Extraordinary Measures Transparency Act

Bill: 115-hr-3498
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Messer, Luke [R-IN-6]
Introduced: 2017-07-27
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt

Congressional oversight

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government trust funds

Health care costs and insurance

Securities

U.S. Postal Service
Latest action: action_date: 2017-07-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-07-27
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Extraordinary Measures Transparency Act </b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to report to Congress regarding extraordinary measures used to avoid exceeding the statutory debt limit. </p> <p>Extraordinary measures include suspensions and delays of debt sales and auctions, suspending or redeeming investments in certain government funds, and issuing debt to enter into an exchange transaction for debt that is subject to the limit. </p> <p>If Treasury determines that the public debt will reach the limit in 30 days, Treasury must submit a report to Congress that includes: </p> <ul> <li> a description of the extraordinary measures that Treasury intends to use if the debt limit is not raised, </li> <li> an estimate of the cost of the measures, </li> <li> a projection of how long the measures will fund the federal government, and </li> <li> a projection of the administrative cost of taking the measures. </li> </ul> <p>Treasury must also submit specified daily reports to Congress when the measures are being used. After using the measures, Treasury must report to Congress regarding the measures that were used and the administrative cost of the measures. </p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3498 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 27, 2017 Mr. Messer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To require the Secretary of the Treasury to issue reports with respect to extraordinary measures, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Extraordinary Measures Transparency Act . 2. Reports on extraordinary measures (a) In general Subchapter II of chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 3131. Reports on extraordinary measures (a) Report 30 days before reaching debt limit If the Secretary of the Treasury determines that the public debt will reach the debt limit in 30 days, the Secretary shall issue a report to the Congress that contains— (1) a description of the extraordinary measures that the Secretary intends to use if the debt limit is not raised; (2) an estimate of the cost of such extraordinary measures; (3) a projection of how long such extraordinary measures will fund the Federal Government; and (4) a projection of the administrative cost of taking such extraordinary measures. (b) Daily report while using extraordinary measures The Secretary shall, during any period in which the Secretary is using extraordinary measures, issue a daily report to the Congress that contains a list of which extraordinary measures were taken, including a list of how much money was transferred and from which accounts the money was transferred. (c) Report after using extraordinary measures At the end of a period in which the Secretary was using extraordinary measures, the Secretary shall issue a report to the Congress that contains— (1) a summary of the extraordinary measures used; and (2) the administrative cost of taking such extraordinary measures. (d) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) Administrative cost With respect to extraordinary measures, the term administrative cost means— (A) the personnel and consultant costs required to engage in the extraordinary measures; (B) any fees the Government has to pay in connection with the extraordinary measures; and (C) such other costs as the Secretary determines appropriate. (2) Debt limit The term debt limit means the limit specified under section 3101, as modified by section 3101A. (3) Extraordinary measures The term extraordinary measures means— (A) directing or approving the issuance of debt by the Federal Financing Bank for the purpose of entering into an exchange transaction for debt that is subject to the limit under this chapter; (B) suspending investments in the Government Securities Investment Fund of the Thrift Savings Fund; (C) suspending investments in the stabilization fund established under section 5302; (D) suspending new investments in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund or the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund; (E) selling or redeeming securities, obligations, or other invested assets of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund or the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund before maturity; (F) suspending sales of State and Local Government Series Treasury securities; and (G) such other measures as the Secretary determines appropriate. (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of analysis for chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3130 the following: 3131. Reports on extraordinary measures. .