II 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 385 

To provide for a biennial appropriations process with the exception of defense 

spending and to enhance oversight and the performance of the Federal 

Government. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 5, 2015 

Mr. ENZI (for himself, Mr. CARPER, Mr. ISAKSON, Mrs. SHAHEEN, and Ms. 

AYOTTE) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on the Budget 

A BILL 

To provide for a biennial appropriations process with the 

exception of defense spending 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 Appropria5 tions Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. REVISION OF TIMETABLE. 

7 Section 300 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 

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


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1 ‘‘TIMETABLE

2 ‘‘SEC. 300. (a) TIMETABLE.— 

3 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The timetable with respect 

4 to the congressional budget process for any fiscal 

5 year is as follows: 

‘‘On or before: Action to be completed: 

First Monday in February ........ President submits his or her budget. 

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

to Budget Committees. 

Not later than 6 weeks after 

President submits budget.

Committees submit views and estimates to 

Budget Committees. 

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

April 15 ..................................... Congress completes action on concurrent resolution on the budget. 

May 15 ....................................... Biennial appropriation bills and the defense 

appropriation bill may be considered in the 

House as provided in subsection (b). 

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

appropriation bill to be considered that 

year as provided in subsection (b). 

June 15 ...................................... Congress completes action on reconciliation 

legislation. 

June 30 ...................................... House completes action on biennial appropriation bills to be considered that year, as 

provided in subsection (b), and the defense 

appropriation bill. 

August 1 .................................... Congress completes action on biennial appropriation bills to be considered that year, as 

provided in subsection (b), and the defense 

appropriation bill. 

October 1 ................................... Fiscal year begins. 

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

7 session of Congress that begins in any year imme8 diately following a leap year and during which the 

9 term of a President (except a President who suc10 ceeds himself or herself) begins, the following dates 

11 shall supersede those set forth in paragraph (1): 

‘‘On or before: Action to be completed: 

First Monday in April ............... President submits his or her budget. 


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April 15 ..................................... Congressional Budget Office submits report 

to Budget Committees. 

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

Budget Committees. 

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

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

July 1 ......................................... Biennial appropriation bills and the defense 

appropriation bill may be considered in the 

House as provided in subsection (b). 

July 20 ....................................... House completes action on biennial appropriation bills to be considered that year, as 

provided in subsection (b), and the defense 

appropriation bill. 

August 1 .................................... Congress completes action on biennial appropriation bills to be considered that year, as 

provided in subsection (b), the defense appropriation bill, and reconciliation legislation. 

October 1 ................................... Fiscal year begins. 

1 ‘‘(b) BIENNIAL APPROPRIATION BILLS AND DE2 FENSE APPROPRIATION BILL.—Appropriation bills shall 

3 be enacted as follows: 

4 ‘‘(1) ODD-NUMBERED YEARS.—In odd-num5 bered years Congress shall consider pursuant to the 

6 budget process under this title and enact— 

7 ‘‘(A) an annual defense appropriation bill; 

8 and 

9 ‘‘(B) biennial appropriation bills for— 

10 ‘‘(i) Financial Services; 

11 ‘‘(ii) Transportation, Housing and 

12 Urban Development; 

13 ‘‘(iii) Interior, Environment; 

14 ‘‘(iv) Labor, Health and Human Serv15 ices, Education; and 


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1 ‘‘(v) Military Construction, Veterans 

2 Affairs. 

3 ‘‘(2) EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS.—In even-num4 bered years Congress shall consider pursuant to the 

5 budget process in this title and enact— 

6 ‘‘(A) an annual defense appropriation bill; 

7 and 

8 ‘‘(B) biennial appropriation bills for— 

9 ‘‘(i) Agriculture; 

10 ‘‘(ii) Commerce, Justice, Science; 

11 ‘‘(iii) Energy and Water; 

12 ‘‘(iv) Homeland Security; 

13 ‘‘(v) Legislative Branch; and 

14 ‘‘(vi) State–Foreign Operations.’’. 

15 SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET 

16 AND IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL ACT OF 1974. 

17 (a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 3 of the Congressional 

18 Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622) is amended by adding 

19 at the end the following: 

20 ‘‘(12) The term ‘biennium’ means the period of 

21 2 consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1.’’. 

22 (b) COMMITTEE ALLOCATIONS.—Section 302 of the 

23 Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 633) is 

24 amended— 


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1 (1) in subsection (a)(1), in the matter pre2 ceding subparagraph (A)— 

3 (A) by inserting ‘‘and for appropriations 

4 for each fiscal year in the biennium and for the 

5 first fiscal year of the resolution for defense,’’ 

6 after ‘‘for the first fiscal year of the resolu7 tion,’’; 

8 (B) by striking ‘‘for that period of fiscal 

9 years’’ and inserting ‘‘for all fiscal years cov10 ered by the resolution’’; and 

11 (C) by inserting ‘‘for defense and for each 

12 fiscal year in the biennium’’ after ‘‘for the fiscal 

13 year of that resolution’’; 

14 (2) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘for defense 

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

16 (3) in subsection (f)(2)(A)— 

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

18 inserting ‘‘each fiscal year of the biennium’’; 

19 and 

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

21 and inserting ‘‘the total of all fiscal years cov22 ered by the resolution’’. 


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

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

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

4 following: 

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

6 term in section 3(12) of the Congressional Budget 

7 and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 

8 622(12)).’’. 

9 (b) BUDGET CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION TO THE

10 CONGRESS.— 

11 (1) EXPENDITURES.—Section 1105(a)(5) of 

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

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

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

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

16 budget is submitted and in the succeeding 4 fiscal 

17 years’’. 

18 (2) RECEIPTS.—Section 1105(a)(6) of title 31, 

19 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fis20 cal year for which the budget is submitted and the 

21 4 fiscal years after that year’’ and inserting ‘‘each 

22 fiscal year in the biennium for which the budget is 

23 submitted and in the succeeding 4 years’’. 

24 (3) BALANCE STATEMENTS.—Section 

25 1105(a)(9)(C) of title 31, United States Code, is 


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

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

3 (4) FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES.—Section 

4 1105(a)(12)(A) of title 31, United States Code, is 

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

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

7 (5) ALLOWANCES.—Section 1105(a)(13) of title 

8 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the 

9 fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bi10 ennium’’. 

11 (6) ALLOWANCES FOR UNCONTROLLED EX12 PENDITURES.—Section 1105(a)(14) of title 31, 

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

14 year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien15 nium for which the budget is submitted’’. 

16 (7) TAX EXPENDITURES.—Section 1105(a)(16) 

17 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by strik18 ing ‘‘the fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year 

19 in the biennium’’. 

20 (8) FUTURE YEARS.—Section 1105(a)(17) of 

21 title 31, United States Code, is amended— 

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

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

24 in the biennium following the biennium’’; 


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

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

3 (C) by striking ‘‘fiscal year before the fis4 cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium before the bi5 ennium’’. 

6 (9) PRIOR YEAR OUTLAYS.—Section 

7 1105(a)(18) of title 31, United States Code, is 

8 amended— 

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

10 inserting ‘‘each of the 2 most recently com11 pleted fiscal years,’’; 

12 (B) by striking ‘‘for that year’’ and insert13 ing ‘‘with respect to those fiscal years’’; and 

14 (C) by striking ‘‘in that year’’ and insert15 ing ‘‘in those fiscal years’’. 

16 (10) PRIOR YEAR RECEIPTS.—Section 

17 1105(a)(19) of title 31, United States Code, is 

18 amended— 

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

20 inserting ‘‘each of the 2 most recently com21 pleted fiscal years’’; 

22 (B) by striking ‘‘for that year’’ and insert23 ing ‘‘with respect to those fiscal years’’; and 

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

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


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1 (c) ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES OF LEGISLATIVE

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

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

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

5 (d) RECOMMENDATIONS TO MEET ESTIMATED DE6 FICIENCIES.—Section 1105(c) of title 31, United States 

7 Code, is amended— 

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

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

10 the biennium for’’; 

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

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

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

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

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

16 (e) CAPITAL INVESTMENT ANALYSIS.—Section 

17 1105(e)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is amended 

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

19 to which such budget relates’’. 

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

21 APPROPRIATIONS ACTS. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 105 of title 1, United 

23 States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

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

25 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) NONDEFENSE.—Except as provided in 

2 paragraph (2), the style and title of all Acts making 

3 appropriations for the support of the Government 

4 shall be as follows: ‘An Act making appropriations 

5 (here insert the object) for each fiscal year in the bi6 ennium of fiscal years (here insert the fiscal years 

7 of the biennium).’. 

8 ‘‘(2) DEFENSE.—The style and title of Acts 

9 making appropriations for the support of defense 

10 shall be as follows: ‘An Act making appropriations 

11 for defense for fiscal year (here insert the fiscal 

12 year).’. 

13 ‘‘(3) AMOUNTS.—All Acts making regular ap14 propriations for the support of the Government shall 

15 specify the amount of appropriations provided for 

16 each fiscal year in such period. 

17 ‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 

18 ‘‘(1) the term ‘biennium’ has the same meaning 

19 as in section 3(12) of the Congressional Budget and 

20 Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 

21 622(12)); and 

22 ‘‘(2) Acts described in subsection (a)(1) shall be 

23 considered as provided in section 300(b) of the Con24 gressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631(b)).’’. 


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1 (b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.— 

2 The table of sections for chapter 2 of title 1, United States 

3 Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 

4 105 and inserting the following: 

‘‘105. Title and style of appropriations Acts.’’. 

5 SEC. 6. MULTIYEAR AUTHORIZATIONS. 

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

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

8 following: 

9 ‘‘AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS

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

11 in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate 

12 to consider— 

13 ‘‘(1) any bill, joint resolution, amendment, mo14 tion, or conference report that authorizes appropria15 tions for a period of less than 2 fiscal years, unless 

16 the program, project, or activity for which the ap17 propriations are authorized will require no further 

18 appropriations and will be completed or terminated 

19 after the appropriations have been expended; and 

20 ‘‘(2) for any year, any authorization or revenue 

21 bill or joint resolution until Congress completes ac22 tion on the budget resolution, all appropriations bills 

23 to be considered during the year under section 

24 300(b), and all reconciliation bills. 


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

2 shall not apply to— 

3 ‘‘(1) defense; 

4 ‘‘(2) any measure that is privileged for consid5 eration pursuant to a rule or statute; 

6 ‘‘(3) any matter considered in Executive Ses7 sion; or 

8 ‘‘(4) an appropriations measure or reconcili9 ation bill.’’. 

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

11 table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congres12 sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is 

13 amended by adding after the item relating to section 315 

14 the following: 

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

15 SEC. 7. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—In each year that the activities of 

17 an agency are not required to be funded pursuant to sec18 tion 300(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 

19 committee of the House and the Senate with legislative 

20 jurisdiction over that agency shall hold a joint oversight 

21 hearing with the corresponding subcommittee of the Com22 mittee on Appropriations of their respective House with 

23 jurisdiction over the agency. 

24 (b) HEARING.—A hearing required by subsection (a) 

25 shall review— 


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1 (1) the mission of the agency; 

2 (2) the impact of biennial budgeting on agency 

3 efficiency; 

4 (3) the cost savings associated with biennial 

5 budgeting; 

6 (4) new programs created in the off year of the 

7 agency budget; and 

8 (5) programs that were terminated in the off 

9 year of the agency budget. 

10 SEC. 8. REPORT ON TWO-YEAR FISCAL PERIOD. 

11 Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 

12 of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and 

13 Budget shall— 

14 (1) determine the impact and feasibility of 

15 changing the definition of a fiscal year and the 

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

17 fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on 

18 the 2-year period; and 

19 (2) submit to the Committee on the Budget of 

20 the Senate and the Committee on the Budget of the 

21 House of Representatives a report on the findings of 

22 the study. 

23 SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

24 Except as provided in section 8, this Act and the 

25 amendments made by this Act shall take effect on January 


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1 1, 2016, and shall apply to budget resolutions and appro2 priations for the biennium beginning with fiscal year 

3 2017. 

Æ 


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