I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5220 
To strengthen and enhance the congressional power of the purse, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 
Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. SCOTT of Vir-
ginia, Mr. PETERS, Mr. PANETTA, Mrs. WATSON
COLEMAN, Ms. 
PLASKETT, Ms. ESCOBAR, Ms. OMAR, Ms. BALINT, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. 
JAYAPAL, Mr. TONKO, Ms. CHU, Mr. MCGARVEY, and Mr. AMO) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Budget, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government 
Reform, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, the 
Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To strengthen and enhance the congressional power of the 
purse, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Congressional Power 
of the Purse Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
TITLE I—STRENGTHENING CONGRESSIONAL CONTROL AND 
REVIEW TO PREVENT IMPOUNDMENT 
Sec. 101. Prohibition on fast-track procedures under the Impoundment Control 
Act of 1974. 
Sec. 102. Strengthening congressional control. 
Sec. 103. Strengthening congressional review. 
Sec. 104. Updated authorities for and reporting by the Comptroller General. 
Sec. 105. Advance congressional notification and litigation. 
Sec. 106. Penalties for failure to comply with the Impoundment Control Act of 
1974. 
Sec. 107. Clarification of treatment of GAO report as special message. 
Sec. 108. Congressional designations. 
TITLE II—STRENGTHENING TRANSPARENCY AND REPORTING 
Subtitle A—Funds Management and Reporting to the Congress 
Sec. 211. Expired balance reporting in the President’s budget. 
Sec. 212. Cancelled balance reporting in the President’s budget. 
Sec. 213. Lapse in appropriations—reporting in the President’s budget. 
Sec. 214. Transfer and other repurposing authority reporting in the President’s 
budget. 
Sec. 215. Authorizing cancellations in indefinite accounts by appropriation. 
Sec. 216. National Emergencies Act declaration spending reporting in the 
President’s budget. 
Subtitle B—Empowering Congressional Review Through Nonpartisan 
Congressional Agencies and Transparency Initiatives 
Sec. 221. Requirement to respond to requests for information from the Comp-
troller General for budget and appropriations law decisions. 
Sec. 222. Reporting requirements for Antideficiency Act violations. 
Sec. 223. Department of Justice reporting to Congress for Antideficiency Act 
violations. 
Sec. 224. Treatment of requests for information from Members of Congress. 
Sec. 225. Suits by Comptroller General for Antideficiency Act violations. 
Sec. 226. Inspector General for the Office of Management and Budget. 
Sec. 227. Publication of budget or appropriations law opinions of the Depart-
ment of Justice Office of Legal Counsel. 
TITLE III—REPUBLIC ACT 
Sec. 301. Short title. 
Subtitle A—Congressional Review of National Emergencies 
Sec. 311. Congressional review of national emergencies. 
Sec. 312. Reporting requirements. 
Sec. 313. Exclusion of certain national emergencies invoking International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act. 
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Sec. 314. Conforming amendments. 
Sec. 315. Effective date; applicability. 
Subtitle B—Limitations on Emergency Authorities 
Sec. 321. Presidential war powers under Communications Act of 1934. 
Sec. 322. Disclosure to Congress of presidential emergency action documents. 
TITLE I—STRENGTHENING CON-
GRESSIONAL CONTROL AND 
REVIEW 
TO 
PREVENT 
IM-
POUNDMENT 
SEC. 101. PROHIBITION ON FAST-TRACK PROCEDURES 
UNDER THE IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL ACT 
OF 1974. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during 
the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
Act and ending on January 20, 2029, the procedures 
under section 1017 of the Impoundment Control Act of 
1974 (2 U.S.C. 688) shall have no force or effect. 
SEC. 102. STRENGTHENING CONGRESSIONAL CONTROL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part B of the Impoundment Con-
trol Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 682 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘PRUDENT
OBLIGATION
OF
BUDGET
AUTHORITY
AND 
SPECIFIC
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
EXPIRING
BUDGET 
AUTHORITY 
‘‘SEC. 1018. (a) SPECIAL
MESSAGE
REQUIRE-
MENT.—With respect to budget authority proposed to be 
rescinded or that is set to be reserved or proposed to be 
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deferred in a special message transmitted under section 
1012 or 1013, such budget authority— 
‘‘(1) shall be made available for obligation in 
sufficient time to be prudently obligated as required 
under section 1012(b) or 1013; and 
‘‘(2) may not be deferred or otherwise withheld 
from obligation during the 90-day period before the 
expiration of the period of availability of such budget 
authority, including, if applicable, the 90-day period 
before the expiration of an initial period of avail-
ability for which such budget authority was pro-
vided. 
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENT.—With respect 
to an apportionment of an appropriation (as that term is 
defined in section 1511 of title 31, United States Code) 
made pursuant to section 1512 of such title, an appropria-
tion shall be apportioned— 
‘‘(1) to make available all amounts for obliga-
tion in sufficient time to be prudently obligated; and 
‘‘(2) to make available all amounts for obliga-
tion, without precondition (including footnotes) that 
shall be met prior to obligation, not later than 90 
days before the expiration of the period of avail-
ability of such appropriation, including, if applicable, 
90 days before the expiration of an initial period of 
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availability for which such appropriation was pro-
vided.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control 
Act of 1974 set forth in section 1(b) of such Act is amend-
ed by inserting after the item relating to section 1017 the 
following: 
‘‘1018. Prudent obligation of budget authority and specific requirements for ex-
piring budget authority.’’. 
SEC. 103. STRENGTHENING CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part B of the Impoundment Con-
trol Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 682 et seq.), as amended by 
section 102(a), is further amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘REPORTING ON APPORTIONMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS 
BY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES 
‘‘SEC. 1019. Each department or agency shall— 
‘‘(1) notify the Committee on the Budget and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on the Budget and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and 
any other appropriate congressional committees if— 
‘‘(A) an apportionment is not made in the 
required time period provided in section 
1513(b) of title 31, United States Code; 
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‘‘(B) an approved apportionment received 
by the department or agency conditions the 
availability of an appropriation on further ac-
tion; or 
‘‘(C) an approved apportionment received 
by the department or agency may hinder the 
prudent obligation of such appropriation or the 
execution of a program, project, or activity by 
such department or agency; and 
‘‘(2) include in each notification under para-
graph (1) information identifying the bureau, ac-
count name, appropriation name, and Treasury Ap-
propriation Fund Symbol or fund account.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control 
Act of 1974 set forth in section 1(b) of such Act, as 
amended by section 102(b), is further amended by insert-
ing after the item relating to section 1018 the following: 
‘‘1019. Reporting on apportionment of appropriations by departments and agen-
cies.’’. 
SEC. 104. UPDATED AUTHORITIES FOR AND REPORTING BY 
THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1015 of the Congressional 
Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 
686) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) REVIEW.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General 
shall— 
‘‘(A) review compliance with this part; and 
‘‘(B) submit to the Committee on the 
Budget, the Committee on Appropriations, and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Gov-
ernmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee 
on the Budget, the Committee on Appropria-
tions, and the Committee on Oversight and Re-
form of the House of Representatives, and any 
other appropriate congressional committee of 
the Senate or the House of Representatives a 
report, and any relevant information related to 
the report, on any noncompliance with this 
part. 
‘‘(2) INFORMATION, 
DOCUMENTATION, 
AND 
VIEWS.—The President or the head of the relevant 
department or agency of the United States shall pro-
vide information, documentation, and views to the 
Comptroller General, as is determined by the Comp-
troller General to be necessary to determine such 
compliance, not later than 20 days after the date on 
which the request from the Comptroller General is 
received, or if the Comptroller General determines 
that a shorter or longer period is appropriate based 
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on the specific circumstances, within such shorter or 
longer period. 
‘‘(3) ACCESS.—To carry out the responsibilities 
of this part, the Comptroller General shall have ac-
cess to interview the officers, employees, contractors, 
and other agents and representatives of a depart-
ment, agency, or office of the United States at any 
reasonable time as the Comptroller General may re-
quest.’’. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Section 1001 of the 
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 
1974 (2 U.S.C. 681) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) affecting or limiting in any way the au-
thorities provided to the Comptroller General under 
chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code.’’. 
SEC. 105. ADVANCE CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION AND 
LITIGATION. 
Section 1016 of the Impoundment Control Act of 
1974 (2 U.S.C. 687) is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘SUITS BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL 
‘‘SEC. 1016. (a) IN GENERAL.—If, under this title, 
budget authority is required to be made available for obli-
gation and such budget authority is not made available 
for obligation or information, documentation, views, or ac-
cess are required to be produced and such information, 
documentation, views, or access are not produced, the 
Comptroller General is expressly empowered, through at-
torneys selected by the Comptroller General, to bring a 
civil action in the United States District Court for the Dis-
trict of Columbia to require such budget authority to be 
made available for obligation or such information, docu-
mentation, views, or access to be produced. 
‘‘(b) COURT AUTHORITY.—In a civil action under 
subsection (a), the court is expressly empowered to enter, 
against any department, agency, officer, or employee of 
the United States, any decree, judgment, or order which 
may be necessary or appropriate to make such budget au-
thority available for obligation or compel production of 
such information, documentation, views, or access. 
‘‘(c) NOTICE.—No civil action shall be brought by the 
Comptroller General to require budget authority be made 
available under this section until the expiration of 15 cal-
endar days following the date on which an explanatory 
statement by the Comptroller General of the cir-
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cumstances giving rise to the action contemplated is filed 
with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 
President of the Senate, except that expiration of such pe-
riod shall not be required if the Comptroller General finds 
(and incorporates the finding in the explanatory statement 
filed) that such delay would be contrary to the public in-
terest.’’. 
SEC. 106. PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE 
IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL ACT OF 1974. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part B of the Impoundment Con-
trol Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 682 et seq.), as amended by 
section 103(a), is further amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY 
‘‘SEC. 1020. (a) ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINE.—An 
officer or employee of the United States Government who 
withholds or causes to be withheld the obligation of budget 
authority that is required to be made available for obliga-
tion under this part shall be subject to appropriate admin-
istrative discipline, including, when circumstances war-
rant, suspension from duty without pay or removal from 
office. 
‘‘(b) CRIMINAL PENALTY.—An officer or employee of 
the United States Government who knowingly and willfully 
withholds or causes to be withheld the obligation of budget 
authority that is required to be made available for obliga-
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tion under this part shall be fined not more than $5,000, 
imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both. 
‘‘(c) REPORTING VIOLATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In the event of a violation 
of section 1001, 1012, 1013, or 1018 of this part, 
or in the case that the Comptroller General issues 
a legal decision concluding that a department, agen-
cy, or office of the United States violated this part, 
the President or the head of the relevant department 
or agency as the case may be, shall report imme-
diately to Congress all relevant facts and a state-
ment of actions taken. A copy of each report shall 
also be transmitted to the Comptroller General and 
the relevant inspector general on the same date the 
report is transmitted to the Congress. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—Any such report shall include 
a summary of the facts pertaining to the violation, 
the title and Treasury Appropriation Fund Symbol 
of the appropriation or fund account, the amount in-
volved for each violation, the date on which the vio-
lation occurred, the position of any individuals re-
sponsible for the violation, a statement of the admin-
istrative discipline imposed and any further action 
taken with respect to any officer or employee in-
volved in the violation, a statement of any additional 
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action taken to prevent recurrence of the same type 
of violation, and any written response by any officer 
or employee identified by position as involved in the 
violation. In the case that the Comptroller General 
issues a legal decision concluding that a department, 
agency, or office of the United States violated this 
part and the relevant department, agency, or office 
does not agree that a violation has occurred, the re-
port provided to Congress, the Comptroller General, 
and relevant inspector general will explain the posi-
tion of the department, agency, or office. 
‘‘(3) OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND.—If any such 
report identifies the position of any officer or em-
ployee as involved in the violation, such officer or 
employee shall be provided a reasonable opportunity 
to respond in writing, and any such response shall 
be appended to the report. 
‘‘(d) ATTORNEY GENERAL REVIEW OF REPORTS.— 
In the case that a report is transmitted under subsection 
(c), the Attorney General shall promptly review such re-
port and investigate to the extent necessary to determine 
whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that the 
responsible officer or employee knowingly and willfully vio-
lated section 1001, 1012, 1013, or 1018 of this part, as 
applicable. If the Attorney General determines that there 
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are such reasonable grounds, the Attorney General dili-
gently shall investigate a criminal violation under this sec-
tion.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control 
Act of 1974 set forth in section 1(b) of such Act, as 
amended by section 103(b), is further amended by insert-
ing after the item relating to section 1019 the following: 
‘‘1020. Penalties for failure to comply.’’. 
SEC. 107. CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF GAO REPORT 
AS SPECIAL MESSAGE. 
Section 1015(a) of the Congressional Budget and Im-
poundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 686(a)) is 
amended by striking the last sentence and inserting ‘‘Any 
funds with respect to which such reserve or deferral apply 
may not be proposed for reservation or deferral pursuant 
to a special message under section 1012 or 1013 on or 
after the date that the Comptroller General submits such 
report.’’. 
SEC. 108. CONGRESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS. 
Section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 
901(b)(2)(A)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and the President 
subsequently so designates’’; and 
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(2) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘and the President 
subsequently so designates’’. 
TITLE 
II—STRENGTHENING 
TRANSPARENCY 
AND 
RE-
PORTING 
Subtitle A—Funds Management 
and Reporting to the Congress 
SEC. 211. EXPIRED BALANCE REPORTING IN THE PRESI-
DENT’S BUDGET. 
Section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(40) for the budget for each of fiscal years 
2027 through 2031, a report— 
‘‘(A) identifying unobligated expired bal-
ances as of the beginning of the current fiscal 
year and the beginning of each of the preceding 
2 fiscal years by agency and the applicable 
Treasury Appropriation Fund Symbol or fund 
account; and 
‘‘(B) providing explanation of unobligated 
expired balances in any Treasury Appropriation 
Fund Symbol or fund account that exceed the 
lesser of 5 percent of total appropriations made 
available for that account or $100,000,000.’’. 
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SEC. 212. CANCELLED BALANCE REPORTING IN THE PRESI-
DENT’S BUDGET. 
Section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, as 
amended by section 211, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(41) for the budget for each of fiscal years 
2027 through 2031, a report— 
‘‘(A) identifying cancelled balances (pursu-
ant to section 1552(a)) for the preceding 3 fis-
cal years by agency and Treasury Appropriation 
Fund Symbol or fund account; 
‘‘(B) providing explanation of cancelled 
balances in any Treasury Appropriation Fund 
Symbol or fund account that exceed the lesser 
of 5 percent of total appropriations made avail-
able for that account or $100,000,000; and 
‘‘(C) including a tabulation, by Treasury 
Appropriation Fund Symbol or fund account 
and appropriation, of all balances of appropria-
tions available for an indefinite period in an ap-
propriation account available for an indefinite 
period that do not meet the criteria for closure 
under section 1555, but for which either— 
‘‘(i) the head of the agency concerned 
or the President has determined that the 
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purposes for which the appropriation was 
made have been carried out; or 
‘‘(ii) no disbursement has been made 
against the appropriation— 
‘‘(I) in the prior year and the 
preceding fiscal year; or 
‘‘(II) in the prior year and which 
the budget estimates zero disburse-
ments in the current year.’’. 
SEC. 213. LAPSE IN APPROPRIATIONS—REPORTING IN THE 
PRESIDENT’S BUDGET. 
Section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, as 
amended by section 212, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(42) a report— 
‘‘(A) identifying any obligation or expendi-
ture made by a department or agency affected 
in whole or in part by any lapse in appropria-
tions of 5 consecutive days or more during the 
preceding fiscal year for which amounts were 
not available; and 
‘‘(B) with respect to any such obligation or 
expenditure, providing— 
‘‘(i) the amount so obligated or ex-
pended; 
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‘‘(ii) the account affected; 
‘‘(iii) an explanation of the exception 
under subchapter III of chapter 13 or sub-
chapter II of chapter 15 of this title, or 
another legal authority, that permitted the 
department or agency, as the case may be, 
to incur such obligation or expenditure; 
and 
‘‘(iv) an explanation of any change in 
the application of any exception under sub-
chapter III of chapter 13 or subchapter II 
of chapter 15 of this title for a program, 
project, or activity from any explanations 
previously reported on pursuant to this 
paragraph.’’. 
SEC. 214. TRANSFER AND OTHER REPURPOSING AUTHOR-
ITY REPORTING IN THE PRESIDENT’S BUDG-
ET. 
Section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, as 
amended by section 213, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(43) for the budget for fiscal year 2027, a re-
port— 
‘‘(A) identifying any transfer authority or 
other authority to repurpose appropriations pro-
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vided in a law other than an appropriation act; 
and 
‘‘(B) with respect to any such authority, 
providing the citation to the statute, the list of 
departments or agencies covered, an expla-
nation of when such authority may be used, and 
an explanation on any use of such authority in 
the preceding 3 fiscal years.’’. 
SEC. 215. AUTHORIZING CANCELLATIONS IN INDEFINITE 
ACCOUNTS BY APPROPRIATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter IV of chapter 15 of 
title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 1555 the following: 
‘‘§ 1555a. Cancellation of appropriations available for 
indefinite periods within an account 
‘‘Any remaining balance (whether obligated or unobli-
gated) from an appropriation available for an indefinite 
period in an appropriation account available for an indefi-
nite period that does not meet the requirements for closure 
under section 1555 shall be canceled, and thereafter shall 
not be available for obligation or expenditure for any pur-
pose, if— 
‘‘(1) the head of the agency concerned or the 
President determines that the purposes for which 
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the appropriation was made have been carried out; 
and 
‘‘(2) no disbursement has been made against 
the appropriation for two consecutive fiscal years.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for subchapter IV of chapter 15 of title 31, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 1555 the following: 
‘‘1555a. Cancellation of appropriations available for indefinite periods within an 
account.’’. 
SEC. 216. NATIONAL EMERGENCIES ACT DECLARATION 
SPENDING REPORTING IN THE PRESIDENT’S 
BUDGET. 
Section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, as 
amended by section 214, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(44)(A) A report on the proposed, planned, 
and actual obligations and expenditures of funds (for 
the prior fiscal year, the current fiscal year, and the 
fiscal years for which the budget is submitted) at-
tributable to the exercise of powers and authorities 
made available by statute for each national emer-
gency declared by the President, currently active or 
in effect during the applicable fiscal years. 
‘‘(B) Obligations and expenditures contained in 
the report under subparagraph (A) shall be orga-
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nized by Treasury Appropriation Fund Symbol or 
fund account and by program, project, and activity, 
and include— 
‘‘(i) a description of each such program, 
project, and activity; 
‘‘(ii) the authorities under which such 
funding actions are taken; and 
‘‘(iii) the purpose and progress of such ob-
ligations and expenditures toward addressing 
the applicable national emergency. 
‘‘(C) Such report shall include, with respect to 
any transfer, reprogramming, or repurposing of 
funds to address the applicable national emer-
gency— 
‘‘(i) the amount of such transfer, re-
programming, or repurposing; 
‘‘(ii) the authority authorizing each such 
transfer, reprogramming, or repurposing; and 
‘‘(iii) a description of programs, projects, 
and activities affected by such transfer, re-
programming, or repurposing, including by a 
reduction in funding.’’. 
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Subtitle B—Empowering Congres-
sional Review Through Non-
partisan Congressional Agencies 
and Transparency Initiatives 
SEC. 221. REQUIREMENT TO RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR 
INFORMATION 
FROM 
THE 
COMPTROLLER 
GENERAL FOR BUDGET AND APPROPRIA-
TIONS LAW DECISIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 
31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 722. Requirement to respond to requests for infor-
mation from the Comptroller General for 
budget and appropriations law decisions 
‘‘(a) If an agency receives a written request for infor-
mation, documentation, or views from the Comptroller 
General relating to a decision or opinion on budget or ap-
propriations law, the agency shall provide the requested 
information, documentation, or views not later than 20 
days after receiving the written request, unless such writ-
ten request specifically provides otherwise. 
‘‘(b) If an agency fails to provide the requested infor-
mation, documentation, or views within the time required 
by subsection (a)— 
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‘‘(1) the Comptroller General shall notify, in 
writing, the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee 
on Oversight and Accountability of the House of 
Representatives, and any other appropriate congres-
sional committee of such failure; 
‘‘(2) the Comptroller General is hereby ex-
pressly empowered, through attorneys selected by 
the Comptroller General, to bring a civil action in 
the United States District Court for the District of 
Columbia to require such information, documenta-
tion, or views to be produced; and 
‘‘(3) the court in a civil action brought under 
paragraph (2) is expressly empowered to enter 
against any department, agency, officer, or employee 
of the United States any decree, judgment, or order 
which may be necessary or appropriate to require 
such production. 
‘‘(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as af-
fecting or otherwise limiting the authorities provided to 
the Comptroller General in section 716 of this title.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 31, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 721 the following: 
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‘‘722. Requirement to respond to requests for information from the Comptroller 
General for budget and appropriations law decisions.’’. 
SEC. 
222. 
REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS 
FOR 
ANTIDEFICIENCY ACT VIOLATIONS. 
(a) VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 1341 OR 1342.—Sec-
tion 1351 of title 31, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘If’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) If’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘or if the Comptroller General 
determines that an officer or employee of an execu-
tive agency or of the District of Columbia govern-
ment violated section 1341(a) or 1342,’’ before ‘‘the 
head of the agency’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘the Comptroller General’’ and 
inserting ‘‘the Comptroller General and the Attorney 
General’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) Any such report shall include a statement of the 
provision violated, a summary of the facts pertaining to 
the violation, the title and Treasury Appropriation Fund 
Symbol of the appropriation or fund account, the amount 
involved for each violation, the date on which the violation 
occurred, the position of any officer or employee respon-
sible for the violation, a statement of the administrative 
discipline imposed and any further action taken with re-
spect to any officer or employee involved in the violation, 
a statement of any additional action taken to prevent re-
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currence of the same type of violation, a statement of any 
determination that the violation was not knowing and will-
ful that has been made by the executive agency or the Dis-
trict of Columbia government, and any written response 
by any officer or employee identified by position as in-
volved in the violation. In the case that the Comptroller 
General issues a legal decision concluding that section 
1341(a) or 1342 was violated and the executive agency 
or the District of Columbia government does not agree 
that a violation has occurred, the report provided to the 
President, the Congress, and the Comptroller General will 
explain the position of the executive agency or the District 
of Columbia government. 
‘‘(c) If the Comptroller General finds that an officer 
or employee of an executive agency or an officer or em-
ployee of the District of Columbia government violated 
section 1341(a) or 1342 of this title, and that the head 
of the agency or the Mayor of the District of Columbia 
has failed to make the report required under subsection 
(a), the Comptroller General shall make a report on the 
violation of section 1341(a) or 1342 and any available in-
formation concerning it to both Houses of Congress.’’. 
(b) VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 1517.—Section 1517 of 
title 31, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
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(A) by inserting ‘‘or if the Comptroller 
General determines that an officer or employee 
of an executive agency or of the District of Co-
lumbia government violated subsection (a),’’ be-
fore ‘‘the head of the executive agency’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the Comptroller General’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the Comptroller General and the 
Attorney General’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) Any such report shall include a statement of the 
provision violated, a summary of the facts pertaining to 
the violation, the title and Treasury Appropriation Fund 
Symbol of the appropriation or fund account, the amount 
involved for each violation, the date on which the violation 
occurred, the position of any officer or employee respon-
sible for the violation, a statement of the administrative 
discipline imposed and any further action taken with re-
spect to any officer or employee involved in the violation, 
a statement of any additional action taken to prevent re-
currence of the same type of violation, a statement of any 
determination that the violation was not knowing and will-
ful that has been made by the executive agency or the Dis-
trict of Columbia government, and any written response 
by any officer or employee identified by position as in-
volved in the violation. In the case that the Comptroller 
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General issues a legal decision concluding that subsection 
(a) was violated and the executive agency or the District 
of Columbia government does not agree that a violation 
has occurred, the report provided to the President, the 
Congress, and the Comptroller General will explain the po-
sition of the executive agency or the District of Columbia 
government.’’. 
SEC. 223. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORTING TO CON-
GRESS FOR ANTIDEFICIENCY ACT VIOLA-
TIONS. 
(a) VIOLATIONS OF SECTIONS 1341 OR 1342.—Sec-
tion 1350 of title 31, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘An officer’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) 
An officer’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b)(1) If an executive agency or the District of Co-
lumbia government reports, under section 1351, a viola-
tion of section 1341(a) or 1342, the Attorney General 
shall promptly review such report and investigate to the 
extent necessary to determine whether there are reason-
able grounds to believe that the responsible officer or em-
ployee knowingly and willfully violated such section 
1341(a) or 1342, as applicable. If the Attorney General 
determines that there are such reasonable grounds, the 
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Attorney General diligently shall investigate a criminal 
violation under this section. 
‘‘(2) The Attorney General shall submit to Congress 
and the Comptroller General on or before March 31 of 
each calendar year an annual report detailing separately 
for each executive agency and for the District of Columbia 
government— 
‘‘(A) the number of reports under section 1351 
transmitted to the President during the preceding 
calendar year; 
‘‘(B) the number of reports reviewed in accord-
ance with paragraph (1) during the preceding cal-
endar year; 
‘‘(C) without identification of any individual of-
ficer or employee, a description of each investigation 
undertaken in accordance with paragraph (1) during 
the preceding calendar year and an explanation of 
the status of any such investigation; and 
‘‘(D) without identification of any individual of-
ficer or employee, an explanation of any update to 
the status of any review or investigation previously 
reported pursuant to this paragraph.’’. 
(b) VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 1517.—Section 1519 of 
title 31, United States Code, is amended— 
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(1) by striking ‘‘An officer’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) 
An officer’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b)(1) If an executive agency or the District of Co-
lumbia government reports, under section 1517(b), a vio-
lation of section 1517(a), the Attorney General shall 
promptly review such report and investigate to the extent 
necessary to determine whether there are reasonable 
grounds to believe that the responsible officer or employee 
knowingly and willfully violated such section 1517(a). If 
the Attorney General determines that there are such rea-
sonable grounds, the Attorney General diligently shall in-
vestigate a criminal violation under this section. 
‘‘(2) The Attorney General shall submit to Congress 
and the Comptroller General on or before March 31 of 
each calendar year an annual report detailing separately 
for each executive agency and for the District of Columbia 
government— 
‘‘(A) the number of reports under section 
1517(b) transmitted to the President during the pre-
ceding calendar year; 
‘‘(B) the number of reports reviewed in accord-
ance with paragraph (1) during the preceding cal-
endar year; 
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‘‘(C) without identification of any individual of-
ficer or employee, a description of each investigation 
undertaken in accordance with paragraph (1) during 
the preceding calendar year and an explanation of 
the status of any such investigation; and 
‘‘(D) without identification of any individual of-
ficer or employee, an explanation of any update to 
the status of any review or investigation previously 
reported pursuant to this subsection.’’. 
SEC. 224. TREATMENT OF REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION 
FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. 
Section 552(d) of title 5, United States Code (com-
monly known as the ‘‘Freedom of Information Act’’), is 
amended, in the second sentence, by inserting ‘‘or any 
Member of Congress’’ before the period at the end. 
SEC. 
225. 
SUITS 
BY 
COMPTROLLER 
GENERAL 
FOR 
ANTIDEFICIENCY ACT VIOLATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 
31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 722. Suits by Comptroller General for ongoing 
Antideficiency Act violations 
‘‘If the Comptroller General determines that an indi-
vidual is committing an ongoing violation of section 
1341(a), 1342, or 1517(a), the Comptroller General may, 
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through attorneys of his own selection, bring a civil action 
in the United States District Court for the District of Co-
lumbia, and such court is hereby expressly empowered to 
enter in such civil action, against any department, agency, 
officer, or employee of the United States, any decree, judg-
ment, or order, which may be necessary or appropriate to 
stop the ongoing violation.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for such subchapter is amended by adding after the item 
relating to section 721 the following: 
‘‘722. Suits by Comptroller General for Antideficiency Act violations.’’. 
SEC. 226. INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE OFFICE OF MAN-
AGEMENT AND BUDGET. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—Section 401 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘the Office 
of Management and Budget,’’ after ‘‘means’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘the Director 
of the Office of Management and Budget,’’ after 
‘‘means’’. 
(b) SPECIAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE INSPEC-
TOR GENERAL OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND 
BUDGET.—Chapter 4 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 424 the following new 
section: 
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‘‘§ 425. Special provisions concerning the Inspector 
General of the Office of Management and 
Budget 
‘‘The Inspector General of the Office of Management 
and Budget shall only have jurisdiction over those matters 
that— 
‘‘(1) have been specifically assigned to the Of-
fice under law; 
‘‘(2) are legal requirements delegated to the Of-
fice; or 
‘‘(3) otherwise involve compliance with legal re-
quirements.’’. 
(c) APPOINTMENT.—Not later than 120 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 
appoint an individual to serve as the Inspector General 
of the Office of Management and Budget in accordance 
with section 403(a) of title 5, United States Code. 
SEC. 227. PUBLICATION OF BUDGET OR APPROPRIATIONS 
LAW OPINIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUS-
TICE OFFICE OF LEGAL COUNSEL. 
(a) SCHEDULE OF PUBLICATION FOR FINAL OLC 
OPINIONS.—Each final OLC opinion shall be made avail-
able on its public website in a manner that is searchable, 
sortable, and downloadable in its entirety as soon as is 
practicable, but— 
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(1) not later than 30 days after the opinion is 
issued or updated if such action takes place on or 
after the date of enactment of this Act; 
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of en-
actment of this Act for an opinion issued on or after 
January 20, 1993; 
(3) not later than 2 years after the date of en-
actment of this Act for an opinion issued on or after 
January 20, 1981, and before or on January 19, 
1993; 
(4) not later than 3 years after the date of en-
actment of this Act for an opinion issued on or after 
January 20, 1969, and before or on January 19, 
1981; and 
(5) not later than 4 years after the date of en-
actment of this Act for all other opinions. 
(b) EXCEPTIONS
AND
LIMITATION
ON
PUBLIC 
AVAILABILITY OF FINAL OLC OPINIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A final OLC opinion or part 
thereof may be withheld only to the extent— 
(A) information contained in the opinion 
was— 
(i) specifically authorized to be kept 
secret, under criteria established by an Ex-
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ecutive order, in the interest of national 
defense or foreign policy; 
(ii) properly classified, including all 
procedural and marking requirements, pur-
suant to such Executive order; 
(iii) the Attorney General determines 
that the national defense or foreign policy 
interests protected outweigh the public’s 
interest in access to the information; and 
(iv) put through declassification re-
view within the past two years; 
(B) information contained in the opinion 
relates to the appointment of a specific indi-
vidual not confirmed to Federal office; 
(C) information contained in the opinion is 
specifically exempted from disclosure by statute 
(other than sections 552 and 552b of title 5, 
United States Code), if such statute— 
(i) requires that the material be with-
held in such a manner as to leave no dis-
cretion on the issue; or 
(ii) establishes particular criteria for 
withholding or refers to particular types of 
material to be withheld; 
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(D) information in the opinion includes 
trade secrets and commercial or financial infor-
mation obtained from a person and privileged 
or confidential whose disclosure would likely 
cause substantial harm to the competitive posi-
tion of the person from whom the information 
was obtained; 
(E) the President, in his or her sole and 
nondelegable determination, formally and per-
sonally claims in writing that executive privilege 
prevents the release of the information and dis-
closure would cause specific identifiable harm to 
an interest protected by an exception or the dis-
closure is prohibited by law; or 
(F) information in the opinion includes 
personnel and medical files and similar files the 
disclosure of which would constitute a clearly 
unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. 
(2) DETERMINATION TO WITHHOLD.—Any de-
termination under this subsection to withhold infor-
mation contained in a final OLC opinion shall be 
made by the Attorney General or a designee of the 
Attorney General. The determination shall be— 
(A) in writing; 
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(B) made available to the public within the 
same timeframe as is required of a formal OLC 
opinion; 
(C) sufficiently detailed as to inform the 
public of what kind of information is being 
withheld and the reason therefore; and 
(D) effective only for a period of 3 years, 
subject to review and reissuance, with each 
reissuance made available to the public. 
(3) FINAL OPINIONS.—For final OLC opinions 
for which the text is withheld in full or in substan-
tial part, a detailed unclassified summary of the 
opinion shall be made available to the public, in the 
same timeframe as required of the final OLC opin-
ion, that conveys the essence of the opinion, includ-
ing any interpretations of a statute, the Constitu-
tion, or other legal authority. A notation shall be in-
cluded in any published list of final OLC opinions 
regarding the extent of the withholdings. 
(4) NO LIMITATION ON FREEDOM OF INFORMA-
TION.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed 
as limiting the availability of information under sec-
tion 552 of title 5, United States Code or construed 
as an exemption under paragraph (3) of subsection 
(b) of such section. 
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(5) NO LIMITATION ON RELIEF.—A decision by 
the Attorney General to release or withhold informa-
tion pursuant to this title shall not preclude any ac-
tion or relief conferred by statutory or regulatory re-
gime that empowers any person to request or de-
mand the release of information. 
(6) REASONABLY
SEGREGABLE
PORTIONS
OF 
OPINIONS TO BE PUBLISHED.—Any reasonably seg-
regable portion of an opinion shall be provided after 
withholding of the portions which are exempt under 
this section. The amount of information withheld, 
and the exemption under which the withholding is 
made, shall be indicated on the released portion of 
the opinion, unless including that indication would 
harm an interest protected by the exemption in this 
paragraph under which the withholding is made. If 
technically feasible, the amount of the information 
withheld, and the exemption under which the with-
holding is made, shall be indicated at the place in 
the opinion where such withholding is made. 
(c) METHOD OF PUBLICATION.—The Attorney Gen-
eral shall publish each final OLC opinion to the extent 
the law permits, including by publishing the opinions on 
a publicly accessible website that— 
(1) with respect to each opinion— 
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(A) contains an electronic copy of the opin-
ion, including any transmittal letter associated 
with the opinion, in an open format that is plat-
form independent and that is available to the 
public without restrictions; 
(B) provides the public the ability to re-
trieve an opinion, to the extent practicable, 
through searches based on— 
(i) the title of the opinion; 
(ii) the date of publication or revision; 
or 
(iii) the full text of the opinion; 
(C) identifies the time and date when the 
opinion was required to be published, and when 
the opinion was transmitted for publication; 
and 
(D) provides a permanent means of access-
ing the opinion electronically; 
(2) includes a means for bulk download of all 
final OLC opinions or a selection of opinions re-
trieved using a text-based search; 
(3) provides free access to the opinions, and 
does not charge a fee, require registration, or impose 
any other limitation in exchange for access to the 
website; and 
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(4) is capable of being upgraded as necessary to 
carry out the purposes of this section. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) OLC OPINION.—The term ‘‘OLC opinion’’ 
means views on a matter of legal interpretation com-
municated by the Office of Legal Counsel of the De-
partment of Justice to any other office or agency, or 
person in an office or agency, in the Executive 
Branch, including any office in the Department of 
Justice, the White House, or the Executive Office of 
the President, and rendered in accordance with sec-
tions 511–513 of title 28, United States Code, and 
relating to— 
(A) subtitle II, III, V, or VI of title 31, 
United States Code; 
(B) the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985; 
(C) the Congressional Budget and Im-
poundment Control Act of 1974; or 
(D) any appropriations Act, continuing 
resolution, or other provision of law providing 
or governing appropriations or budget author-
ity. 
(2) FINAL
OLC
OPINION.—The term ‘‘final 
OLC opinion’’ means an OLC opinion that— 
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(A) the Attorney General, Assistant Attor-
ney General for the Office of Legal Counsel, or 
a Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the 
Office of Legal Counsel, has determined is 
final; or 
(B) is cited in another Office of Legal 
Counsel opinion. 
TITLE III—REPUBLIC ACT 
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Reforming Emergency 
Powers to Uphold the Balances and Limitations Inherent 
in the Constitution Act’’ or the ‘‘REPUBLIC Act’’. 
Subtitle A—Congressional Review 
of National Emergencies 
SEC. 311. CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW OF NATIONAL EMER-
GENCIES. 
The National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1621 et 
seq.) is amended by inserting after title I the following: 
‘‘TITLE 
II—DECLARATIONS 
OF 
FUTURE 
NATIONAL 
EMER-
GENCIES 
‘‘SEC. 201. DECLARATIONS OF NATIONAL EMERGENCIES. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY TO DECLARE NATIONAL EMER-
GENCIES.—With respect to Acts of Congress authorizing 
the exercise, during the period of a national emergency, 
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of any special or extraordinary power, the President is au-
thorized to declare such a national emergency by procla-
mation. Such proclamation shall immediately be trans-
mitted to Congress and published in the Federal Register. 
‘‘(b) SPECIFICATION OF PROVISIONS OF LAW TO BE 
EXERCISED.—No powers or authorities made available by 
statute for use during the period of a national emergency 
shall be exercised unless and until the President specifies 
the provisions of law under which the President proposes 
that the President or other officers will act in— 
‘‘(1) a proclamation declaring a national emer-
gency under subsection (a); or 
‘‘(2) one or more Executive orders relating to 
the emergency published in the Federal Register and 
transmitted to Congress. 
‘‘(c) PROHIBITION
ON SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS
IF 
EMERGENCIES NOT APPROVED.— 
‘‘(1) SUBSEQUENT DECLARATIONS.—If a joint 
resolution of approval is not enacted under section 
203 with respect to a national emergency before the 
expiration of the 45-day period described in section 
202(a), or with respect to a national emergency pro-
posed to be renewed under section 202(b), the Presi-
dent may not, during the remainder of the term of 
office of that President, declare a subsequent na-
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tional emergency under subsection (a) with respect 
to the same circumstances. 
‘‘(2) EXERCISE OF AUTHORITIES.—If a joint 
resolution of approval is not enacted under section 
203 with respect to a power or authority specified by 
the President in a proclamation under subsection (a) 
or an Executive order under subsection (b)(2) with 
respect to a national emergency, the President may 
not, during the remainder of the term of office of 
that President, exercise that power or authority with 
respect to that emergency. 
‘‘(d) EFFECT OF FUTURE LAWS.—No law enacted 
after the date of the enactment of this Act shall supersede 
this title unless it does so in specific terms, referring to 
this title, and declaring that the new law supersedes the 
provisions of this title. 
‘‘SEC. 202. EFFECTIVE PERIODS OF NATIONAL EMER-
GENCIES. 
‘‘(a) TEMPORARY EFFECTIVE PERIODS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A declaration of a national 
emergency shall remain in effect for a period of 45 
calendar days from the issuance of the proclamation 
under section 201(a) (not counting the day on which 
the proclamation was issued) and shall terminate 
when such period expires unless there is enacted into 
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law a joint resolution of approval under section 203 
with respect to the proclamation. 
‘‘(2) EXERCISE
OF
POWERS
AND
AUTHORI-
TIES.—Any emergency power or authority made 
available under a provision of law specified pursuant 
to section 201(b) may be exercised pursuant to a 
declaration of a national emergency for a period of 
45 calendar days from the issuance of the proclama-
tion or Executive order (not counting the day on 
which such proclamation or Executive order was 
issued). That power or authority may not be exer-
cised after such period expires unless there is en-
acted into law a joint resolution of approval under 
section 203 approving— 
‘‘(A) the proclamation of the national 
emergency or the Executive order; and 
‘‘(B) the exercise of the power or authority 
specified by the President in such proclamation 
or Executive order. 
‘‘(b) RENEWAL OF NATIONAL EMERGENCIES.—A na-
tional emergency declared by the President under section 
201(a) or previously renewed under this subsection 
through the enactment of a joint resolution of approval, 
and not already terminated pursuant to subsection (a) or 
(c), shall terminate on the date that is one year after the 
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President transmitted to Congress the proclamation de-
claring the emergency or the joint resolution of approval 
was enacted into law, unless— 
‘‘(1) the President publishes in the Federal 
Register and transmits to Congress an Executive 
order renewing the emergency; and 
‘‘(2) there is enacted into law a joint resolution 
of approval renewing the emergency pursuant to sec-
tion 203 before the termination of the emergency or 
previous renewal of the emergency. 
‘‘(c) TERMINATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Any national emergency 
declared by the President under section 201(a) shall 
terminate on the earliest of— 
‘‘(A) the date provided for in subsection 
(a); 
‘‘(B) the date provided for in subsection 
(b); 
‘‘(C) the date specified in an Act of Con-
gress terminating the emergency; or 
‘‘(D) the date specified in a proclamation 
of the President terminating the emergency. 
‘‘(2) EFFECT OF TERMINATION.— 
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Effective on the date 
of the termination of a national emergency 
under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(i) except as provided by subpara-
graph (B), any powers or authorities exer-
cised by reason of the emergency shall 
cease to be exercised; 
‘‘(ii) any amounts reprogrammed or 
transferred under any provision of law 
with respect to the emergency that remain 
unobligated on that date shall be returned 
and made available for the purpose for 
which such amounts were appropriated; 
and 
‘‘(iii) any contracts entered into pur-
suant to authorities provided as a result of 
the emergency shall be terminated. 
‘‘(B) SAVINGS
PROVISION.—The termi-
nation of a national emergency shall not af-
fect— 
‘‘(i) any legal action taken or pending 
legal proceeding not finally concluded or 
determined on the date of the termination 
under paragraph (1); 
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‘‘(ii) any legal action or legal pro-
ceeding based on any act committed prior 
to that date; or 
‘‘(iii) any rights or duties that ma-
tured or penalties that were incurred prior 
to that date. 
‘‘SEC. 203. REVIEW BY CONGRESS OF NATIONAL EMER-
GENCIES. 
‘‘(a) JOINT RESOLUTION OF APPROVAL DEFINED.— 
In this section, the term ‘joint resolution of approval’ 
means a joint resolution that contains, after its resolving 
clause, only— 
‘‘(1) a provision approving— 
‘‘(A) a proclamation of a national emer-
gency made under section 201(a); 
‘‘(B) an Executive order issued under sec-
tion 201(b)(2); or 
‘‘(C) an Executive order issued under sec-
tion 202(b); and 
‘‘(2) a provision approving a list of all or a por-
tion of the provisions of law specified by the Presi-
dent under section 201(b) in the proclamation or 
Executive order that is the subject of the joint reso-
lution. 
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‘‘(b) PROCEDURES FOR CONSIDERATION OF JOINT 
RESOLUTIONS OF APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(1) 
INTRODUCTION.—After 
the 
President 
transmits to Congress a proclamation declaring a 
national emergency under section 201(a), or trans-
mits to Congress an Executive order specifying 
emergency powers or authorities under section 
201(b)(2) or renewing a national emergency under 
section 202(b), a joint resolution of approval may be 
introduced in either House of Congress by any mem-
ber of that House. 
‘‘(2) CONSIDERATION IN SENATE.—In the Sen-
ate, the following shall apply: 
‘‘(A) REPORTING
AND
DISCHARGE.—If 
each committee to which a joint resolution of 
approval has been referred has not reported it 
at the end of 10 calendar days after its intro-
duction, that committee shall be automatically 
discharged from further consideration of the 
resolution and it shall be placed on the cal-
endar. 
‘‘(B) PROCEEDING TO CONSIDERATION.— 
Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the Standing 
Rules of the Senate, when each committee to 
which a joint resolution of approval is referred 
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has reported the resolution, or is discharged 
under subparagraph (A) from further consider-
ation of the resolution, it is at any time there-
after in order (even though a previous motion 
to the same effect has been disagreed to) for a 
motion to proceed to the consideration of the 
joint resolution, and all points of order against 
the joint resolution (and against consideration 
of the joint resolution) are waived. The motion 
to proceed is subject to 4 hours of debate di-
vided equally between those favoring and those 
opposing the joint resolution of approval. The 
motion is not subject to amendment, or to a 
motion to postpone, or to a motion to proceed 
to the consideration of other business. 
‘‘(C) FLOOR
CONSIDERATION.—A joint 
resolution of approval shall be subject to 10 
hours of consideration, to be divided evenly be-
tween the proponents and opponents of the res-
olution. 
‘‘(D) 
AMENDMENTS.—No 
amendments 
shall be in order with respect to a joint resolu-
tion of approval. 
‘‘(E) MOTION
TO
RECONSIDER
FINAL 
VOTE.—A motion to reconsider a vote on pas-
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sage of a joint resolution of approval shall not 
be in order. 
‘‘(F) APPEALS.—Points of order, including 
questions of relevancy, and appeals from the de-
cision of the Presiding Officer, shall be decided 
without debate. 
‘‘(3) CONSIDERATION
IN
HOUSE
OF
REP-
RESENTATIVES.—In the House of Representatives, 
the following shall apply: 
‘‘(A) REPORTING
AND
DISCHARGE.—If 
each committee to which a joint resolution of 
approval has been referred has not reported it 
to the House within 10 calendar days after the 
date of referral, such committee shall be dis-
charged from further consideration of the joint 
resolution. 
‘‘(B) PROCEEDING TO CONSIDERATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the 
third legislative day after each committee 
to which a joint resolution of approval has 
been referred reports it to the House or 
has been discharged from further consider-
ation, and except as provided in clause (ii), 
it shall be in order to move to proceed to 
consider the joint resolution in the House. 
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All points of order against the motion are 
waived. The previous question shall be con-
sidered as ordered on the motion to its 
adoption without intervening motion. The 
motion shall not be debatable. A motion to 
reconsider the vote by which the motion is 
disposed of shall not be in order. 
‘‘(ii) SUBSEQUENT MOTIONS TO PRO-
CEED
TO
JOINT
RESOLUTION
OF
AP-
PROVAL.—A motion to proceed to consider 
a joint resolution of approval shall not be 
in order after the House has disposed of 
another motion to proceed on that joint 
resolution. 
‘‘(C) 
FLOOR
CONSIDERATION.—Upon 
adoption of the motion to proceed in accordance 
with subparagraph (B)(i), the joint resolution 
of approval shall be considered as read. All 
points of order against the joint resolution of 
approval and against its consideration are 
waived. The previous question shall be consid-
ered as ordered on the joint resolution to final 
passage without intervening motion except two 
hours of debate, equally divided and controlled 
by the sponsor of the joint resolution (or a des-
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ignee) and an opponent. A motion to reconsider 
the vote on passage of the joint resolution shall 
not be in order. 
‘‘(D) 
AMENDMENTS.—No 
amendments 
shall be in order with respect to a joint resolu-
tion of approval. 
‘‘(4) RECEIPT OF RESOLUTION FROM OTHER 
HOUSE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If, before passing a 
joint resolution of approval, one House receives 
a joint resolution of approval from the other 
House, then— 
‘‘(i) the joint resolution of the other 
House shall not be referred to a committee 
and shall be deemed to have been dis-
charged from committee on the day it is 
received; and 
‘‘(ii) the procedures set forth in para-
graphs (2) and (3), as applicable, shall 
apply in the receiving House to the joint 
resolution received from the other House 
to the same extent as such procedures 
apply to a joint resolution of the receiving 
House. 
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‘‘(B) APPLICATION
TO
REVENUE
MEAS-
URES.—The provisions of this paragraph shall 
not apply in the House of Representatives to a 
joint resolution of approval that is a revenue 
measure. 
‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The enactment of a 
joint resolution of approval under this section shall not 
be interpreted to serve as a grant or modification by Con-
gress of statutory authority for the emergency powers of 
the President. 
‘‘(d) RULES OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE.—This sec-
tion is enacted by Congress— 
‘‘(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives, re-
spectively, and as such is deemed a part of the rules 
of each House, respectively, but applicable only with 
respect to the procedure to be followed in the House 
in the case of joint resolutions described in this sec-
tion, and supersedes other rules only to the extent 
that it is inconsistent with such other rules; and 
‘‘(2) with full recognition of the constitutional 
right of either House to change the rules (so far as 
relating to the procedure of 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. 
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‘‘SEC. 204. APPLICABILITY. 
‘‘This title shall apply to a national emergency pursu-
ant to which the President proposes to exercise emergency 
powers or authorities made available under any provision 
of law that is not a provision of law described in section 
604(a).’’. 
SEC. 312. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
Section 401 of the National Emergencies Act (50 
U.S.C. 1641) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the first sentence by inserting ‘‘, 
and make publicly available’’ after ‘‘transmit to 
Congress’’; and 
(B) in the second sentence by inserting ‘‘, 
and make publicly available,’’ before ‘‘a final re-
port’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) REPORT
ON EMERGENCIES.—The President 
shall transmit to the entities described in subsection (g), 
with any proclamation declaring a national emergency 
under section 201(a) or any Executive order specifying 
emergency powers or authorities under section 201(b)(2) 
or renewing a national emergency under section 202(b), 
a report, in writing, that includes the following: 
‘‘(1) A description of the circumstances necessi-
tating the declaration of a national emergency, the 
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renewal of such an emergency, or the use of a new 
emergency authority specified in the Executive 
order, as the case may be. 
‘‘(2) The estimated duration of the national 
emergency, or a statement that the duration of the 
national emergency cannot reasonably be estimated 
at the time of transmission of the report. 
‘‘(3) A summary of the actions the President or 
other officers intend to take, including any re-
programming or transfer of funds, and the statutory 
authorities the President and such officers expect to 
rely on in addressing the national emergency. 
‘‘(4) The total expenditures estimated to be in-
curred by the United States Government during 
such six-month period which are directly attributable 
to the exercise of powers and authorities conferred 
by such declaration. 
‘‘(5) In the case of a renewal of a national 
emergency, a summary of the actions the President 
or other officers have taken in the preceding one- 
year period, including any reprogramming or trans-
fer of funds, to address the emergency. 
‘‘(e) PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO CONGRESS.— 
The President shall provide to the entities described in 
subsection (g) such other information as such entities may 
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request in connection with any national emergency in ef-
fect under title II. 
‘‘(f) PERIODIC REPORTS
ON STATUS
OF EMER-
GENCIES.—If the President declares a national emergency 
under section 201(a), the President shall, not less fre-
quently than every 6 months for the duration of the emer-
gency, report to the entities described in subsection (g) 
on the status of the emergency, the total expenditures in-
curred by the United States Government, and the actions 
the President or other officers have taken and authorities 
the President and such officers have relied on in address-
ing the emergency. 
‘‘(g) ENTITIES DESCRIBED.—The entities described 
in this subsection are— 
‘‘(1) the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives; 
‘‘(2) minority leader of the House of Represent-
atives; 
‘‘(3) the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives; and 
‘‘(4) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate.’’. 
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SEC. 313. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN NATIONAL EMER-
GENCIES INVOKING INTERNATIONAL EMER-
GENCY ECONOMIC POWERS ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Emergencies Act 
(50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), as amended by this subtitle, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘TITLE VI—DECLARATIONS OF 
CERTAIN EMERGENCIES IN-
VOKING 
INTERNATIONAL 
EMERGENCY ECONOMIC POW-
ERS ACT 
‘‘SEC. 604. APPLICABILITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—This title shall apply to a na-
tional emergency pursuant to which the President pro-
poses to exercise emergency powers or authorities made 
available under the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). 
‘‘(b) EFFECT
OF ADDITIONAL POWERS
AND AU-
THORITIES.—This title shall not apply to a national emer-
gency or the exercise of emergency powers and authorities 
pursuant to the national emergency if, in addition to the 
exercise of emergency powers and authorities described in 
subsection (a), the President proposes to exercise, pursu-
ant to the national emergency, any emergency powers and 
authorities under any other provision of law.’’. 
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(b) TRANSFER.—Sections 201, 202, and 301 of the 
National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), as 
such sections appeared on the day before the date of the 
enactment of this Act, are— 
(1) transferred to title VI of such Act (as added 
by subsection (a)); 
(2) inserted before section 604 of such title (as 
added by subsection (a)); and 
(3) redesignated as sections 601, 602, and 603, 
respectively. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Title II of the Na-
tional Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), as such 
title appeared the day before the date of the enactment 
of this Act, is amended by striking the heading for such 
title. 
SEC. 314. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) NATIONAL EMERGENCIES ACT.—Title III of the 
National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1631) is repealed. 
(b) INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY ECONOMIC POW-
ERS ACT.—Section 207(b) of the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1706) is amended by 
striking ‘‘concurrent resolution’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘joint resolution’’. 
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SEC. 315. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICABILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—This title and the amendments 
made by this title shall— 
(1) take effect on the date of the enactment of 
this Act; and 
(2) except as provided in subsection (b), apply 
with respect to national emergencies declared under 
section 201 of the National Emergencies Act on or 
after such date. 
(b) APPLICABILITY
TO RENEWALS
OF EXISTING 
EMERGENCIES.—With respect to a national emergency de-
clared under section 201 of the National Emergencies Act 
before the date of the enactment of this Act that would 
expire or be renewed under section 202(d) of that Act (as 
in effect on the day before such date of enactment), that 
national emergency shall be subject to the requirements 
for renewal under section 202(b) of that Act, as amended 
by section 311. 
(c) SUPERSESSION.—This title and the amendments 
made by this title shall supersede title II of the National 
Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) as such title 
was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
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Subtitle B—Limitations on 
Emergency Authorities 
SEC. 321. PRESIDENTIAL WAR POWERS UNDER COMMU-
NICATIONS ACT OF 1934. 
Section 706 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 606) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c), by inserting ‘‘and declares 
a national emergency’’ after ‘‘in the interest of na-
tional security or defense,’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘there exists’’ 
and inserting ‘‘a national emergency exists by virtue 
of there being’’. 
SEC. 322. DISCLOSURE TO CONGRESS OF PRESIDENTIAL 
EMERGENCY ACTION DOCUMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 days after the 
conclusion of the process for approval, adoption, or revi-
sion of any presidential emergency action document, the 
President shall submit that document to the appropriate 
congressional committees. 
(b) DOCUMENTS IN EXISTENCE BEFORE DATE OF 
ENACTMENT.—Not later than 15 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees all presidential 
emergency action documents in existence before such date 
of enactment. 
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(c) OVERSIGHT.— 
(1) SENATE.—The Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate 
shall have— 
(A) continuing legislative oversight juris-
diction in the Senate with respect to the pro-
posal, creation, implementation, and execution 
of presidential emergency action documents; 
and 
(B) access to any and all presidential 
emergency action documents. 
(2) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—The Com-
mittee on Oversight and Accountability of the House 
of Representatives shall have— 
(A) continuing legislative oversight juris-
diction in the House of Representatives with re-
spect to the proposal, creation, implementation, 
and execution of presidential emergency action 
documents; and 
(B) access to any and all presidential 
emergency action documents. 
(3) DUTY TO COOPERATE.—All officers and em-
ployees of any Federal agency shall have the duty to 
cooperate with the exercise of oversight jurisdiction 
described in this subsection. 
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(4) SECURITY CLEARANCES.—The chairpersons 
and ranking members of the appropriate congres-
sional committees, and designated staff of those 
committees, shall be granted all security clearances 
required to access, and granted access to, presi-
dential emergency action documents, including under 
relevant Presidential or agency special access and 
compartmented access programs. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Oversight and Ac-
countability of the House of Representatives. 
(2) FEDERAL
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Federal 
agency’’— 
(A) has the meaning given the term ‘‘agen-
cy’’ in section 552(f) of title 5, United States 
Code; and 
(B) includes the Executive Office of the 
President, the Executive Office of the Vice 
President, the Office of Management and Budg-
et, and the National Security Council. 
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(3) PRESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY ACTION DOCU-
MENT.—The term ‘‘presidential emergency action 
document’’ refers to any document created by any 
Federal agency before, on, or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, that is— 
(A) designated as a presidential emergency 
action document or presidential emergency ac-
tion directive; 
(B) designed to implement a presidential 
decision or transmit a presidential request when 
an emergency disrupts normal executive, legisla-
tive, judicial, or other Federal Governmental 
processes; 
(C) a Presidential Policy Directive, regard-
less of whether the directive is available to the 
public, that triggers any change in policies, pro-
cedures, or operations of the Federal Govern-
ment upon the declaration by the President of 
an emergency; or 
(D) any other document, briefing, or plan, 
regardless of whether the document, briefing, or 
plan exists in any tangible or written form, that 
triggers any change in operations of the Fed-
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eral Government upon the declaration by the 
President of an emergency. 
Æ 
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