I 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4883 
To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 
to establish a sequestration to reduce all nonexempt programs, projects, 
and activities by 2 percent each fiscal year in which the Federal budget 
is in deficit, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 18, 2010 
Mr. BARTON of Texas (for himself, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. GRAVES, Mr. BUR-
GESS, Mr. SOUDER, and Mr. OLSON) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the 
Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Con-
trol Act of 1985 to establish a sequestration to reduce 
all nonexempt programs, projects, and activities by 2 
percent each fiscal year in which the Federal budget 
is in deficit, 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 ‘‘STRONG Budget Act 
of 2010’’. 
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SEC. 2. SEQUESTRATION TO ACHIEVE A BALANCED FED-
ERAL BUDGET. 
(a) SEQUESTRATION TO ACHIEVE A BALANCED FED-
ERAL BUDGET.—Part C of the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 is amended by 
adding after section 253 the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 253A. SEQUESTRATION TO ACHIEVE A BALANCED 
FEDERAL BUDGET. 
‘‘(a) SEQUESTRATION.—Notwithstanding sections 
255 and 256, within 15 days after Congress adjourns to 
end a session, and on the same day as sequestration (if 
any) under section 5 of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act 
of 2010, but after any sequestration required by that sec-
tion, there shall be a sequestration equivalent to 2 percent 
of the budget baseline for the fiscal year beginning on Oc-
tober 1 of the calendar year during which such sequestra-
tion occurs. 
‘‘(b) APPLICABILITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Except as provided by 
paragraph (2), each account of the United States 
shall be reduced by a dollar amount calculated by 
multiplying the level of budgetary resources in that 
account at that time by the uniform percentage nec-
essary to carry out subsection (a). All obligational 
authority reduced under this section shall be done in 
a manner that makes such reductions permanent. 
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‘‘(2) EXEMPT ACCOUNTS.—(A) No order issued 
to carry out this section may— 
‘‘(i) reduce benefits payable under the old- 
age, survivors, and disability insurance program 
established under title II of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), and benefits pay-
able under section 231b(a), 231b(f)(2), 231c(a), 
and 231c(f) of title 45, United States Code, 
shall be exempt from reduction under any order 
issued under this part; 
‘‘(ii) reduce benefits payable under any 
program administered by the Department of 
Veterans Affairs or Special Benefits for Certain 
World War II Veterans (28–0401–0–1–701); 
‘‘(iii) reduce benefits payable under part A 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395c et 
seq.) (relating to hospital insurance benefits for 
the aged and disabled); or 
‘‘(iv) reduce payments for net interest (all 
of major functional category 900). 
‘‘(B) The following Federal retirement and dis-
ability accounts and activities shall be exempt from 
reduction under any order issued to carry out this 
section: 
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‘‘Black Lung Disability Trust Fund (20– 
8144–0–7–601). 
‘‘Central Intelligence Agency Retirement 
and Disability System Fund (56–3400–0–1– 
054). 
‘‘Civil Service Retirement and Disability 
Fund (24–8135–0–7–602). 
‘‘Comptrollers general retirement system 
(05–0107–0–1–801). 
‘‘Contributions to U.S. Park Police annu-
ity benefits, Other Permanent Appropriations 
(14–9924–0–2–303). 
‘‘Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Re-
tirement Fund (95–8290–0–7–705). 
‘‘Department of Defense Medicare-Eligible 
Retiree Health Care Fund (97–5472–0–2–551). 
‘‘District of Columbia Federal Pension 
Fund (20–5511–0–2–601). 
‘‘District of Columbia Judicial Retirement 
and Survivors Annuity Fund (20–8212–0–7– 
602). 
‘‘Energy Employees Occupational Illness 
Compensation Fund (16–1523–0–1–053). 
‘‘Foreign National Employees Separation 
Pay (97–8165–0–7–051). 
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‘‘Foreign Service National Defined Con-
tributions Retirement Fund (19–5497–0–2– 
602). 
‘‘Foreign Service National Separation Li-
ability Trust Fund (19–8340–0–7–602). 
‘‘Foreign Service Retirement and Dis-
ability Fund (19–8186–0–7–602). 
‘‘Government Payment for Annuitants, 
Employees Health Benefits (24–0206–0–1– 
551). 
‘‘Government Payment for Annuitants, 
Employee Life Insurance (24–0500–0–1–602). 
‘‘Judicial Officers’ Retirement Fund (10– 
8122–0–7–602). 
‘‘Judicial Survivors’ Annuities Fund (10– 
8110–0–7–602). 
‘‘Military Retirement Fund (97–8097–0– 
7–602). 
‘‘National Railroad Retirement Investment 
Trust (60–8118–0–7–601). 
‘‘National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration retirement (13–1450–0–1–306). 
‘‘Pensions for former Presidents (47– 
0105–0–1–802). 
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‘‘Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits 
Fund (24–5391–0–2–551). 
‘‘Public Safety Officer Benefits (15–0403– 
0–1–754). 
‘‘Rail Industry Pension Fund (60–8011– 
0–7–601). 
‘‘Retired Pay, Coast Guard (70–0602–0– 
1–403). 
‘‘Retirement Pay and Medical Benefits for 
Commissioned Officers, Public Health Service 
(75–0379–0–1–551). 
‘‘Special Benefits for Disabled Coal Miners 
(16–0169–0–1–601). 
‘‘Special Benefits, Federal Employees’ 
Compensation Act (16–1521–0–1–600). 
‘‘Special Workers Compensation Expenses 
(16–9971–0–7–601). 
‘‘Tax Court Judges Survivors Annuity 
Fund (23–8115–0–7–602). 
‘‘United States Court of Federal Claims 
Judges’ Retirement Fund (10–8124–0–7–602). 
‘‘United States Secret Service, DC Annuity 
(70–0400–0–1–751). 
‘‘Voluntary Separation Incentive Fund 
(97–8335–0–7–051). 
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‘‘(c) SEQUESTRATION REPORT.—Not later than 14 
days (excluding weekends and holidays) after Congress ad-
journs to end a session, OMB shall make publicly available 
and cause to be printed in the Federal Register an annual 
deficit reduction report. The report shall include the 
amount of reductions required under section 253A and the 
deficit remaining after those reductions have been made, 
and the sequestration percentage necessary to achieve the 
required reduction in accounts under section 253A(b). The 
report shall also include a determination of whether the 
budget of the Government is in deficit. 
‘‘(d) SEQUESTRATION ORDER.—If the annual report 
issued at the end of a session of Congress under sub-
section (c) requires a sequestration, OMB shall prepare 
and the President shall issue and include in that report 
a sequestration order that, upon issuance, shall reduce all 
nonexempt accounts by enough to eliminate the deficit, 
but no such reduction shall exceed two percent. 
‘‘(e) SUSPENSION
OF
SEQUESTRATION
PROCE-
DURES.—Upon a determination by OMB that the budget 
of the Government is not in deficit, the subsequent 
issuance of any sequestration report or sequestration 
order is precluded and this section is suspended. 
‘‘(f) RESTORATION
OF
SEQUESTRATION
PROCE-
DURES.—Effective with regard to the first fiscal year be-
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ginning after OMB determines that the budget of the Gov-
ernment is in deficit, the provisions of subsection (e) are 
no longer effective and this section is no longer sus-
pended.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—Notwithstanding section 
275(b) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
Control Act of 1985, the expiration date set forth in that 
section shall not apply to the amendment made by sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 3. PASSAGE OF EXEMPTIONS FROM SEQUESTRATIONS 
TO ACHIEVE A BALANCED BUDGET. 
Rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representa-
tives is amended by adding at the end the following new 
clause: 
‘‘ Passage of exemptions from sequestrations to 
achieve a balanced budget 
‘‘11. A bill or joint resolution, amendment, or con-
ference report carrying an additional exemption to section 
253A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
Control Act of 1985 may not be considered as passed or 
agreed to unless so determined by a vote of not less than 
three-fifths of the Members voting, a quorum being 
present.’’. 
Æ 
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