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103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3717
To allow for moderate growth of mandatory spending.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 22, 1993
Mr. ZIMMER introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the
Committees on Government Operations and Rules
A BILL
To allow for moderate growth of mandatory spending.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) mandatory spending has increased from
$32,000,000,000 in 1962 to $770,000,000,000 in
1993;
(2) mandatory spending now accounts for over
half of all Federal outlays, up from 30 percent in
1962;
(3) over the next five years, mandatory spend-
ing will grow by $5,400,000,000,000 over and above
inflation increases and increases for new bene-
ficiaries;
(4) the Federal budget deficit, projected to ex-
ceed $650,000,000,000 in 2003, will continue to ex-
pand unless the growth in mandatory spending is
brought under control; and
(5) the current budget process does not provide
adequate controls on the growth of mandatory
spending.
SEC. 2. CAP ON INCREASE IN MANDATORY SPENDING.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Effective beginning with fiscal
year 1994 and fiscal years thereafter, the growth of each
individual mandatory program except Social Security shall
not exceed a level that is—
(1) adjusted for beneficiary and inflation
growth, plus
(2) 2 percent for fiscal year 1994 and 1 percent
for fiscal year 1995.
(b) CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET.—
(1) BUDGET RESOLUTION.—The congressional
budget resolution for a fiscal year shall not provide
mandatory funding levels that exceed levels estab-
lished in subsection (a).
(2) POINT OF ORDER.—It shall not be in order
in the Senate or the House of Representatives to
consider any bill, resolution, amendment, or con-
ference report if such bill, resolution, amendment, or
conference report would cause mandatory funding
levels to exceed levels established in subsection (a).
This point of order may only be waived or suspended
by a vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen
and sworn.
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—
(1) PRESIDENT’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDA-
TIONS.—If in any fiscal year the President projects
that the spending for any mandatory program will
exceed the level established under subsection (a), the
President shall, before April 15 of each fiscal year,
recommend to the Congress legislative changes, in-
cluding changes in eligibility for benefits, to address
the mandatory spending overages, if any, in the
prior, current, or budget year.
(2) CONGRESS ACTS.—Within 10 days after the
President’s recommendations are submitted, the
Congress shall make relevant changes in laws to re-
duce the mandatory spending to the cap levels as re-
quired under subsection (a).
(3) SEQUESTER.—Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, if the Congress fails to make such
changes in laws, there shall be a sequester in any
fiscal year to reduce spending for mandatory pro-
grams except Social Security if such an individual
program exceeded the cap levels established in sub-
section (a). Such sequester shall institute pro rata
reduction of all benefit payments made under pro-
grams subject to the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 3. DEFINITION.
For the purpose of this Act, the term ‘‘individual
mandatory program’’ means a program that makes pay-
ments to any person, business, or unit of government that
seeks the payments and that meets eligibility criteria es-
tablished by law. The term includes—
(1) Farm Price Supports;
(2) Family Social Services—Foster Care and
Adoption Assistance;
(3) Guaranteed Student Loan Program;
(4) Medicaid;
(5) Hospital Insurance;
(6) Supplemental Medical Insurance;
(7) Railroad Retirement;
(8) Civil Service Pensions;
(9) Military Pensions;
(10) Unemployment Compensation;
(11) Child Nutrition Program;
(12) Supplemental Security Income;
(13) Family Support Pay;
(14) Veteran’s Compensation and Pensions;
(15) Food Stamps;
(16) Housing Assistance;
(17) Vocational Rehabilitation;
(18) Readjustment Benefits;
(19) FDIC and FSLIC; and
(20) other mandatory spending programs under
categories established by the Congressional Budget
Office.
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