I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 493
To provide for a biennial budget process and a biennial appropriations process
and to enhance oversight and the performance of the Federal Government.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 2, 1999
Mr. STEARNS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Commit-
tee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the commit-
tee concerned
A BILL
To provide for a biennial budget process and a biennial
appropriations process and to enhance oversight and the
performance of the Federal 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 ‘‘Biennial Budgeting
and Appropriations Act’’.
SEC. 2. REVISION OF TIMETABLE.
Section 300 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
(2 U.S.C. 631) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘TIMETABLE
‘‘SEC. 300. (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided by
subsection (b), the timetable with respect to the congres-
sional budget process for any Congress (beginning with
the One Hundred Seventh Congress) is as follows:
‘‘First Session
‘‘On or before:
Action to be completed:
First Monday in
February.
President submits budget recommendations.
February 15 ....................
Congressional Budget Office submits report
to Budget Committees.
Not later than 6 weeks
after budget submission.
Committees submit views and estimates to
Budget Committees.
April 1 .............................
Budget Committees report concurrent resolu-
tion on the biennial budget.
May 15 ............................
Congress completes action on concurrent res-
olution on the biennial budget.
May 15 ............................
Biennial appropriation bills may be consid-
ered in the House.
June 10 ...........................
House Appropriations Committee reports last
biennial appropriation bill.
June 30 ...........................
House completes action on biennial appro-
priation bills.
August 1 ..........................
Congress completes action on reconciliation
legislation.
October 1 .........................
Biennium begins.
‘‘Second Session
‘‘On or before:
Action to be completed:
February 15 ....................
President submits budget review.
Not later than 6 weeks
after President submits
budget review.
Congressional Budget Office submits report
to Budget Committees.
The last day of the
session.
Congress completes action on bills and resolu-
tions authorizing new budget authority for
the succeeding biennium.
‘‘(b) SPECIAL RULE.—In the case of any first session
of Congress that begins in any year immediately following
a leap year and during which the term of a President (ex-
cept a President who succeeds himself) begins, the follow-
ing 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 recommendations.
April 20 ...........................
Committees submit views and estimates to
Budget Committees.
May 15 ............................
Budget Committees report concurrent resolu-
tion on the biennial budget.
June 1 .............................
Congress completes action on concurrent res-
olution on the biennial budget.
July 1 ..............................
Biennial appropriation bills may be consid-
ered in the House.
July 20 ............................
House completes action on biennial appro-
priation bills.
August 1 ..........................
Congress completes action on reconciliation
legislation.
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 Impoundment 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 appears and inserting ‘‘bi-
ennium’’.
(2) BIENNIUM.—Section 3 of such Act (2
U.S.C. 622) is further amended by adding at the
end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(11) The term ‘biennium’ means the period of
2 consecutive fiscal years beginning 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 paragraph (1)
by—
(i) striking ‘‘April 15 of each year’’
and inserting ‘‘May 15 of each odd-num-
bered 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
first fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for each fiscal
year in the biennium’’.
(2) ADDITIONAL MATTERS.—Section 301(b)(3)
of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(b)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘for such fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for either
fiscal year in such biennium’’.
(3) VIEWS
OF
OTHER
COMMITTEES.—Section
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 inserting
‘‘biennium’’; and
(B) inserting after the second sentence the
following: ‘‘On or before April 1 of each odd-
numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by
section 300(b)), the Committee on the Budget
of each House shall report to its House the con-
current resolution on the budget referred to in
subsection (a) for the biennium beginning on
October 1 of that year.’’.
(5) GOALS FOR REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT.—
Section 301(f) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(f)) is
amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it ap-
pears 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 insert-
ing ‘‘for a biennium’’.
(7) SECTION HEADING.—The section heading of
section 301 of such Act is amended by striking ‘‘AN-
NUAL’’ and inserting ‘‘BIENNIAL’’.
(8) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The item relating
to section 301 in the table of contents set forth in
section 1(b) of such Act is amended by striking ‘‘An-
nual’’ and inserting ‘‘Biennial’’.
(d) COMMITTEE
ALLOCATIONS.—Section 302 is
amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1) by striking ‘‘for the
first fiscal year of the resolution,’’ and inserting ‘‘for
each fiscal year in the biennium, for at least each of
4 ensuing fiscal years,’’;
(2) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘‘for a fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘for a biennium’’;
(3) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘‘first fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year of the
biennum’’;
(4) in subsection (f)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘first
fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year of the bi-
ennium’’; 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 ‘‘first fis-
cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year of the bien-
nium’’.
(2) EXCEPTIONS
IN
THE
HOUSE.—Section
303(b)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(b)) is
amended—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘the
budget year’’ and inserting ‘‘the biennium’’;
and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘the
fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘the biennium’’.
(3) APPLICATION
TO
THE
SENATE.—Section
303(c)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(c)) is amended
by—
(A) striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting
‘‘biennium’’; and
(B) striking ‘‘that year’’ and inserting
‘‘each fiscal year of that biennium’’.
(f) PERMISSIBLE REVISIONS OF CONCURRENT RESO-
LUTIONS ON THE BUDGET.—Section 304(a) of such Act
(2 U.S.C. 635) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ the first two places
it appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘for such fiscal year’’; and
(3) by inserting before the period ‘‘for such bi-
ennium’’.
(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 in-
serting ‘‘biennium’’.
(h) COMPLETION OF HOUSE ACTION ON APPROPRIA-
TION BILLS.—Section 307 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 638) is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘each year’’ and inserting ‘‘each
odd-numbered year’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘annual’’ and inserting ‘‘bien-
nial’’;
(3) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bi-
ennium’’; and
(4) by striking ‘‘that year’’ and inserting ‘‘each
odd-numbered year’’.
(i) COMPLETION OF ACTION ON REGULAR APPRO-
PRIATION BILLS.—Section 309 of such Act (2 U.S.C.
640) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘of any odd-numbered calendar
year’’ after ‘‘July’’;
(2) 
by 
striking 
‘‘annual’’ 
and 
inserting
‘‘biennial’’; and
(3) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bi-
ennium’’.
(j) RECONCILIATION PROCESS.—Section 310(a) of
such Act (2 U.S.C. 641(a)) is amended—
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ‘‘any fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘any bien-
nium’’; and
(2) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘such fiscal
year’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘any fiscal
year covered by such resolution’’.
(k) 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 in-
serting ‘‘for a biennium’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘the first fiscal year’’ each
place it appears and inserting ‘‘either fiscal
year of the biennium’’; 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) by striking ‘‘for the first fiscal year’’
and inserting ‘‘for either fiscal year of the bien-
nium’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘that first fiscal year’’ each
place it appears and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year
in the biennium’’.
(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 insert-
ing ‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium’’.
(l) MDA 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 bien-
nium’’; and
(4) in the matter following paragraph (2), by
striking ‘‘that fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘the appli-
cable 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)(2) of rule X of the Rules of the House
of Representatives is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal year
involved’’ and inserting ‘‘the biennium involved’’.
(c) Clause 4(f) of rule X of the Rules of the House
of Representatives is amended by striking ‘‘annually’’ each
place it appears and inserting ‘‘biennially’’.
(d) Clause 4(g) of rule X of the Rules of the House
of Representatives is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘during each odd-numbered
year’’ after ‘‘submits his budget’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ the first place it
appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’; and
(3) by striking ‘‘that fiscal year’’ and inserting
‘‘each fiscal year in such ensuing biennium’’.
(e) Clause 4(h) of rule X of the Rules of the House
of Representatives is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’
and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.
(f) Clause 4(a) of rule XI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year if
reported after September 15 preceding the beginning of
such fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium if reported after
August 1 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 (11) of section 3 of the Congres-
sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of
1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(11)).’’.
(b) BUDGET CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION TO THE
CONGRESS.—
(1) SCHEDULE.—The matter preceding para-
graph (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 February of
each odd-numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by
section 300(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974),
beginning with the One Hundred Seventh Congress, the
President shall transmit to the Congress, the budget for
the biennium beginning on October 1 of such calendar
year. The budget transmitted 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 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
budget is submitted and in the succeeding 4 years’’.
(3) RECEIPTS.—Section 1105(a)(6) of title 31,
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fis-
cal 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 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) 
FUNCTIONS
AND
ACTIVITIES.—Section
1105(a)(12) of title 31, United States Code, is
amended in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘the fis-
cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien-
nium’’.
(6) ALLOWANCES.—Section 1105(a)(13) of title
31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the
fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the
biennium’’.
(7) ALLOWANCES
FOR
UNCONTROLLED
EX-
PENDITURES.—Section 1105(a)(14) of title 31,
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘that
year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien-
nium for which the budget is submitted’’.
(8) TAX EXPENDITURES.—Section 1105(a)(16)
of title 31, United States Code, is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘the fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year
in the biennium’’.
(9) FUTURE
YEARS.—Section 1105(a)(17) of
title 31, United States Code, is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year following
the fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year
in the biennium following the biennium’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘that following fiscal year’’
and inserting ‘‘each such fiscal year’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘fiscal year before the fis-
cal year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium 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 com-
pleted fiscal years,’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘for that year’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘with respect to those fiscal years’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘in that year’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘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 com-
pleted fiscal years’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘for that year’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘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 LEGISLATIVE
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 DE-
FICIENCIES.—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 inserting ‘‘for
each year of the biennium’’.
(e) 
CAPITAL
INVESTMENT
ANALYSIS.—Section
1105(e)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is amended
by striking ‘‘ensuing fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium
to which such budget 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 paragraph (1),
by—
(i) striking ‘‘Before July 16 of each
year,’’ and inserting ‘‘Before February 15
of each even numbered year,’’; and
(ii) striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘biennium’’;
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘that fis-
cal 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 following the biennium’’; and
(D) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.
(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 biennium’’;
(B) striking ‘‘April 11 and July 16 of each
year’’ and inserting ‘‘February 15 of each even-
numbered year’’; and
(C) striking ‘‘July 16’’ and inserting ‘‘Feb-
ruary 15 of each even-numbered year.’’.
(g) 
CURRENT
PROGRAMS
AND
ACTIVITIES
ESTIMATES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—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 be-
fore 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 fiscal year’’
and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year of such period’’.
(2) JOINT
ECONOMIC
COMMITTEE.—Section
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 submis-
sion for each odd-numbered year (or, if applicable,
as provided by section 300(b) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974)’’.
(h) YEAR-AHEAD
REQUESTS
FOR
AUTHORIZING
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 inserting ‘‘calendar year pre-
ceding the calendar year in which the biennium
begins’’.
SEC. 6. TWO-YEAR APPROPRIATIONS; TITLE AND STYLE OF
APPROPRIATIONS ACTS.
Section 105 of title 1, United States Code, is amend-
ed to read as follows:
‘‘§ 105. Title and style of appropriations Acts
‘‘(a) The style and title of all Acts making appropria-
tions for the support of the Government shall be as fol-
lows: ‘An Act making appropriations (here insert the ob-
ject) for each fiscal year in the biennium of fiscal years
(here insert the fiscal years of the biennium).’.
‘‘(b) All Acts making regular appropriations 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 Congres-
sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2
U.S.C. 622(11)).’’.
SEC. 7. MULTIYEAR AUTHORIZATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
‘‘AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS
‘‘SEC. 316. (a) POINT OF ORDER.—It shall not be
in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate
to consider—
‘‘(1) any bill, joint resolution, amendment, mo-
tion, or conference report that authorizes appropria-
tions for a period of less than 2 fiscal years, unless
the program, project, or activity for which the ap-
propriations are authorized will require no further
appropriations and will be completed or terminated
after the appropriations have been expended; and
‘‘(2) in any odd-numbered year, any authoriza-
tion or revenue bill or joint resolution until Congress
completes action on the biennial budget resolution,
all regular biennial appropriations bills, and all rec-
onciliation bills.
‘‘(b) APPLICABILITY.—In the Senate, subsection (a)
shall not apply to—
‘‘(1) any measure that is privileged for consid-
eration pursuant to a rule or statute;
‘‘(2) any matter considered in Executive Ses-
sion; or
‘‘(3) an appropriations measure or reconcili-
ation bill.’’.
(b) AMENDMENT TO TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The
table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congres-
sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is
amended by adding after the item relating to section 313
the following new item:
‘‘Sec. 316. Authorizations of appropriations.’’.
SEC. 8. GOVERNMENT PLANS ON A BIENNIAL BASIS.
(a) STRATEGIC PLANS.—Section 306 of title 5,
United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘September
30, 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2000’’;
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) by striking ‘‘at least every three years’’
and inserting ‘‘at least every 4 years’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘five years forward’’ and
inserting ‘‘six years forward’’; and
(3) in subsection (c), by inserting a comma
after ‘‘section’’ the second place it appears and add-
ing ‘‘including a strategic plan submitted by Sep-
tember 30, 1997 meeting the requirements of sub-
section (a)’’.
(b) BUDGET CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION TO CON-
GRESS.—Paragraph (28) of section 1105(a) of title 31,
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘beginning
with fiscal year 1999, a’’ and inserting ‘‘beginning with
fiscal year 2002, a biennial’’.
(c) PERFORMANCE PLANS.—Section 1115 of title 31,
United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) in the matter before paragraph (1)—
(i) by striking ‘‘section 1105(a)(29)’’
and inserting ‘‘section 1105(a)(28)’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘an annual’’ and in-
serting ‘‘a biennial’’;
(B) in paragraph (1) by inserting after
‘‘program activity’’ the following: ‘‘for both
years 1 and 2 of the biennial plan’’;
(C) in paragraph (5) by striking ‘‘and’’
after the semicolon,
(D) in paragraph (6) by striking the period
and inserting a semicolon; and inserting ‘‘and’’
after the inserted semicolon; and
(E) by adding after paragraph (6) the
following:
‘‘(7) cover a 2-year period beginning with the
first fiscal year of the next biennial budget cycle.’’;
(2) in subsection (d) by striking ‘‘annual’’ and
inserting ‘‘biennial’’; and
(3) in paragraph (6) of subsection (f) by strik-
ing ‘‘annual’’ and inserting ‘‘biennial’’.
(d) MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND FLEXIBIL-
ITY.—Section 9703 of title 31, United States Code, relat-
ing to managerial accountability, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘an-
nual’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘section 1105(a)(29)’’ and
inserting ‘‘section 1105(a)(28)’’;
(2) in subsection (e)—
(A) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘one
or’’ before ‘‘years’’;
(B) in the second sentence by striking ‘‘a
subsequent year’’ and inserting ‘‘for a subse-
quent 2-year period’’; and
(C) in the third sentence by striking
‘‘three’’ and inserting ‘‘four’’.
(e) PILOT PROJECTS FOR PERFORMANCE BUDGET-
ING.—Section 1119 of title 31, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) in paragraph (1) of subsection (d), by strik-
ing ‘‘annual’’ and inserting ‘‘biennial’’; and
(2) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘annual’’ and
inserting ‘‘biennial’’.
(f) STRATEGIC PLANS.—Section 2802 of title 39,
United States Code, is amended—
(1) is subsection (a), by striking ‘‘September
30, 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2000’’;
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘at least every
three years’’ and inserting ‘‘at least every 4 years’’;
(3) by striking ‘‘five years forward’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘six years forward’’; and
(4) in subsection (c), by inserting a comma
after ‘‘section’’ the second place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘including a strategic plan submitted by
September 30, 1997 meeting the requirements of
subsection (a)’’.
(g) PERFORMANCE PLANS.—Section 2803(a) of title
39, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by
striking ‘‘an annual’’ and inserting ‘‘a biennial’’;
(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting after ‘‘pro-
gram activity’’ the following: ‘‘for both years 1 and
2 of the biennial plan’’;
(3) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon;
(4) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(5) by adding after paragraph (6) the following:
‘‘(7) cover a 2-year period beginning with the
first fiscal year of the next biennial budget cycle.’’.
(h) COMMITTEE VIEWS OF PLANS AND REPORTS.—
Section 301(d) of the Congressional Budget Act (2 U.S.C.
632(d)) is amended by adding at the end ‘‘Each committee
of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall review
the strategic plans, performance plans, and performance
reports, required under section 306 of title 5, United
States Code, and sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31,
United States Code, of all agencies under the jurisdiction
of the committee. Each committee may provide its views
on such plans or reports to the Committee on the Budget
of the applicable House.’’.
(i) EFFECTIVE DATE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by
this section shall take effect on March 1, 2000.
(2) AGENCY ACTIONS.—Effective on and after
the date of enactment of this Act, each agency shall
take such actions as necessary to prepare and sub-
mit any plan or report in accordance with the
amendments made by this Act.
SEC. 9. BIENNIAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘CONSIDERATION OF BIENNIAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS
‘‘SEC. 317. It shall not be in order in the House of
Representatives or the Senate in any odd-numbered year
to consider any regular bill providing new budget authority
or a limitation on obligations under the jurisdiction of any
of the subcommittees of the Committees on Appropria-
tions for only the first fiscal year of a biennium, unless
the program, project, or activity for which the new budget
authority or obligation limitation is provided will require
no additional authority beyond 1 year and will be com-
pleted or terminated after the amount provided has been
expended.’’.
(b) AMENDMENT TO TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The
table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congres-
sional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is
amended by adding after the item relating to section 313
the following new item:
‘‘Sec. 317. Consideration of biennial appropriations bills.’’.
SEC. 10. REPORT ON TWO-YEAR FISCAL PERIOD.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Director of OMB shall—
(1) determine the impact and feasibility of
changing the definition of a fiscal year and the
budget process based on that definition to a 2-year
fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on
the 2-year period; and
(2) report the findings of the study to the Com-
mittees on the Budget of the House of Representa-
tives and the Senate.
SEC. 11. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sections 8
and 10 and subsection (b), this Act and the amendments
made by this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2001,
and shall apply to budget resolutions and appropriations
for the biennium beginning with fiscal year 2002.
(b) AUTHORIZATIONS
FOR
THE BIENNIUM.—For
purposes of authorizations for the biennium beginning
with fiscal year 2002, the provisions of this Act and the