Title: Fiscal State of the Nation Resolution
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance

Summary:
Fiscal State of the Nation Resolution
This concurrent resolution requires the congressional budget committees to conduct an annual joint hearing to receive a presentation from the Comptroller General regarding (1) the Government Accountability Office's audit of the financial statement of the executive branch, and (2) the financial position and condition of the federal government.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 35 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 35

  Providing for a joint hearing of the Committee on the Budget of the 
Senate and the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives 
 to receive a presentation from the Comptroller General of the United 
   States regarding the audited financial statement of the executive 
                                branch.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 28, 2020

Ms. Sinema (for herself, Ms. Ernst, Ms. Rosen, and Mr. King) submitted 
    the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
                        Committee on the Budget

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Providing for a joint hearing of the Committee on the Budget of the 
Senate and the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives 
 to receive a presentation from the Comptroller General of the United 
   States regarding the audited financial statement of the executive 
                                branch.

    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This resolution may be cited as the ``Fiscal State of the Nation 
Resolution''.

SEC. 2. ANNUAL JOINT HEARING OF BUDGET COMMITTEES TO RECEIVE A 
              PRESENTATION BY THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 45 days (excluding Saturdays, 
Sundays, and holidays) after the date on which the Secretary of the 
Treasury submits to Congress the audited financial statement required 
under paragraph (1) of section 331(e) of title 31, United States Code, 
on a date agreed upon by the chairmen of the Budget Committees and the 
Comptroller General of the United States, the chairmen shall conduct a 
joint hearing to receive a presentation from the Comptroller General--
            (1) reviewing the findings of the audit required under 
        paragraph (2) of such section; and
            (2) providing, with respect to the information included by 
        the Secretary in the report accompanying such audited financial 
        statement, an analysis of the financial position and condition 
        of the Federal Government, including financial measures (such 
        as the net operating cost, income, budget deficits, or budget 
        surpluses) and sustainability measures (such as the long-term 
        fiscal projection or social insurance projection) described in 
        such report.
    (b) Presentation of Statement in Accordance With GAO Strategies and 
Means.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall ensure that 
the presentation at each joint hearing conducted under subsection (a) 
is made in accordance with the Strategies and Means of the Government 
Accountability Office, to ensure that the presentation will provide 
professional, objective, fact-based, nonpartisan, nonideological, fair, 
and balanced information to the Members attending the hearing.
    (c) Rules Applicable to Hearing.--
            (1) In general.--Each joint hearing conducted by the 
        chairmen of the Budget Committees under subsection (a) shall be 
        conducted in accordance with Standing Rules of the Senate and 
        the Rules of the House of Representatives which apply to such a 
        hearing, including the provisions requiring hearings conducted 
        by committees to be open to the public, including to radio, 
        television, and still photography coverage.
            (2) Permitting participation by senators and members not 
        serving on budget committees.--Notwithstanding any provision of 
        the Standing Rules of the Senate or the Rules of the House of 
        Representatives, any Senator and any Member of the House of 
        Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner 
        to the Congress) may participate in a joint hearing under 
        subsection (a) in the same manner and to the same extent as a 
        Senator or Member of the House of Representatives who is a 
        member of either of the Budget Committees.
    (d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Budget Committees'' 
means the Committee on the Budget of the Senate and the Committee on 
the Budget of the House of Representatives.
    (e) Effective Date.--The requirement under subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to any audited financial statement under section 
331(e)(1) of title 31, United States Code, submitted on or after the 
date of adoption of this resolution.
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