[House Report 114-897]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Union Calendar No. 708
114th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Report 114-897
ACTIVITIES
and
SUMMARY REPORT
of the
COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
One Hundred Fourteenth Congress
(Pursuant to House Rule XI, Cl. 1.(d))
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
December 30, 2016.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
23-169 WASHINGTON : 2016
COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET
TOM PRICE, M.D., Georgia, Chairman
TODD ROKITA, Indiana CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, Maryland,
SCOTT GARRETT, New Jersey Ranking Minority Member
MARIO DIAZ-BALART, Florida JOHN A. YARMUTH, Kentucky
TOM COLE, Oklahoma BILL PASCRELL, Jr., New Jersey
TOM McCLINTOCK, California TIM RYAN, Ohio
DIANE BLACK, Tennessee GWEN MOORE, Wisconsin
ROB WOODALL, Georgia KATHY CASTOR, Florida
VICKY HARTZLER, Missouri JIM McDERMOTT, Washington
MARLIN STUTZMAN, Indiana BARBARA LEE, California
FRANK GUINTA, New Hampshire MARK POCAN, Wisconsin
MARK SANFORD, South Carolina MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM, New Mexico
STEVE WOMACK, Arkansas DEBBIE DINGELL, Michigan
DAVID BRAT, Virginia TED LIEU, California
ROD BLUM, Iowa DONALD NORCROSS, New Jersey
ALEX MOONEY, West Virginia SETH MOULTON, Massachusetts
GLENN GROTHMAN, Wisconsin
GARY PALMER, Alabama
JOHN MOOLENAAR, Michigan
BRUCE WESTERMAN, Arkansas
JIM RENACCI, Ohio
BILL JOHNSON, Ohio
Professional Stafff
Richard May, Staff Director
Thomas S. Kahn, Minority Staff Director
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
----------
Committee on the Budget,
Washington, DC, December 30, 2016.
Hon. Karen L. Haas,
Clerk of the House, U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Ms. Haas: Pursuant to Clause 1(d) of House Rule XI, I
am pleased to transmit a report on the activities of the
Committee on the Budget during the 114th Congress.
Sincerely,
Tom Price, M.D., Chairman.
Union Calendar No. 708
114th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 114-897
======================================================================
ACTIVITIES AND SUMMARY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET
114TH CONGRESS
_______
December 30, 2016.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Price of Georgia, from the Committee on the Budget,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
JURISDICTION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of
1974 established the Committees on the Budget for the House of
Representatives and the Senate. These committees are
responsible for developing and reporting the annual concurrent
resolution on the budget (``budget resolution''), for
assembling and reporting any reconciliation legislation
required by that resolution, and for overseeing the
congressional and statutory budget process.
Once adopted, the budget resolution provides an overall
framework and plan for Congressional consideration of spending,
revenue, and debt limit legislation. It sets a ceiling on total
spending and a floor on total revenues to be collected. It also
provides an allocation of spending authority to each committee
of Congress, both the appropriations committees and among the
various authorizing committees. The House and Senate enforce
the aggregate spending and revenue levels as well as the
committee allocations set by the budget resolution, through
points of order that govern the consideration of legislation.
The budget resolution may also include an optional
reconciliation process, which directs authorizing committees to
revise programs under their jurisdiction in order to adjust
either projected direct spending or revenues by specified
amounts. If more than one committee receives reconciliation
instructions, the Budget Committee is responsible for compiling
the legislation submitted by the various committees and
reporting the combined legislation to the House. The budget
reconciliation process is used when changes in direct spending
or tax law are needed to implement the plan set out in the
budget resolution: to reconcile actual spending and revenue in
law with the guidelines set out in the resolution.
The Budget Committee then assembles the legislation into an
omnibus legislative package without making any substantive
revisions for consideration by the House. The Budget Committee
not only has jurisdiction over budget resolutions and
reconciliation bills, it also has legislative jurisdiction over
major elements of the budget process and various statutory
controls over the Federal budget.
When the House of Representatives adopted Rules for the
104th Congress (House Resolution 6) on January 5, 1995, the
Budget Committee achieved for the first time legislative
jurisdiction over major elements of the congressional budget
process and various statutory controls over the Federal budget.
In adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the
105th Congress (House Resolution 5) on January 7, 1997, the
House extended the Budget Committee's legislative jurisdiction
to include not only the congressional budget process but the
budget process in general. The Committee's jurisdictional
statement, House Rule X, clause 1(d), now reads as follows:
(1) Concurrent resolutions on the budget (as defined in
section 3(4) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974), other
matters required to be referred to the committee under titles
III and IV of that Act, and other measures setting forth
appropriate levels of budget totals for the United States
Government.
(2) Budget process generally.
(3) Establishment, extension, and enforcement of special
controls over the Federal budget, including the budgetary
treatment of off-budget Federal agencies and measures providing
exemption from reduction under any order issued under part C of
the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Under its jurisdiction, the Budget Committee has exclusive
jurisdiction over both budgetary levels and budgetary concepts.
Under subparagraph (2), the Budget Committee has primary
jurisdiction over the budget process, as well as, secondary
jurisdiction over purely procedural aspects of the
congressional budget process. Finally, under subparagraph (3),
the Budget Committee has exclusive jurisdiction over the
establishment, extension, and enforcement of direct and
discretionary spending limits, pay-go requirements, and other
special budgetary mechanisms to control spending, the deficit,
or the Federal budget, including the sequestration process.
In addition to its legislative duties, the Budget Committee
continues to have responsibilities for oversight and studies.
These responsibilities include oversight of the Congressional
Budget Office; study of the outlay effects of existing and
proposed legislation; study of off-budget entities; study of
tax expenditures; and study of proposals to improve and
facilitate the congressional budget process.
Summary of Activities
Appointment of the Director of the Congressional Budget Office
On February 27, 2015, Dr. Homer Keith Hall was jointly
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
President pro tempore of the Senate as the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office, effective April 1, 2015, for the
term expiring January 3, 2019. The appointment can be found on
page H1375 of the Congressional Record. This appointment was
made on Chairman Price's recommendation based on the
longstanding practice between the Budget Committees alternating
which Chairman recommends a Director with the other Chairman
concurring.
Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Resolution
On March 18, 2015, the Committee on the Budget marked up
the fiscal year 2016 concurrent resolution on the budget, House
Concurrent Resolution 27 (114th Congress). The report
accompanying House Concurrent Resolution 27 (114th Congress),
House Report 114-47, was filed on March 20, 2015. This report
established allocations of spending authority to House
committees and identified accounts eligible for advance
appropriations.
On March 23, 2015, the Committee on Rules reported a rule
(House Resolution 163) providing for the consideration of House
Concurrent Resolution 27 (114th Congress). The rule provided
for four hours of general debate: three hours controlled by the
Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on the
Budget, equally divided; and one hour on the subject of
economic goals and policies equally divided between the Chair
and Ranking Minority Member of the Joint Economic Committee or
their designees.
The Resolution specified certain amendments in order and
waived all points of order against consideration of the
concurrent resolution.
The House passed House Resolution 163 on March 24, 2015.
After the adoption of House Resolution 163, floor debate on
House Concurrent Resolution 27 proceeded on March 24-25, 2015.
The Committee of the Whole proceeded with four hours of
general debate on the resolution and then proceeded to full
substitute amendments:
Amendment No. 1: An amendment in the nature of a substitute
offered by Representative Ellison [MN-5] was defeated. Failed
by recorded vote: 96-330 (Roll no. 136).
Amendment No. 2: An amendment in the nature of a substitute
offered by Representative Butterfield [NC-1] was defeated.
Failed by recorded vote: 120-306 (Roll no. 137).
Amendment No. 3: An amendment in the nature of a substitute
offered by Representative Stutzman [IN-3] was defeated. Failed
by recorded vote: 132-294 (Roll no. 138).
Amendment No. 4: An amendment in the nature of a substitute
offered by Representative Van Hollen [MD-8] was defeated.
Failed by recorded vote: 160-264 (Roll no. 139).
Amendment No. 5: An amendment in the nature of a substitute
offered by Representative Tom Price [GA-6] was defeated. Failed
by recorded vote: 105-319 (Roll no. 140). This amendment was
identical to the reported resolution. The total level of new
budget authority for the Overseas Contingency Operations/Global
War on Terrorism function (Function 970) remained at $94
billion in Fiscal Year 2016. The amendment also retained a
deficit-neutral reserve fund for Overseas Contingency
Operations/Global War on Terrorism [OCO/GWOT] in section 513.
This section permitted the Chair of the Committee on the Budget
to adjust the 302(a) allocations to the Committee on
Appropriations, and other appropriate levels, for any
appropriations measure providing new budget authority for
Overseas Contingency Operations in excess of $73.5 billion up
to $94 billion in Fiscal Year 2016.
Amendment No. 6: An amendment in the nature of a substitute
offered by Representative Tom Price [GA-6] was agreed to by
recorded vote: 219-208 (Roll no. 141). The amendment increased
new budget authority for the OCO/GWOT function (Function 970)
by $2 billion, from $94 billion to $96 billion in Fiscal Year
2016. The amendment increased the outlay amounts for OCO over
the period of Fiscal Years 2016 to 2025. As a consequence of
the increase in OCO/GWOT, conforming increases were made in
total budget authority and outlays, deficits, interest, debt
subject to the limit, and debt held by the public. Even with
the increase in overall budget authority and outlays, the
budget resolution remained in balance in Fiscal Year 2024 and
thereafter. The amendment also struck a deficit-neutral reserve
fund for OCO/GWOT in section 513 of the reported resolution.
This section would have permitted the Chairman of the Committee
on the Budget to adjust the 302(a) allocations to the Committee
on Appropriations for any appropriations measure that provided
new budget authority in excess of $73.5 billion up to $94
billion in Fiscal Year 2016.
The Committee of the Whole then proceeded with the final 10
minutes of general debate on House Concurrent Resolution 27,
pursuant to the provisions of House Resolution 163. The House
then rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of
the Union to report House Concurrent Resolution 27. The House
adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union.
The fiscal year 2016 concurrent resolution on the budget
passed the House on March 25, 2015. On agreeing to the
resolution: Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 228-199 (Roll no.
142).
On April 13, 2015, the House-passed fiscal year 2016
concurrent resolution on the budget (House Concurrent
Resolution 27) was received in the Senate and placed on the
Senate Calendar under General Orders Calendar No. 34.
On March 27, 2015, the fiscal year 2016 concurrent
resolution on the budget, S. Con. Res. 11, was agreed to in the
Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 52-46 (Record Vote
Number 135).
On April 13, 2015, a message on the Senate action was sent
to the House.
On April 14, 2015, the House then considered S. Con. Res.
11 under the provisions of House Resolution 189. Pursuant to
the provisions of House Resolution 189, the House took S. Con.
Res. 11 from the Speaker's table, struck all after the enacting
clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar
measure, H. Con. Res. 27. This was agreed to, as amended,
pursuant to the provisions of House Resolution 189. Chairman
Tom Price then moved that the House insist upon its amendment,
and request a conference. The House then proceeded with one
hour of debate on Chairman Price's motion that the House insist
on its amendment to S. Con. Res. 11 and request a conference
with the Senate. On the motion that the House insist upon its
amendment, and request a conference Agreed to by voice vote.
Mr. Van Hollen then moved that the House instruct conferees.
The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion to
instruct conferees on S. Con. Res. 11. On the motion that the
House instruct conferees failed by the Yeas and Nays: 187-239
(Roll no. 153). The Speaker appointed conferees: Tom Price of
Georgia, Rokita, Diaz-Balart, Black, Moolenaar, Van Hollen,
Yarmuth, and Moore. The Senate appointed conferees: Enzi,
Grassley, Sessions, Crapo, Graham, Portman, Toomey, Johnson,
Ayotte, Wicker, Corker, Perdue, Sanders, Murray, Wyden,
Stabenow, Whitehouse, Warner, Merkley, Baldwin, Kaine, and
King.
On April 15, 2015, a message on the House action was
received in the Senate. The Senate then proceeded to
consideration of the House amendment. The Senate disagreed to
the House amendment, agreed to the request for a conference and
authorized the Presiding Officer to appoint conferees by Yea-
Nay Vote. 54-43. Record Vote Number: 145.
On April 16, 2015, a message on the Senate's action was
sent to the House.
On April 20, 2015, the Budget Conference Committee held a
meeting.
On April 29, 2015, the conferees agreed and filed a
conference report on the fiscal year 2016 concurrent resolution
on the budget, House Report 114-96.
On April 30, 2015, Chairman Price brought up conference
report House Report 114-96 for consideration under the
provisions of House Resolution 231. The House then proceeded
with one hour of debate on the conference report to accompany
S. Con. Res. 11. Pursuant to clause 10, rule 20, the yeas and
nays were ordered on the conference report to accompany S. Con.
Res. 11. The conference report, House Report 114-96, was agreed
to by the Yeas and nays: 226-197 (Roll no. 183).
On May 5, 2015, the conference report was considered in the
Senate. The Senate agreed to conference report House Report
114-96 by a Yea-Nay vote: 51-48. Recorded Vote Number 171.
H.R. 3762, Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act
of 2015
The conference report on the fiscal year 2016 budget
resolution (S. Con. Res. 11) included reconciliation directives
instructing the Committees on Finance and Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions in the Senate and the Committees on
Education and the Workforce, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and
Means in the House of Representatives to transmit to their
respective Budget Committee changes in laws within their
jurisdiction reducing the deficit by $1 billion each. The
conference report also included language for the Committees in
the House of Representatives to determine the most effective
methods by which the Affordable Care Act and the health care
related provisions of the Health Care and Education
Reconciliation Act of 2010 could be repealed in their entirety.
On October 2, 2015, the Committees on Education and the
Workforce, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means each
transmitted their legislative language to the Committee on the
Budget meeting their respective reconciliation directives.
On October 9, 2015, the Committee on the Budget marked up
and ordered reported these reconciliation submissions. On
October 16, 2015, Chairman Price introduced H.R. 3762, the
Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of
2015, and the accompanying report, House Report 114-293.
The Committee on Rules reported a rule (House Resolution
483) providing for the consideration of H.R. 3762. The rule
provided for two hours of debate controlled by the Chair and
Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on the Budget, equally
divided.
The resolution stipulated that the amendment printed in the
report and offered by Chairman Price was considered as adopted.
This amendment omitted the section repealing the Independent
Payment Advisory Board and clarified that the prohibition on
Federal funding to states for payments to prohibited entities
applied both to payments made directly to a prohibited entity
and payments made through a managed care organization and
included the standard exceptions covered by the Hyde amendment.
The House passed House Resolution 483 on October 22, 2015.
After the adoption of House Resolution 483, floor debate on
H.R. 3762 proceeded on October 23, 2015.
The House proceeded with two hours of general debate on
H.R. 3762. On October 23, 2015, H.R. 3762 passed the House by a
recorded vote of 240 ayes to 189 noes (Roll no. 568).
On November 18, 2015, H.R. 3762 was received in the Senate,
read the first time, and placed on the Senate Legislative
Calendar under Read the First Time. On December 1, 2015, the
motion to proceed to the consideration of H.R. 3762 was agreed
to in the Senate by voice vote. Senator McConnell then proposed
an amendment in the nature of a substitute. This Senate
amendment built upon the House-passed reconciliation bill to
dismantle the Affordable Care Act by repealing the coverage
subsidies, tax credits, and Medicaid expansion provisions,
effective in 2018, that would have enabled Congress to
implement patient-centered health care reform. The Senate
amendment also repealed the vast majority of the burdensome
Affordable Care Act taxes in 2016, including the medical device
tax, health insurance tax, medicine cabinet tax and other
Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account
restrictions, in addition to immediately ending the individual
and employer mandate penalties.
On December 3, 2015, the Senate passed H.R. 3762 with an
amendment by a Yea-Nay vote of 52 to 47 (Record Vote Number:
329). On December 4, 2015, a message on the Senate action was
sent to the House.
On January 5, 2016, the Committee on Rules reported a rule
(House Resolution 579) providing for the consideration of the
Senate amendment to H.R. 3762. The rule made in order to take
from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 3762), with the Senate
amendment thereto, and to consider in the House, without
intervention of any point of order, a motion offered by the
Chair of the Committee on the Budget or his designee that the
House concur in the Senate amendment. The rule provided for one
hour of debate controlled by the Chair and Ranking Minority
Member of the Committee on the Budget, equally divided.
On January 6, 2016, Chairman Price moved that the House
concur in the Senate amendment. The House then proceeded with
one hour of debate on the motion that the House agree to the
Senate amendment to H.R. 3762. The motion that the House agree
to the Senate amendment was agreed to by a vote of 240 yeas and
181 noes (Roll no. 6).
On January 7, 2016, H.R. 3762 was presented to the
President. The President vetoed H.R. 3762 on January 8, 2016.
On January 8, 2016, the Chair laid before the House the
veto message from the President. Mr. Scalise then moved to
postpone consideration of the veto message until January 26,
2016. The House then proceeded with one hour of debate on the
Scalise motion to postpone consideration of the veto message
until January 26, 2016. The motion to postpone consideration of
the veto message until January 26, 2016, was then agreed to by
voice vote.
On January 25, 2016, the Chair announced that,
notwithstanding the order of the House on January 8, 2016,
further consideration of the veto message on H.R. 3762 shall be
postponed until February 2, 2016. This was agreed to without
objection.
On February 2, 2016, pursuant to the order of the House of
January 25, 2016, the Chair announced that the unfinished
business of the House was the further consideration of the
President's veto message on H.R. 3762. The House then proceeded
with one hour of debate on the question of passage of H.R.
3762, the objections of the President to the contrary,
notwithstanding.
On February 2, 2016, the House failed to pass H.R. 3762,
the objections of the President to the contrary
notwithstanding, by a vote (2/3 required) of 241 yeas and 186
nays (Roll no. 53). The Chair then announced that the bill and
accompanying veto message were referred to the Committee on the
Budget and directed the Clerk to notify the Senate of the House
action.
Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Resolution
On March 16, 2016, the Committee on the Budget marked up
the fiscal year 2017 concurrent resolution on the budget, House
Concurrent Resolution 125 (114th Congress). The report
accompanying House Concurrent Resolution 125 (114th Congress),
House Report 114-470, was filed on March 23, 2016. This report
established allocations of spending authority to House
committees and identified accounts eligible for advance
appropriations.
Other Legislative Activities
H. Res. 5, Adopting Rules for the 114th Congress
The organizing resolution (H. Res. 5) adopted by the House
on January 6, 2015, at the commencement of the 114th Congress
contained several provisions related to the congressional
budget process. House Resolution 5 provides that the Rules of
the 113th Congress are the Rules of the 114th Congress.
House Resolution 5 also provides that any estimate for any
major legislation provided by the Congressional Budget Office,
or by the Joint Committee on Taxation to the CBO Director is to
incorporate the budgetary effects of changes in economic
output, employment, capital stock, and other variables
resulting from such legislation. House Resolution 5 mandates
that such estimates include a qualitative assessment of the
measure's budgetary effects in the 20-fiscal year period
beginning after the last fiscal year of the most recently
agreed to concurrent budget resolution, and an identification
of the critical assumptions and the source of data underlying
that estimate. This rule is based off of Chairman Price's Pro-
Growth Budgeting Act, which passed the House in both the 112th
and 113th Congresses.
Additionally, under House Resolution 5, the Chair of the
House Committee on the Budget, before consideration of a budget
resolution, must submit for printing in the Congressional
Record a description of those programs considered means-tested
direct spending and those considered nonmeans-tested direct
spending.
H. Res. 6, Electing Members to Certain Standing Committees of the House
of Representatives
This resolution was agreed to on January 6, 2015 and
elected Dr. Tom Price of Georgia as Chair to the Committee on
the Budget.
H. Res. 7, Electing Members to Certain Standing Committees of the House
of Representatives
This resolution was agreed to on January 6, 2015 and
elected Mr. Van Hollen to the Committee on the Budget.
H. Res. 30, Electing Members to Certain Standing Committees of the
House of Representatives
This resolution was agreed to on January 13, 2015 and
elected Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Ms. Moore, Ms. Castor
of Florida, Mr. McDermott, Ms. Lee, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Michelle
Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Mrs. Dingell and Mr. Lieu of
California to the Committee on the Budget.
H. Res. 39, Electing Members to Certain Standing Committees of the
House of Representatives
This resolution was agreed to on January 21, 2015 and
elected Mr. Garrett, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Cole, Mr. McClintock,
Mrs. Black, Mr. Rokita, Mr. Woodall, Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs.
Hartzler, Mr. Rice of South Carolina, Mr. Stutzman, Mr.
Sanford, Mr. Schock, Mr. Womack, Mr. Brat, Mr. Blum, Mr. Mooney
of West Virginia, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Moolenaar and
Mr. Westerman to the Committee on the Budget.
H. Res. 40, Electing Members to Certain Standing Committees of the
House of Representatives
This resolution was agreed to on January 21, 2015 and
elected Mr. Yarmuth to rank immediately after Mr. Van Hollen,
Mr. Norcross and Mr. Moulton to the Committee on the Budget.
H. Res. 155, Electing a Member to a Certain Standing Committee of the
House of Representatives
This resolution was agreed to on March 18, 2015 and elected
Mr. Buchanan to the Committee on the Budget.
H. Res. 555, Electing a Member to a Certain Standing Committee of the
House of Representatives
This resolution was agreed to on December 8, 2015 and
elected Mr. Renacci to the Committee on the Budget.
H. Res. 602, Electing Certain Members to Standing Committees of the
House of Representatives
This resolution was agreed to on February 4, 2016 and
elected Mr. Guinta, to rank immediately after Mr. Stutzman, and
Mr. Johnson of Ohio, to the Committee on the Budget.
H.R. 1314, Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 [BBA of 2015] was a House
amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1314. It became
Public Law 114-74 on November 2, 2015. The BBA of 2015 amended
the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985
to increase the discretionary spending limits for fiscal years
2016 and 2017, as well as to revise procedures for implementing
the sequester of direct spending. It increased both the defense
and non-defense discretionary budget authority for fiscal year
2016 each by $25 billion and for fiscal year 2017 each by $15
billion. It also suspended the public debt limit through March
15, 2017, increasing the limit thereafter to accommodate
necessary obligations issued during the suspension period that
required payment before March 16, 2017.
Congressional Record Publications
Revisions to the Allocations and Other Appropriate Levels of the Fiscal
Year 2015 Budget Resolution Related to H.R. 240, Department of
Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015
Bill Number--H.R. 240
Title--Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015
Date--March 3, 2015
Congressional Record--H1564-1565
Communication From the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget
Regarding Means-Tested and Non-Means-Tested Direct Spending
Programs
Date--March 17, 2015
Congressional Record--H1716-1720
Status Report on Current Spending Levels of On-Budget Spending and
Revenues for Fiscal Years 2015, 2016 and the 10-Year Period
Fiscal Years 2016 Through 2025
Date--May 22, 2015
Congressional Record--H3567-3572
Revisions to the Allocations and Aggregates of the Fiscal Year 2016
Budget Resolution Related to Trade Legislation
Bill Number--H.R. 644; H.R. 1295; H.R. 1314
Title--Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015;
Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015; Trade Act of
2015
Date--June 11, 2015
Congressional Record--H4240
Revisions to the Allocations of the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Resolution
Bill Number--H.R. 1190, as amended pursuant to H. Res. 319
Title--Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015
Date--June 17, 2015
Congressional Record--H4489
Revisions to the Allocations and Aggregates of the Fiscal Year 2016
Budget Resolution Related to Trade Legislation
Bill Number--Senate Amendment 2065 to H.R. 1295
Title--Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015
Date--June 25, 2015
Congressional Record--H4766
Revisions to the Aggregates and Allocations of the Fiscal Year 2016
Budget Resolution for New Budget Authority and Outlays
Designated as Program Integrity Initiatives Pursuant to Section
251(b)(2)(B) and (C) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985
Bill Number--H.R. 3020
Title--Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2016
Date--July 13, 2015
Congressional Record--H5115
Revisions to the Aggregates and Allocations of the Fiscal Year 2015 and
2016 Budget Resolutions
Bill Number--H.R. 3038
Title--Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015, Part II
Date--July 15, 2015
Congressional Record--H5234
Revisions to the Aggregates and Allocations of the Fiscal Year 2016
Budget Resolution Related to Legislation Reported by the
Committee on the Budget
Bill Number--H.R. 3762
Title--Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation
Act of 2015
Date--October 22, 2015
Congressional Record--H7136
Status Report on Current Spending Levels of On-Budget Spending and
Revenues for Fiscal Years 2015, 2016, and the 10-Year Period
Fiscal Years 2016 Through Fiscal Year 2025
Date--October 29, 2015
Congressional Record--H7341-7345
Revisions to the Aggregates and Allocations of the Fiscal Year 2016
Budget Resolution Related to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 22
Bill Number--H.R. 22, as amended by H. Res. 507
Title--DRIVE Act
Date--November 3, 2015
Congressional Record--H7621-7622
Revisions to the Aggregates and Allocations of the Fiscal Year 2016
Budget Resolution
Bill Number--Public Law 114-74; H.R. 3762
Title--Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015; Restoring Americans'
Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015
Date--January 6, 2016
Congressional Record--H99
Communication From the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget
Regarding Means-Tested and Non-Means-Tested Direct Spending
Programs
Date--March 15, 2016
Congressional Record--H1386-1388
Updated Status Report on Current Spending Levels of On-Budget Spending
and Revenues for Fiscal Year 2016 and the 10-Year Period Fiscal
Years 2016 Through 2025
Date--June 9, 2016
Congressional Record--H3658
BUDGET ENFORCEMENT
One of the responsibilities of the Committee on the Budget
is to monitor legislation to be considered on the floor of the
House and what implications such legislation would have on
spending and revenue. The Committee provided ongoing oversight
of the Office of Management and Budget's implementation of
budget submission, control, execution, and enforcement
procedures under the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Budget Enforcement Act of
1990, the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, and the Budget
Control Act of 2011.
Pursuant to Section 312 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 and rule XXIX of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Chairman is provided authority to give
guidance concerning the impact of a legislative proposition on
the levels of new budget authority, outlays, direct spending,
new entitlement authority, and revenues.
Additionally, the Committee monitored reclassifications of
budget accounts, re-estimates of the subsidies of credit
programs, consistency in cost estimates for direct spending and
tax bills, compliance with the relevant laws in the development
of budget projections, and changes in spend-out rates for
discretionary programs.
The Committee provided guidance to the Committee on
Appropriations, the authorizing committees, and the Committee
on Rules on spending and tax legislation to enforce the
appropriate levels in the budget resolution as required under
sections 302(f), 303(a) and 311(a) of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974 and on any budget-related provisions of the Rules
of the House of Representatives.
ECONOMIC POLICY
The Committee has studied, and will continue to study, how
economic policies affect the Federal budget.
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
The primary responsibility of the Committee on the Budget
is the development of a concurrent budget resolution that sets
spending and revenue levels in aggregate and across major
functional categories. These budget functions encompass all
Federal programs and activities. Certain programs are
considered off-budget, such as Social Security and the Postal
Service, and some are considered non-budgetary, such as the
Federal Reserve.
The subject matter of the budget is inherently broad, but
the Committee's formal oversight responsibility focuses on laws
governing the budget process and the agencies responsible for
administering elements of those laws. Under clauses 1(d)(2) and
(3) of House rule X, the major laws falling within the
committee's oversight are the Budget and Accounting Act of
1921, the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the Statutory Pay-
As-You-Go Act of 2010, and the Budget Control Act of 2011. The
two agencies with primary responsibility for administering
elements of these laws and hence which fall under the
Committee's jurisdiction are the Office of Management and
Budget and the Congressional Budget Office.
In addition to these general oversight responsibilities,
the Budget Committee has the special oversight responsibility
under clause 3(c) of House rule X to study the effect on budget
outlays of existing and proposed legislation and under clause
4(b)(6) of House rule X to request and evaluate continuing
studies of tax expenditures.
The Committee on the Budget met on January 22, 2015, to
organize for the 114th Congress. In addition to adopting rules
of procedure, the Committee also adopted a written oversight
plan. The Committee held hearings in the process of developing
the annual concurrent budget resolution. Additionally, the
Committee received testimony from Members of Congress, Cabinet
level and other Federal officials, State and local officials,
and expert witnesses to review the budget and economic outlook,
the President's budget submissions and other budget and
economic matters.
The Committee's oversight plan calls for continuous
assessment of the performance of Federal agencies in both the
administration and service delivery by reviewing performance
data in the President's budget submissions and the relevant
reports and audits of the Government Accountability Office and
the Offices of the Inspectors General.
Pursuant to the Committee's request, the Government
Accountability Office published the following reports:
2013 Sequestration and Shutdown: Selected Agencies Generally
Managed Unobligated Balances in Reviewed Accounts, but
Balances Exceeded Target Levels in Two Accounts [10/30/
2015]
International Remittances: Money Laundering Risks and Views on
Enhanced Customer Verification and Recordkeeping
Requirements [1/15/2016]
International Remittances: Actions Needed to Address Unreliable
Official U.S. Estimate [2/16/2016]
2014 Sequestration: Opportunities Exist to Improve Transparency
of Progress Toward Deficit Reduction Goals [4/14/2016]
Revolving Funds: Additional Pricing and Performance Information
for FAA and Treasury Funds Could Enhance Agency
Decisions on Shared Services [5/10/2016]
Department of Health and Human Services: Transitional
Reinsurance Program [9/29/2016]
The oversight plan specifically calls on the Committee to
study the budgetary effects of existing law and proposed
legislation, as well as government regulation, on government
spending and to explore ways of reducing waste, fraud, and
abuse in government agencies. Furthermore, the Committee drew
on the authorizing committees' Views and Estimates on the
President's budget, that are submitted to the Committee
pursuant to section 301(d) of the Congressional Budget Act, to
coordinate its oversight activities with other committees.
The Committee on the Budget will continue to review the
budgetary treatment of, assistance to, and ongoing operations
of: Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac). Moreover,
the Committee plan calls for continued oversight of the Office
of Management and Budget's implementation of budget submission,
control, execution, and enforcement procedures under the Budget
and Accounting Act of 1921, the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990, the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the Statutory Pay-
As-You-Go Act of 2010, and other applicable laws. The oversight
plan also calls for the evaluation and study of direct spending
and tax policies.
Legislative History of Measures on Which Action Was Taken
The following legislative measures were acted on by the
Committee on the Budget or contained provisions relating to the
congressional budget process.
H.R. 2
Sponsor--Hon. Michael C. Burgess [TX-26]
Date Introduced--March 24, 2015
Title--Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015
March 24, 2014--Referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means,
the Judiciary, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and the Budget,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
March 26, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On passage
Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 392-37 (Roll no. 144).
April 14, 2015--Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate
without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 92-8. Record Vote Number:
144.
April 16, 2015--Presented to the President, signed by the
President, and became Public Law 114-10.
H.R. 30
Sponsor--Hon. Todd Young [IN-9]
Date Introduced--January 6, 2015
Title--Save American Workers Act of 2015
January 6, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
January 8, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On passage
Passed by recorded vote: 252-172 (Roll no. 14).
H.R. 50
Sponsor--Hon. Virginia Foxx [NC-5]
Date Introduced--January 6, 2015
Title--Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of
2015
January 6, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the
Budget, Rules, and the Judiciary, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
February 2, 2015--Reported by the Committee on Oversight
and Government Reform. H. Rept. 114-11, Part 1. Committee on
the Budget discharged.
February 4, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On passage
Passed by recorded vote: 250-173 (Roll no. 64).
H.R. 240
Sponsor--Hon. Harold Rogers [KY-5]
Date Introduced--January 9, 2015
Title--Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015
January 9, 2015--Referred to the Committee on
Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
January 14, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On passage
Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 236-191 (Roll no. 35).
February 27, 2015--Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed
Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 68-31. Record Vote
Number: 62.
March 3, 2015--Resolving differences--House actions: On
motion that the House recede and concur in the Senate Agreed to
by the Yeas and Nays: 257-167 (Roll no. 109).
March 4, 2015--Presented to the President, signed by the
President, and became Public Law 114-4.
H.R. 427
Sponsor--Hon. Todd Young [IN-9]
Date Introduced--January 21, 2015
Title--Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act
of 2015
January 21, 2015--Referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, and the
Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as
fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
July 21, 2015--Reported (Amended) by the Committee on the
Judiciary. House Report 114-214, Part I. Committee on the
Budget discharged. Committee on Rules discharged.
July 28, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed
by recorded vote: 243-165 (Roll no. 482).
July 29, 2015--Received in the Senate.
December 1, 2015--Read the first time. Placed on Senate
Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
December 2, 2015--Read the second time. Placed on Senate
Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 307.
H.R. 596
Sponsor--Hon. Bradley Byrne [AL-1]
Date Introduced--January 28, 2015
Title--To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
and health care-related provisions in the Health Care
and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and for other
purposes.
January 28, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and
the Workforce, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Natural
Resources, Rules, House Administration, Appropriations, and the
Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as
fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
February 3, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On passage
Passed by recorded vote: 239-186 (Roll no. 58).
February 4, 2015--Received in the Senate. Read the first
time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the
First Time.
February 5, 2015--Read the second time. Placed on Senate
Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 14.
H.R. 636
Sponsor--Hon. Patrick Tiberi [OH-12]
Date Introduced--February 2, 2015
Title--FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016
February 2, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
February 9, 2015--Reported (Amended) by the Committee on
Ways and Means. House Report 114-21, Part I. Committee on the
Budget discharged.
February 13, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On passage
Passed by recorded vote: 272-142 (Roll no. 82).
April 19, 2015--Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate
with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay
Vote. 95-3. Record Vote Number: 47.
July 11, 2015--Resolving differences--House actions:
Passed/agreed to in House: House agreed to Senate amendments
with amendments pursuant to House Resolution 818.
July 13, 2015--Resolving differences--Senate actions:
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to the House
amendments to Senate amendments to H.R. 636 by Yea-Nay Vote.
89-4. Record Vote Number: 127.
July 14, 2015--Presented to the President.
July 15, 2015--Signed by the President and became Public
Law 114-190.
H.R. 637
Sponsor--Hon. Aaron Schock [IL-18]
Date Introduced--February 2, 2015
Title--Permanent IRA Charitable Contribution Act of 2015
February 2, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
February 9, 2015--Reported (Amended) by the Committee on
Ways and Means. House Report 114-20. Part I. Committee on the
Budget discharged. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No.
14.
H.R. 640
Sponsor--Hon. Erik Paulsen [MN-3]
Date Introduced--February 2, 2015
Title--Private Foundation Excise Tax Simplification Act of 2015
February 2, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
February 9, 2015--Reported (Amended) by the Committee on
Ways and Means. House Report 114-9. Part I. Committee on the
Budget discharged. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No.
13.
H.R. 1315
Sponsor--Hon. Luke Messer [IN-6]
Date Introduced--March 4, 2015
Title--To amend section 1105(a) of title 31, United States
Code, to require that annual budget submissions of the
President to Congress provide an estimate of the cost
per taxpayer of the deficit, and for other purposes.
March 4, 2015--Referred to the House Committee on the
Budget.
October 20, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to
suspend the rules and pass the bill. Agreed to by voice vote.
October 21, 2015--Received in the Senate and Read twice and
referred to the Committee on the Budget.
H.R. 1890
Sponsor--Hon. Paul Ryan [WI-1]
Date Introduced--April 17, 2015
Title--Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and
Accountability Act of 2015
April 17, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, and the
Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as
fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 1, 2015--Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways
and Means. House Report 114-100, Part I. Committee on Rules and
Committee on the Budget discharged. Placed on the Union
Calendar No. 69.
H.R. 1892
Sponsor--Hon. David Reichert [WA-8]
Date Introduced--April 17, 2015
Title--Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015
April 17, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and
Commerce, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned.
May 8, 2015--Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways
and Means. House Report 114-108, Part I. Committee on Energy
and Commerce and Committee on the Budget discharged. Placed on
the Union Calendar No. 76.
H.R. 2510
Sponsor--Hon. Patrick Tiberi [OH-12]
Date Introduced--May 21, 2015
Title--To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify and
make permanent bonus depreciation.
May 21, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means,
and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
October 28, 2015--Reported (Amended) by the Committee on
Ways and Means. House Report 114-317, Part I. Committee on the
Budget discharged. Placed on the Union Calendar No. 240.
H.R. 2596
Sponsor--Hon. Devin Nunes [CA-22]
Date Introduced--June 1, 2015
Title--Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016
June 1, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Intelligence
(Permanent Select), and in addition to the Committee on the
Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as
fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
June 9, 2015--Reported (Amended) by the Committee on
Intelligence. House Report 114-144, Part I. Committee on the
Budget discharged. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No.
104.
June 16, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed
by recorded vote: 247-178 (Roll no. 369).
June 17, 2015--Received in the Senate and Read twice and
referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence.
H.R. 2722
Sponsor--Hon. Carolyn Maloney
Date Introduced--June 10, 2015
Title--Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act
June 10, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Financial
Services, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
July 15, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to
suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by
the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 421-9, 1 Present (Roll no.
442).
July 16, 2016--Received in the Senate and Read twice and
referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs.
April 19, 2016--Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. Passed/agreed to
in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous
Consent.
April 20, 2016--Presented to the President.
April 29, 2016--Signed by the President and became Public
Law 114-148.
H.R. 2726
Sponsor--Hon. Bill Posey [FL-8]
Date Introduced--June 10, 2015
Title--Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act
June 10, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Financial
Services, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
December 5, 2016--Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to
suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by
voice vote.
December 6, 2016--Received in the Senate.
H.R. 3236
Sponsor--Hon. Bill Shuster [PA-9]
Date Introduced--July 28, 2015
Title--Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice
Improvement Act of 2015
July 28, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Ways
and Means, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology,
Natural Resources, Veterans' Affairs, Education and the
Workforce, the Budget, and Homeland Security, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
July 29, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed
by the Yeas and Nays: 385-34, 1 Present (Roll no. 486).
July 30, 2015--Passed/agreed to in Senate: Received in the
Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed
(under the order of 7/29/15, having achieved 60 votes in the
affirmative) without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 91-4. Record
Vote Number: 261.
July 31, 2015--Presented to the President, signed by the
President, and became Public Law 114-41.
H.R. 3762
Sponsor--Hon. Tom Price [GA-6]
Date Introduced--October 16, 2015
Title--Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation
Act of 2015
October 16, 2015--The House Committee on the Budget
reported an original measure, House Report 114-293, by Mr. Tom
Price. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 222.
October 23, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On passage
Passed by recorded vote: 240-189 (Roll no. 568).
November 18, 2015--Received in the Senate. Read the first
time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the
First Time.
November 19, 2015--Read the second time. Placed on Senate
Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 299.
December 3, 2015--Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate
with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 52-47. Record Vote Number:
329.
January 6, 2016--Resolving differences--House actions: On
motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to
by the Yeas and Nays: 240-181 (Roll no. 6).
January 7, 2016--Presented to the President.
January 8, 2016--Vetoed by President. The Chair laid before
the House the veto message from the President.
February 2, 2016--Failed of passage in House over veto: On
passage, the objections of the President to the contrary
notwithstanding Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required):
241-186 (Roll no. 53).
H.R. 4127
Sponsor--Hon. Devin Nunes [CA-22]
Date Introduced--November 30, 2015
Title--Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016
November 30, 2015--Referred to the Committee on
Intelligence (Permanent Select), and in addition to the
Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned.
December 1, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to
suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by recorded vote
(2/3 required): 364-58 (Roll no. 649).
December 2, 2015--Received in the Senate. Read twice.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders.
Calendar No. 309.
H.R. 5003
Sponsor--Hon. Todd Rokita [IN-4]
Date Introduced--April 20, 2016
Title--Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016
April 20, 2016--Referred to the Committee on Education and
the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
December 8, 2016--Reported (Amended) by the Committee on
Education and the Workforce. House Report 114852, Part I.
Committee on the Budget discharged. Placed on the Union
Calendar, Calendar No. 665.
H.R. 5243
Sponsor--Hon. Harold Rogers [KY-5]
Date Introduced--May 16, 2016
Title--Zika Response Appropriations Act, 2016
May 16, 2016--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations,
and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 18, 2016--Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed
by the Yeas and Nays: 241-184 (Roll no. 207).
May 26, 2016--Received in the Senate.
H.R. 5707
Sponsor--Hon. Stephen F. Lynch [MA-8]
Date Introduced--July 11, 2016
Title--Postal Service Financial Improvement Act of 2016
July 11, 2016--Referred to the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform.
December 8, 2016--Referred sequentially to the House
Committee on the Budget for a period ending not later than Dec.
8, 2016 for consideration of such provisions of the bill as
fall within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to
clause 1(d) of rule X.
H.R. 5985
Sponsor--Hon. Jeff Miller [FL-1]
Date Introduced--September 9, 2016
Title--Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act
of 2016
September 9, 2016--Referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services,
and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
September 13, 2016--Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to
suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by
voice vote.
September 14, 2016--Received in the Senate, read twice.
September 19, 2016--Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed
Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 89-0. Record Vote
Number: 143.
September 21, 2016--Presented to the President.
September 29, 2016--Signed by the President and became
Public Law No: 114-228.
H.R. 6416
Sponsor--Hon. David Roe [TN-1]
Date Introduced--December 1, 2016
Title--Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care
and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016
December 1, 2016--Referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and
Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
December 6, 2016--Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to
suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and
Nays: (2/3 required): 419-0 (Roll no. 606).
December 7, 2016--Received in the Senate.
H.J. RES. 61
Sponsor--Hon. Rodney Davis [IL-13]
Date Introduced--July 23, 2015
Title--Hire More Heroes Act of 2015
July 23, 2015--Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means,
and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
July 27, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to
suspend the rules and pass the resolution Agreed to by voice
vote.
July 28, 2015--Received in the Senate. Read the first time.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First
Time.
July 29, 2015--Read the second time. Placed on Senate
Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 170.
September 24, 2015--Senate floor actions: Motion by Senator
McConnell to commit to Senate Committee on Appropriations with
instructions to report back forthwith with the following
amendment (SA 2685) made in Senate.
H. CON. RES. 27
Sponsor--Hon. Tom Price [GA-6]
Date Introduced--March 20, 2015
Title--Establishing the budget for the United States Government
for fiscal year 2016 and setting forth appropriate
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2017 through 2025.
March 20, 2015--The House Committee on the Budget reported
an original measure, House Report 114-47, by Mr. Tom Price.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 30.
March 25, 2015--Passed/agreed to in House: On agreeing to
the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 228-199 (Roll
no. 142).
April 13, 2015--Received in the Senate. Placed on Senate
Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 34.
H. CON. RES. 125
Sponsor--Hon. Tom Price [GA-6]
Date Introduced--March 23, 2016
Title--Establishing the congressional budget for the United
States Government for fiscal year 2017 and setting
forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years
2018 through 2026.
March 23, 2016--The House Committee on the Budget reported
an original measure, House Report 114-470, by Mr. Tom Price.
March 23, 2016--Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No.
356.
Bills and Resolutions Referred to the Budget Committee
H.R. 2
Hon. Michael Burgess [TX-26]
Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015
H.R. 30
Hon. Todd Young [IN-9]
Save American Workers Act of 2015
H.R. 50
Hon. Virginia Foxx [NC-5]
Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2015
H.R. 119
Hon. Scott Garrett [NJ-5]
Budget and Accounting Transparency Act of 2015
H.R. 167
Hon. Michael Simpson [ID-2]
Wildfire Disaster Funding Act
H.R. 171
Hon. Adrian Smith [NE-3]
To repeal the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act
H.R. 215
Hon. Corrine Brown [FL-5]
Defending Veterans from Sequestration Act of 2015
H.R. 240
Hon. Harold Rogers [KY-5]
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015
H.R. 278
Hon. Rick Larsen [WA-2]
TIGER CUBS Act
H.R. 282
Hon. Reid Ribble [WI-8]
Long-Term Studies of Comprehensive Outcomes and Returns for the
Economy Act (Long-Term SCORE Act)
H.R. 370
Hon. John Fleming [LA-4]
To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and
health care-related provisions in the Health Care and
Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
H.R. 395
Hon. Don Young [AK]
Indian Health Service Advance Appropriations Act of 2015
H.R. 405
Hon. Jason Chaffetz [UT-3]
Review Every Dollar Act of 2015
H.R. 427
Hon. Todd Young [IN-9]
Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015
H.R. 502
Hon. Derek Kilmer [WA-6]
Veterans Health Administration Management Improvement Act
H.R. 531
Hon. Rosa DeLauro [CT-3]
Accelerating Biomedical Research Act
H.R. 596
Hon. Bradley Byrne [AL-1]
To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and
health care-related provisions in the Health Care and
Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and for other
purposes.
H.R. 636
Hon. Patrick Tiberi [OH-12]
America's Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015
H.R. 637
Hon. Aaron Schock [IL-18]
Permanent IRA Charitable Contribution Act of 2015
H.R. 640
Hon. Erik Paulsen [MN-3]
Private Foundation Excise Tax Simplification Act of 2015
H.R. 660
Hon. Ed Perlmutter [CO-7]
To amend section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, to allow
the President not to make an annual budget resolution
until all appropriations for the preceding fiscal year
are enacted.
H.R. 777
Hon. Kathy Castor [FL-14]
Permanent Investment in Health Research Act of 2015
H.R. 782
Hon. John Conyers, Jr. [MI-13]
Cancel the Sequester Act of 2015
H.R. 861
Hon. Lucille Roybal-Allard [CA-40]
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015
H.R. 948
Hon. Luke Messer [IN-6]
Balanced Budget Accountability Act
H.R. 1048
Hon. James Renacci [OH-16]
To clarify that funding for the standard setting body
designated pursuant to section 19(b) of the Securities
Act of 1933 is not subject to the sequester
H.R. 1049
Hon. James Renacci [OH-16]
To clarify that funding for the Securities Investor Protection
Corporation is not subject to the sequester
H.R. 1050
Hon. James Renacci [OH-16]
To clarify that funding for the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board is not subject to the sequester
H.R. 1078
Hon. Leonard Lance [NJ-7]
Food and Drug Administration Safety Over Sequestration Act of
2015
H.R. 1315
Hon. Luke Messer [IN-6]
To amend section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, to
require that annual budget submissions of the President
to Congress provide an estimate of the cost per
taxpayer of the deficit, and for other purposes
H.R. 1389
Hon. Bill Foster [IL-11]
American Innovation Act
H.R. 1416
Hon. Renee Ellmers [NC-2]
Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2015
H.R. 1419
Hon. Xavier Recerra [CA-34]
Social Security Fraud and Error Prevention Act of 2015
H.R. 1434
Hon. Joe Courtney [CT-2]
Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act
H.R. 1456
Hon. Ed Whitfield [KY-1]
Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act of 2015
H.R. 1591
Hon. Dennis Ross [FL-15]
Zero-based Budgeting Ensures Responsible Oversight (ZERO) Act
of 2015
H.R. 1610
Hon. Reid Ribble [WI-8]
Biennial Budgeting and Enhanced Oversight Act of 2015
H.R. 1663
Hon. Tim Murphy [PA-18]
Infrastructure Jobs and Energy Independence Act
H.R. 1786
Hon. Carolyn Maloney [NY-12]
James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act
H.R. 1890
Hon. Paul Ryan [WI-1]
Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability
Act of 2015
H.R. 1892
Hon. David Reichert [WA-8]
Trade Adjustment Assistance Act (TAA), and for other purposes
of 2015
H.R. 1983
Hon. Peter A. DeFazio [OR-4]
Social Security Protection and Truth in Budgeting Act of 2015
H.R. 2093
Hon. John Abney Culberson [TX-7]
Space Leadership Preservation Act of 2015
H.R. 2104
Hon. Anna G. Eshoo [CA-18]
American Cures Act
H.R. 2177
Hon. David B. McKinley [WV-1]
Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2015
H.R. 2225
Hon. Mark Meadows [NC-11]
Prioritizing Reinvestment in Infrastructure and Military while
Eliminating Debt Act of 2015
H.R. 2272
Hon. Cynthia Lummis [WY]
Intelligence Budget Transparency Act of 2015
H.R. 2275
Hon. Jeff Miller [FL-1]
Jobs for Veterans Act of 2015
H.R. 2341
Hon. Kurt Schrader [OR-5]
No Padding, No Adding Act
H.R. 2350
Hon. Michael G. Fitzpatrick [PA-8]
Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act
H.R. 2410
Hon. Peter A. DeFazio [OR-4]
Generating Renewal, Opportunity, and Work with Accelerated
Mobility, Efficiency, and Rebuilding of Infrastructure
and Communities throughout America Act
H.R. 2469
Hon. Earl Blumenauer [OR-3]
Columbia River Basin Restoration Act of 2015
H.R. 2471
Hon. Kevin Brady [TX-8]
Maximizing America's Prosperity Act of 2015
H.R. 2495
Hon. Maxine Waters [CA-43]
TIGER Grants for Job Creation Act
H.R. 2498
Hon. John C. Carney [DE-At Large]
Budget Integrity Act
H.R. 2510
Hon. Patrick J. Tiberi [OH-12]
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify and make
permanent bonus depreciation.
H.R. 2596
Hon. Devin Nunes [CA-22]
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016
H.R. 2653
Hon. David P. Roe [TN-1]
American Health Care Reform Act of 2015
H.R. 2716
Hon. Ron DeSantis [FL-6]
Transportation Empowerment Act
H.R. 2721
Hon. Barbara Lee [CA-13]
Pathways Out of Poverty Act of 2015
H.R. 2722
Hon. Carolyn B. Maloney [NY-12]
Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act
H.R. 2726
Hon. Bill Posey [FL-8]
Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act
H.R. 2768
Hon. Earl Blumenauer [OR-3]
Superfund Reinvestment Act
H.R. 2829
Hon. Mario Diaz-Balart [FL-25]
Free Market Healthcare Restoration and Coverage Act of 2015
H.R. 2884
Hon. Reid J. Ribble [WI-8]
To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act
of 1985 to eliminate the firewalls between defense and
nondefense discretionary spending limits.
H.R. 2903
Hon. Erik Paulsen [MN-3]
Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2015
H.R. 2977
Hon. David N. Cicilline [RI-1]
Consumer Privacy Protection Act of 2015
H.R. 2978
Hon. Danny K. Davis [IL-7]
Thirteenth Amendment Commemorative Coin Act
H.R. 2983
Hon. Jared Huffman [CA-2]
Drought Recovery and Resilience Act of 2015
H.R. 3056
Hon. Sam Graves [MO-6]
Stop the EPA Act of 2015
H.R. 3063
Hon. Don Young [AK]
Honoring Our Trust Relationships Act of 2015
H.R. 3064
Hon. Chris Van Hollen [MD-8]
Generating Renewal, Opportunity, and Work with Accelerated
Mobility, Efficiency, and Rebuilding of Infrastructure
and Communities throughout America Act
H.R. 3186
Hon. Rob Woodall [GA-7]
Baseline Reform Act of 2015
H.R. 3225
Hon. Sam Graves [MO-6]
Save Rural Hospitals Act
H.R. 3236
Hon. Bill Shuster [PA-9]
Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice
Improvement Act of 2015
H.R. 3246
Hon.
To provide for the temporary use of Veterans Choice Funds for
certain programs, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3253
Hon. Ann Kirkpatrick [AZ-1]
Expedited Consideration of Cuts, Consolidations, and Savings
Act of 2015
H.R. 3295
Hon. Elijah E. Cummings [MD-7]
Rebuilding Urban Inner Cities Is Long Overdue Act of 2015
H.R. 3476
Hon. Chris Van Hollen [MD-8]
Prevent a Government Shutdown Act of 2015
H.R. 3555
Hon. Frederica S. Wilson [FL-24]
To provide tax relief for American workers and businesses, to
put workers back on the job while rebuilding and
modernizing America, and to provide pathways back to
work for Americans looking for jobs.
H.R. 3596
Hon. Christopher H. Smith [NJ-4]
Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2015
H.R. 3612
Hon. Henry Cueller [TX-28]
Making emergency appropriations for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2016, to address needs of the Federal
judiciary serving the border region between the United
States and Mexico, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3660
Hon. Michael C. Burgess [TX-26]
To amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 respecting the
scoring of preventative health savings.
H.R. 3708
Hon. Chris Van Hollen [MD-8]
Prevent a December Government Shutdown Act
H.R. 3748
Hon. Jared Huffman [CA-2]
Carbon Pollution Transparency Act of 2015
H.R. 3762
Hon. Tom Price [GA-6]
Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of
2015
H.R. 3775
Hon. Scott H. Peters [CA-52]
Pay Down the Debt Act of 2015
H.R. 3777
Hon. E. Scott Rigell [VA-2]
America First Act
H.R. 3803
Hon. Diane Black [TN-6]
Legally Binding Budget Act of 2015
H.R. 3804
Hon. Dave Brat [VA-7]
Cost Estimates Reform Act of 2015
H.R. 3984
Hon. Joseph R. Pitts [PA-16]
Fairness for Crime Victims Act of 2015
H.R. 4127
Hon. Devin Nunes [CA-22]
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016
H.R. 4371
Hon. Ken Buck [CO-4]
Article I Consolidated Appropriations Amendments, 2016
H.R. 4438
Hon. Candice S. Miller [MI-10]
Drinking Water Contamination Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Act, 2016
H.R. 4447
Hon. Joe Courtney [CT-2]
Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Act
H.R. 4479
Hon. Daniel T. Kildee [MI-5]
Families of Flint Act
H.R. 4512
Hon. Adam Smith [WA-9]
Relief from Sequestration Act of 2016
H.R. 4525
Hon. Rosa L. DeLauro [CT-3]
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Act
H.R. 4667
Hon. Curt Clawson [FL-19]
To direct the Secretary of the Army to expedite the completion
of repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike, Florida, and for
other purposes.
H.R. 4730
Hon. Cathy McMorris Rodgers [WA-5]
Unauthorized Spending Accountability Act
H.R. 4793
Hon. Curt Clawson [FL-19]
Everglades Land Acquisition Act of 2016
H.R. 4888
Hon. Maxine Waters [CA-43]
Ending Homelessness Act of 2016
H.R. 4893
Hon. Mark Sanford [SC-1]
Risk Management and Homeowner Stability Act of 2016
H.R. 4955
Hon. James B. Renacci [OH-16]
Pension and Budget Integrity Act of 2016
H.R. 5003
Hon. Todd Rokita [IN-4]
Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016
H.R. 5025
Hon. Al Green [TX-9]
2016 Tax Days Floods Supplemental Funding Act H.R. 5044 Hon.
Nita M. Lowey [NY-17] Making supplemental
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to respond to Zika
virus.
H.R. 5216
Hon. Ben Ray Lujan [NM-3]
Opioid and Heroin Abuse Crisis Investment Act of 2016
H.R. 5243
Hon. Harold Rogers [KY-5]
Zika Response Appropriations Act, 2016
H.R. 5319
Hon. Mark Walker [NC-6]
Article I Regulatory Budget Act
H.R. 5360
Hon. Jim Jordan [OH-4]
Welfare Reform and Upward Mobility Act
H.R. 5475
Hon. Robin L. Kelly [IL-2]
Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2016
H.R. 5499
Hon. Gary J. Palmer [AL-6]
Agency Accountability Act of 2016
H.R. 5527
Hon. Roger Williams [TX-25]
CFPB Rule Accountability Act of 2016
H.R. 5637
Hon. Mark Sanford [SC-1]
One Percent Spending Reduction Act of 2016
H.R. 5707
Hon. Stephen F. Lynch [MA-8]
Postal Service Financial Improvement Act of 2016
H.R. 5747
Hon. Reid J. Ribble [WI-8]
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to improve
solvency and stability for future generations.
H.R. 5806
Hon. Reid J. Ribble [WI-8]
Do Your Job Act
H.R. 5851
Hon. Zoe Lofgren [CA-19]
Refugee Protection Act of 2016
H.R. 5895
Hon. Louise McIntosh Slaughter [NY-25]
Invasive Fish and Wildlife Prevention Act of 2016
H.R. 5953
Hon. Maxine Waters [CA-43]
National Flood Insurance Program Debt Forgiveness Act of 2016
H.R. 5958
Hon. Curt Clawson [FL-19]
Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for
Zika response and preparedness.
H.R. 5983
Hon. Jeb Hensarling [TX-5]
Financial CHOICE Act of 2016
H.R. 5985
Hon. Jeff Miller [FL-1]
Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2016
H.R. 6040
Hon. Todd Rokita [IN-4]
Zero Impacted Kids in America [ZIKA] Act
H.R. 6062
Hon. Mark Takano [CA-41]
Supporting, Employing, and Recognizing Veterans in Communities
Everywhere Act
H.R. 6071
Hon. Bill Flores [TX-17]
Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2017, and for
other purposes.
H.R. 6144
Hon. Tom Graves [GA-14]
Accurate Accounting Act of 2016
H.R. 6161
Hon. Jackie Speier [CA-14]
Federal Funding Accountability for Sexual Harassers Act
H.R. 6248
Hon. Virginia Foxx [NC-5]
Spending Safeguard Act
H.R. 6413
Hon. Frank Pallone, Jr. [NJ-6]
Big Oil Bailout Prevention Trust Fund Act 2016
H.R. 6416
Hon. David P. Roe [TN-1]
Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and
Benefits Improvement Act of 2016
H.R. 6443
Hon. Michelle Lujan Grisham [NM-1]
Heroin and Opioid Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 2016
H.J. RES. 61
Hon. Rodney Davis [IL-13]
Hire More Heroes Act of 2015
H.J. RES. 99
Hon. Steve King [IA-4]
Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2017, and for
other purposes.
H. CON. RES. 27
Hon. Tom Price [GA-6]
Establishing the budget for the United States Government for
fiscal year 2016 and setting forth appropriate
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2017 through 2025.
H. CON. RES. 71
Hon. E. Scott Rigell
Providing a plan to alleviate the effects of sequestration.
H. CON. RES. 125
Hon. Tom Price [GA-6]
Establishing the congressional budget for the United States
Government for fiscal year 2017 and setting forth the
appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2018
through 2026.
RES. 207
Hon. Tom Reed [NY-23]
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding
establishing a National Strategic Agenda.
S. 1203
Hon. Dean Heller [NV]
21st Century Veterans Benefits Delivery and Other Improvements
Act
S. 1352
Hon. Robert P. Casey, Jr. [PA]
Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act
S. 1463
Hon. Jerry Moran [KS]
Access to Community Care for Veterans Act of 2015
Committee Reports
HOUSE REPORT 114-47
House Concurrent Resolution 27
March 25, 2015
Concurrent Resolution on the Budget--Fiscal Year 2016
HOUSE REPORT 114-293
H.R. 3762 October 16, 2015
Restoring American's Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of
2015
HOUSE REPORT 114-470
House Concurrent Resolution 125
March 23, 2016
Concurrent Resolution on the Budget--Fiscal Year 2017
Hearings
House Budget Committee Organizational Meeting [1/22/2015]
The Congressional Budget Office's Budget and Economic Outlook [1/27/
2015]
Witness: Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director, Congressional Budget
Office
The President's Fiscal Year 2016 Budget [2/04/2015]
Witness: The Honorable Shaun L. S. Donovan, Director, Office of
Management and Budget
Members' Day [2/25/2015]
Witnesses: Members of the 114th Congress
The Mark Up of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget FY 2016 [3/18/
2015]
The Congressional Budget Office: Oversight Hearing [6/03/2015]
Witness: Dr. Keith Hall, Director, Congressional Budget Office
Why Congress Must Balance the Budget [6/17/2015]
Witnesses: State Senator Ryan Silvey, Missouri; Mr. Chris
Edwards, the Cato Institute; Dr. John Taylor, Stanford
University; Dr. Bernstein, The Center for Budget Policy
Priorities
First Principles of Congressional Budgeting [7/28/2015]
Witnesses: Dr. Philip Joyce, Professor of Public Policy and
Senior Associate Dean, University of Maryland, School
of Public Policy; Ms. Carmel Martin, Executive Vice
President for Policy, Center for American Progress; Mr.
Paul Posner, Director, Graduate Public Administration
Program, George Mason University
Restoring the Trust for Young Americans [9/09/2015]
Witnesses: State Delegate Ms. Saira Blair, West Virginia; Mr.
Jared Meyer, Fellow, Manhattan Institute for Policy
Research; Ms. Rebecca Vallas, Director of Policy,
Poverty to Prosperity Program, Center for American
Progress; Mr. Evan Baehr, Co-Founder, Able Lending
The Markup of Reconciliation Submissions [10/09/2015]
Restoring the Trust for America's Most Vulnerable [10/28/2015]
Witnesses: Mr. Larry Woods, CEO, Winston-Salem Housing
Authority; Mr. Bill McGahan, Chairman, Georgia Works!;
Ms. Olivia Golden, Executive Director, the Center for
Law and Social Policy; Mr. Robert Doar, Mortgage Fellow
in Poverty Studies, the American Enterprise Institute
Does Biennial Budgeting Fit in a Rewrite of the Budget Process? [11/18/
2015]
Witnesses: The Honorable Reid J. Ribble, Member, U.S. House of
Representatives; The Honorable David E. Price, Member,
U.S. House of Representatives; Dr. Philip G. Joyce,
Senior Associate Dean and Professor, University of
Maryland School of Public Policy; Dr. Rudolph G.
Penner, Institute Fellow, Urban Institute; Dr. Alice M.
Rivlin, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Members' Day [2/3/2016]
Witnesses: Members of the 114th Congress
The Congressional Budget Office's Budget and Economic Outlook [1/27/
2015]
Witness: Keith Hall, Director, Congressional Budget Office
The Markup of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year
2017
Reclaiming Congressional Authority Through the Power of the Purse [5/
25/2016]
Witnesses: Philip G. Joyce, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean and
Professor, University of Maryland School of Public
Policy, Matthew C. Spalding, Ph.D. Associate Vice
President and Dean of Educational Programs, Hillsdale
College Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional
Studies and Citizenship, Stan Collender Executive Vice
President, Qorvis MSLGROUP
The Need to Control Automatic Spending and Unauthorized Programs [6/9/
2016]
Witnesses: The Honorable David M. Walker, Former Comptroller
General of the United States, Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D.,
Senior Fellow in Economic Studies, The Brookings
Institution, Lily Batchelder, Professor of Law and
Public Policy, NYU School of Law
The Need for Fiscal Goals [6/15/2016]
Witnesses: Douglas J. Holtz-Eakin, President, American Action
Forum, Maya C. MacGuineas, President, Committee for a
Responsible Federal Budget, Harry Stein, Director of
Fiscal Policy, Center for American Progress
Members' Day: Budget Process Reform [6/16/2016]
Witnesses: Members of the 114th Congress
Making Budget Enforcement More Effective [6/22/2016]
Witnesses: G. William Hoagland, Senior Vice President,
Bipartisan Policy Center, Barry Anderson, Independent
Consultant
Alternate Approaches to Federal Budgeting [7/6/2016]
Witnesses: The Honorable Maurice P. McTigue, QSO, Vice
President, Outreach, Mercatus Center at George Mason
University, John Hicks, Executive Director, National
Association of State Budget Officers, Dr. F. Stevens
Redburn, Professorial Lecturer, Trachtenberg School of
Public Policy and Public Administration, George
Washington University, Scott Lilly, Senior Fellow,
Center for American Progress
An Introduction to Regulatory Budgeting [7/7/2016]
Witnesses: Dr. Patrick A. McLaughlin, Senior Research Fellow,
Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Clyde Wayne
Crews, Vice President for Policy, Competitive
Enterprise Institute, Richard J. Pierce, Jr., Lyle T.
Alverson Professor of Law, George Washington University
Restoring the Trust for Americans at or Near Retirement [7/13/2016]
Witnesses: Jason J. Fichtner, Ph.D., Senior Research Fellow,
Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Daniel C.
Weber, Founder, Association of Mature American
Citizens, Scott Gottlieb, M.D., Resident Fellow,
American Enterprise Institute, Monique Morrissey,
Ph.D., Economist, Economic Policy Institute
CMMI: Scoring Assumptions and Real-World Implications [9/7/2016]
Witnesses: Mark Hadley, Deputy Director, Congressional Budget
Office, Joseph Antos, Ph.D., Wilson H. Taylor Scholar,
American Enterprise Institute, Ted Okon, Executive
Director, Community Oncology Alliance, Mark P. Madden,
M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon, OrthoVirginia, Topher Spiro,
Vice President, Health Policy, Center for American
Progress
Growing Risks to the Budget and the Economy [9/14/2016]
Witnesses: Douglas J. Holtz-Eakin, Ph.D, President, American
Action Forum, John H. Cochrane, Ph.D., Senior Fellow,
Hoover Institution, Jared Bernstein, Ph.D Senior
Fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities,
Restoring the Trust for Families and Working-Age Americans [9/21/2016]
Witnesses: Edward J. Pinto, J.D., Resident Fellow / Codirector,
International Center on Housing Risk, American
Enterprise Institute, G. Keith Smith, M.D., Managing
Partner / Co-Founder, Surgery Center of Oklahoma,
Thomas Lindsay, Ph.D., Director of the Center for
Higher Education, Texas Public Policy Foundation,
William Spriggs, Ph.D., Chief Economist, AFL-CIO.
Committee Initiatives
During the 114th Congress, the Committee on the Budget
began two initiatives to examine current fiscal challenges and
how best to sustainably get the Nation's fiscal house in order.
These initiatives included Budget Process Reform and
``Restoring the Trust for All Generations''.
Budget Process Reform
The Committee on the Budget has called for an overhaul of
the congressional budget process in an effort to control
spending and return to Constitutional principles. Since the
adoption of the Congressional Budget Act in 1974, the budget
process has been amended several times, adding complexity and
confusion to an already complicated exercise. The process has
become so cumbersome, frustrating, and ineffective that
Congress now frequently abandons it in favor of manufactured,
ad hoc procedures. This deterioration only weakens Congress's
power of the purse, and thus its capacity to govern. In
addition, fiscal conditions have changed dramatically over the
past forty-two years, including the inexorable growth of
automatic spending as a share of the total budget and the
recent explosion of government debt that threatens to overwhelm
the budget and the economy.
Incremental, piecemeal fixes will not correct these deep
and fundamental failings in the budget process. What is needed
is a thorough rewrite of congressional budget practices.
Following an extensive series of hearings and working papers,
the Committee on the Budget has developed a discussion draft
describing a proposed overhaul of the process. Selected
provisions of the discussion draft are highlighted below.
Please consult the discussion draft, available at
www.budget.house.gov/BudgetProcessReform, for a more thorough
description and rationale of the proposal.
Control Constitutional Authority
ASSERTING ARTICLE I CONGRESSIONAL POWERS
Move to a Calendar-Year Cycle. Changes the fiscal
year to start on January 1 (rather than the current October 1);
adjusts the budget timetable to the calendar year so the budget
process corresponds with Congress's legislative schedule; and
allows more time to complete appropriations bills and other
legislative business. (See further discussion below.)
Changes in Budget Timetable. Substantially
changes the budget timetable to correspond with the change in
the fiscal year. Unlike current procedures, in which the
President's budget submission drives the process, this
timetable would require the administration's submission to
occur after the House and Senate Budget Committees report the
concurrent resolutions on the budget.
Unauthorized Programs. Establishes a procedure to
reduce discretionary spending by the amount of excess
appropriations for unauthorized programs. This sets the
expectation that unauthorized programs, or those with expired
authorizations, will not continue to receive funding.
Views and Estimates. Makes mandatory the
requirement that authorizing committees submit Views and
Estimates to their respective Budget Committees and requires
authorizing committees to include a list of programs needing
reauthorization, and a zero-based justification for each
program they propose to reauthorize.
Uniform Budget Rules and Procedures. Creates a
point of order against the consideration of a budget resolution
that establishes different budgetary rules for the House and
Senate.
House Budget Committee Tenure. Eliminates term
limits for Budget Committee members, allowing them to build and
maintain expertise on setting and enforcing national budget
priorities.
BIENNIAL BUDGETING
Budget Resolution and Appropriations. Requires
annual budget resolutions that provide two-year spending
allocations for six appropriations acts considered in the first
year of the biennium; two-year spending allocations for the
other six appropriations acts considered in the second year of
the biennium; and all other appropriate levels for at least the
next two bienniums. The Government Accountability Office would
submit a report four years after enactment evaluating the
effectiveness of a biennial budget process and recommend to
Congress whether to make the shift to biennial budgeting
permanent.
Prohibition of Long-Term Continuing Resolutions.
Creates a point of order against the consideration of any
legislation that continues appropriations for a period longer
than twelve months.
Strengthen Budget Enforcement
ADHERING TO BUDGET RULES
Restriction on Moving Spending and Tax Measures
Before a Budget Resolution. Eliminates loopholes that allow the
consideration of spending or tax legislation in the absence of
a budget resolution.
Identifying Budget Waivers. Requires that, in the
House, any rule providing for the consideration of a bill or
joint resolution must separately identify any waiver of a
budget rule.
Striking Budget Waivers. Provides Members the
ability to strike budget waivers in the rule providing for
consideration of legislation. Prohibition on the Use of Budget
Gimmicks. Prevents congressional committees from using
gimmicks, such as one-time savings from asset sales or timing
shifts, to offset increases in spending.
EMERGENCY SPENDING
Striking Emergency Designations. Permits any House
or Senate Member to offer an amendment that strikes an
emergency designation in any measure.
Emergency Spending and the Baseline. Prohibits
inflation adjustments for emergency spending in calculating the
baselines produced by the Congressional Budget Office [CBO] and
the Office of Management and Budget [OMB].
Two-Year Limit on Emergency Funding. Prohibits the
consideration of any general appropriations bill or continuing
resolution providing emergency spending for longer than two
fiscal years.
Justification of Emergency Designations. Requires
the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the
President to provide justifications for any emergency
designation.
Standardized Treatment of Emergency Spending.
Establishes a scoring rule for the treatment of the budgetary
effects of emergency-designated provisions in legislation.
Government Accountability Office Report. Requires
the Comptroller General to submit a report reviewing recent use
of the emergency designation.
Reverse the Bias Toward Higher Spending
Reversing the Baseline Bias. Recasts the CBO and
OMB baselines to:
--Eliminate built-in discretionary inflation;
--Remove automatic extensions of expiring programs;
and
--Remove the assumption that certain payments
continue at current levels even if trust funds are
insolvent.
Treatment of Trust Funds. Establishes a scoring
rule that prohibits any reduction in trust fund spending, or an
increase in revenues or fees, from being counted toward
offsetting unrelated, non-trust fund programs.
Cost Estimates Prior to Markup. Requires CBO, when
formally requested by the Chair of the authorizing committee or
the Chair of the Budget Committee, to prepare a preliminary
cost estimate for any bill scheduled for consideration by the
applicable authorizing committee.
Debt Service Costs. Requires the CBO Director to
include, in the cost estimate for any legislation, an estimate
of any change in debt service costs resulting from the measure.
Repeal of Statutory Pay-As-You-Go. Repeals the
Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 and replaces it with
enforceable limits on direct spending.
Control Automatic Spending
Binding Spending and Debt Limits. Establishes a
process for budget limits that have the force of law and are
enforceable through automatic spending reductions.
Transitioning Direct Spending Programs to
Discretionary Appropriations. Establishes a commission to
recommend converting direct spending programs to discretionary
appropriations and creates an expedited procedure for
considering such recommendations.
Rule Against New Direct Spending Programs.
Creates a point of order against the consideration of any new
direct spending program not included in the budget resolution.
Referral of Direct Spending Measures to House
Budget Committee. Provides a limited referral to the Committee
on the Budget for bills that increase direct spending.
Increase Transparency
REGULATORY BUDGET
President's Budget Submission. Requires the
President's budget submission to include an analysis of the
costs of complying with all current and proposed Federal
regulations.
Regulatory Pay-As-You-Go. Prohibits any agency
from adding new regulatory costs without eliminating existing
regulatory costs by the same amount.
Regulatory Baseline. Requires CBO and OMB to
create a regulatory baseline that estimates total Federal
regulatory costs.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY
Annual Joint Session of Congress on the Fiscal
State of the Union. Requires the Comptroller General to present
annually, to a Joint Session of Congress, the audited financial
statements of the United States Government.
Citizens' Guide to the Budget. Requires both the
congressional budget resolution and the President's budget
submission to include a citizens' guide, not more than five
pages, summarizing the sources of Federal funds, how spending
is distributed, a comparison of proposed spending levels with
those of the current fiscal year, and other major budgetary
matters.
Ensure Fiscal Sustainability
LONG-TERM DEBT LIMITS
Setting Long-Term Debt Limits, and Enhanced
Reconciliation. Establishes long-term targets for debt as a
percentage of gross domestic product [GDP] that are enforced
through enhanced reconciliation or automatic enforcement
procedures.
--The targets will be set to assume a decline from today's
historically high levels to ensure the Federal Government will
remain on a fiscally sustainable path.
--The proposal also creates an enhanced reconciliation
procedure that is automatically triggered if any debt target is
exceeded. If a reconciliation bill is not enacted that cures a
breach of the debt limit, an automatic enforcement procedure is
triggered to ensure adherence to the target.
Reforms to the Debt Limit. The enforcement of the
debt limit will be changed to track debt as a percentage of
GDP--that is, the long-term debt targets mentioned above--
rather than a fixed dollar level or suspension period of the
debt limit as is done under current practice. A vote to
increase the debt limit will not be required as long as the
debt-to-GDP ratio remains below the targets established in law.
If debt exceeds those targets, then the Secretary of the
Treasury is prohibited from new borrowing until a new debt
limit is enacted.
ACCRUAL BUDGETING
Federal Insurance and Retirement Programs.
Subjects Federal insurance and retirement programs, excluding
Social Security, to accrual budgeting, requiring Congress to
budget up front for the full costs of such programs.
Fair Value Accounting. Implements fair value
accounting principles to more accurately measure the costs of
Federal credit programs by incorporating the cost of systemic
market risk.
OTHER REFORMS
Publication of Budget Justifications. Requires any
agency preparing and submitting written budget justification
materials to any committee to also post the justification, as
well as information regarding the process and methodology it
used to compose it, on that agency's public website. Similarly,
this legislation requires OMB to post budget justifications in
a centralized location on its website.
Rule Against Long-Term Spending. Requires the CBO
Director to prepare an estimate of whether a proposed measure
would cause a net increase in direct spending greater than $2.5
billion in any year in the next four decades beyond the budget
window.
Additional Reforms
Macroeconomic Effects of Legislation. Requires
that any estimate for major legislation provided by CBO or the
Joint Committee on Taxation also incorporate any budgetary
effects it may have on changes in economic output, employment,
and other macroeconomic variables.
National Commission on Budget Concepts.
Establishes a National Commission on Budget Concepts to review
the concepts and definitions underlying the Federal budget and
make recommendations to Congress and the President on potential
revisions. Among its duties, the Commission would be charged
with reporting on how Federal portfolio and capital budgets
could be implemented and their implications with respect to
balancing the budget.
Restoring the Trust
The Budget Committee's ``Restoring the Trust for All
Generations'' initiative is an effort to strengthen health,
retirement, and economic security programs for all Americans.
The goals of this initiative are to (1) elevate the
conversation and imperative for positive solutions; (2)
humanize the challenge through education and awareness; (3)
develop guiding principles and drive consensus toward positive
solutions; and (4) build a coalition of support across the
country. The Committee has identified the following principles
to guide the process for advancing positive solutions for
health, retirement, and economic security: (1) expand choices;
(2) encourage self-sufficiency; (3) restore market choices; (4)
foster competition; (5) provide flexibility; (6) promote
innovation; and (7) engage the spirit of Federalism.
Through this initiative, the Committee has specifically
raised awareness about the fiscal and policy challenges
inherent in Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, as well as
other mandatory spending programs like income support and
educational assistance. These programs now make up the vast
majority of the Federal budget and their unsustainable growth
undermines their ability to serve current and future Americans.
The Committee held hearings aimed at restoring the trust for
working-age Americans, Americans at or near retirement, younger
Americans, and low-income and vulnerable Americans, as well as
issued a number of related publications. The Committee also
held a town hall meeting during the summer of 2015 with the
Chairman to engage younger Americans in this initiative. In
addition to drawing attention to these issues, reforming the
budget process to assist those Americans most in need will
offer practical and long-term solutions.
Budget Digests
Mandatory Spending Grows Over Time [7/22/2015]
Medicare and Medicaid Turn 50 [7/27/2015]
Restoring the Trust for Younger Americans [9/7/2015]
Discretionary Spending and the CR [9/14/2015]
Explaining the Effect of Sequester on Discretionary Spending
[9/28/2015]
Reconciliation [10/5/2015]
Reconciliation--Part 2 [10/20/2015]
The Debt Limit [10/26/2015]
Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Results [11/2/2015]
Highway Program Reauthorization: Budget Matters [11/16/2015]
Fiscal Year 2016 Appropriations and the ``Omnibus'' [11/30/
2015]
Reconciliation--Part 3 [12/7/2015]
Tax Extenders [12/14/2015]
Economic Growth [1/4/2016]
Saving and Strengthening Medicare: Premium Support [1/11/2016]
CBO's Budget and Economic Forecast for 2016-2026 [2/1/2016]
What is a Budget Resolution? [2/8/2016]
The President's Fiscal Year 2017 Budget [2/22/2016]
Unauthorized Appropriations [2/29/2016]
The Fiscal Year 2017 House Budget [3/14/2016]
Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication in Government Programs
[3/21/2016]
Fiscal Year 2017 House Budget Resolution: Work Requirements [4/
11/2016]
Budget Enforcement [4/18/2016]
Fiscal Year 2016 Mid-Year Budget Review [4/25/2016]
Fiscal Year 2017 House Budget Resolution: Medicaid State
Flexibility [5/9/2016]
Time to Reform the Budget Act [5/16/2016]
Reclaiming the Power of the Purse [5/23/2016]
Controlling Automatic Spending and Unauthorized Programs [6/6/
2016]
Fiscal Norms and Targets [6/13/2016]
Effective Budget Enforcement [6/20/2016]
Regulatory Budgeting [7/5/2016]
Restoring the Trust for Americans At or Near Retirement [7/11/
2016]
CBO and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation [9/7/
2016]
Growing Risks to the Budget and the Economy [9/13/2016]
Restoring the Trust for Families and Working-Age Americans [9/
21/2016]
The Senate's Continuing Resolution [9/27/2016]
Americans Pay More for Less as Obamacare Premiums Dramatically
Increase [10/27/2016]
Reconciliation: The Ticket to a Better Way [11/24/2016]
Fiscal Year 2016 Year-End Budget Results [11/28/2016]
A Plan to Fix the Broken Budget Process [12/7/2016]
Committee Publications
A Balanced Budget for a Stronger America [3/2015]
Restoring the Trust for All Generations [7/14/2015]
Principles for Policy Solutions [10/26/2015]
Source of the Government's Fiscal Problem: Reckless Automatic
Spending [10/27/2015]
Restoring the Trust for Younger Americans [10/27/2015]
A Balanced Budget for a Stronger America: Fiscal Year 2017
Budget Resolution [3/2016]
Restoring the Trust for America's Most Vulnerable [7/6/2016]
Reclaiming Constitutional Authority Through the ``Power of the
Purse'' [8/2/2016]
The Need to Control Automatic Spending and Unauthorized
Programs [8/9/2016]
The Need for Fiscal Goals [8/16/2016]
Making Budget Enforcement More Effective [8/23/2016]
Alternative Approaches to the Federal Budget [8/30/2016]
Regulatory Budgeting [9/8/2016]
House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus 114th Congress
SUMMARY REPORT
The Congress fell short in its budgetary responsibilities
during the 114th Congress. For fiscal year 2016, it adopted a
budget that did not reflect the values and priorities of the
American people. As directed by that budget resolution, it
passed a reconciliation bill that would have taken away health
insurance from millions of Americans if it had not been vetoed
by President Obama. For fiscal year 2017, it failed to adopt a
budget at all. However, the budget reported by the House Budget
Committee, like the one approved for fiscal year 2016, is a
deeply divisive plan that protects the wealthy and powerful
interests at the top of the economic ladder at the expense of
working families, students, seniors, and everyone else.
Democrats want to pursue budgetary policies that help our
economy grow while making sure that everyone reaps the
benefits. These are the goals behind the amendments Democrats
proposed to the fiscal year 2016 Republican budget resolution
in the Budget Committee markup on March 18-19, 2015, the fiscal
year 2017 budget resolution in the markup on March 16, 2016,
and behind the fiscal year 2016 alternative budget resolution
that Democrats offered on the House floor on March 25, 2015.
(Because the Republicans failed to bring a fiscal year 2017
budget to the House floor, Democrats were deprived of the
opportunity to offer an alternative for House consideration.)
During the first Session of this Congress, Democrats on the
Budget Committee sought to highlight the damage that would be
caused by adherence to the overly austere discretionary caps
that resulted when the so-called ``Super Committee'' failed to
reach agreement on deficit reduction. These caps would have
damaged our national and economic security. We offered an
amendment to the budget resolution and legislation to address
the caps directly. In October, 2015, the Bipartisan Budget Act
of 2015 (BBA), which partially restored these reductions, was
enacted as the result of bipartisan compromise. Offsets were
included in the bill to fully pay for the restoration.
Appropriations for 2016 were enacted at the BBA level. However,
some Republicans rejected this fully-paid for compromise,
hindering action on the 2017 Budget resolution and
appropriations bills.
In addition to legislative action, during the 114th
Congress the Committee held a series of hearings described as
the ``Restoring the Trust'' initiative on revamping safety net
programs, such as SNAP, Social Security, and Medicare. The
hearings focused on how different segments of the American
public, the young, families, workers, seniors, and the most
vulnerable in our society, are affected by government programs
and policies. Democrats focused on how federal programs lift
millions of people out of poverty, allow access to higher
education and health care, and provide retirement security--and
that destroying programs directly or through policies that will
weaken them over time would be disastrous for our country. The
Committee also held a series of hearings on budget process
reform, with topics ranging from Congress' power of the purse
to biennial and regulatory budgeting. Democrats focused on the
fact that process reform is unlikely to resolve deep political
polarization that has kept us from making progress on long-term
fiscal issues. Missing from the committee's hearing roster,
despite longstanding, bipartisan tradition, was any review of
the President's fiscal year 2017 Budget. Committee Democrats
requested that the Chairman reconsider his decision to hold no
hearings on the Budget, which was disrespectful to Committee
Members, the public, and the President.
The Democratic Caucus of the Budget Committee published a
variety of materials including those that highlight our
objections to Republican budget legislation, explain the budget
process, and discuss lessons from the budget process hearings,
as well as materials that explain the Democratic approach and
proposals.
Legislation Offered by the Democratic Caucus
FISCAL YEAR 2016 BUDGET RESOLUTION
On March 18, 2015, during the House Budget Committee markup
of the Republican budget resolution for fiscal year 2016,
Democrats offered 27 different amendments to improve the budget
by helping American families by increasing paychecks and
protecting the middle class from tax increases, putting
Americans back to work in the short-term, growing the economy
through wise investments and adopting a viable path for
immigration reform, protecting government guarantees to our
seniors, keeping our commitment to veterans, preserving the
safety net for those who need it, and ensuring truth and
transparency in budgeting. None of the amendments would have
increased the deficit. The amendments offset any proposed
spending or tax breaks for working families by cutting
unproductive tax breaks--including subsidies for big oil
companies, egregious tax breaks such as special deductions for
corporate jets, and additional tax breaks for the wealthiest in
society--and closing tax loopholes that encourage businesses to
ship jobs overseas. Republicans rejected every Democratic
amendment.
On March 25, 2015, on the House floor, Budget Committee
Democrats offered a substitute to the Republican 2016 budget
resolution. The Democratic budget reflected policies that will
boost the economy to create more broadly shared prosperity. It
provided for tax policies that help the middle class and those
working their way into the middle class by raising the take-
home pay of hard-working Americans. It rejected the austerity
level sequester caps to make needed investments that create
jobs for those still seeking work, that educate our children
and prepare them for success, that sharpen the nation's
competitive edge and that supports a strong military that is
second to none. The budget protected commitments to Social
Security and health care and made targeted improvements in the
safety net. The Democratic budget is fiscally responsible,
providing for significant reduction in the deficit.
On April 14, 2015, Rep. Van Hollen offered a Motion to
Instruct Conferees on the House floor. It would have
established a deficit-neutral reserve fund for paid sick leave
and rejected the Republican budget's plan to turn Medicare into
a voucher program. The Republican controlled House rejected
this Motion to Instruct Conferees.
H.R. 3476, the ``Prevent a Government Shutdown Act of 2015''
On September 10, 2015, Rep. Van Hollen introduced the
``Prevent a Government Shutdown Act of 2015'' which called for
the immediate establishment of a bipartisan, bicameral
negotiation committee to avoid a government shutdown by lifting
caps without stifling important investments for the future. If
the committee could not come to an agreement, the caps would be
automatically raised to the President's 2016 budget request
eliminating the non-defense discretionary sequester and
providing equal sequester relief for defense spending.
H.R. 3708, the ``Prevent a December Government Shutdown Act''
On October 8, 2015, Budget Committee Democrats introduced
the ``Prevent a December Government Shutdown Act.'' Similar to
H.R. 3476, this legislation called for bipartisan, bicameral
negotiations to raise the Budget Control Act's discretionary
spending caps and establish appropriate offsets. If the
negotiations did not lead to a deal, the caps for 2016 would be
automatically raised to the level in the President's budget,
eliminating the sequester for non-defense discretionary
programs and providing the same amount of sequester relief for
defense programs.
RECONCILIATION PURSUANT TO THE FY16 BUDGET RESOLUTION
On October 9, 2015, Chairman Price held a Budget Committee
markup to combine language reported from three committees in
response to instructions in the fiscal year 2016 budget
resolution. The combined bill dismantled the Affordable Care
Act, taking health insurance away from millions of Americans,
and attacked women's health programs, including Planned
Parenthood. During the markup, Rep. Van Hollen offered a motion
to strike the text in the reconciliation package and replace it
with the text of H.R. 3708, the ``Prevent a December Government
Shutdown Act.'' Republicans rejected the motion. The version of
the reconciliation package that cleared the Congress retained
the same purpose as the language reported by House Committees.
It was vetoed by President Obama.
FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUDGET RESOLUTION
On March 16, 2016, the House Budget Committee approved the
fiscal year 2017 Republican budget resolution. Committee
Democrats offered 28 amendments to the budget to lift millions
of Americans out of poverty by creating good jobs in the short
term and increasing paychecks by protecting American workers
from middle class tax increases. Democratic amendments would
have funded priorities for all Americans, not just the wealthy,
growing the economy with wise investments in education,
science, and infrastructure and immigration reform, while also
protecting government guarantees to our seniors, keeping
commitments to our veterans, preserving the safety net for
those who need it, and protecting public health and health care
access. None of the amendments increased the deficit. The
amendments offset any proposed spending or tax breaks for
working families by cutting unproductive special interest tax
breaks for the wealthiest and the well-connected--including
closing tax loopholes that allow inversions and encourage firms
to ship jobs overseas, and egregious tax breaks such as special
tax deductions for corporate jets and subsidies for big oil
companies. Republicans rejected every amendment the Democrats
offered.
Publications of the Democratic Caucus
The following publications were prepared by the staff of
the Democratic Caucus of the Committee on the Budget. The
publications were not approved by the full membership of the
Committee.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Title
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Jan. 15, 2015 Frequently Asked Questions about Sequestration:
Updated to Reflect Changes under the Bipartisan
Budget Act of 2013
Feb. 2, 2015 Fact Sheet: Highlights of the President's 2016
Budget
Feb. 3, 2015 Report: The President's 2016 Budget
Mar. 23, 2015 The 2016 House Democratic Budget: Economic
Opportunity for Americans Working Hard to Get Ahead
Mar. 23, 2015 Democratic Budget vs. GOP Budget
Mar. 24, 2015 Top Reasons to Support the Democratic Budget
Mar. 25, 2015 Top Reasons to Oppose the House Republican ``Work
Harder, Get Less'' Budget
Mar. 27, 2015 The GOP Budget: Americans Are Working Harder Than
Ever But Will Get Even Less
Mar. 27, 2015 Democratic Amendments to FY2016 Republican Budget
Apr. 30, 2015 Republican Budget Conference Plan: Work Harder, Get
Less
May 14, 2015 Fact Sheet: Republicans Change Budget Rules to Fit
Their Policies of the Moment
May 14, 2015 The Republican Budget Risks Americans' Health
May 14, 2015 Fact Sheet: Republican Budget Cuts Education
May 14, 2015 Fact Sheet: The Republican Budget Hurts Seniors
May 14, 2015 Fact Sheet: The Republican Budget Never Balances
July 21, 2015 Republican Insistence on Sequester-Level Spending
for Non-Defense Needs is Causing Harm
July 29, 2015 Debt and Deficit: Where We are Now
July 29, 2015 Budget Reconciliation: How it will Work under the
2016 Budget Conference Agreement
Aug. 27, 2015 CBO Findings Underscore Need for New Fiscal Approach
Sep. 10, 2015 Fact Sheet: Prevent A Government Shutdown Act of
2015
Oct. 6, 2015 2015 Reconciliation Legislation: An Irresponsible,
Futile Attack on Women's Health Care and the
Affordable Care Act
Oct. 8, 2015 Fact Sheet: Prevent A December Government Shutdown
Act, H.R. 3708
Nov. 24, 2015 Report: Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015
Dec. 8, 2015 Senate's Affordable Care Act Repeal: Another Waste
of Time
Feb. 1, 2016 Budget Reconciliation Adds Millions to Ranks of the
Uninsured and Undermines Women's Health Care
Feb. 10, 2016 Report: Highlights of the President's Fiscal Year
2017 Budget
Mar. 16, 2016 Divisive GOP Tea Party Budget Massively Disinvests
in America, Rewards the Wealthy, and Punishes
Everyone Else
Mar. 20, 2016 Democratic Amendments to the FY17 Republican Budget
Mar. 21, 2016 Report: Divisive GOP Tea Party Budget Massively
Disinvests in America, Rewards the Wealthy, and
Punishes Everyone Else
Apr. 13, 2016 Republicans, Poverty, and the Budget: Rhetoric vs.
Reality
July 6, 2016 GOP's ``Wrong Way'' Agenda--By the Numbers
July 12, 2016 Lessons Learned from Budget Process Hearings: Budget
Process Reform Will Not Solve Budget Problems
July 12, 2016 Setting the Record Straight: Lessons Learned from
Budget Process
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