I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 232
To provide for a two-year Federal budget cycle, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 6, 1999
Mr. REGULA (for himself, Mr. LUTHER, and Mr. BILBRAY) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in
addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To provide for a two-year Federal budget cycle, 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 ‘‘Biennial Budget Act
of 1999’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds and declares
that the present annual Federal budgeting process—
(1) allows insufficient time for the fulfillment
by the Congress of its legislative and oversight re-
sponsibilities;
(2) allows insufficient time for the review and
consideration by the Congress of authorizing legisla-
tion, budget resolutions, and appropriation bills and
resolutions and other spending measures;
(3) allows insufficient time for the evaluation of
costly and complicated Federal programs, and there-
by contributes to the unrestrained growth of the
Federal budget; and
(4) allows insufficient time for agencies and
State and local governments to plan for the imple-
mentation of programs.
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act—
(1) to establish a process through which the
Federal budget will be adopted for a two-year
period;
(2) to improve congressional control over the
Federal budget process;
(3) to streamline the requirements of the budg-
et process in order to promote better accountability
to the public;
(4) to improve the legislative and budgetary
processes by providing additional time for congres-
sional oversight and other vital legislative activities;
(5) to provide stability and coherence for recipi-
ents of Federal funds; and
(6) to implement other improvements in the
Federal budget process.
SEC. 3. 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. The timetable with respect to the Con-
gressional 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 after Janu-
ary 3.
President submits budget recommendations.
February 15 ....................
Congressional Budget Office submits report to
Budget Committees.
February 25 ....................
Committees submit views and estimates to Budget
Committees.
March 31 .........................
Senate Budget Committee reports concurrent reso-
lution on the biennial budget.
April 15 ...........................
Congress completes action on concurrent resolution
on the biennial budget.
May 15 ............................
Biennial appropriation bills may be considered in
the House.
June 10 ...........................
House Appropriations Committee reports last bien-
nial appropriation bill.
September 30 ..................
Congress completes action on reconciliation legisla-
tion.
September 30 ..................
Congress completes action on biennial appropria-
tion bills.
October 1 .........................
Biennium begins.
‘‘Second Session
‘‘On or before:
Action to be completed:
May 15 ............................
Congressional Budget Office submits report to
Budget Committees.
The last day of the ses-
sion.
Congress completes action on bills and resolutions
authorizing a new budget authority for the suc-
ceeding biennium.’’.
SEC. 4. 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) Section 3(4) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 622(4))
is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it
appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.
(2) Section 3 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 622) is fur-
ther 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) DUTIES OF CBO.—
(1) Section 202(e)(1) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 602(e)(1)) is
amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘February 15 of each
year’’ and inserting ‘‘February 15 of each odd-
numbered calendar year’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year commenc-
ing’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien-
nium commencing’’.
(C) by striking ‘‘such fiscal year’’ the first
place it appears and inserting ‘‘such biennium’’;
and
(D) by striking ‘‘such fiscal year’’ the sec-
ond place it appears and inserting ‘‘each fiscal
year in such biennium’’.
(2) Section 202(e) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
602(e)) is further amended—
(A) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘The Di-
rector shall from time to time’’ and inserting
‘‘On May 15 of each even numbered year and
at such other times as he or she deems appro-
priate, the Director shall’’.
(B) in paragraph (3)—
(i) by striking ‘‘January 15’’ and in-
serting ‘‘February 15’’,
(ii) by striking ‘‘each year’’ and in-
serting 
‘‘each 
even-numbered 
calendar
year’’,
(iii) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year end-
ing September 30 of that calendar year’’ in
clause (A) and inserting ‘‘either fiscal year
in the biennium beginning October 1 of the
preceding calendar year’’,
(iv) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year ending
September 30 of that calendar year’’ in
clause (B) and inserting ‘‘either fiscal year
of such biennium’’, and
(v) by striking ‘‘fiscal year beginning
October 1 of that calendar year’’ and in-
serting ‘‘succeeding biennium’’.
(d) BIENNIAL CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE
BUDGET.—
(1) Section 301(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
632(a)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘April 15 of each year’’
and inserting ‘‘April 15 of each odd-numbered
year’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year beginning
on October 1 of such year’’ the first place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘biennium beginning on Oc-
tober 1 of such year’’;
(C) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year beginning
on October 1 of such year’’ the second place it
appears and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in such
period; and
(D) by striking ‘‘each of the 4 ensuing fis-
cal years’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the
succeeding bienniums’’.
(2) Section 301(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
632(b)) is amended—
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)
by inserting ‘‘for a biennium’’ after ‘‘concurrent
resolution on the budget’’; and
(B) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘for such
fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for either fiscal year
in such biennium’’.
(3) Section 301(d) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
632(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘February 25 of
each year’’ and inserting ‘‘February 25 of each odd-
numbered year’’.
(4) Section 301(e)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
632(e)(1)) is amended—
(A) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium’’;
(B) by inserting between the second and
third sentences the following new sentence: ‘‘On
or before March 31 of each odd-numbered year
the Committee on the Budget of each House
shall report to its House the concurrent resolu-
tion on the budget referred to in subsection (a)
for the biennium beginning on October 1 of
that year.’’.
(5) Section 301(f) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
632(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each
place it appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.
(6) The section heading of section 301 of such
Act is amended by striking ‘‘ANNUAL’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘BIENNIAL’’.
(7) The table of contents set forth in section
1(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act of 1974 is amended by striking ‘‘An-
nual’’ in the item relating to section 301 and insert-
ing ‘‘Biennial’’.
(e) COMMITTEE ALLOCATIONS.—
(1) Section 302(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
633(a)(1)) is amended—
(A) by inserting ‘‘for a biennium’’ after
‘‘budget’’ the first place it appears; and
(B) by striking ‘‘for the first fiscal year of
the resolution, for at least each of the 4 ensuing
fiscal years, and a total for that period of fiscal
years’’ and inserting ‘‘for each of the 2
bienniums covered by the resolution and a total
for that period of 2 bienniums’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ the last place
it appears and inserting ‘‘first biennium’’.
(2) Section 302(c) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
633(c)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘for a fiscal year’’ and in-
serting ‘‘for either fiscal year in a biennium’’;
and
(B) by striking ‘‘for such fiscal year’’ and
inserting ‘‘for such biennium’’.
(3) Section 302(f)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
633(f)(1)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘for a fiscal year’’ and in-
serting ‘‘for a biennium’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘any fiscal year’’ in the
matter preceding subparagraph (A) and insert-
ing ‘‘a fiscal year in such biennium’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘first fiscal year or the
total of fiscal years’’ and inserting ‘‘first bien-
nium or the total of the first 2 bienniums’’.
(4) Section 302(f)(2) of such Act is amended by
striking ‘‘first fiscal year or the total of fiscal years’’
and inserting ‘‘first biennium or the total of the first
2 bienniums’’.
(f) SECTION 303 POINT OF ORDER.—
(1) Section 303(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
634(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each
place it appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.
(2) Section 303(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
634(b)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it
appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’;
(B) in paragraph (b)(1)(A) by striking
‘‘first or second fiscal year after the budget
year’’ and inserting ‘‘the biennium after the
first biennium’’; and
(C) in paragraph (b)(2) by inserting ‘‘of
any odd-numbered calendar year’’ after ‘‘May
15’’.
(3) Section 303(c) of such Act is amended—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘a fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘a biennium’’, by striking
‘‘that year’’ the first place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘that biennium’’, and by striking ‘‘that
year or any subsequent year’’ and inserting
‘‘that biennium’’; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘for the
first or second fiscal year after the year’’ and
inserting ‘‘for the biennium after the bien-
nium’’.
(g) PERMISSIBLE REVISIONS OF CONCURRENT RES-
OLUTIONS ON THE BUDGET.—Section 304 of such Act (2
U.S.C. 635) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ the first two places
it appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘for such fiscal year’’; and
(3) by inserting before the period ‘‘for such bi-
ennium’’.
(h) PROCEDURES FOR CONSIDERATION OF BUDGET
RESOLUTIONS.—Section 305(b)(3) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
636(b)(3)) is amended—
(1) striking ‘‘the concurrent’’ and inserting ‘‘a
concurrent’’; and
(2) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bi-
ennium’’.
(i) REPORT AND SUMMARIES OF CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET ACTIONS.—
(1)(A) Section 308(a)(1) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 639(a)(1)) is
amended—
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A) by striking ‘‘fiscal year (or fiscal years)’’
and inserting ‘‘biennium’’,
(ii) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘fiscal
year (or fiscal years)’’ and inserting ‘‘bien-
nium’’, and
(iii) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘such
fiscal year (or fiscal years)’’ and inserting
‘‘such biennium’’.
(B) Section 308(a)(2) of such Act is amended
by striking ‘‘fiscal year (or fiscal years)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘biennium’’.
(2) Section 308(b)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
639(b)(1)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ the first place
it appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’;
(B) by inserting ‘‘for such biennium’’ after
‘‘concurrent resolution on the budget’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year preceding
the first fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal
year in the biennium preceding such biennium’’.
(3) Section 308(c) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
639(c)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘Five’’ in the subsection
heading and inserting ‘‘Four’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it
appears in the matter preceding paragraph (1)
and inserting ‘‘biennium’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘5 fiscal years’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘4 fiscal years’’.
(j) 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 ‘‘regu-
lar’’; and
(3) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bi-
ennium’’.
(k) RECONCILIATION PROCESS.—
(1) Section 310(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
641(a)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘any fiscal year’’ in the
matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting
‘‘any biennium’’;
(B) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘such fis-
cal year’’ each place it appears and inserting
‘‘each fiscal year in such biennium’’; and
(C) in paragraph (2) by inserting ‘‘for each
fiscal year in such biennium’’ after ‘‘revenues’’.
(2) Section 310(e) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
641(e)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘20 hours’’ in paragraph
(2) and inserting ‘‘100 hours’’; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(3) It shall not be in order in the Senate or
the House of Representatives to consider any rec-
onciliation bill or resolution or any amendment
thereto or any conference report thereon which
changes any provision of law other than provisions
of law which—
‘‘(A) provide new budget authority or
spending 
authority 
described 
in 
section
401(c)(2);
‘‘(B) relate to revenues; or
‘‘(C) specify the amount of the statutory
limit on the public debt.’’.
(3) Section 310(f) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
641(f)) is amended—
(A) by inserting ‘‘of any odd-numbered cal-
endar year’’ after ‘‘July’’,
(B) by striking ‘‘fiscal year beginning on
October 1 of the calendar year to which the ad-
journment resolution pertains’’ and inserting
‘‘biennium beginning on October 1 of such cal-
endar year’’, and
(C) by striking ‘‘for such fiscal year’’ and
inserting ‘‘for such biennium’’.
(l) SECTION 311 POINT OF ORDER.—
(1) Section 311(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
642(a)) is amended—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘for a
fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘for a biennium’’, by
striking ‘‘first fiscal year’’ each place it appears
and inserting ‘‘first biennium’’, and by striking
‘‘ensuing fiscal years’’ and inserting ‘‘second bi-
ennium’’;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘first fis-
cal year’’ each place it appears and inserting
‘‘first biennium’’, and by striking ‘‘ensuing fis-
cal years’’ and inserting ‘‘second biennium’’;
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘first fis-
cal year or for the total of that fiscal year and
the ensuing fiscal years’’ and inserting ‘‘first bi-
ennium or for the total of that biennium and
the next biennium’’.
(2) Section 311(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
642(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year or
years’’ both places it appears and inserting ‘‘bien-
nium’’.
(3) Section 311(c) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
642(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ both
places it appears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.
(m) DETERMINATIONS AND POINTS OF ORDER.—
Section 312 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 643) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘for a fiscal
year’’; and
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘for a fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘for a biennium’’.
(n) EXTRANEOUS MATTER IN RECONCILIATION LEG-
ISLATION.—Section 313 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 644) is
amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it appears
and inserting ‘‘biennium’’ and by striking ‘‘fiscal years’’
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘bienniums’’.
(o) BUDGET-RELATED LEGISLATION NOT SUBJECT
TO APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 401 of such Act (2 U.S.C.
651 is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.
(p) ANALYSIS BY CBO.—Section 402(1) of the Con-
gressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 652(1)) is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year’’ and inserting
‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium’’; and
(2) by striking ‘‘4 fiscal years following such
year’’ in paragraph (1) and inserting ‘‘each fiscal
year in the succeeding biennium’’.
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 the follow-
ing 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) So much of section 1105(a) of title 31,
United States Code, as precedes paragraph (1) is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘(a) On or before the first Monday after January 3
of each odd-numbered year, beginning with the One Hun-
dred Sixth Congress, the President shall transmit to the
Congress, the budget for the biennium beginning on Octo-
ber 1 of such calendar year. The budget transmitted under
this subsection shall include a budget message and sum-
mary and supporting information. The President shall in-
clude in each budget the following:’’.
(2) 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 submit-
ted and in the succeeding biennium’’.
(3) Section 1105(a)(6) of title 31, United
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal year
for which the budget is submitted and the 4 fiscal
years after that year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal
year in the biennium for which the budget is submit-
ted and in the succeeding biennium’’.
(4) 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 bien-
nium’’.
(5) Section 1105(a)(12) of title 31, United
States Code, is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘the fiscal year’’ in sub-
paragraph (A) and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year
in the biennium’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘4 fiscal years after that
year’’ in subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘‘2 fis-
cal years immediately following the second fiscal
year in such biennium’’.
(6) Section 1105(a)(13) of title 31, United
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien-
nium’’.
(7) Section 1105(a)(14) of title 31, United
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘that year’’ and
inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium for which
the budget is submitted’’.
(8) Section 1105(a)(16) of title 31, United
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal
year’’ and inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the bien-
nium’’.
(9) 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 bi-
ennium’’.
(10) 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 that fiscal year’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘in that year’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘in that fiscal year’’.
(11) 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 that fiscal year’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘in that year’’ each place
it appears and inserting ‘‘in that fiscal year’’.
(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 ‘‘fiscal year for’’ each place it
appears and inserting ‘‘biennium for’’;
(2) by inserting ‘‘or current biennium, as the
case may be,’’ after ‘‘current fiscal year’’; and
(3) by striking ‘‘that year’’ and inserting ‘‘that
period’’.
(e) STATEMENT
WITH
RESPECT
TO
CERTAIN
CHANGES.—Section 1105(d) of title 31, United States
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting
‘‘biennium’’.
(f) 
CAPITAL
INVESTMENT
ANALYSIS.—Section
1105(e) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by
striking ‘‘ensuing fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘biennium to
which such budget relates’’.
(g) SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET
ESTIMATES
AND
CHANGES.—
(1) Section 1106(a) of title 31, United States
Code, is amended—
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)
by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bien-
nium’’;
(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 ‘‘2
fiscal years following the biennium’’;
(D) by striking ‘‘future fiscal years’’ in
paragraph (3) and inserting ‘‘the 2 fiscal years
following the biennium for which the budget is
submitted’’; and
(E) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ in paragraph
(3) and inserting ‘‘biennium’’.
(2) Section 1106(b) of title 31, United States
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the fiscal year’’ and
inserting ‘‘each fiscal year in the biennium’’.
(h) CURRENT PROGRAMS
AND ACTIVITIES ESTI-
MATES.—
(1) 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 1994)’’ 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) Section 1109(b) of title 31, United States
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘March 1 of each
year’’ and inserting ‘‘February 25 of each odd-num-
bered year’’.
(i) YEAR-AHEAD REQUESTS FOR AUTHORIZING LEG-
ISLATION.—Section 1110 of title 31, United States Code,
is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘bi-
ennium (beginning on or after October 1, 2001)’’,
and
(2) by striking ‘‘year before the year in which
the fiscal year begins’’ and inserting ‘‘second cal-
endar year preceding the calendar year in which the
biennium begins’’.
(j) BUDGET INFORMATION ON CONSULTING SERV-
ICES.—Section 1114 of title 31, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘The’’ each place it appears and
inserting ‘‘For each biennium beginning with the bi-
ennium beginning on October 1, 2001, the’’; and
(2) by striking ‘‘each year’’ each place it ap-
pears.
SEC. 6. 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 appropriation 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 the biennium ending September 30 (here insert
the odd-numbered calendar year).’.
‘‘(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. ASSISTANCE BY FEDERAL AGENCIES TO STANDING
COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE AND THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
(a) INFORMATION REGARDING AGENCY APPROPRIA-
TIONS REQUESTS.—To assist each standing committee of
the Senate and the House of Representatives in carrying
out its responsibilities, the head of each Federal agency
which administers the laws or parts of laws under the ju-
risdiction of such committee shall provide to such commit-
tee such studies, information, analyses, reports, and as-
sistance as may be requested by the chairman and ranking
minority member of the committee.
(b) INFORMATION REGARDING AGENCY PROGRAM
ADMINISTRATION.—
(1) FURNISHING
INFORMATION.—To assist
each standing committee of the Senate and the
House of Representatives in carrying out its respon-
sibilities, the head of any agency shall furnish with-
out charge to such committee computer tapes or
disks, together with explanatory documentation, con-
taining information received, compiled, or main-
tained by the agency as part of the operation or ad-
ministration of a program, or specifically compiled
pursuant to a request in support of a review of a
program, as may be requested by the chairman and
ranking minority member of such committee.
(2) MINIMIZING
REQUESTS.—The Committee
on House Oversight of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Rules and Administration of
the Senate shall prescribe rules and regulations for
their respective Houses which will minimize duplica-
tion of requests under paragraph (1) of this sub-
section.
(c) SUMMARIES BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—With-
in thirty days after the receipt of a request from a chair-
man and ranking minority member of a standing commit-
tee having jurisdiction over a program being reviewed and
studied by such committee under this section, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall furnish to such
committee summaries of any audits or reviews of such pro-
gram which the Comptroller General has completed during
the preceding six years.
(d) CONGRESSIONAL ASSISTANCE.—Consistent with
their duties and functions under law, the Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States, the Director of the Congres-
sional Budget Office, the Director of the Office of Tech-
nology Assessment, and the Director of the Congressional
Research Service shall furnish to each standing committee
of the Senate or the House of Representatives such infor-
mation, studies, analyses, and reports as the chairman and
ranking minority member may request to assist the com-
mittee in conducting reviews and studies of programs
under this section.
(e) SECRET AND CLASSIFIED INFORMATION PRO-
TECTED.—This section does not require the public disclo-
sure of matters that are specifically authorized under cri-
teria established by an Executive order to be kept secret
in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and
are in fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive
order, or which are otherwise specifically protected by law.
This section does not require any committee of the Senate
to disclose publicly information the disclosure of which is
governed by any rule of the Senate.