S 211 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

S. 211CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide for a biennial budget process and a biennial appropriations process and to enhance oversight and the performance of the Federal Government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 27, 2011CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. ISAKSON (for himself, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. VITTER, Mr. THUNE, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. CORKER, and Mr. HARKIN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the BudgetCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide for a biennial budget process and a biennial appropriations process and to enhance oversight and the performance of the Federal Government.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 ‘Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. REVISION OF TIMETABLE.

Section 300 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘TIMETABLE

‘Sec. 300. (a) In General- Except as provided by subsection (b), the timetable with respect to the congressional budget process for any Congress (beginning with the One Hundred Eleventh Congress) is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘First SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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On or before:                                                                                     Action to be completed: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

First Monday in February                                                        President submits budget recommendations. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 15                                              Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Not later than 6 weeks after budget submission                Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

April 1                                            Budget Committees report concurrent resolution on the biennial budget. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 15                                         Congress completes action on concurrent resolution on the biennial budget. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 15                                                       Biennial appropriation bills may be considered in the House. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

June 10                                          House Appropriations Committee reports last biennial appropriation bill. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

June 30                                                           House completes action on biennial appropriation bills. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

August 1                                                         Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

October 1                                                                                                Biennium begins. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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‘Second SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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On or before:                                                                                                                                         Action to be completed: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 15                                                                                                                                  President submits budget review. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Not later than 6 weeks after President submits budget review                                                 Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

The last day of the session                                  Congress completes action on bills and resolutions authorizing new budget authority for the succeeding biennium. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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‘(b) Special Rule- In the case of any first session of Congress that begins in any year immediately following a leap year and during which the term of a President (except a President who succeeds himself or herself) begins, the following dates shall supersede those set forth in subsection (a):CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘First SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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On or before:                                                            Action to be completed: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

First Monday in April                                  President submits budget recommendations. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

April 20                             Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 15                    Budget Committees report concurrent resolution on the biennial budget. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

June 1                Congress completes action on concurrent resolution on the biennial budget. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

July 1                              Biennial appropriation bills may be considered in the House. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

July 20                                  House completes action on biennial appropriation bills. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

August 1                                Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

October 1                                                                     Biennium begins.’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET AND IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL ACT OF 1974.

(a) Declaration of Purpose- Section 2(2) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621(2)) is amended by striking ‘each year’ and inserting ‘biennially’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Definitions-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) BUDGET RESOLUTION- Section 3(4) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 622(4)) is amended by striking ‘fiscal year’ each place it appears and inserting ‘biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) BIENNIUM- Section 3 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 622) is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(11) The term ‘biennium’ means the period of 2 consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Biennial Concurrent Resolution on the Budget-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) SECTION HEADING- The section heading of section 301 of such Act is amended by striking ‘annual’ and inserting ‘biennial’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTENTS OF RESOLUTION- Section 301(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(a)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) striking ‘April 15 of each year’ and inserting ‘May 15 of each odd-numbered year’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) striking ‘the fiscal year beginning on October 1 of such year’ the first place it appears and inserting ‘the biennium beginning on October 1 of such year’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) striking ‘the fiscal year beginning on October 1 of such year’ the second place it appears and inserting ‘each fiscal year in such period’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘for the fiscal year’ and inserting ‘for each fiscal year in the biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘for the fiscal year’ and inserting ‘for each fiscal year in the biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) ADDITIONAL MATTERS- Section 301(b)(3) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(b)) is amended by striking ‘for such fiscal year’ and inserting ‘for either fiscal year in such biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) VIEWS OF OTHER COMMITTEES- Section 301(d) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(d)) is amended by inserting ‘(or, if applicable, as provided by section 300(b))’ after ‘United States Code’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) HEARINGS- Section 301(e)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(e)) is amended by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) striking ‘fiscal year’ and inserting ‘biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) inserting after the second sentence the following: ‘On or before April 1 of each odd-numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by section 300(b)), the Committee on the Budget of each House shall report to its House the concurrent resolution on the budget referred to in subsection (a) for the biennium beginning on October 1 of that year.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) GOALS FOR REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT- Section 301(f) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(f)) is amended by striking ‘fiscal year’ each place it appears and inserting ‘biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) ECONOMIC ASSUMPTIONS- Section 301(g)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(g)(1)) is amended by striking ‘for a fiscal year’ and inserting ‘for a biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The item relating to section 301 in the table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by striking ‘Annual’ and inserting ‘Biennial’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Committee Allocations- Section 302 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 633) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (a)CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in paragraph (1), by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) striking ‘for the first fiscal year of the resolution,’ and inserting ‘for each fiscal year in the biennium,’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) striking ‘for that period of fiscal years’ and inserting ‘for all fiscal years covered by the resolution’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) striking ‘for the fiscal year of that resolution’ and inserting ‘for each fiscal year in the biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘April 15’ and inserting ‘May 15 or June 1 (under section 300(b))’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘budget year’ and inserting ‘biennium’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in subsection (c) by striking ‘for a fiscal year’ each place it appears and inserting ‘for each fiscal year in the biennium’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘for a fiscal year’ and inserting ‘for a biennium’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘the first fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year of the biennium’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) in subsection (f)(2)(A), by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) striking ‘the first fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year of the biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) striking ‘the total of fiscal years’ and inserting ‘the total of all fiscal years covered by the resolution’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) in subsection (g)(1)(A), by striking ‘April’ and inserting ‘May’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Section 303 Point of Order-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 303(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(a)) is amended by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) striking ‘the first fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year of the biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) striking ‘that fiscal year’ each place it appears and inserting ‘that biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EXCEPTIONS IN THE HOUSE- Section 303(b)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(b)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘the budget year’ and inserting ‘the biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘the fiscal year’ and inserting ‘the biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) APPLICATION TO THE SENATE- Section 303(c)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 634(c)) is amended by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) striking ‘fiscal year’ and inserting ‘biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) striking ‘that year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year of that biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Permissible Revisions of Concurrent Resolutions on the Budget- Section 304(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 635) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘fiscal year’ the first two places it appears and inserting ‘biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking ‘for such fiscal year’ and inserting ‘for such biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Procedures for Consideration of Budget Resolutions- Section 305 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 636(3)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘fiscal year’ and inserting ‘biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘fiscal year’ and inserting ‘biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Completion of House Action on Appropriation Bills- Section 307 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 638) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘each year’ and inserting ‘each odd-numbered year’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking ‘annual’ and inserting ‘biennial’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by striking ‘fiscal year’ and inserting ‘biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) by striking ‘that year’ and inserting ‘each odd-numbered year’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) Completion of Action on Regular Appropriation Bills- Section 309 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 640) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by inserting ‘of any odd-numbered calendar year’ after ‘July’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking ‘annual’ and inserting ‘biennial’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by striking ‘fiscal year’ and inserting ‘biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(j) Reconciliation Process- Section 310(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 641(a)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘any fiscal year’ and inserting ‘any biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘such fiscal year’ each place it appears and inserting ‘any fiscal year covered by such resolution’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(k) Section 311 Point of Order-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN THE HOUSE- Section 311(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 642(a)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘for a fiscal year’ and inserting ‘for a biennium’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘the first fiscal year’ each place it appears and inserting ‘either fiscal year of the biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking ‘that first fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year in the biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) IN THE SENATE- Section 311(a)(2) of such Act is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘for the first fiscal year’ and inserting ‘for either fiscal year of the biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subparagraph (B)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) by striking ‘that first fiscal year’ the first place it appears and inserting ‘each fiscal year in the biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by striking ‘that first fiscal year and the ensuing fiscal years’ and inserting ‘all fiscal years’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) SOCIAL SECURITY LEVELS- Section 311(a)(3) of such Act is amended by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) striking ‘for the first fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year in the biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) striking ‘that fiscal year and the ensuing fiscal years’ and inserting ‘all fiscal years’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(l) MDA Point of Order- Section 312(c) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 643) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘for a fiscal year’ and inserting ‘for a biennium’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘the first fiscal year’ and inserting ‘either fiscal year in the biennium’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘that fiscal year’ and inserting ‘either fiscal year in the biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in the matter following paragraph (2), by striking ‘that fiscal year’ and inserting ‘the applicable fiscal year’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 31, UNITED STATES CODE.

(a) Definition- Section 1101 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) ‘biennium’ has the meaning given to such term in paragraph (11) of section 3 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(11)).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Budget Contents and Submission to the Congress-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) SCHEDULE- The matter preceding paragraph (1) in section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(a) On or before the first Monday in February of each odd-numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by section 300(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974), beginning with the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, the President shall transmit to the Congress, the budget for the biennium beginning on October 1 of such calendar year. The budget of the United States Government transmitted under this subsection shall include a budget message and summary and supporting information. The President shall include in each budget the following:’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EXPENDITURES- Section 1105(a)(5) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted and the 4 fiscal years after that year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year in the biennium for which the budget is submitted and in the succeeding 4 fiscal years’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) RECEIPTS- Section 1105(a)(6) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted and the 4 fiscal years after that year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year in the biennium for which the budget is submitted and in the succeeding 4 years’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) BALANCE STATEMENTS- Section 1105(a)(9)(C) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘the fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year in the biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES- Section 1105(a)(12) of title 31, United States Code, is amended in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘the fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year in the biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) ALLOWANCES- Section 1105(a)(13) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘the fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year in the biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) ALLOWANCES FOR UNCONTROLLED EXPENDITURES- Section 1105(a)(14) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘that year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year in the biennium for which the budget is submitted’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) TAX EXPENDITURES- Section 1105(a)(16) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘the fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year in the biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) FUTURE YEARS- Section 1105(a)(17) of title 31, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘the fiscal year following the fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year in the biennium following the biennium’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘that following fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each such fiscal year’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking ‘fiscal year before the fiscal year’ and inserting ‘biennium before the biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) PRIOR YEAR OUTLAYS- Section 1105(a)(18) of title 31, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘the prior fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each of the 2 most recently completed fiscal years,’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘for that year’ and inserting ‘with respect to those fiscal years’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking ‘in that year’ and inserting ‘in those fiscal years’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) PRIOR YEAR RECEIPTS- Section 1105(a)(19) of title 31, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘the prior fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each of the 2 most recently completed fiscal years’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘for that year’ and inserting ‘with respect to those fiscal years’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking ‘in that year’ each place it appears and inserting ‘in those fiscal years’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Estimated Expenditures of Legislative and Judicial Branches- Section 1105(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘each year’ and inserting ‘each even-numbered year’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Recommendations To Meet Estimated Deficiencies- Section 1105(c) of title 31, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘the fiscal year for’ the first place it appears and inserting ‘each fiscal year in the biennium for’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking ‘the fiscal year for’ the second place it appears and inserting ‘each fiscal year of the biennium, as the case may be, for’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by striking ‘for that year’ and inserting ‘for each fiscal year of the biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Capital Investment Analysis- Section 1105(e)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘ensuing fiscal year’ and inserting ‘biennium to which such budget relates’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Supplemental Budget Estimates and Changes-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 1106(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) inserting after ‘Before July 16 of each year’ the following: ‘and February 15 of each even-numbered year’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) striking ‘fiscal year’ and inserting ‘biennium’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘that fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year in such biennium’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘fiscal year’ and inserting ‘biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘fiscal year’ and inserting ‘biennium’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CHANGES- Section 1106(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) striking ‘the fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year in the biennium’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) inserting after ‘Before July 16 of each year’ the following: ‘and February 15 of each even-numbered year’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) striking ‘submitted before July 16’ and inserting ‘required by this subsection’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Current Programs and Activities Estimates-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 1109(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘On or before the first Monday after January 3 of each year (on or before February 5 in 1986)’ and inserting ‘At the same time the budget required by section 1105 is submitted for a biennium’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘the following fiscal year’ and inserting ‘each fiscal year of such period’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE- Section 1109(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘March 1 of each year’ and inserting ‘within 6 weeks of the President’s budget submission for each odd-numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by section 300(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Year-Ahead Requests for Authorizing Legislation- Section 1110 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) striking ‘May 16’ and inserting ‘March 31’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) striking ‘year before the year in which the fiscal year begins’ and inserting ‘calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the biennium begins’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. TWO-YEAR APPROPRIATIONS; TITLE AND STYLE OF APPROPRIATIONS ACTS.

Section 105 of title 1, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 105. Title and style of appropriations Acts

‘(a) The style and title of all Acts making appropriations for the support of the Government shall be as follows: ‘An Act making appropriations (here insert the object) for each fiscal year in the biennium of fiscal years (here insert the fiscal years of the biennium).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) All Acts making regular appropriations for the support of the Government shall be enacted for a biennium and shall specify the amount of appropriations provided for each fiscal year in such period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) For purposes of this section, the term ‘biennium’ has the same meaning as in section 3(11) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(11)).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. MULTIYEAR AUTHORIZATIONS.

(a) In General- Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS

‘Sec. 316. (a) Point of Order- It shall not be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that authorizes appropriations for a period of less than 2 fiscal years, unless the program, project, or activity for which the appropriations are authorized will require no further appropriations and will be completed or terminated after the appropriations have been expended; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) in any odd-numbered year, any authorization or revenue bill or joint resolution until Congress completes action on the biennial budget resolution, all regular biennial appropriations bills, and all reconciliation bills.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Applicability- In the Senate, subsection (a) shall not apply to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) any measure that is privileged for consideration pursuant to a rule or statute;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) any matter considered in Executive Session; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) an appropriations measure or reconciliation bill.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Amendment to Table of Contents- The table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by adding after the item relating to section 315 the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘Sec. 316. Authorizations of appropriations.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. GOVERNMENT PLANS ON A BIENNIAL BASIS.

(a) Strategic Plans- Section 306 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘September 30, 1997’ and inserting ‘September 30, 2013’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (b)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘five years forward’ and inserting ‘6 years forward’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘at least every three years’ and inserting ‘at least every 4 years’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking beginning with ‘, except that’ through ‘four years’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in subsection (c), by inserting a comma after ‘section’ the second place it appears and adding ‘including a strategic plan submitted by September 30, 2013 meeting the requirements of subsection (a)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Budget Contents and Submission to Congress- Paragraph (28) of section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘beginning with fiscal year 1999, a’ and inserting ‘beginning with fiscal year 2014, a biennial’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Performance Plans- Section 1115 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (a)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the matter before paragraph (1)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) by striking ‘section 1105(a)(29)’ and inserting ‘section 1105(a)(28)’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by striking ‘an annual’ and inserting ‘a biennial’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (1) by inserting after ‘program activity’ the following: ‘for both years 1 and 2 of the biennial plan’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in paragraph (5) by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) in paragraph (6) by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and inserting ‘and’ after the inserted semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) by adding after paragraph (6) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) cover a 2-year period beginning with the first fiscal year of the next biennial budget cycle.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (d) by striking ‘annual’ and inserting ‘biennial’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in paragraph (6) of subsection (f) by striking ‘annual’ and inserting ‘biennial’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Managerial Accountability and Flexibility- Section 9703 of title 31, United States Code, relating to managerial accountability, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (a)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the first sentence by striking ‘annual’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘section 1105(a)(29)’ and inserting ‘section 1105(a)(28)’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (e)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the first sentence by striking ‘one or’ before ‘years’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in the second sentence by striking ‘a subsequent year’ and inserting ‘a subsequent 2-year period’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in the third sentence by striking ‘three’ and inserting ‘4’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Pilot Projects for Performance Budgeting- Section 1119 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (1) of subsection (d), by striking ‘annual’ and inserting ‘biennial’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (e), by striking ‘annual’ and inserting ‘biennial’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Strategic Plans- Section 2802 of title 39, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) is subsection (a), by striking ‘September 30, 1997’ and inserting ‘September 30, 2013’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking ‘five years forward’ and inserting ‘6 years forward’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in subsection (b), by striking ‘at least every three years’ and inserting ‘at least every 4 years’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in subsection (c), by inserting a comma after ‘section’ the second place it appears and inserting ‘including a strategic plan submitted by September 30, 2013 meeting the requirements of subsection (a)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Performance Plans- Section 2803(a) of title 39, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking ‘an annual’ and inserting ‘a biennial’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting after ‘program activity’ the following: ‘for both years 1 and 2 of the biennial plan’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) by adding after paragraph (6) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) cover a 2-year period beginning with the first fiscal year of the next biennial budget cycle.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Committee Views of Plans and Reports- Section 301(d) of the Congressional Budget Act (2 U.S.C. 632(d)) is amended by adding at the end ‘Each committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall review the strategic plans, performance plans, and performance reports, required under section 306 of title 5, United States Code, and sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31, United States Code, of all agencies under the jurisdiction of the committee. Each committee may provide its views on such plans or reports to the Committee on the Budget of the applicable House.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) Effective Date-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The amendments made by this section shall take effect on March 1, 2013.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) AGENCY ACTIONS- Effective on and after the date of enactment of this Act, each agency shall take such actions as necessary to prepare and submit any plan or report in accordance with the amendments made by this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. BIENNIAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.

(a) In General- Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘CONSIDERATION OF BIENNIAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS

‘Sec. 317. It shall not be in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate in any odd-numbered year to consider any regular bill providing new budget authority or a limitation on obligations under the jurisdiction of any of the subcommittees of the Committees on Appropriations for only the first fiscal year of a biennium, unless the program, project, or activity for which the new budget authority or obligation limitation is provided will require no additional authority beyond 1 year and will be completed or terminated after the amount provided has been expended.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Amendment to Table of Contents- The table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is amended by adding after the item relating to section 316 the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘Sec. 317. Consideration of biennial appropriations bills.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 9. REPORT ON TWO-YEAR FISCAL PERIOD.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of OMB shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) determine the impact and feasibility of changing the definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on that definition to a 2-year fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on the 2-year period; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) report the findings of the study to the Committees on the Budget of the House of Representatives and the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.

Except as provided in section 7, this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2013, and shall apply to budget resolutions and appropriations for the biennium beginning with fiscal year 2014.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink