No Bias in the Baseline Act

Bill: 118-hr-8979
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]
Introduced: 2024-07-10
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Latest action: action_date: 2024-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Budget.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8979 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 10, 2024 Mr. Cline (for himself and Mr. Norman ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Budget A BILL To clarify that the baseline is based on current laws and the assumption of continuation of current levels of discretionary appropriations, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the No Bias in the Baseline Act . 2. Modification of baseline calculation (a) In general Section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 ( 2 U.S.C. 907 ) is amended— (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: (a) In general For any budget year, the baseline refers to a projection, based on current laws and the assumption of continuation of current levels of discretionary appropriations, of current-year levels of new budget authority, outlays, revenues, and the surplus or deficit into the budget year and the outyears based on laws enacted through the applicable date. ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) In general Laws providing or creating direct spending and receipts are assumed to operate in the manner specified in those laws for each such year. ; (B) by striking paragraph (2); and (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in the second sentence of paragraph (1), by striking all that follows after current year, through the period and inserting excluding resources designated as an emergency requirement and any resources provided in supplemental appropriation laws. ; (B) by striking paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5); (C) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (2); and (D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) No adjustment for inflation No adjustment shall be made for inflation or for any other factor. . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Section 202(e)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 ( 2 U.S.C. 602(e)(1) ) is amended— (A) by inserting and before (B) the levels ; and (B) by striking , and (C) and all that follows through 1985 . (2) Section 403(a)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 603(a)(3) ) is amended— (A) by striking subparagraph (G); and (B) by redesignating subparagraph (H) as subparagraph (G).