I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3695
To ensure that the fiscal year 2000 on-budget surplus is used to reduce
publicly-held debt.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 16, 2000
Mr. TOOMEY (for himself, Mr. SHAYS, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma,
Mr. SMITH of Michigan, Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin, Mr. COBURN, Mr.
SHADEGG, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin, Mr.
HERGER, Mr. COX, Mr. VITTER, Mr. PITTS, Mr. PAUL, Mr. CHABOT, Mr.
TANCREDO, Mrs. CHENOWETH-HAGE, Mr. TERRY, Mr. GARY MILLER of
California, and Mr. LARGENT) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Rules
A BILL
To ensure that the fiscal year 2000 on-budget surplus is
used to reduce publicly-held debt.
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 ‘‘Save Our Surplus for
Debt Reduction Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) the Congressional Budget Office currently
estimates that the Government will have a $23 bil-
lion non-social security surplus (on-budget surplus)
in fiscal year 2000;
(2) Government spending in fiscal year 2000
will increase faster than the rate of inflation for a
total of over $1,750,000,000,000;
(3) Government publicly-held debt in fiscal year
2000 will be reduced by over $150 billion, yet debt
held by the public will remain in excess of
$3,450,000,000,000 and cost over $200,000,000,000
in annual interest payments;
(4) Government revenues in fiscal year 2000
will be 20.3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product,
which is the highest level since World War II; and
(5) nearly 40 million citizens currently rely on
social security and medicare, yet as more Americans
retire over the next decade, these programs will
begin running deficits and jeopardize their retire-
ment.
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to ensure
that the fiscal year 2000 on-budget surplus is used to re-
duce publicly-held debt.
SEC. 3. REDUCTION OF PUBLICLY-HELD DEBT.
(a) POINT OF ORDER AGAINST CERTAIN LEGISLA-
TION.—Except as provided by subsection (b), it shall not
be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate
to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion,
or conference report if—
(1) the enactment of that bill or resolution as
reported;
(2) the adoption and enactment of that amend-
ment; or
(3) the enactment of that bill or resolution in
the form recommended in that conference report,
would cause a decrease in the on-budget surplus for fiscal
year 2000.
(b) EXCEPTION.—The point of order set forth in sub-
section (a) shall not apply to a bill, joint resolution,
amendment, motion, or conference report if it—
(1) reduces revenues;
(2) implements structural social security re-
form; or
(3) implements structural medicare reform.
(c) WAIVERS AND APPEALS IN THE SENATE.—
(1) WAIVERS.—Subsection (a) may be waived
or suspended in the Senate only by the affirmative
vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and
sworn.
(2) APPEALS.—(A) Appeals in the Senate from
the decisions of the Chair relating to subsection (a)
shall be limited to 1 hour, to be equally divided be-
tween, and controlled by, the mover and the man-
ager of the bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion,
or conference report, as the case may be.
(B) An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the
Members, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required
in the Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of
the Chair on a point of order raised under sub-
section (a).
SEC. 4. SUNSET PROVISION.
The provisions of this Act shall cease to have any
force or effect on October 1, 2000.
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