S 1056 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish a commission to develop legislation designed to reform tax policy and entitlement benefit programs and ensure a sound fiscal future for the United States, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 14, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. VOINOVICH (for himself, Mr. LIEBERMAN, and Mr. ISAKSON) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the BudgetCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish a commission to develop legislation designed to reform tax policy and entitlement benefit programs and ensure a sound fiscal future for the United States, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Securing America’s Future Economy Commission Act’ or the ‘SAFE Commission Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

There is established a commission to be known as the ‘Securing America’s Future Economy Commission’ (referred to in this Act as the ‘Commission’).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

(a) Mandatory Legislation Development- The Commission shall examine the long-term fiscal challenges facing the United States and develop legislation designed to address the following issues:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The unsustainable imbalance between long-term Federal spending commitments and projected revenues.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Increasing net national savings to provide for domestic investment and economic growth.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The implications of foreign ownership of debt instruments issued by the United States Government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Improving the budget process to place greater emphasis on long-term fiscal issues.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Policy Solutions- Legislation developed to address the issues described in subsection (a) may include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Reforms necessary to ensure that the programs are fiscally sustainable.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Reforms that strengthen the safety net functions of entitlement programs to provide assistance to the neediest people.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Reforms that make United States tax laws more efficient and more conducive to encouraging economic growth.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Incentives to increase private savings.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Any other reforms designed to address the issues described in subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. INITIAL TOWN HALL STYLE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

(a) In General- The Commission shall hold at least 1 town hall style public hearing within each Federal reserve district, and shall, to the extent feasible, ensure that there is broad public participation in the hearings.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Hearing Format- During each hearing, the Commission shall present to the public, and generate comments and suggestions regarding, the issues described in section 3, policies designed to address the issues, and tradeoffs between the policies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. REPORT.

(a) In General- The Commission shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit a report to Congress and the President containing the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) A detailed description of the activities of the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) A summary of comments and suggestions generated from the town hall style public hearings.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) A detailed statement of any findings of the Commission as to public preferences regarding the issues, policies, and tradeoffs presented in the town hall style public hearings.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) A detailed description of the long-term fiscal problems faced by the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) A list of policy options for addressing those problems.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Criteria for the legislative proposal to be developed by the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) CBO Estimates- The report required by this section and the legislative proposal required by section 6 shall rely on estimates and assumptions provided by CBO.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Optional Development of Cost Estimate Alternatives-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Commission shall by an affirmative vote of 5 members develop not more than 2 methods for estimating the cost of legislation as a supplement to the estimates and assumptions of the Congressional Budget Office (referred to in this Act as ‘CBO’) developed as required by subsection (b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) SPECIFICALLY- Any such alternative method must--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) be designed to supplement the method currently used with regard to estimating the positive economic effects of legislation; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) consider the use of automatic stabilizers or triggers to enforce spending and revenue targets, in the event that policies based on the alternative method fail to achieve targets for outlays and revenues.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) LIMITATION- Any alternative developed pursuant to this subsection shall generally comply with subsections (b), (c), and (d) of section 12.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL.

(a) In General- Not later than 60 days after the date the report is submitted under section 5 and by a vote of at least 13 of the members, the Commission shall submit a legislative proposal to Congress and the President designed to address the issues described section 3.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Proposal Requirements- The proposal must, to the extent feasible, be designed--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to achieve generational equity and long-term economic stability;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to address the comments and suggestions of the public; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) to meet the criteria set forth in the Commission report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Inclusion of Cost Estimate- The Commission shall submit with the proposal--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) a long-term CBO cost estimate prepared under section 12 for the proposal; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in addition to the CBO cost estimate required by paragraph (1) and if an alternative cost estimate method is developed by the Commission, a 50-year cost estimate using such method.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS.

(a) Membership-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Commission shall be composed of 18 voting members appointed pursuant to paragraph (2) and 2 nonvoting members described in paragraph (3).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) VOTING MEMBERS- The Commission shall be composed of 18 voting members of whom--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) 1 shall be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) 1 shall be the Secretary of the Treasury;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) 3 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) 1 shall be the chair of the Committee on Finance or a designee from the committee;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(H) 1 shall be the ranking member of the Committee on Finance or a designee from the committee;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) 1 shall be the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means or a designee from the committee; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(J) 1 shall be the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means or a designee from the committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) NONVOTING MEMBERS- The Comptroller General of the United States and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall each be nonvoting members of the Commission and shall advise and assist at the request of the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR- The President shall designate 2 co-chairpersons of the Commission from the members appointed under paragraph (2), one of whom must be a Republican and one of whom must be a Democrat.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Limitations as to Members of Congress-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON COMMISSION- Each appointing authority described in subsection (a)(2) who is a Member of Congress shall appoint 2 Members of Congress to the Commission but may not appoint more than 2 Members of Congress to the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTINUATION OF VOTING MEMBERSHIP- In the case of an individual appointed pursuant to subsection (a)(1) who was appointed as a Member of Congress under paragraph (1), if such individual ceases to be a Member of Congress, that individual shall cease to be a member of the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Date for Original Appointment- The appointing authorities described in subsection (a)(2) shall appoint the initial members of the Commission not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Terms-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The term of each member is for the life of the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) VACANCIES- A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled not later than 30 days after such vacancy occurs and in the manner in which the original appointment was made.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Pay and Reimbursement-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) NO COMPENSATION FOR MEMBERS OF COMMISSION- Except as provided in paragraph (2), a member of the Commission may not receive pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES- Each member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Meetings- The Commission shall meet upon the call of the chairperson or a majority of its voting members.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Quorum- Six voting members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION.

(a) Director-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to subsection (c) and to the extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Commission shall appoint and fix the pay of a director.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) DUTIES- The director of the Commission shall be responsible for the administration and coordination of the duties of the Commission and shall perform other such duties as the Commission may direct.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Staff- In accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission, subject to subsection (c), and to the extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the director may appoint and fix the pay of additional personnel.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws- The director and staff of the Commission may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that pay fixed under subsection (a) may not exceed $150,000 per year and pay fixed under subsection (b) may not exceed a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Detailees- Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement from the Commission, and such detailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of their regular employment without interruption.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Experts and Consultants- In accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission and to the extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the director may procure the services of experts and consultants under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 9. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

(a) Hearings and Evidence- The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings in addition to the town hall style public hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Powers of Members and Agents- Any member or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized to take under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Mails- The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Administrative Support Services- Upon the request of the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Contract Authority- To the extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Commission may enter into contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties under this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Gifts- The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10. TERMINATION.

The Commission shall terminate the earlier of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) 60 days after submitting its legislative proposal; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the date on which the Comptroller General of the United States determines and publishes in the Federal Register a statement that new legislation has been enacted that is estimated to reduce the fiscal gap by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) 1 percent of gross domestic product, measured over the 20-year period beginning with the first fiscal year after the date of enactment of such legislation; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) 2 percent of gross domestic product, measured over the 50-year period beginning with the first fiscal year after the date of enactment of such legislation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 11. CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION.

(a) Introduction- Not later than the fifth legislative day after the Commission submits its legislative proposal, the majority leader of each House, or his designee, shall introduce (by request) the legislation submitted by the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) In the House of Representatives-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) PRIVILEGED CONSIDERATION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- In the House of Representatives, the legislation shall be referred to the Committee on the Budget, which shall report the bill without substantive revision.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) DISCHARGE- If the House Committee on the Budget has not reported the legislation within 60 days after introduction under subsection (a)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) committee shall be discharged from consideration of the legislation;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) the legislation shall be placed on the appropriate calendar; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) a motion to proceed to the consideration of the legislation shall be highly privileged and shall not be debatable, and a motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is disposed of shall not be in order.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONSIDERATION CONSISTENT WITH CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT- Consideration of such legislation shall be pursuant to the procedures set forth in paragraphs (2) and (6) of section 305(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to the extent not inconsistent with this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) TRANSMITTAL TO THE SENATE- If the legislation passed in the House of Representatives pursuant to this section, the Clerk of the House of Representatives shall cause the legislation to be engrossed, certified, and transmitted to the Senate not later than 1 calendar day after the day on which the legislation is passed. Such legislation shall be referred to the Senate Committee on the Budget.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) In the Senate-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE OF SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE- If the Senate Committee on the Budget has not reported the legislation within 60 days after introduction under subsection (a)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the committee shall be discharged from consideration of the legislation; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) a motion to proceed to the consideration of the legislation is highly privileged and is not debatable.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONSIDERATION- Consideration of such legislation shall be pursuant to the procedures set forth in paragraphs (1) and (5) of section 305(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to the extent not inconsistent with this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) No Amendments- No amendment to the legislation submitted by the Commission shall be in order in the Senate and the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Prohibition on Concurrent Consideration of Other Budget-Related Legislation-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Until a bill or joint resolution considered pursuant to the procedures of this section or a conference report thereon has been enrolled and presented to the President of the United States, it shall not be in order in either the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill or joint resolution, amendment or motion thereto, or conference report thereon that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) provides new budget authority for any fiscal year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) provides for an increase in outlays for any fiscal year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) provides a decrease in revenues during any fiscal year; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) provides an increase in the public debt limit to become effective during any fiscal year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Subparagraphs (A) through (D) shall be applied on a provision-by-provision basis.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EXCEPTIONS- Paragraph (1) does not apply--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) to any measure under consideration prior to the introduction, in either House, of a bill or joint resolution considered pursuant to the procedures of this section;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) to any measure considered after a bill or joint resolution considered pursuant to the procedures of this section has been defeated in either House; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) to any general appropriation bill or amendment thereto, but only to the extent of discretionary new budget authority provided for the budget year or for the first or second fiscal year after the budget year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) WAIVER-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES- In the House of Representatives, if a special rule is considered that would waive points of order pursuant to paragraph (1), a motion to strike the provision waiving such points of order shall be in order.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) SENATE- In the Senate, a point of order properly raised pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be waived only by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Members senators duly chosen and sworn.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Application of Congressional Budget Act- To the extent that they are relevant and not inconsistent with this Act, the provisions of title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 shall apply in the House of Representatives and the Senate to any bill or joint resolution, any amendment thereto, and any conference report thereon that is considered pursuant to this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Rules of Senate and House of Representatives- This section is enacted by Congress--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, and is deemed to be part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House in the case of a bill introduced pursuant to this section, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as they relate to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 12. LONG-TERM CBO COST ESTIMATE.

(a) Preparation and Submission- When the Commission, the President, or the chairman or ranking minority member of the Committee on the Budget of either House submits a written request to the Director of the Congressional Budget Office for a long-term CBO cost estimate of legislation proposed under this Act, the Director shall prepare the estimate and have it published in the Congressional Record as expeditiously as possible.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Content- A long-term CBO cost estimate shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) an estimate of the cost of each provision (if practicable) or group of provisions of the legislation or amendment for first fiscal year it would take effect and for each of the 49 fiscal years thereafter; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) a statement of any estimated future costs not reflected by the estimate described in paragraph (1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Form- To the extent that a long-term CBO cost estimate presented in dollars is impracticable, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office may instead present the estimate in terms of percentages of gross domestic product, with rounding to the nearest 1/10 of 1 percent of gross domestic product.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Limitations on Discretionary Spending- A long-term CBO cost estimate shall only consider the effects of provisions affecting revenues and direct spending (as defined by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985), and shall not assume that any changes in outlays will result from limitations on, or reductions in, annual appropriations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink