee on 

11 Rules. 

12 ‘‘(v) NO AMENDMENTS.—No amend13 ment to the Task Force bill shall be in 

14 order in the House of Representatives. 

15 ‘‘(vi) VOTE ON PASSAGE.—Imme16 diately following the conclusion of consider17 ation of the Task Force bill, the vote on 

18 passage of the Task Force bill shall occur 

19 without any intervening action or motion, 

20 requiring an affirmative vote of three-fifths 

21 of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. If 

22 the Task Force bill is passed, the Clerk of 

23 the House of Representatives shall cause 

24 the bill to be transmitted to the Senate be25 fore the close of the next day of session of 


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1 the House. The vote on passage shall occur 

2 not later than December 23, 2010. 

3 ‘‘(vii) VOTE.—The House Committee 

4 on Rules may not report a rule or order 

5 that would have the effect of causing the 

6 Task Force bill to be approved by a vote 

7 of less than three-fifths of the Members, 

8 duly chosen and sworn. 

9 ‘‘(B) FAST TRACK CONSIDERATION IN SEN10 ATE.— 

11 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 

12 Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the 

13 Senate, it is in order, not later than 2 days 

14 of session after the date on which a Task 

15 Force bill is reported or discharged from 

16 all committees to which it was referred, for 

17 the majority leader of the Senate or the 

18 majority leader’s designee to move to pro19 ceed to the consideration of the Task 

20 Force bill. It shall also be in order for any 

21 Member of the Senate to move to proceed 

22 to the consideration of the Task Force bill 

23 at any time after the conclusion of such 2- 

24 day period. A motion to proceed is in order 

25 even though a previous motion to the same 


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1 effect has been disagreed to. All points of 

2 order against the motion to proceed to the 

3 Task Force bill are waived. The motion to 

4 proceed is not debatable. The motion is not 

5 subject to a motion to postpone. A motion 

6 to reconsider the vote by which the motion 

7 is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in 

8 order. If a motion to proceed to the consid9 eration of the Task Force bill is agreed to, 

10 the Task Force bill shall remain the unfin11 ished business until disposed of. 

12 ‘‘(ii) DEBATE.—All points of order 

13 against the Task Force bill and against 

14 consideration of the Task Force bill are 

15 waived. Consideration of the Task Force 

16 bill and of all debatable motions and ap17 peals in connection therewith shall not ex18 ceed a total of 100 hours. Debate shall be 

19 divided equally between the majority and 

20 minority leaders or their designees. A mo21 tion further to limit debate on the Task 

22 Force bill is in order, shall require an af23 firmative vote of three-fifths of the Mem24 bers duly chosen and sworn, and is not de25 batable. Any debatable motion or appeal is 


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1 debatable for not to exceed 1 hour, to be 

2 divided equally between those favoring and 

3 those opposing the motion or appeal. All 

4 time used for consideration of the Task 

5 Force bill, including time used for quorum 

6 calls and voting, shall be counted against 

7 the total 100 hours of consideration. 

8 ‘‘(iii) NO AMENDMENTS.—An amend9 ment to the Task Force bill, or a motion 

10 to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the 

11 consideration of other business, or a mo12 tion to recommit the Task Force bill, is 

13 not in order. 

14 ‘‘(iv) VOTE ON PASSAGE.—The vote 

15 on passage shall occur immediately fol16 lowing the conclusion of the debate on a 

17 Task Force bill, and a single quorum call 

18 at the conclusion of the debate if re19 quested. Passage shall require an affirma20 tive vote of three-fifths of the Members, 

21 duly chosen and sworn. The vote on pas22 sage shall occur not later than December 

23 23, 2010. 

24 ‘‘(v) ADJOURNMENT.—If, by Decem25 ber 23, 2010, either House has failed to 


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1 adopt a motion to proceed to the Task 

2 Force bill, paragraph (1)(A)(ii)(II) shall 

3 not apply. 

4 ‘‘(vi) RULINGS OF THE CHAIR ON

5 PROCEDURE.—Appeals from the decisions 

6 of the Chair relating to the application of 

7 the rules of the Senate, as the case may 

8 be, to the procedure relating to a Task 

9 Force bill shall be decided without debate. 

10 ‘‘(C) RULES TO COORDINATE ACTION WITH

11 OTHER HOUSE.— 

12 ‘‘(i) REFERRAL.—If, before the pas13 sage by 1 House of a Task Force bill of 

14 that House, that House receives from the 

15 other House a Task Force bill, then the 

16 Task Force bill of the other House shall 

17 not be referred to a committee and shall 

18 immediately be placed on the calendar. 

19 ‘‘(ii) PROCEDURE.—If the Senate re20 ceives the Task Force bill passed by the 

21 House of Representatives before the Sen22 ate has voted on passage of the Task 

23 Force bill— 

24 ‘‘(I) the procedure in the Senate 

25 shall be the same as if no Task Force 


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1 bill had been received from House of 

2 Representatives; and 

3 ‘‘(II) the vote on passage in the 

4 Senate shall be on the Task Force bill 

5 of the House of Representatives. 

6 ‘‘(iii) TREATMENT OF TASK FORCE

7 BILL OF OTHER HOUSE.—If 1 House fails 

8 to introduce or consider a Task Force bill 

9 under this section, the Task Force bill of 

10 the other House shall be entitled to expe11 dited floor procedures under this section. 

12 ‘‘(iv) TREATMENT OF COMPANION

13 MEASURES IN THE SENATE.—If following 

14 passage of the Task Force bill in the Sen15 ate, the Senate then receives the Task 

16 Force bill from the House of Representa17 tives, the House-passed Task Force bill 

18 shall not be debatable. The vote on passage 

19 of the Task Force bill in the Senate shall 

20 be considered to be the vote on passage of 

21 the Task Force bill received from the 

22 House of Representatives. 

23 ‘‘(v) VETOES.—If the President vetoes 

24 the Task Force bill, debate on a veto mes25 sage in the Senate under this section shall 


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1 be 1 hour equally divided between the ma2 jority and minority leaders or their des3 ignees. 

4 ‘‘(3) SUSPENSION.—No motion to suspend the 

5 application of this subsection shall be in order in the 

6 Senate or in the House of Representatives.’’. 

7 SEC. 3. FUNDING. 

8 From the amounts appropriated or made available 

9 and remaining unobligated under division A (other than 

10 under title X of division A) of the American Recovery and 

11 Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–5), there is 

12 rescinded pro rata an aggregate amount equal to 

13 $9,000,000, which amount shall be made available without 

14 need for further appropriation to the Bipartisan Task 

15 Force for Responsible Fiscal Action to carry out the pur16 poses of the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal 

17 Action, and which shall remain available through fiscal 

18 year 2011. Not later than 14 days after the date of enact19 ment of this section, the Director of the Office of Manage20 ment and Budget shall administer the rescission and make 

21 available such amount to the Bipartisan Task Force for 

22 Responsible Fiscal Action. 

Æ 


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