H. Con. Res. 84—13
Fiscal year 1998:
(A) New budget authority, $296,500,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $296,500,000,000.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
Fiscal year 1999:
(A) New budget authority, $304,600,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $304,600,000,000.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
Fiscal year 2000:
(A) New budget authority, $305,100,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $305,100,000,000.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
Fiscal year 2001:
(A) New budget authority, $303,800,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $303,800,000,000.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
Fiscal year 2002:
(A) New budget authority, $303,700,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $303,700,000,000.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
(19) Allowances (920):
Fiscal year 1998:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $0.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
Fiscal year 1999:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $0.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
Fiscal year 2000:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $0.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
Fiscal year 2001:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $0.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
Fiscal year 2002:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $0.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
(20) Undistributed Offsetting Receipts (950):
Fiscal year 1998:
(A) New budget authority, ¥$41,800,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$41,800,000,000.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
H. Con. Res. 84—14
Fiscal year 1999:
(A) New budget authority, ¥$36,900,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$36,900,000,000.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
Fiscal year 2000:
(A) New budget authority, ¥$36,900,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$36,900,000,000.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
Fiscal year 2001:
(A) New budget authority, ¥$39,200,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$39,200,000,000.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
Fiscal year 2002:
(A) New budget authority, ¥$51,100,000,000.
(B) Outlays, ¥$51,100,000,000.
(C) New direct loan obligations, $0.
(D) New primary loan guarantee commitments, $0.
SEC. 104. RECONCILIATION IN THE SENATE.
(a) RECONCILIATION OF SPENDING REDUCTIONS.—Not later than
June 13, 1997, the committees named in this subsection shall
submit their recommendations to the Committee on the Budget
of the Senate. After receiving those recommendations, the Commit-
tee on the Budget shall report to the Senate a reconciliation bill
carrying out all such recommendations without any substantive
revision.
(1) COMMITTEE
ON
AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND
FOR-
ESTRY.—The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry shall report changes in laws within its jurisdiction
that provide direct spending (as defined in section 250(c)(8)
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act
of 1985) to increase outlays by not more than $300,000,000
in fiscal year 2002 and by not more than $1,500,000,000 for
the period of fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
(2) COMMITTEE
ON
BANKING, 
HOUSING, 
AND
URBAN
AFFAIRS.—The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs shall report changes in laws within its jurisdic-
tion that reduce the deficit $434,000,000 in fiscal year 2002
and $1,590,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 1998 through
2002.
(3) COMMITTEE
ON
COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND
TRANSPOR-
TATION.—The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation shall report changes in laws within its jurisdic-
tion that reduce the deficit $14,849,000,000 in fiscal year 2002
and $26,496,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 1998 through
2002.
(4) COMMITTEE
ON
ENERGY
AND
NATURAL
RESOURCES.—
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources shall
report changes in laws within its jurisdiction that provide direct
spending (as defined in section 250(c)(8) of the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985) to reduce outlays
$6,000,000 in fiscal year 2002 and $13,000,000 for the period
of fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
H. Con. Res. 84—15
(5) COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.—The Senate Committee on
Finance shall report changes in laws within its jurisdiction—
(A) that provide direct spending (as defined in section
250(c)(8) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985) to reduce outlays $40,911,000,000
in fiscal year 2002 and $100,646,000,000 for the period
of fiscal years 1998 through 2002; and
(B) to increase the statutory limit on the public debt
to not more than $5,950,000,000,000.
(6) COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS.—The Senate
Committee on Governmental Affairs shall report changes in
laws 
within 
its 
jurisdiction 
that 
reduce 
the 
deficit
$1,769,000,000 in fiscal year 2002 and $5,467,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
(7) COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES.—The
Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources shall report
changes in laws within its jurisdiction that provide direct spend-
ing (as defined in section 250(c)(8) of the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985) to reduce outlays
$1,057,000,000 in fiscal year 2002 and $1,792,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
(8) COMMITTEE
ON
VETERANS’ 
AFFAIRS.—The Senate
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs shall report changes in laws
within its jurisdiction that provide direct spending (as defined
in section 250(c)(8) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985) to reduce outlays $681,000,000
in fiscal year 2002 and $2,733,000,000 for the period of fiscal
years 1998 through 2002.
(b) RECONCILIATION OF REVENUE REDUCTIONS.—Not later than
June 20, 1997, the Senate Committee on Finance shall report
to the Senate a reconciliation bill proposing changes in laws within
its jurisdiction necessary to reduce revenues by not more than
$20,500,000,000 in fiscal year 2002 and $85,000,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
(c) TREATMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL PAY-AS-YOU-GO.—For pur-
poses of section 202 of House Concurrent Resolution 67 (104th
Congress), legislation which reduces revenues pursuant to a rec-
onciliation instruction contained in subsection (b) shall be taken
together with all other legislation passed pursuant to the reconcili-
ation instructions contained in this resolution when determining
the deficit effect of such legislation.
(d) CHILDREN’S HEALTH INITIATIVE.—
(1) DEFICIT NEUTRAL ADJUSTMENTS.—After the reporting
of reconciliation legislation pursuant to subsection (a), or after
the submission of a conference report thereon, and if the
Committee on Finance reduces outlays by an amount greater
than the outlay reduction that is required by subsection
(a)(5)(A), the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of
the Senate, with the concurrence and agreement of the ranking
minority member, may submit in writing appropriately revised
(A) reconciliation instructions to the Committee on Finance
to reduce the deficit, (B) allocations, (C) limits, and (D) aggre-
gates.
(2) FLEXIBILITY ON ADJUSTMENTS.—The adjustments made
pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed $2,300,000,000
in fiscal year 1998 and $16,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal
H. Con. Res. 84—16
years 1998 through 2002 and shall not cause an increase in
the deficit levels in this resolution.
SEC. 105. RECONCILIATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to provide for
two separate reconciliation bills: the first for entitlement reform
and the second for tax relief.
(b) SUBMISSIONS.—
(1) ENTITLEMENT REFORMS.—Not later than June 13, 1997,
the House committees named in subsection (c) shall submit
their recommendations to the House Committee on the Budget.
After receiving those recommendations, the House Committee
on the Budget shall report to the House a reconciliation bill
carrying out all such recommendations without any substantive
revision.
(2) TAX RELIEF AND MISCELLANEOUS REFORMS.—Not later
than June 14, 1997, the House committees named in subsection
(d) shall submit their recommendations to the House Committee
on the Budget. After receiving those recommendations, the
House Committee on the Budget shall report to the House
a reconciliation bill carrying out all such recommendations
without any substantive revision.
(c) INSTRUCTIONS RELATING TO ENTITLEMENT REFORMS.—
(1) COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE.—The House Committee
on Agriculture shall report changes in laws within its jurisdic-
tion that provide direct spending such that the total level
of direct spending for that committee does not exceed:
$34,571,000,000 in outlays for fiscal year 1998, $37,008,000,000
in outlays for fiscal year 2002, and $179,884,000,000 in outlays
in fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
(2) COMMITTEE
ON
BANKING
AND
FINANCIAL
SERVICES.—
The House Committee on Banking and Financial Services shall
report changes in laws within its jurisdiction that provide direct
spending such that the total level of direct spending for that
committee does not exceed: ¥$8,435,000,000 in outlays for
fiscal year 1998, ¥$5,091,000,000 in outlays for fiscal year
2002, and ¥$32,743,000,000 in outlays in fiscal years 1998
through 2002.
(3) COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE.—The House Committee on
Commerce shall report changes in laws within its jurisdiction
that provide direct spending such that the total level of direct
spending for that committee does not exceed: $393,533,000,000
in outlays for fiscal year 1998, $507,150,000,000 in outlays
for fiscal year 2002, and $2,259,294,000,000 in outlays in fiscal
years 1998 through 2002.
(4) COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE.—The
House Committee on Education and the Workforce shall report
changes in laws within its jurisdiction that provide direct spend-
ing such that the total level of direct spending for that commit-
tee does not exceed: $17,222,000,000 in outlays for fiscal year
1998, $17,673,000,000 in outlays for fiscal year 2002, and
$89,528,000,000 in outlays in fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
(5) COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM AND OVERSIGHT.—
(A) The House Committee on Government Reform and Over-
sight shall report changes in laws within its jurisdiction that
provide direct spending such that the total level of direct spend-
ing for that committee does not exceed: $68,975,000,000 in
H. Con. Res. 84—17
outlays for fiscal year 1998, $81,896,000,000 in outlays for
fiscal year 2002, and $375,722,000,000 in outlays in fiscal years
1998 through 2002.
(B) The House Committee on Government Reform and
Oversight shall report changes in laws within its jurisdiction
that would reduce the deficit by: $0 in fiscal year 1998,
$621,000,000 in fiscal year 2002, and $1,829,000,000 in fiscal
years 1998 through 2002.
(6) COMMITTEE
ON
TRANSPORTATION
AND
INFRASTRUC-
TURE.—The House Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure shall report changes in laws within its jurisdiction
that provide direct spending such that the total level of direct
spending for that committee does not exceed: $18,087,000,000
in outlays for fiscal year 1998, $17,283,000,000 in outlays for
fiscal year 2002, and $88,711,000,000 in outlays in fiscal years
1998 through 2002.
(7) 
COMMITTEE
ON
VETERANS’ 
AFFAIRS.—The 
House
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs shall report changes in laws
within its jurisdiction that provide direct spending such that
the total level of direct spending for that committee does not
exceed: $22,444,000,000 in outlays for fiscal year 1998,
$24,563,000,000 
in 
outlays 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2002, 
and
$117,959,000,000 in outlays in fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
(8) COMMITTEE
ON
WAYS
AND
MEANS.—(A) The House
Committee on Ways and Means shall report changes in laws
within its jurisdiction such that the total level of direct spending
for that committee does not exceed: $397,581,000,000 in outlays
for fiscal year 1998, $506,522,000,000 in outlays for fiscal year
2002, and $2,257,912,000,000 in outlays in fiscal years 1998
through 2002.
(B) The House Committee on Ways and Means shall report
changes in laws within its jurisdiction such that the total
level of revenues for that committee is not less than:
$1,172,136,000,000 
in 
revenues 
for 
fiscal 
year 
1998,
$1,382,679,000,000 in revenues for fiscal year 2002, and
$6,358,388,000,000 in revenues in fiscal years 1998 through
2002.
(C) The House Committee on Ways and Means shall report
changes in laws within its jurisdiction to increase the statutory
limit on the public debt to not more than $5,950,000,000,000.
(d) INSTRUCTIONS RELATING TO TAX RELIEF AND MISCELLANE-
OUS REFORMS.—
(1) COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE.—The House Committee
on Agriculture shall report changes in laws within its jurisdic-
tion that provide direct spending such that the total level
of direct spending for that committee does not exceed:
$34,571,000,000 in outlays for fiscal year 1998, $37,008,000,000
in outlays for fiscal year 2002, and $179,884,000,000 in outlays
in fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
(2) COMMITTEE
ON
BANKING
AND
FINANCIAL
SERVICES.—
The House Committee on Banking and Financial Services shall
report changes in laws within its jurisdiction that provide direct
spending such that the total level of direct spending for that
committee does not exceed: ¥$8,435,000,000 in outlays for
fiscal year 1998, ¥$5,091,000,000 in outlays for fiscal year
2002, and ¥$32,743,000,000 in outlays in fiscal years 1998
through 2002.
H. Con. Res. 84—19
(C) The House Committee on Ways and Means shall report
changes in laws within its jurisdiction to increase the statutory
limit on the public debt to not more than $5,950,000,000,000.
(e) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘direct
spending’’ has the meaning given to such term in section 250(c)(8)
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
(f) CHILDREN’S HEALTH INITIATIVE.—If the Committees on Com-
merce and Ways and Means report recommendations pursuant to
their reconciliation instructions that, combined, provide an initiative
for children’s health that would increase the deficit by more than
$2.3 billion for fiscal year 1998, by more than $3.9 billion for
fiscal year 2002, and by more than $16 billion for the period
of fiscal years 1998 through 2002, the committees shall be deemed
to not have complied with their reconciliation instructions pursuant
to section 310(d) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
TITLE II—BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS
AND RULEMAKING
SEC. 201. DISCRETIONARY SPENDING LIMITS.
(a) DISCRETIONARY LIMITS.—In the Senate, in this section and
for the purposes of allocations made for the discretionary category
pursuant to section 302(a) or 602(a) of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974, the term ‘‘discretionary spending limit’’ means—
(1) with respect to fiscal year 1998—
(A) for the defense category $269,000,000,000 in new
budget authority and $266,823,000,000 in outlays; and
(B) for the nondefense category $257,857,000,000 in
new budget authority and $286,445,000,000 in outlays;
(2) with respect to fiscal year 1999—
(A) for the defense category $271,500,000,000 in new
budget authority and $266,518,000,000 in outlays; and
(B) for the nondefense category $261,499,000,000 in
new budget authority and $292,803,000,000 in outlays;
(3) with respect to fiscal year 2000, for the discretionary
category $537,193,000,000 in new budget authority and
$564,265,000,000 in outlays;
(4) with respect to fiscal year 2001, for the discretionary
category $542,032,000,000 in new budget authority and
$564,396,000,000 in outlays; and
(5) with respect to fiscal year 2002, for the discretionary
category $551,074,000,000 in new budget authority and
$560,799,000,000 in outlays;
as adjusted for changes in concepts and definitions and emergency
appropriations.
(b) POINT OF ORDER IN THE SENATE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), it
shall not be in order in the Senate to consider—
(A) a revision of this resolution or any concurrent
resolution on the budget for fiscal years 1999, 2000, 2001,
or 2002 (or amendment, motion, or conference report on
such a resolution) that provides discretionary spending in
excess of the discretionary spending limit or limits for
such fiscal year; or
(B) any bill or resolution (or amendment, motion, or
conference report on such bill or resolution) for fiscal year
H. Con. Res. 84—20
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, or 2002 that would cause any
of the limits in this section (or suballocations of the discre-
tionary limits made pursuant to section 602(b) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974) to be exceeded.
(2) EXCEPTION.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—This section shall not apply if a
declaration of war by the Congress is in effect or if a
joint resolution pursuant to section 258 of the Balanced
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 has
been enacted.
(B) ENFORCEMENT OF DISCRETIONARY LIMITS IN FISCAL
YEAR 1998.—Until the enactment of reconciliation legislation
pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of section 104 of this
resolution—
(i) subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) shall not
apply; and
(ii) subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) shall apply
only with respect to fiscal year 1998.
(c) WAIVER.—This section may be waived or suspended in the
Senate only by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members,
duly chosen and sworn.
(d) APPEALS.—Appeals in the Senate from the decisions of the
Chair relating to any provision of this section shall be limited
to 1 hour, to be equally divided between, and controlled by, the
appellant and the manager of the concurrent resolution, bill, or
joint resolution, as the case may be. An affirmative vote of three-
fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall
be required in the Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of
the Chair on a point of order raised under this section.
(e) DETERMINATION OF BUDGET LEVELS.—For purposes of this
section, the levels of new budget authority, outlays, new entitlement
authority, revenues, and deficits for a fiscal year shall be determined
on the basis of estimates made by the Committee on the Budget
of the Senate.
SEC. 202. ALLOWANCE FOR THE IMF.
(a) ADJUSTMENTS.—In the Senate, for fiscal year 1998, 1999,
2000, 2001, or 2002, and in the House of Representatives, for
fiscal year 1998 or 1999, after the reporting of an appropriations
measure (or after the submission of a conference report thereon)
that includes an appropriation with respect to paragraph (1) or
(2), the chairman of the Committee on the Budget shall increase
the appropriate allocations, budgetary aggregates, and, in the Sen-
ate only, discretionary limits, by the amount of budget authority
in that measure that is the dollar equivalent, in terms of Special
Drawing Rights, of—
(1) an increase in the United States quota as part of
the International Monetary Fund Eleventh General Review
of Quotas (United States Quota); or
(2) any increase in the maximum amount available to
the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to section 17 of the
Bretton Woods Agreement Act, as amended from time to time
(New Arrangements to Borrow).
H. Con. Res. 84—21
(b) COMMITTEE SUBALLOCATIONS.—The Committee on Appro-
priations may report to its House appropriately revised suballoca-
tions pursuant to sections 302(b)(1) and 602(b)(1) of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974 following the adjustments made pursuant
to subsection (a).
SEC. 203. ALLOWANCE FOR SECTION 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE.
(a) ADJUSTMENT FOR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.—For fiscal year
1998, after the reporting of an appropriation measure (or after
the submission of a conference report thereon) that includes an
appropriation for the renewal of expiring contracts for tenant- and
project-based housing assistance under section 8 of the United
States Housing Act of 1937, the chairman of the Committee on
the Budget may increase the appropriate allocations in this resolu-
tion by the amount provided in that appropriation measure for
that purpose, but not to exceed $9,200,000,000 in budget authority
and the appropriate amount of outlays.
(b) COMMITTEE SUBALLOCATIONS.—The Committee on Appro-
priations may report to its House appropriately revised suballoca-
tions pursuant to sections 302(b)(1) and 602(b)(1) of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974 following the adjustments made pursuant
to subsection (a).
SEC. 204. SEPARATE ENVIRONMENTAL ALLOCATION.
(a) COMMITTEE ALLOCATIONS.—After the Committee on Com-
merce and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
report a bill (or after the submission of a conference report thereon)
or in the Senate, after the Committee on Environment and Public
Works reports a bill (or after the submission of a conference report
thereon) to reform the Superfund program to facilitate the cleanup
of hazardous waste sites that does not exceed—
(1) $200,000,000 in budget authority for fiscal year 1998,
(2) $200,000,000 in outlays for fiscal year 2002, and
(3) $1,000,000,000 in budget authority for the period of
fiscal years 1998 through 2002,
the chairman of the Committee on the Budget of that House may
increase the appropriate allocations of budget authority in this
resolution by the amounts provided in that bill for that purpose
and the outlays flowing in all years from such budget authority.
(b) PRIOR SURPLUS.—In the Senate, for the purposes of section
202 of House Concurrent Resolution 67 (104th Congress), legislation
reported (or the submission of a conference report thereon) pursuant
to subsection (a) shall be taken together with all other legislation
passed pursuant to section 104 of this resolution.
SEC. 205. PRIORITY FEDERAL LAND ACQUISITIONS AND EXCHANGES.
(a) ADJUSTMENT FOR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.—For fiscal year
1998, after the reporting of an appropriation measure (or after
the submission of a conference report thereon) that provides $700
million in budget authority for fiscal year 1998 for Federal land
acquisitions and to finalize priority Federal land exchanges, the
Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of each House shall
increase the appropriate allocations by that amount of budget
authority and the outlays flowing from such budget authority to
the Committee on Appropriations of that House.
(b) 
COMMITTEE
SUBALLOCATIONS.—The 
Committee 
on
Appropriations may report to its House appropriately revised sub-
allocations pursuant to sections 302(b)(1) and 602(b)(1) of the
H. Con. Res. 84—22
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 following the adjustments made
pursuant to subsection (a).
SEC. 206. ALLOWANCE FOR ARREARAGES.
(a) ADJUSTMENT
FOR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.—(1) In the
Senate, for the period of fiscal years 1998 through 2002, or in
the House of Representatives, for the period of fiscal years 1998
and 1999, after the reporting of an appropriations measure (or
after the submission of a conference report thereon) that includes
an appropriation for arrearages for international organizations,
international peacekeeping, and multilateral development banks
during that fiscal year, the Chairman of the Committee on the
Budget shall increase the appropriate allocations, aggregates, and,
in the Senate only, discretionary spending limits, in this resolution
by an amount provided for that purpose in that appropriation
measure.
(2) In the Senate, the adjustments described in paragraph
(1) for the period of fiscal years 1998 through 2002 may not exceed
$1,884,000,000 in budget authority and the outlays flowing in all
years from such budget authority.
(b) COMMITTEE SUBALLOCATIONS.—The Committee on Appro-
priations shall report to its House appropriately revised suballoca-
tions pursuant to sections 302(b)(1) and 602(b)(1) of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974 following the adjustments made pursuant
to subsection (a).
SEC. 207. INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL RESERVE FUND FOR FISCAL
YEARS 1998–2002.
(a) IN GENERAL.—If legislation is enacted which generates reve-
nue increases or direct spending reductions to finance an intercity
passenger rail fund and to the extent that such increases or reduc-
tions are not included in this concurrent resolution on the budget,
the appropriate budgetary levels and limits may be adjusted if
such adjustments do not cause an increase in the deficit in this
resolution. Necessary authorizing reforms and additional funding
contained in this reserve fund for intercity passenger rail should
both occur in this Session, and if such funds are appropriated
before the enactment of such reforms, such appropriated funds
shall not be made available until the enactment of such reforms.
(b) ESTABLISHING A RESERVE.—
(1) ADJUSTMENTS TO CAPTURE SAVINGS.—After the enact-
ment of legislation described in subsection (a), the Chairman
of the Committee on the Budget may submit revisions to the
appropriate allocations and aggregates by the amount that
provisions in such legislation generates revenue increases or
direct spending reductions.
(2) DETERMINATION
OF
MAXIMUM
DISCRETIONARY
ALLOW-
ANCE.—Upon the submission of such revisions, the Chairman
of the Committee on the Budget shall also submit the amount
of revenue increases or direct spending reductions such legisla-
tion generates and the maximum amount available each year
for adjustments pursuant to subsection (c).
(c) ADJUSTMENTS FOR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.—
(1) REVISIONS
TO
ALLOCATIONS
AND
AGGREGATES.—After
either—
(A) the reporting of an appropriations measure, or
after a conference committee submits a conference report
thereon, that appropriates funds for the National Railroad
H. Con. Res. 84—23
Passenger Corporation and funds from the intercity pas-
senger rail fund; or
(B) the reporting of an appropriations measure, or
after a conference committee submits a conference report
thereon, that appropriates funds from the intercity pas-
senger rail fund (funds having previously been appropriated
for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for that
same fiscal year),
the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget may submit
increased budget authority allocations, aggregates, and, in the
Senate only, discretionary limits, for the amount appropriated
for authorized expenditures from the intercity passenger rail
fund and the outlays in all years flowing from such budget
authority.
(2) REVISIONS
TO
SUBALLOCATIONS.—The Committee on
Appropriations may submit appropriately revised suballocations
pursuant to sections 302(b)(1) and 602(b)(1) of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974.
(d) LIMITATIONS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The revisions made pursuant to sub-
section (b) shall not be made—
(A) with respect to direct spending reductions, unless
the committee that generates the direct spending reduc-
tions is within its allocations under sections 302(a) and
602(a) of the Budget Act in this resolution (not including
the direct spending reductions envisioned in subsection
(b)); and
(B) with respect to revenue increases, unless revenues
are at or above the revenue aggregates in this resolution
(not including the revenue increases envisioned in sub-
section (b)).
(2) BUDGET AUTHORITY.—The budget authority adjustments
made pursuant to subsection (c) shall not exceed the amounts
specified in subsection (b)(2) for a fiscal year.
SEC. 207A. INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL RESERVE FUND IN THE SEN-
ATE FOR FISCAL YEARS 1998–2002.
(a) IN GENERAL.—In the Senate, if legislation is enacted which
generates revenue increases or direct spending reductions to finance
an intercity passenger rail fund and to the extent that such
increases or reductions are not included in this concurrent resolu-
tion on the budget, the appropriate budgetary levels and limits
may be adjusted if such adjustments do not cause an increase
in the deficit in this resolution.
(b) ESTABLISHING A RESERVE.—
(1) ADJUSTMENTS TO CAPTURE SAVINGS.—After the enact-
ment of legislation described in subsection (a), the Chairman
of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate may submit
revisions to the appropriate allocations and aggregates by the
amount that provisions in such legislation generates revenue
increases or direct spending reductions.
(2) DETERMINATION
OF
MAXIMUM
DISCRETIONARY
ALLOW-
ANCE.—Upon the submission of such revisions, the Chairman
of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate shall also submit
the amount of revenue increases or direct spending reductions
such legislation generates and the maximum amount available
each year for adjustments pursuant to subsection (c).
H. Con. Res. 84—24
(c) ADJUSTMENTS FOR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.—
(1) REVISIONS
TO
ALLOCATIONS
AND
AGGREGATES.—After
either—
(A) the reporting of an appropriations measure, or
after a conference committee submits a conference report
thereon, that appropriates funds for the National Railroad
Passenger Corporation and funds from the intercity pas-
senger rail fund; or
(B) the reporting of an appropriations measure, or
after a conference committee submits a conference report
thereon, that appropriates funds from the intercity pas-
senger rail fund (funds having previously been appropriated
for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for that
same fiscal year),
the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate
may submit increased budget authority allocations, aggregates,
and discretionary limits, for the amount appropriated for
authorized expenditures from the intercity passenger rail fund
and the outlays in all years flowing from such budget authority.
(2) REVISIONS
TO
SUBALLOCATIONS.—The Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate may submit appropriately revised
suballocations pursuant to sections 302(b)(1) and 602(b)(1) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(d) LIMITATIONS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The revisions made pursuant to sub-
section (b) shall not be made—
(A) with respect to direct spending reductions, unless
the committee that generates the direct spending reduc-
tions is within its allocations under sections 302(a) and
602(a) of the Budget Act in this resolution (not including
the direct spending reductions envisioned in subsection
(b)); and
(B) with respect to revenue increases, unless revenues
are at or above the revenue aggregates in this resolution
(not including the revenue increases envisioned in sub-
section (b)).
(2) BUDGET AUTHORITY.—The budget authority adjustments
made pursuant to subsection (c) shall not exceed the amounts
specified in subsection (b)(2) for a fiscal year.
SEC. 208. MASS TRANSIT RESERVE FUND IN THE SENATE FOR FISCAL
YEARS 1998–2002.
(a) IN GENERAL.—In the Senate, if legislation generates revenue
increases or direct spending reductions to finance mass transit
and to the extent that such increases or reductions are not included
in this concurrent resolution on the budget, the appropriate budg-
etary levels and limits may be adjusted if such adjustments do
not cause an increase in the deficit in this resolution.
(b) ADJUSTMENT FOR BUDGET AUTHORITY.—After the reporting
of legislation (the offering of an amendment thereto or conference
report thereon) that reduces non-mass transit direct spending or
increases revenues for a fiscal year or years, the Chairman of
the Committee on the Budget of the Senate may submit appro-
priately revised allocations and aggregates by an amount that
equals the amount such legislation reduces direct spending or
increases revenues for a fiscal year or years.
(c) ESTABLISHING A RESERVE.—
H. Con. Res. 84—25
(1) REVISIONS.—After the enactment of legislation described
in subsection (a), the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget
of the Senate may submit revisions to the appropriate alloca-
tions and aggregates by the amount that provisions in such
legislation generates revenue increases or direct nonhighway
spending reductions.
(2) REVENUE
INCREASES
OR
DIRECT
SPENDING
REDUC-
TIONS.—After the submission of such revisions, the Chairman
of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate shall also submit
the amount of revenue increases or non-mass transit direct
spending reductions such legislation generates and the maxi-
mum amount available each year for adjustments pursuant
to subsection (d).
(d) ADJUSTMENTS FOR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.—
(1) REVISIONS
TO
ALLOCATIONS
AND
AGGREGATES.—After
the reporting of an appropriations measure, or after a con-
ference committee submits a conference report thereon, that
makes available funds for mass transit, the Chairman of the
Committee on the Budget of the Senate shall submit increased
outlay allocations, aggregates, and discretionary limits for the
amount of outlays flowing from the additional obligational
authority provided in such bill.
(2) REVISIONS
TO
SUBALLOCATIONS.—The Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate may submit appropriately revised
suballocations pursuant to sections 302(b)(1) and 602(b)(1) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(e) LIMITATIONS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The revisions made pursuant to sub-
section (c) shall not be made—
(A) with respect to non-mass transit direct spending
reductions, unless the committee that generates the direct
spending reductions is within its allocations under sections
302(a) and 602(a) of the Budget Act in this resolution
(not including the non-mass transit direct spending reduc-
tions envisioned in subsection (c)); and
(B) with respect to revenue increases, unless revenues
are at or above the revenue aggregates in this resolution
(not including the revenue increases envisioned in sub-
section (c)).
(2) OUTLAYS.—The outlay adjustments made pursuant to
subsection (d) shall not exceed the amounts specified in sub-
section (c)(2) for a fiscal year.
SEC. 209. HIGHWAY RESERVE FUND IN THE SENATE FOR FISCAL YEARS
1998–2002.
(a) IN GENERAL.—In the Senate, if legislation generates revenue
increases or direct spending reductions to finance highways and
to the extent that such increases or reductions are not included
in this concurrent resolution on the budget, the appropriate budg-
etary levels and limits may be adjusted if such adjustments do
not cause an increase in the deficit in this resolution.
(b) ADJUSTMENTS FOR BUDGET AUTHORITY.—After the reporting
of legislation (the offering of an amendment thereto or conference
report thereon) that reduces nonhighway direct spending or
increases revenues for a fiscal year or years, the Chairman of
the Committee on the Budget of the Senate may submit appro-
priately revised allocations and aggregates by an amount that
H. Con. Res. 84—26
equals the amount such legislation reduces direct spending or
increases revenues for a fiscal year or years.
(c) ESTABLISHING A RESERVE.—
(1) REVISIONS.—After the enactment of legislation described
in subsection (a), the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget
of the Senate may submit revisions to the appropriate alloca-
tions and aggregates by the amount that provisions in such
legislation generates revenue increases or non-highway direct
spending reductions.
(2) REVENUE
INCREASES
OR
DIRECT
SPENDING
REDUC-
TIONS.—Upon the submission of such revisions, the Chairman
of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate shall also submit
the amount of revenue increases or direct nonhighway spending
reductions such legislation generates and the maximum amount
available each year for adjustments pursuant to subsection
(d).
(d) ADJUSTMENTS FOR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.—
(1) REVISIONS
TO
ALLOCATIONS
AND
AGGREGATES.—After
the reporting of an appropriations measure, or after a con-
ference committee submits a conference report thereon, that
makes available funds for highways, the Chairman of the
Committee on the Budget of the Senate shall submit increased
outlay allocations, aggregates, and discretionary limits for the
amount of outlays flowing from the additional obligational
authority provided in such measure.
(2) REVISIONS
TO
SUBALLOCATIONS.—The Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate may submit appropriately revised
suballocations pursuant to sections 302(b)(1) and 602(b)(1) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(e) LIMITATIONS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The revisions made pursuant to sub-
section (c) shall not be made—
(A) with respect to nonhighway direct spending reduc-
tions, unless the committee that generates the direct spend-
ing reductions is within its allocations under section 302(a)
and 602(a) of the Budget Act in this resolution (not includ-
ing the nonhighway direct spending reductions envisioned
in subsection (c)); and
(B) with respect to revenue increases, unless revenues
are at or above the revenue aggregates in this resolution
(not including the revenue increases envisioned in sub-
section (c)).
(2) OUTLAYS.—The outlay adjustments made pursuant to
subsection (d) shall not exceed the amounts specified in sub-
section (c)(2) for a fiscal year.
SEC. 210. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND IN THE HOUSE FOR
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION.
(a) PURPOSE.—In the House, the purpose of this section is
to adjust the appropriate budgetary levels to accommodate legisla-
tion increasing spending from the highway trust fund on surface
transportation and highway safety above the levels assumed in
this resolution if such legislation is deficit neutral.
(b) DEFICIT NEUTRALITY REQUIREMENT.—(1) In order to receive
the adjustments specified in subsection (c), a bill reported by the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House that
provides new budget authority above the levels assumed in this
H. Con. Res. 84—27
resolution for programs authorized out of the highway trust fund
must be deficit neutral.
(2) A deficit-neutral bill must meet the following conditions:
(A) The amount of new budget authority provided for pro-
grams authorized out of the highway trust fund must be in
excess of $25.949 billion in new budget authority for fiscal
year 1998, $25.464 billion in new budget authority for fiscal
year 2002, and $127.973 billion in new budget authority for
the period of fiscal years 1998 through 2002.
(B) The outlays estimated to flow from the excess new
budget authority set forth in subparagraph (A) must be offset
for fiscal year 1998, fiscal year 2002, and for the period of
fiscal years 1998 through 2002. For the sole purpose of estimat-
ing the amount of outlays flowing from excess new budget
authority under this section, it shall be assumed that such
excess new budget authority would have an obligation limita-
tion sufficient to accommodate that new budget authority.
(C) The outlays estimated to flow from the excess new
budget authority must be offset by (i) other direct spending
or revenue provisions within that transportation bill, (ii) the
net reduction in other direct spending and revenue legislation
(for purposes of such offset) that is enacted during this Congress
after the date of adoption of this resolution and before such
transportation bill is reported (in excess of the levels assumed
in this resolution), or (iii) a combination of the offsets specified
in clauses (i) and (ii).
(D) As used in this section, the term ‘‘direct spending’’
has the meaning given to such term in section 250(c)(8) of
the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of
1985.
(c) REVISED LEVELS.—(1) After the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House reports a bill (or after
the submission of a conference report thereon) meeting the condi-
tions set forth in subsection (b)(2), the chairman of the Committee
on the Budget of the House shall increase the allocation of new
budget authority to that committee by the amount of new budget
authority provided in that bill (and that is above the levels set
forth in subsection (b)(2)(A)) for programs authorized out of the
highway trust fund.
(2) After the enactment of the transportation bill described
in paragraph (1) and after the reporting of a general, supplemental,
or continuing resolution making appropriations by the Committee
on Appropriations of the House (or after the submission of a con-
ference report thereon) establishing an obligation limitation above
the levels specified in subsection (b)(2)(A) (at a level sufficient
to obligate some or all of the budget authority specified in paragraph
(1)), the chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the House
shall increase the allocation and aggregate levels of outlays to
that committee for the appropriate fiscal years.
(d) OFFSETTING ADJUSTMENTS.—Upon the enactment of legisla-
tion providing offsets pursuant to subsection (c), the chairman of
the Committee on the Budget shall make offsetting adjustments
in the appropriate allocations and aggregates.
(e) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term ‘‘highway
trust fund’’ refers to the following budget accounts (or any successor
accounts):
(1) 69–8083–0–7–401 (Federal-Aid Highways).
H. Con. Res. 84—28
(2) 69–8191–0–7–401 (Mass Transit Capital Fund).
(3) 69–8350–0–7–401 (Mass Transit Formula Grants).
(4) 69–8016–0–7–401 (National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration-Operations and Research).
(5) 69–8020–0–7–401 (Highway Traffic Safety Grants).
(6) 69–8048–0–7–401 (National Motor Carrier Safety
Program).
SEC. 211. SALE OF GOVERNMENT ASSETS.
(a) LIMITATION.—Subsections (b) through (d) of this section
shall not apply to the sale of any asset resulting from the enactment
of any reconciliation bill referred to in section 104 or 105 of this
resolution.
(b) BUDGETARY TREATMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of this concurrent resolu-
tion on the budget and the Congressional Budget Act of 1974,
no amounts realized from the sale of an asset shall be scored
with respect to the level of budget authority, outlays, or reve-
nues if such sale would cause an increase in the deficit as
calculated pursuant to paragraph (2).
(2) CALCULATION OF NET PRESENT VALUE.—The deficit esti-
mate of an asset sale shall be the net present value of the
cash flow from—
(A) proceeds from the asset sale;
(B) future receipts that would be expected from
continued ownership of the asset by the Government; and
(C) expected future spending by the Government at
a level necessary to continue to operate and maintain the
asset to generate the receipts estimated pursuant to
subparagraph (B).
(c) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘sale
of an asset’’ shall have the same meaning as under section 250(c)(21)
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
(d) TREATMENT OF LOAN ASSETS.—For the purposes of this
section, the sale of loan assets or the prepayment of a loan shall
be governed by the terms of the Federal Credit Reform Act of
1990.
(e) INTENT.—The asset sale rule may be revisited when the
Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 is extended.
SEC. 212. DETERMINATIONS OF BUDGETARY LEVELS; REVERSALS.
(a) DETERMINATIONS.—For purposes of this title, budgetary
levels shall be determined on the basis of estimates made by the
Committee on the Budget.
(b) REVERSALS AND ADJUSTMENTS.—(1) In the House of Rep-
resentatives, if any legislation referred to in this title is not enacted
into law, then the chairman of the Committee on the Budget shall,
as soon as practicable, reverse adjustments made under this title
for such legislation and have such adjustments published in the
Congressional Record.
(2) In the Senate, the adjustments and revisions to allocations,
aggregates, and limits made by the Chairman of the Committee
on the Budget pursuant to this title for legislation shall only apply
while such legislation is under consideration in the Senate and
shall only permanently take effect upon the enactment of such
legislation.
(c) EFFECT OF REVISIONS.—Any revisions made by the chairman
of the Committee on the Budget under this title, and in the Senate,
H. Con. Res. 84—29
under section 104(d), shall be considered for purposes of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 as the allocations and aggregates,
and in the Senate, the discretionary spending limits, contained
in this resolution, and the chairman shall have such revisions
published in the Congressional Record.
SEC. 213. EXERCISE OF RULEMAKING POWERS.
The Congress adopts the provisions of this title—
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate
and the House of Representatives, respectively, and as such
they shall be considered as part of the rules of each House,
or of that House to which they specifically apply, and such
rules shall supersede other rules only to the extent that they
are inconsistent therewith; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of either
House to change those rules (so far as they relate to that
House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same
extent as in the case of any other rule of that House.
TITLE III—SENSE OF CONGRESS,
HOUSE, AND SENATE PROVISIONS
Subtitle A—Sense of the Congress
SEC. 301. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON REPAYMENT OF THE FEDERAL
DEBT.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) The Congress and the President have a basic moral
and ethical responsibility to future generations to repay the
Federal debt, including the money borrowed from the Social
Security Trust Fund.
(2) The Congress and the President should enact a law
which creates a regimen for paying off the Federal debt within
30 years.
(3) If spending growth were held to a level one percentage
point lower than projected growth in revenues, then the Federal
debt could be repaid within 30 years.
(b) 
SENSE
OF
THE
CONGRESS
REGARDING
PRESIDENT’S
SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the President’s annual budget submission to Congress
should include a plan for repayment of Federal debt beyond
the year 2002, including the money borrowed from the Social
Security Trust Fund; and
(2) the plan should specifically explain how the President
working with Congress would cap spending growth at a level
one percentage point lower than projected growth in revenues.
SEC. 302. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON TAX CUTS.
It is the sense of the Congress that this resolution assumes
that—
(1) a substantial majority of the tax cut benefits provided
in the tax reconciliation bill will go to middle class working
families earning less than approximately $100,000 per year;
and
(2) the tax cuts in the tax reconciliation bill will not cause
revenue losses to increase significantly in years after 2007.
H. Con. Res. 84—30
SEC. 303. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS THAT THE 10-YEAR REVENUE LOSS
FROM THE TAX RELIEF PACKAGE SHALL NOT EXCEED
$250,000,000,000.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) a May 15, 1997 letter from the Speaker of the House
of Representatives and the Majority Leader of the Senate to
the President of the United States, representing the agreement
on the tax package in the Bipartisan Budget Agreements, states
that, ‘‘It was agreed that the net tax cut shall be $85 billion
through 2002 and not more than $250 billion through 2007.’’;
(2) a May 15, 1997 letter from the Speaker of the House
of Representatives and the Majority Leader of the Senate to
the Chief of Staff to the President, contained in the same
Bipartisan Budget Agreement and referring to the tax package,
states that ‘‘The proposal shall not cause costs to explode in
the outyears.’’; and
(3) the text of the Bipartisan Budget Agreement issued
on May 15, 1997 states that ‘‘If bills, resolutions or conference
reports are deemed to be inconsistent, remedial efforts shall
be made by all parties to assure consistency. Such efforts shall
include bipartisan Leadership consultation and concurrence on
amendments and scheduling as necessary.’’.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—
(1) 10-YEAR COST.—The 10-year cost of the tax reconciliation
bill 
resulting 
from 
this 
resolution 
shall 
not 
exceed
$250,000,000,000 and any revenue loss shall be certified by
the Joint Committee on Taxation in consultation and coopera-
tion with the Office of Tax Analysis of the Department of
Treasury.
(2) 5-YEAR COST.—The 5-year cost of the tax reconciliation
bill resulting from this resolution shall be $85,000,000,000 and
any revenue loss shall be certified by the Joint Committee
on Taxation in consultation and cooperation with the Office
of Tax Analysis of the Department of Treasury.
Subtitle B—Sense of the House
SEC. 306. SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON COMMISSION ON LONG-TERM
BUDGETARY PROBLEMS.
(a) FINDINGS.—The House finds that—
(1) achieving a balanced budget by fiscal year 2002 is
only the first step necessary to restore our Nation’s economic
prosperity;
(2) the imminent retirement of the baby-boom generation
will greatly increase the demand for government services;
(3) this burden will be borne by a relatively smaller work
force resulting in an unprecedented intergenerational transfer
of financial resources;
(4) the rising demand for retirement and medical benefits
will quickly jeopardize the solvency of the Medicare, Social
Security, and Federal Retirement Trust Funds; and
(5) the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that
marginal tax rates would have to increase by 50 percent over
the next 5 years to cover the long-term projected costs of
retirement and health benefits.
H. Con. Res. 84—31
(b) SENSE OF THE HOUSE.—It is the sense of the House that
legislation should be enacted to create a commission to assess
long-term budgetary problems, their implications for both the baby-
boom generation and tomorrow’s workforce, and make such rec-
ommendations as it deems appropriate to ensure our Nation’s future
prosperity.
SEC. 307. SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON CORPORATE WELFARE.
(a) FINDINGS.—The House finds that the functional levels and
aggregates in this budget resolution assume that—
(1) the Federal Government supports profit-making enter-
prises and industries through billions of dollars in payments,
benefits, and programs;
(2) many of these subsidies do not serve a clear and compel-
ling public interest;
(3) corporate subsidies frequently provide unfair competi-
tive advantages to certain industries and industry segments;
and
(4) at a time when millions of Americans are being asked
to sacrifice in order to balance the budget, the corporate sector
should bear its share of the burden.
(b) SENSE OF THE HOUSE.—It is the sense of the House that
legislation should be enacted to—
(1) eliminate the most egregious corporate subsidies; and
(2) create a commission to recommend the elimination of
Federal payments, benefits, and programs which predominantly
benefit a particular industry or segment of an industry, rather
than provide a clear and compelling public benefit, and include
a fast-track process for the consideration of those recommenda-
tions.
SEC. 308. SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON BASELINES.
(a) FINDINGS.—The House finds that—
(1) baselines are projections of future spending if existing
policies remain unchanged;
(2) under baseline assumptions, spending automatically
rises with inflation even if such increases are not mandated
under existing law;
(3) baseline budgeting is inherently biased against policies
that would reduce the projected growth in spending because
such policies are portrayed as spending reductions from an
increasing baseline; and
(4) the baseline concept has encouraged Congress to
abdicate its constitutional obligation to control the public purse
for those programs which are automatically funded.
(b) SENSE OF HOUSE.—It is the sense of the House that baseline
budgeting should be replaced with a budgetary model that requires
justification of aggregate funding levels and maximizes congres-
sional and executive accountability for Federal spending.
SEC. 309. SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON FAMILY VIOLENCE OPTION
CLARIFYING AMENDMENT.
(a) FINDINGS.—The House finds the following:
(1) Domestic violence is the leading cause of physical injury
to women. The Department of Justice estimates that over
1,000,000 violent crimes against women are committed by
intimate partners annually.
H. Con. Res. 84—32
(2) Domestic violence dramatically affects the victim’s abil-
ity to participate in the workforce. A University of Minnesota
survey reported that one quarter of battered women surveyed
had lost a job partly because of being abused and that over
half of these women had been harassed by their abuser at
work.
(3) Domestic violence is often intensified as women seek
to gain economic independence through attending school or
training programs. Batterers have been reported to prevent
women from attending these programs or sabotage their efforts
at self-improvement.
(4) Nationwide surveys of service providers prepared by
the Taylor Institute of Chicago, Illinois, document, for the first
time, the interrelationship between domestic violence and wel-
fare by showing that from 34 percent to 65 percent of AFDC
recipients are current or past victims of domestic violence.
(5) Over half of the women surveyed stayed with their
batterers because they lacked the resources to support them-
selves and their children. The surveys also found that the
availability of economic support is a critical factor in poor
women’s ability to leave abusive situations that threaten them
and their children.
(6) The restructuring of the welfare programs may impact
the availability of the economic support and the safety net
necessary to enable poor women to flee abuse without risking
homelessness and starvation for their families.
(7) In recognition of this finding, the House Committee
on the Budget unanimously passed a sense of Congress amend-
ment on domestic violence and Federal assistance to the fiscal
year 1997 budget resolution. Subsequently, Congress passed
the family violence option amendment to last year’s welfare
reform reconciliation bill.
(8) The family violence option gives States the flexibility
to grant temporary waivers from time limits and work require-
ments for domestic violence victims who would suffer extreme
hardship from the application of these provisions. These waivers
were not intended to be included as part of the permanent
20 percent hardship exemption.
(9) The Department of Health and Human Services has
been slow to issue regulations regarding this provision. As
a result, States are hesitant to fully implement the family
violence option fearing it will interfere with the 20 percent
hardship exemption.
(10) Currently 15 States have opted to include the family
violence option in their welfare plans, and 13 other States
have included some type of domestic violence provisions in
their plans.
(b) SENSE OF THE HOUSE.—It is the sense of the House that—
(1) States should not be subject to any numerical limits
in granting domestic violence good cause waivers to individuals
receiving assistance for all requirements where compliance with
such requirements would make it more difficult for individuals
receiving assistance to escape domestic violence; and
(2) any individuals granted a domestic violence good cause
waiver by States should not be included in the States’ 20
percent hardship exemption.