I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4604
To establish direct spending targets, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 21, 1994
Mr. SPRATT introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the
Committees on Government Operations and Rules
A BILL
To establish direct spending targets, 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; PURPOSE.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Budget Control Act of 1994’’.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to create
a mechanism to monitor total costs of direct spending pro-
grams, and, in the event that actual or projected costs ex-
ceed targeted levels, to require the President and Congress
to address adjustments in direct spending.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF DIRECT SPENDING TARGETS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The initial direct spending targets
for each of fiscal years 1994 through 1997 shall equal
total outlays for all direct spending except net interest and
deposit insurance as determined by the Director of the Of-
fice of Management and Budget (hereinafter referred to
in this Act as the ‘‘Director‘‘) under subsection (b).
(b) INITIAL REPORT BY DIRECTOR.—
(1) Not later than 30 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Director shall submit a re-
port to Congress setting forth projected direct
spending targets for each of fiscal years 1994
through 1997.
(2) The Director’s projections shall be based on
legislation enacted as of 5 days before the report is
submitted under paragraph (1). To the extent fea-
sible, the Director shall use the same economic and
technical assumptions used in preparing the concur-
rent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 1994
(H. Con. Res. 64, One Hundred Third Congress).
(c) ADJUSTMENTS.—Direct spending targets shall be
subsequently adjusted by the Director under section 6.
SEC. 3. ANNUAL REVIEW OF DIRECT SPENDING AND RE-
CEIPTS BY PRESIDENT.
As part of each budget submitted under section
1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, the President
shall provide an annual review of direct spending and re-
ceipts, which shall include (1) information supporting the
adjustment of direct spending targets pursuant to section
6, (2) information on total outlays for programs covered
by the direct spending targets, including actual outlays for
the prior fiscal year and projected outlays for the current
fiscal year and the 5 succeeding fiscal years, and (3) infor-
mation on the major categories of Federal receipts, includ-
ing a comparison between the levels of those receipts and
the levels projected as of the date of enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 4. SPECIAL DIRECT SPENDING MESSAGE BY PRESI-
DENT.
(a) TRIGGER.—In the event that the information sub-
mitted by the President under section 3 indicates —
(1) that actual outlays for direct spending in
the prior fiscal year exceeded the applicable direct
spending target, or
(2) that outlays for direct spending for the cur-
rent or budget year are projected to exceed the ap-
plicable direct spending targets,
the President shall include in his budget a special direct
spending message meeting the requirements of subsection
(b).