IB
Union Calendar No. 176
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 981
[Report No. 107–200, Parts I and II]
To provide a biennial budget for the United States Government.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 13, 2001
Mr. BASS (for himself, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BOEH-
LERT, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. BURR of North Carolina, Mr. CASTLE,
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. DREIER, Ms. DUNN,
Mr. EHLERS, Mr. ENGLISH, Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. GOODE,
Mr. GOODLATTE, Mr. GOSS, Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin, Ms. HART, Mr.
HASTINGS of Washington, Mr. HERGER, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. HOUGH-
TON, Mr. ISSA, Mr. JENKINS, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr.
LARGENT, Mr. LATOURETTE, Mr. LINDER, Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri,
Mrs. MORELLA, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. NEY, Mr. NORWOOD, Mr. OSE, Mr.
OXLEY, Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. REGULA, Mr. REY-
NOLDS, Mr. RILEY, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mrs. ROUKEMA, Mr. ROYCE, Mr.
RYUN of Kansas, Mr. SCHAFFER, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. SESSIONS,
Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr.
SUNUNU, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. TERRY, Mr. THORNBERRY, Mr. THUNE,
Mr. TRAFICANT, Mr. UPTON, Mr. WAMP, and Mr. WHITFIELD) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the
Budget for a period ending not later than April 13, 2001, and in addition
to the Committee on Rules and the Committee on Government Reform,
for a period to be determined subsequently by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned.
APRIL 4, 2001
Referral to the Committee on the Budget extended for a period ending not
later than September 5, 2001
SEPTEMBER 5, 2001
Reported from the Committee on the Budget with amendments
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
SEPTEMBER 5, 2001
Referral to the Committees on Rules and Government Reform extended for
a period ending not later than November 2, 2001
NOVEMBER 2, 2001
Referral to the Committees on Rules and Government Reform extended for
a period ending not later than November 9, 2001
NOVEMBER 9, 2001
Referral to the Committees on Rules and Government Reform extended for
a period ending not later than November 14, 2001
NOVEMBER 14, 2001
Additional sponsors: Mr. PORTMAN, Mr. CLEMENT, Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of
Virginia, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. GEKAS, Mr. GILLMOR, Mr. HEFLEY, Mr.
ISAKSON, Mr. LUTHER, Mr. HYDE, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr. CONDIT, Mr.
WATTS of Oklahoma, Mr. MCINNIS, Mr. FOLEY, Mr. BOUCHER, Mr.
BISHOP, Mr. MCKEON, Mr. CAMP, Mr. HORN, Mr. SIMMONS, Mr. SHAD-
EGG, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut, Mr. MICA, Mr. CAN-
NON, Mr. BLUNT, Mrs. BONO, Mr. CRANE, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr. DUNCAN,
Mr. SHAW, Mr. KING, Mr. HOSTETTLER, Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma, Mr.
EHRLICH, Mr. HANSEN, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. TIBERI, Mr.
BOEHNER, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. SIMPSON, Mr. BEREUTER, Mr. ARMEY,
Mr. WALDEN of Oregon, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. BARR of Georgia, Mr.
HALL of Texas, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. OTTER, Mr. GIBBONS, Mr. PENCE,
Mr. KELLER, Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr. PITTS, Mr. JEFF MILLER of Florida,
Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. SMITH of
New Jersey, and Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland
Deleted sponsors: Mr. GOODE (added March 13, 2001; deleted November 1,
2001), Mr. CALLAHAN (added March 19, 2001; deleted November 1,
2001), Mr. SKEEN (added May 21, 2001; deleted November 1, 2001),
Mr. YOUNG of Florida (added May 22, 2001; deleted October 31, 2001),
Mr. KOLBE (added May 24, 2001; deleted November 1, 2001), Mr.
LAHOOD (added May 24, 2001; deleted November 1, 2001), Mrs.
NORTHUP (added June 7, 2001; deleted November 1, 2001), Mr. PETER-
SON of Pennsylvania (added November 6, 2001; deleted November 8,
2001)
NOVEMBER 14, 2001
Reported from the Committee on Rules with amendments
[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in bold face roman]
NOVEMBER 14, 2001
The Committee on Government Reform discharged; committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be
printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 13, 2001]
A BILL
To provide a biennial budget for the United States
Government.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commission on Federal
Budget Concepts Act of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) President Lyndon Johnson created the Com-
mission on Federal Budget Concepts in 1967 by exec-
utive order to assess the basic budget concepts that
underlie the Federal budget process;
(2) the Commission’s report provided a common
framework for the development, presentation, and exe-
cution of the Federal budget for the ensuing decades;
(3) since the release of that report, the Federal
Government has experienced major changes in the
scope of its financial commitments, the nature of its
various budget transactions, the role of Congress in
budget decisions, and the imposition of special con-
trols over spending and revenue; and
(4) in view of these changes, a new Commission
on Federal Budget Concepts should be created to as-
sess the present state of budget concepts and forge a
bipartisan consensus for necessary changes.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to establish
the Commission on Federal Budget Concepts to review,
evaluate, and make recommendations respecting the budget
concepts that underlie the Federal budget and the Federal
budget process and to assess the feasibility of changing from
an annual to a biennial budget cycle.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION ON FEDERAL
BUDGET CONCEPTS.
There is established a commission to be known as the
Commission on Federal Budget Concepts (hereinafter re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 4. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
(a) DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.—
(1) The duties of the Commission shall include—
(A) an identification of activities, entities,
and transactions to be included in the Federal
budget and the criteria for making such deter-
minations;
(B) an assessment of the appropriate meas-
ures of Federal financial commitments to allo-
cate resources and establish fiscal policy;
(C) an evaluation of the differences between
user fees and revenue, and between various forms
of user fees, and the circumstances when such
fees should be accounted for as offsetting spend-
ing or adding to revenue;
(D) an appraisal of the appropriate usage
of cash and accrual-based measures for various
types of Federal financial commitments, such as
Government insurance, loan guarantees, and
leasing;
(E) recommendations of the appropriate
means for recognizing the cost of acquisition and
disposition of various types of nonfinancial as-
sets;
(F) an evaluation of appropriate measures
of Federal debt, borrowing, and means of financ-
ing;
(G) an assessment of the adequacy of the
current account and fund structure for recording
revenue and expenditures for specific classes of
governmental activities;
(H) recommendations for changes in Fed-
eral budget practices to accommodate the Federal
Accounting Standards Advisory Board’s rec-
ommended accounting standards;
(I) recommendations for changes in budget
practices to reflect the Federal Government’s
multi-year acquisitions;
(J) the appropriate means of accounting for
the financial risk the Federal Government incurs
from contractual and implied commitments; and
(K) an assessment of the value and feasi-
bility of changing the Federal budget cycle from
annual to biennial.
(2) EXCEPTIONS.—Notwithstanding paragraph
(1), the Commission shall make no findings, conclu-
sions, or recommendations respecting the following:
(A) Social security and medicare.
(B) Budget estimates and projections that
assume that selected tax policies will increase
gross domestic product and thereby cause an in-
direct increase in revenue, or that assume that
increased spending for human resources or cap-
ital development will cause an indirect reduction
in spending for other programs.
(C) Government-sponsored enterprises.
(b) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.—
(1) CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.—The Commission
may hold hearings, take testimony, receive evidence,
and undertake such other activities necessary to carry
out its duties.
(2) ACCESS TO INFORMATION.—The Commission
may secure directly from any department of agency
of the United States information necessary to carry
out its duties. Upon request of the Chair of the Com-
mission, the head of that department or agency shall
furnish that information to the Commission.
(3) POSTAL SERVICE.—The Commission may use
the United States mails in the same manner and
under the same conditions as other departments and
agencies of the United States.
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 14 voting members and 2 nonvoting members, as
follows:
(1) Three members appointed by the chairman of
the Committee on the Budget of the Senate.
(2) Three members appointed by the chairman of
the Committee on the Budget of the House of Rep-
resentatives.
(3) Three members appointed by the ranking
member of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate.
(4) Three members appointed by the ranking
member of the Committee on the Budget of the House
of Representatives.
(5) The Director of the Office of Management
and Budget (or his designee).
(6) The Secretary of the Treasury (or his des-
ignee).
(7) The Comptroller General of the United States
(or his designee) and the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office (or his designee), who shall be non-
voting members.
(b) QUALIFICATIONS AND TERM.—
(1) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members appointed to the
Commission pursuant to subsection (a) shall—
(A) have expertise and experience in the
fields or disciplines related to the subject areas to
be considered by the Commission; and
(B) not be Members of Congress.
(2) TERM OF APPOINTMENT.—The term of an
appointment to the Commission shall be for the life
of the Commission.
(3) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The member of the
Commission serving under subsection (a)(5) shall be
the Chair of the Commission. A Vice Chair may be
elected from among the voting members of the Com-
mission and shall assume the duties of the Chair in
the Chair’s absence.
(c) MEETINGS; QUORUM; AND VACANCIES.—
(1) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at
least once a month on a day to be decided by the
Commission. The Commission may meet at such other
times at the call of the Chair or of a majority of its
voting members. The meetings of the Commission
shall be open to the public, unless by public vote, the
Commission shall determine to close a meeting or any
portion of a meeting to the public.
(2) QUORUM.—A majority of the voting member-
ship shall constitute a quorum of the Commission, ex-
cept that 3 or more voting members may conduct
hearings.
(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commission
shall be filled in the same manner in which the origi-
nal appointment was filled under subsection (a).
(d) COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES.—Members of the
Commission shall serve without pay for their service on the
Commission, but may receive travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ-
ees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5,
United States Code.
SEC. 6. STAFF AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
(a) STAFF.—With the advance approval of the Com-
mission, the executive director may appoint such personnel
as is appropriate. The staff of the Commission shall be ap-
pointed without regard to political affiliation and without
regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, gov-
erning appointments in the competitive service, and may
be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and
subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classi-
fications and General Schedule pay rates.
(b) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The Chairman shall ap-
point an executive director, who shall be paid the rate of
basic pay for level II of the Executive Schedule.
(c) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—With the advance
approval of the Commission, the executive director may
procure temporary and intermittent services under section
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(d) TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE.—
Upon the request of the Commission—
(1) the head of any agency, office, or establish-
ment within the executive or legislative branches of
the United States shall provide, without reimburse-
ment, such technical assistance as the Commission de-
termines is necessary to carry out its duties; and
(2) the Administrator of the General Services
Administration shall provide, on a reimbursable
basis, such administrative support services as the
Commission may require.
(e) DETAIL OF FEDERAL PERSONNEL.—Upon the re-
quest of the Commission, the head of an agency, office, or
establishment in the executive or legislative branch of the
United States is authorized to detail, without reimburse-
ment, any of the personnel of that agency, office, or estab-
lishment to the Commission to assist the Commission in
carrying out its duties. Any such detail shall not interrupt
or otherwise affect the employment status or privileges of
that employee.
(f) CBO.—The Director of the Congressional Budget
Office shall provide the Commission with its latest research
on the accuracy of its past budget and economic projections
as compared to those of the Office of Management and
Budget and, if possible, those of private sector forecasters.
The Commission shall work with the Directors of the Con-
gressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and
Budget in their efforts to explain the factors affecting the
accuracy of budget projections.
SEC. 7. REPORT.
Not later than November 15, 2002, the Commission
shall transmit a report to the President and to each House
of Congress. The report shall contain a detailed statement
of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together
with its recommendations for such legislative or adminis-
trative actions as it considers appropriate. No finding, con-
clusion, or recommendation may be made by the Commis-
sion unless approved by a majority of those voting (includ-
ing in such majority at least two members serving under
paragraph (2), (3), (5), or (6) of section 5(a) and at least
two members serving under paragraph (1) or (4) of such
section), a quorum being present. At the request of any
Commission member, the report shall include that member’s
dissenting findings, conclusions, or recommendations.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the date
of transmission of the report required in section 7.
SEC. 9. FUNDING.
There are authorized to be appropriated not more than
$1,000,000 to carry out this Act. Sums so appropriated
shall remain available until expended.
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to establish
the Commission on Federal Budget Concepts.’’.
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as
the ‘‘Budget Responsibility and Efficiency Act
of 2001’’.
(b) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—
(1) the annual appropriations and
budget process increasingly dominates
the congressional agenda and Congress
regularly fails to meet the deadlines of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974;
(2) the design of the budget process
has led to repetitive and time-consuming
budget votes, decreasing the time avail-
able for the systematic and programmatic
oversight of Federal programs and delay-
ing the enactment of legislation nec-
essary to fund the Government;
(3) Congress’ responsibility to im-
prove the efficiency, economy, and effec-
tiveness 
of 
governmental 
operations,
evaluate programs and performance, de-
tect and prevent poor administration,
waste, or abuse in Government programs,
ensure that executive policies reflect the
public interest, ensure administrative
compliance with legislative intent, and
prevent executive encroachment on legis-
lative authority and prerogatives is un-
dermined by the current time-consuming
and repetitive budget process;
(4) an annual budget process encour-
ages inefficiency in the management, sta-
bility, and predictability of Federal fund-
ing, particularly for States and localities;
(5) a biennial budget process will re-
duce the number of budget-related votes
during each Congress, enhance congres-
sional oversight of Government oper-
ations, encourage longer time horizons in
policy planning and greater stability in
fiscal policy;
(6) a biennial budget process was a
principal recommendation of the 1993
Joint Committee on the Organization of
Congress and the Vice President’s Na-
tional Performance Review;
(7) since the enactment of the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974, more than
50 bills addressing a two-year budget
cycle have been introduced, 10 biennial
budget related provisions were reported
by congressional committees, 7 passed ei-
ther chamber and 4 were enacted; more
than 40 congressional or special com-
mittee hearings addressed the issue of bi-
ennial budgeting; and the Congressional
Budget Office, the Office of Management
and Budget, and 5 different special task
forces or joint committees of Congress
have either recommended biennial budg-
eting or further studies of it;
(8) the adoption of a biennial budget
process was recommended by President
Reagan in the fiscal year 1989 budget
submission, by President Bush in the fis-
cal years 1990 and 1991 budget submis-
sions, by President Clinton in the fiscal
years 1995, 2000, and 2001 budget submis-
sions, and by President Bush in the fiscal
year 2002 budget submission; and
(9) a bipartisan majority of Members
of the House of Representatives support
a biennial budget process.
The last day of the ses-
sion.
Congress completes action on bills
and resolutions authorizing new
budget 
authority 
for 
the 
suc-
ceeding biennium.
‘‘(b) SPECIAL RULE.—In the case of any first
session of Congress that begins in any year
during which the term of a President (except
a President who succeeds himself) begins, the
following dates shall supersede those set forth
in subsection (a):
‘‘First Session
‘‘On or before:
Action to be completed:
First Monday in April .....
President 
submits 
budget 
rec-
ommendations.
April 20 ...............................
Committees submit views and esti-
mates to Budget Committees.
May 15 .................................
Budget Committees report concur-
rent resolution on the biennial
budget.
June 1 ..................................
Congress completes action on con-
current resolution on the biennial
budget.
June 1 ..................................
Biennial appropriation bills may be
considered in the House.
July 1 ...................................
House 
Appropriations 
Committee
reports last biennial appropria-
tion bill.
July 20 .................................
House completes action on biennial
appropriation bills.
October 1 ............................
Biennium begins.’’.
SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
AND IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL ACT OF 1974.
(a) DECLARATION
OF
PURPOSE.—Section
2(2) of the Congressional Budget and Im-
poundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C.
621(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘each year’’
and inserting ‘‘biennially’’.
(b) DEFINITIONS.—
(1) BUDGET RESOLUTION.—Section 3(4)
of such Act (2 U.S.C. 622(4)) is amended
by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.
(2) BIENNIUM.—Section 3 of such Act
(2 U.S.C. 622) (as amended by section 3) is
further amended by adding at the end
the following new paragraph:
‘‘(13) (11) term ‘biennium’ means the
period of 2 consecutive fiscal years begin-
ning on October 1 of any odd-numbered
year.’’.
(c) BIENNIAL CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON
THE BUDGET.—
(1) CONTENTS OF RESOLUTION.—Section
301(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(a)) is
amended—
(A) in the matter preceding para-
graph (1) by—
(i) striking ‘‘April 15 of each
year’’ and inserting ‘‘May 15 of
each odd-numbered year’’;
(ii) striking ‘‘the fiscal year
beginning on October 1 of such
year’’ the first place it appears
and inserting ‘‘the biennium be-
ginning on October 1 of such
year’’; and
(iii) striking ‘‘the fiscal year
beginning on October 1 of such
year’’ the second place it appears
and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in
such period’’;
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking
‘‘for the fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for
each fiscal year in the biennium’’; and
(C) in paragraph (7), by striking
‘‘for the fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for
each fiscal year in the biennium’’.
(2) 
ADDITIONAL
MATTERS.—Section
301(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(b)) is
amended—
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking
‘‘for such fiscal year’’ and inserting
‘‘for either fiscal year in such bien-
nium’’; and
(B) in paragraph (7), by striking
‘‘for the first fiscal year’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘for each fiscal year in the bien-
nium’’.
(3) VIEWS OF OTHER COMMITTEES.—Sec-
tion 301(d) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(d)) is
amended by inserting ‘‘(or, if applicable,
as provided by section 300(b))’’ after
‘‘United States Code’’.
(4) HEARINGS.—Section 301(e)(1) of
such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(e)) is amended by—
(A) striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and in-
serting ‘‘biennium’’; and
(B) inserting after the second sen-
tence the following: ‘‘On or before
April 1 of each odd-numbered year
(or, if applicable, as provided by sec-
tion 300(b)), the Committee on the
Budget of each House shall report to
its House the concurrent resolution
on the budget referred to in sub-
section (a) for the biennium begin-
ning on October 1 of that year.’’.
(5) GOALS
FOR
REDUCING
UNEMPLOY-
MENT.—Section 301(f) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
632(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal
year’’ each place it appears and inserting
‘‘biennium’’.
(6) ECONOMIC
ASSUMPTIONS.—Section
301(g)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(g)(1)) is
amended by striking ‘‘for a fiscal year’’
and inserting ‘‘for a biennium’’.
(7) SECTION
HEADING.—The section
heading of section 301 of such Act is
amended by striking ‘‘ANNUAL’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘BIENNIAL’’.
(8) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The item re-
lating to section 301 in the table of con-
tents set forth in section 1(b) of such Act
is amended by striking ‘‘Annual’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Biennial’’.
(d) COMMITTEE ALLOCATIONS.—Section 302
of such Act (2 U.S.C. 633) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1) by—
(A) striking ‘‘for the first fiscal
year of the resolution,’’ and inserting
‘‘for each fiscal year in the bien-
nium,’’;
(B) striking ‘‘for that period of fis-
cal years’’ and inserting ‘‘for all fiscal
years covered by the resolution’’; and
(C) striking ‘‘for the fiscal year of
that resolution’’ and inserting ‘‘for
each fiscal year in the biennium’’;
(2) in subsection (f)(1), by striking
‘‘for a fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for a bi-
ennium’’;
(3) in subsection (f)(1), by striking
‘‘first fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘either
fiscal year of the biennium’’;
(4) in subsection (f)(2)(A), by—
(A) striking ‘‘first fiscal year’’ and
inserting ‘‘each fiscal year of the bi-
ennium’’; and
(B) striking ‘‘the total of fiscal
years’’ and inserting ‘‘the total of all
fiscal years covered by the resolu-
tion’’; and
(5) in subsection (g)(1)(A), by striking
‘‘April’’ and inserting ‘‘May’’.
(e) SECTION 303 POINT OF ORDER.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 303(a) of
such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(a)) is amended by
striking ‘‘for a fiscal year’’ and inserting
‘‘for a biennium’’ and by striking ‘‘the
first fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fis-
cal year of the biennium’’.
(2) EXCEPTIONS IN THE HOUSE.—Section
303(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(b)) is
amended—
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by strik-
ing ‘‘the budget year’’ and inserting
‘‘the biennium’’;
(B) in paragraph (1)(B), by strik-
ing ‘‘the fiscal year’’ and inserting
‘‘the biennium’’; and
(C) in paragraph (2), by inserting
‘‘(or June 1 whenever section 300(b) is
applicable)’’ after ‘‘May 15’’.
(3) APPLICATION TO THE SENATE.—Sec-
tion 303(c)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(c))
is amended by—
(A) striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and in-
serting ‘‘biennium’’; and
(B) striking ‘‘that year’’ and in-
serting ‘‘each fiscal year of that bien-
nium’’.
(f) PERMISSIBLE REVISIONS OF CONCURRENT
RESOLUTIONS ON THE BUDGET.—Section 304 of
such Act (2 U.S.C. 635) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ the first
two places it appears and inserting ‘‘bien-
nium’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘for such fiscal year’’;
and
(3) by inserting before the period ‘‘for
such biennium’’.
(g) PROCEDURES
FOR
CONSIDERATION
OF
BUDGET
RESOLUTIONS.—Section 305(a)(3) of
such Act (2 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)) is amended by
striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bien-
nium’’.
(h) COMPLETION OF HOUSE COMMITTEE AC-
TION ON APPROPRIATION BILLS.—Section 307 of
such Act (2 U.S.C. 638) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘each year’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘each odd-numbered year (or, if ap-
plicable, as provided by section 300(b),
July 1)’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘annual’’ and inserting
‘‘biennial’’;
(3) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and in-
serting ‘‘biennium’’; and
(4) by striking ‘‘that year’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘each odd-numbered year’’.
(i) QUARTERLY BUDGET REPORTS.—Section
308 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 639) is amended by
adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
‘‘(d) QUARTERLY BUDGET REPORTS.—The Di-
rector of the Congressional Budget Office
shall, as soon as practicable after the comple-
tion of each quarter of the fiscal year, prepare
an analysis comparing revenues, spending,
and the deficit or surplus for the current fis-
cal year to assumptions included in the con-
gressional budget resolution. In preparing
this report, the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office shall combine actual budget fig-
ures to date with projected revenue and
spending for the balance of the fiscal year.
The Director of the Congressional Budget Of-
fice shall include any other information in
this report that it deems useful for a full un-
derstanding of the current fiscal position of
the Federal Government. The reports man-
dated by this subsection shall be transmitted
by the Director to the Senate and House Com-
mittees on the Budget, and the Congressional
Budget Office shall make such reports avail-
able to any interested party upon request.’’.
(j) COMPLETION OF HOUSE ACTION ON REG-
ULAR APPROPRIATION BILLS.—Section 309 of
such Act (2 U.S.C. 640) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘It’’ and inserting ‘‘Ex-
cept whenever section 300(b) is applica-
ble, it’’;
(2) by inserting ‘‘of any odd-numbered
calendar year’’ after ‘‘July’’;
(3) by striking ‘‘annual’’ and inserting
‘‘biennial’’; and
(4) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and in-
serting ‘‘biennium’’.
(k) RECONCILIATION PROCESS.—Section 310
of such Act (2 U.S.C. 641) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘any
fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘any bien-
nium’’;
(2) in subsection (a)(1), by striking
‘‘such fiscal year’’ each place it appears
and inserting ‘‘any fiscal year covered by
such resolution’’; and
(3) by striking subsection (f) and re-
designating subsection (g) as subsection
(f).
(l) SECTION 311 POINT OF ORDER.—
(1) IN THE HOUSE.—Section 311(a)(1) of
such Act (2 U.S.C. 642(a)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘for a fiscal year’’
and inserting ‘‘for a biennium’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘the first fiscal
year’’ each place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘either fiscal year of the bien-
nium’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘that first fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year
in the biennium’’.
(2) IN THE SENATE.—Section 311(a)(2)
of such Act is amended—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by strik-
ing ‘‘for the first fiscal year’’ and in-
serting ‘‘for either fiscal year of the
biennium’’; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)—
(i) by striking ‘‘that first fiscal
year’’ the first place it appears
and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in
the biennium’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘that first fis-
cal year and the ensuing fiscal
years’’ and inserting ‘‘all fiscal
years’’.
(3) SOCIAL
SECURITY
LEVELS.—Section
311(a)(3) of such Act is amended by—
(A) striking ‘‘for the first fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year
in the biennium’’; and
(B) striking ‘‘that fiscal year and
the ensuing fiscal years’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘all fiscal years’’.
(m) MAXIMUM DEFICIT AMOUNT POINT
OF
ORDER.—Section 312(c) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 643) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘for a fiscal year’’ and
inserting ‘‘for a biennium’’;
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘first
fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘either fiscal
year in the biennium’’;
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘that
fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘either fiscal
year in the biennium’’; and
(4) in the matter following paragraph
(2), by striking ‘‘that fiscal year’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the applicable fiscal year’’.
SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO RULES OF HOUSE OF REP-
RESENTATIVES.
(a) Clause 4(a)(1)(A) of rule X of the Rules
of the House of Representatives is amended
by inserting ‘‘odd-numbered’’ after ‘‘each’’.
(b) Clause 4(a)(4) of rule X of the Rules of
the House of Representatives is amended by
striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bien-
nium’’.
(c) Clause 4(b)(2) of rule X of the Rules of
the House of Representatives is amended by
striking ‘‘each fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘the
biennium’’.
(d) Clause 4(b) of rule X of the Rules of the
House of Representatives is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (5), by
striking the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’ at
the end of subparagraph (6), and by adding at
the end the following new subparagraph:
‘‘(7) use the second session of each Con-
gress to study issues with long-term budg-
etary 
and 
economic 
implications, 
which
would include—
‘‘(A) hold hearings to receive testi-
mony from committees of jurisdiction to
identify problem areas and to report on
the results of oversight; and
‘‘(B) by January 1 of each odd-number
year, issuing a report to the Speaker
which identifies the key issues facing the
Congress in the next biennium.’’.
(e) Clause 11(i) of rule X of the Rules of
the House of Representatives is amended by
striking ‘‘the same or preceding fiscal year’’.
(f) Clause 4(e) of rule X of the Rules of the
House of Representatives is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘annually’’ each place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘biennially’’ and by striking ‘‘annual’’
and inserting ‘‘biennial’’.
(g) Clause 4(f) of rule X of the Rules of the
House of Representatives is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘during each odd-
numbered year’’ after ‘‘submits his budg-
et’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ the first
place it appears and inserting ‘‘bien-
nium’’; and
(3) by striking ‘‘that fiscal year’’ and
inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in such ensu-
ing biennium’’.
(h) Clause 3(d)(2)(A) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives is
amended by striking ‘‘five’’ both places it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘six’’.
(i) Clause 5(a)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives is amended
by striking ‘‘fiscal year after September 15 in
the preceding fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bien-
nium after September 15 of the year in which
such biennium begins’’.
SEC. 5. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 31, UNITED STATES CODE.
(a) DEFINITION.—Section 1101 of title 31,
United States Code, is amended by adding at
the end thereof the following new paragraph:
‘‘(3) ‘biennium’ has the meaning given
to such term in paragraph (13) of section
3 of the Congressional Budget and Im-
poundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C.
622(13)).’’.
(b) BUDGET CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION TO
THE CONGRESS.—
(1) SCHEDULE.—The matter preceding
paragraph (1) in section 1105(a) of title
31, United States Code, is amended to
read as follows:
‘‘(a) On or before the first Monday in Feb-
ruary of each odd-numbered year (or, if appli-
cable, as provided by section 300(b) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974), beginning
with the One Hundred Ninth Congress, the
President shall transmit to the Congress, the
budget for the biennium beginning on Octo-
ber 1 of such calendar year. The budget trans-
mitted under this subsection shall include a
budget message and summary and supporting
information. The President shall include in
each budget the following:’’.
(2) EXPENDITURES.—Section 1105(a)(5)
of title 31, United States Code, is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘the fiscal year for which
the budget is submitted and the 4 fiscal
years after that year’’ and inserting ‘‘each
fiscal year in the biennium for which the
budget is submitted and in the suc-
ceeding 4 years’’.
(3) RECEIPTS.—Section 1105(a)(6) of
title 31, United States Code, is amended
by striking ‘‘the fiscal year for which the
budget is submitted and the 4 fiscal years
after that year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal
year in the biennium for which the budg-
et is submitted and in the succeeding 4
years’’.
(4) 
BALANCE
STATEMENTS.—Section
1105(a)(9)(C) of title 31, United States
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in
the biennium’’.
(5) GOVERNMENT
FUNCTIONS
AND
AC-
TIVITIES.—Section 1105(a)(12) of title 31,
United States Code, is amended in sub-
paragraph (A), by striking ‘‘the fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in
the biennium’’.
(6) ALLOWANCES.—Section 1105(a)(13)
of title 31, United States Code, is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘the fiscal year’’ and in-
serting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien-
nium’’.
(7) ALLOWANCES
FOR
UNANTICIPATED
AND UNCONTROLLABLE EXPENDITURES.—Sec-
tion 1105(a)(14) of title 31, United States
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘that year’’
and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bi-
ennium for which the budget is sub-
mitted’’.
(8) 
TAX
EXPENDITURES.—Section
1105(a)(16) of title 31, United States Code,
is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal year’’
and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bi-
ennium’’.
(9) ESTIMATES
FOR
FUTURE
YEARS.—
Section 1105(a)(17) of title 31, United
States Code, is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year fol-
lowing the fiscal year’’ and inserting
‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium fol-
lowing the biennium’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘that following fis-
cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each such fis-
cal year’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘fiscal year before
the fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bien-
nium before the biennium’’.
(10) PRIOR
YEAR
OUTLAYS.—Section
1105(a)(18) of title 31, United States Code,
is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘the prior fiscal
year,’’ and inserting ‘‘each of the 2
most 
recently 
completed 
fiscal
years,’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘for that year’’ and
inserting ‘‘with respect to those fiscal
years’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘in that year’’ and
inserting ‘‘in those fiscal years’’.
(11) PRIOR
YEAR
RECEIPTS.—Section
1105(a)(19) of title 31, United States Code,
is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘the prior fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘each of the 2
most recently completed fiscal years’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘for that year’’ and
inserting ‘‘with respect to those fiscal
years’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘in that year’’ each
place it appears and inserting ‘‘in
those fiscal years’’.
(c) ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES OF LEGISLA-
TIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES.—Section 1105(b)
of title 31, United States Code, is amended by
striking ‘‘each year’’ and inserting ‘‘each even-
numbered year’’.
(d) RECOMMENDATIONS TO MEET ESTIMATED
DEFICIENCIES.—Section 1105(c) of title 31,
United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year for’’
the first place it appears and inserting
‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium for’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year for’’
the second place it appears and inserting
‘‘each fiscal year of the biennium, as the
case may be,’’; and
(3) by striking ‘‘that year’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘for each year of the biennium’’.
(e) CAPITAL
INVESTMENT
ANALYSIS.—Sec-
tion 1105(e)(1) of title 31, United States Code,
is amended by striking ‘‘ensuing fiscal year’’
and inserting ‘‘biennium to which such budg-
et relates’’.
(f) SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET ESTIMATES AND
CHANGES.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 1106(a) of
title 31, United States Code, is amended—
(A) in the matter preceding para-
graph (1), by—
(i) inserting ‘‘and before Feb-
ruary 15 of each even-numbered
year’’ after ‘‘Before July 16 of
each year’’; and
(ii) striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and
inserting ‘‘biennium’’;
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking
‘‘that fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each
fiscal year in such biennium’’;
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking
‘‘4 fiscal years following the fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘4 fiscal years fol-
lowing the biennium’’; and
(D) in paragraph (3), by striking
‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bien-
nium’’.
(2) CHANGES.—Section 1106(b) of title
31, United States Code, is amended by—
(A) striking ‘‘the fiscal year’’ and
inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bi-
ennium’’; and
(B) inserting ‘‘and before Feb-
ruary 
of 
each 
even-numbered
year’’ after ‘‘Before July 16 of each
year’’.
(g) CURRENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ES-
TIMATES.—
(1) THE PRESIDENT.—Section 1109(a) of
title 31, United States Code, is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘On or before the
first Monday after January 3 of each
year (on or before February 5 in
1986)’’ and inserting ‘‘At the same
time the budget required by section
1105 is submitted for a biennium’’;
and
(B) by striking ‘‘the following fis-
cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal
year of such period’’.
(2) JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE.—Sec-
tion 1109(b) of title 31, United States
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘March 1 of
each year’’ and inserting ‘‘within 6 weeks
of the President’s budget submission for
each odd-numbered year (or, if applica-
ble, as provided by section 300(b) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974)’’.
(h) YEAR-AHEAD REQUESTS
FOR AUTHOR-
IZING LEGISLATION.—Section 1110 of title 31,
United States Code, is amended by—
(1) striking ‘‘May 16’’ and inserting
‘‘March 31’’; and
(2) striking ‘‘year before the year in
which the fiscal year begins’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘calendar year preceding the cal-
endar year in which the biennium be-
gins’’.
SEC. 6. TWO-YEAR APPROPRIATIONS; TITLE AND STYLE OF
APPROPRIATIONS ACTS.
Section 105 of title 1, United States Code,
is amended to read as follows:
‘‘§ 105. Title and style of appropriations Acts
‘‘(a) The style and title of all Acts making
appropriations for the support of the Govern-
ment shall be as follows: ‘An Act making ap-
propriations (here insert the object) for each
fiscal year in the biennium of fiscal years
(here insert the fiscal years of the biennium).’.
‘‘(b) All Acts making regular appropria-
tions for the support of the Government shall
be enacted for a biennium and shall specify
the amount of appropriations provided for
each fiscal year in such period.
‘‘(c) For purposes of this section, the term
‘biennium’ has the same meaning as in section
3(11) of the Congressional Budget and Im-
poundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C.
622(11)).’’.
SEC. 7. MULTIYEAR AUTHORIZATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974 (as amended by sec-
tion 6(a) is further is amended by adding at
the end the following new section:
‘‘MULTIYEAR AUTHORIZATIONS OF
APPROPRIATIONS
‘‘SEC. 318. 316. (a) POINT OF ORDER.—(1)(A)
It shall not be in order in the House of Rep-
resentatives or the Senate to consider any
measure that contains a specific authoriza-
tion of appropriations for any purpose unless
the measure includes such a specific author-
ization of appropriations for that purpose for
not less than each fiscal year in one or more
bienniums.
‘‘(B) For purposes of this paragraph, a spe-
cific authorization of appropriations is an au-
thorization for the enactment of an amount of
appropriations or amounts not to exceed an
amount of appropriations (whether stated as
a sum certain, as a limit, or as such sums as
may be necessary) for any purpose for a fiscal
year.
‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply with re-
spect to an authorization of appropriations
for a single fiscal year for any program,
project, or activity if the measure containing
that authorization includes a provision ex-
pressly stating the following: ‘Congress finds
that no authorization of appropriation will be
required for [Insert name of applicable pro-
gram, project, or activity] for any subsequent
fiscal year.’.
‘‘(3) For ‘‘(b) For purposes of this sub-
section section, the term ‘measure’ means a
bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or
conference report.’’.
(b) AMENDMENT TO TABLE OF CONTENTS.—
The table of contents set forth in section 1(b)
of the Congressional Budget and Impound-