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Changes to House Rules Affecting the Congressional Budget Process Included in H.Res. 6 (116th Congress) [March 4, 2019]
From the Document: "On January 3, 2019, the House adopted Title I of H.Res. 6, the standing rules for the House of Representatives for the 116th Congress. In addition to the standing rules, H.Res. 6 included a separate order related to the consideration of appropriations bills. This report provides information on changes to both the standing rules and separate orders that might affect the consideration of budgetary legislation in the House of Representatives."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Saturno, James; Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2019-03-04
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Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019: Changes to the BCA and Debt Limit [Updated July 29, 2019]
From the Document: "On July 25, 2019, the House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 (H.R. 3877; BBA 2019) by a vote of 284-149. The BBA 2019 would raise the discretionary spending limits (caps) implemented by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA; P.L. 112-25) for FY2020 and FY2021; make other BCA-related changes, including an extension of the mandatory sequester through FY2029; and suspend the statutory debt limit until August 1, 2021."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Driessen, Grant A.; Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2019-07-29
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Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment: Background and Congressional Options [Updated August 22, 2019]
From the Summary: "One of the most persistent political issues facing Congress in recent decades is whether to require that the budget of the United States be in balance. Although a balanced federal budget has long been held as a political ideal, the accumulation of large annual budget deficits and the associated growth of public debt in recent years has heightened concern that some action to require a balance between revenues and expenditures may be necessary. [...] This report provides an overview of the issues and options that have been raised during prior consideration of proposals for a balanced budget constitutional amendment. It will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Saturno, James; Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2019-08-22
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Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019: Changes to the BCA and Debt Limit [Updated August 5, 2019]
From the Document: "The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 (BBA 2019; P.L. 116-37) was enacted on August 2, 2019. BBA 2019 raised the discretionary spending limits (caps) implemented by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA; P.L. 112-25) for FY2020 and FY2021; made other BCA-related changes, including an extension of the mandatory sequester through FY2029; and suspended the statutory debt limit until August 1, 2021."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Driessen, Grant A.; Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2019-08-05
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Budget Control Act: Frequently Asked Questions [Updated October 1, 2019]
From the Summary: "When there is concern with deficit or debt levels, Congress will sometimes implement budget enforcement mechanisms to mandate specific budgetary policies or fiscal outcomes. The Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA; P.L. 112-25), which was signed into law on August 2, 2011, includes several such mechanisms. The BCA as amended has three main components that currently affect the annual budget. One component imposes annual statutory discretionary spending limits for defense and nondefense spending. A second component requires annual reductions to the initial discretionary spending limits triggered by the absence of a deficit reduction agreement from a committee formed by the BCA. Third are annual automatic mandatory spending reductions triggered by the same absence of a deficit reduction agreement. [...] This report addresses several frequently asked questions related to the BCA and the annual budget."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Driessen, Grant A.; Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2019-10-01
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Congressional Budget Office: Appointment and Tenure of the Director and Deputy Director [Updated October 16, 2019]
From the Background: "CBO's [Congressional Budget Office] mission is to support the House and Senate in the federal budget process by providing budgetary analysis and information in an objective and nonpartisan manner. Specific duties are placed on CBO by various provisions in law, particularly Titles II, III, and IV of the 1974 Congressional Budget Act, as amended. CBO prepares annual reports on the economic and budget outlook and on the President's budget proposals and provides cost estimates of legislation, scorekeeping reports, assessments of unfunded mandates, and products and testimony relating to other budgetary matters. In addition to statutory duties, CBO is subject to directives included in annual budget resolutions and chamber rules. Ten persons so far have served as CBO director: Alice Rivlin, Rudolph Penner, Robert Reischauer, June O'Neill, Dan Crippen, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Peter R. Orszag, Douglas Elmendorf, Keith Hall, and Phillip Swagel. The current director, Phillip Swagel, began serving as director on June 3, 2019. Twelve persons have served as deputy director; five of them also served as the acting director (for periods amounting in total to about three years). The current deputy director, Mark Hadley, was appointed to the position in June 2016."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2019-10-16
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Deeming Resolutions: Budget Enforcement in the Absence of a Budget Resolution [Updated April 21, 2021]
From the Summary: "The budget resolution reflects an agreement between the House and Senate on a budgetary plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Once agreed to by both chambers in the exact same form, the budget resolution creates parameters that may be enforced by (1) points of order and (2) using the budget reconciliation process. [...] Since the creation of the budget resolution, there have been 11 years in which Congress did not come to agreement on a budget resolution. In each of those years, one or both chambers employed at least one deeming resolution to serve as a substitute for a budget resolution. While referred to as deeming resolutions, such mechanisms are not formally defined and have no specifically prescribed content. Instead, they represent the House and Senate, often separately, engaging legislative procedures to deal with enforcement issues on an ad hoc basis. As described below, the mechanisms can vary significantly in content and timing. This report covers the use of deeming resolutions pertaining to fiscal years for which the House and Senate did not agree on a budget resolution."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2021-04-21
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Dynamic Scoring in the Congressional Budget Process [February 18, 2020]
From the Introduction: "When Congress considers legislation, it takes into account the proposal's potential budgetary effects. This helps Members to weigh the legislation's merits, and to consider whether it complies with the budgetary rules that Congress has created for itself. [...] This report provides information on the authorities and requirements under which cost estimates are prepared, as well as a summary of the debate surrounding dynamic cost estimates, and previous rules and requirements related to dynamic estimates. Currently, no congressional rules explicitly require dynamic estimates, and Congress may examine what rules changes, if any, are needed in the area of dynamic estimates. This report, therefore, includes information on options for the creation of dynamic scoring rules, and general considerations for Congress related to dynamic estimates."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne; Gravelle, Jane
2020-02-18
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Earmark Disclosure Rules in the House: Member and Committee Requirements [Updated March 11, 2021]
From the Summary: "Earmark disclosure rules in both the House and Senate establish certain administrative responsibilities that vary by chamber. Under House rules, a Member requesting that an earmark be included in legislation is responsible for providing specific written information, such as the purpose and recipient of the earmark, to the committee of jurisdiction. Further, House committees are responsible for compiling, presenting, and maintaining such requests in accord with House rules. In the House, disclosure rules apply to any congressional earmark, limited tax benefit, or limited tariff benefit included in either the text of a bill or any report accompanying the measure, including a conference report and joint explanatory statement. The disclosure requirements apply to earmarks in appropriations legislation, authorizing legislation, and tax measures. Furthermore, they apply not only to measures reported by committees but also to measures not reported by committees, 'manager's amendments,' and conference reports. This report will be updated as needed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2021-03-11
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Deeming Resolutions: Budget Enforcement in the Absence of a Budget Resolution [Updated October 29, 2018]
From the Summary: "The budget resolution reflects an agreement between the House and Senate on a budgetary plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Once agreed to by both chambers in the exact same form, the budget resolution creates parameters that may be enforced by (1) points of order and (2) using the budget reconciliation process. When the House and Senate do not reach final agreement on this plan, it may be more difficult for Congress to reach agreement on subsequent budgetary legislation, both within each chamber and between the chambers.In the absence of agreement on a budget resolution, Congress may employ alternative legislative tools to serve as a substitute for a budget resolution. These substitutes are typically referred to as 'deeming resolutions,'because they are deemed to serve in place of an annual budget resolution for the purposes of establishing enforceable budget levels for the upcoming fiscal year."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2018-10-29
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Balanced Budget Amendments [April 10, 2018]
From the Document: "A balanced budget amendment (BBA) proposes to amend the U.S. Constitution to require that 'outlays shall not exceed revenues.' Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds vote of approval in both houses of Congress as well as ratification by three-fourths of the states. [...] Proposed BBAs have historically included additional provisions that may be as contentious as the requirement that outlays not exceed revenues. Such provisions are summarized below."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne; Saturno, James
2018-04-10
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Exceptions to the Budget Control Act's Discretionary Spending Limits [June 19, 2019]
From the Document: "The Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA; P.L. 112-25) established statutory limits on discretionary spending for FY2012-FY2021. There are currently separate annual limits for defense discretionary and nondefense discretionary spending. The law specifies that spending for certain activities, such as responding to a national emergency or fighting terrorism, will receive special budgetary treatment. This spending is most easily thought of as being exempt from the spending limits. Formally, however, the BCA states that the enactment of such spending allows for a subsequent upward adjustment of the discretionary limits to accommodate the spending. As a result, these types of spending are referred to as 'adjustments.' Two adjustments--for spending designated as emergency or for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)--have made up the vast majority of the spending."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2019-06-21
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Long-Term Budgeting within the Congressional Budget Process: In Brief [June 28, 2019]
From the Document: "Members of Congress, the Administration, and outside groups have expressed concern over long-term projections of deficits and debt levels. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has stated that federal deficits and debt held by the public, which are higher than average, are projected to increase sharply over the next 30 years. Some have argued that the current congressional budget process has created, or at least exacerbated, the projected long-term deficit and debt challenges. It has been said that the current process does not encourage or require the consideration of long-term budgetary outcomes. Some argue that the lack of a formal requirement for Congress to consider long-term budget outcomes discourages long-term planning and encourages policy outcomes that are desirable in the short term at the expense of the long-term budget situation. It has therefore been suggested that Congress adopt a long-term budget focus."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2019-06-28
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Lifting the Earmark Moratorium: Frequently Asked Questions [December 10, 2018]
From the Document: "While the term 'earmark' has been used historically to describe various types of congressional spending actions, since the 110th Congress (2007-2008) House and Senate rules have defined an earmark as any congressionally directed spending, tax benefit, or tariff benefit that would benefit an entity or a specific state, locality, or congressional district. In the 112th Congress (2011-2012), the House and Senate began observing what has been referred to as an earmark moratorium or earmark ban. The moratorium does not exist in House or Senate chamber rules, however, and therefore is not enforced by points of order. Instead, the moratorium has been established by party rules and committee protocols and is enforced by chamber and committee leadership through their agenda-setting power."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2018-12-10
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Impact of the Budget Control Act Discretionary Spending Caps on a Continuing Resolution [November 14, 2017]
"Appropriations enacted for FY2018 are subject to two statutory discretionary spending limits established by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA): One applies to defense discretionary spending, and the other applies to nondefense discretionary spending. The defense spending limit for FY2018 is $549 billion and applies to discretionary spending in budget function 050 (national defense) only. The nondefense spending limit for FY2018 is $516 billion and applies to discretionary spending in all other budget functions. The BCA stipulates that some spending is effectively exempt from the limits, such as appropriations designated as emergency requirements or for overseas contingency operations. If appropriations are enacted that exceed either the defense or nondefense discretionary limits, a sequester would be triggered, making largely across-the-board reductions to nonexempt programs, activities, and accounts within the category of the breach. A sequester is implemented through a sequestration order issued by the President as required by law"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne; Saturno, James
2017-11-14
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Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment: Background and Congressional Options [January 8, 2018]
From the Summary: "One of the most persistent political issues facing Congress in recent decades is whether to require that the budget of the United States be in balance. Although a balanced federal budget has long been held as a political ideal, the accumulation of large deficits in recent years has heightened concern that some action to require a balance between revenues and expenditures may be necessary. The debate over a balanced budget measure actually consists of several interrelated debates. Most prominently, the arguments of proponents have focused on the economy and the possible harm resulting from consistently large deficits and a growing federal debt. Another issue involves whether such a requirement should be statutory or made part of the Constitution. Some proponents of balanced budgets oppose a constitutional amendment, fearing that it would prove to be too inflexible for dealing with future circumstances. [...] This report provides an overview of the issues and options that have been raised during prior consideration of proposals for a balanced budget constitutional amendment. It will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Saturno, James; Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2018-01-08
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Increasing the BCA Spending Limits: Characteristics of Previously Enacted Legislation [April 3, 2019]
From the Document: "The Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA; P.L. 112-25), enacted on August 2, 2011, generated annual statutory discretionary spending limits for defense and nondefense spending that are in effect through FY2021. If appropriations are enacted that exceed a limit for a fiscal year, across-the-board reductions (i.e., sequestration) are triggered to eliminate the excess spending within that category. The BCA further stipulates that certain discretionary spending--such as appropriations designated as emergency requirements or for overseas contingency operations--are effectively exempt from the limits."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne; Driessen, Grant A.
2019-04-03
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Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform [Updated March 26, 2019]
From the document: "The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123), signed into law on February 9, 2018, created a joint select committee of the House and Senate. The Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform was to be made up of 16 Members from the House and Senate-- 4 chosen by each of the chambers' party leaders. The act charged the joint select committee with formulating recommendations and legislative language to 'significantly reform the budget and appropriations process.' The law directed the committee to make a report no later than November 30, 2018, to be submitted, along with legislative language, to the President, the Speaker of the House, and the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Saturno, James; Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2019-03-26
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Continuing Resolutions: Overview of Components and Practices [Updated April 19, 2019]
From the Summary: "The program activities of most federal agencies are generally funded on an annual basis through the enactment of 'regular appropriations acts'. When those annual appropriations acts are not enacted by the beginning of the fiscal year (i.e., by October 1), one or more continuing appropriations acts (commonly known as 'continuing resolutions' or CRs) may be enacted to provide temporary funding to continue certain programs and activities until action on the regular appropriations acts is completed. [...] This report provides detailed information on CRs beginning with FY1977, which was the first fiscal year that began on October 1. Congress has enacted one or more CRs in all but three of the last 43 fiscal years (FY1977-FY2019). In addition, in 10 of the last 18 fiscal years, the initial CR--and in some years subsequent CRs--provided continuing appropriations for all the regular appropriations acts."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Saturno, James; Lynch, Megan Suzanne; Heniff, Bill . . .
2019-04-19
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Deeming Resolutions: Budget Enforcement in the Absence of a Budget Resolution [Updated April 29, 2019]
From the Summary: "The budget resolution reflects an agreement between the House and Senate on a budgetary plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Once agreed to by both chambers in the exact same form, the budget resolution creates parameters that may be enforced by (1) points of order and (2) using the budget reconciliation process. When the House and Senate do not reach final agreement on this plan, it may be more difficult for Congress to reach agreement on subsequent budgetary legislation, both within each chamber and between the chambers. In the absence of agreement on a budget resolution, Congress may employ alternative legislative tools to serve as a substitute for a budget resolution. These substitutes are typically referred to as 'deeming resolutions,' because they are deemed to serve in place of an annual budget resolution for the purposes of establishing enforceable budget levels for the upcoming fiscal year."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2019-04-29
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Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 and an FY2019 Budget Resolution [April 10, 2018]
"The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA 2018, P.L. 115-123), enacted February 9, 2018, amended the statutory discretionary spending limits for FY2018 and FY2019. BBA 2018 comprised several other components as well, one of which was related to a congressional budget resolution for FY2019. These BBA 2018 'budget resolution' provisions (which may be referred to as a 'deemer' or a budget resolution substitute) provide the House and Senate with enforceable levels of spending and revenue for FY2019 in ways that a 'traditional' budget resolution would. While it is not unusual for Congress to employ such budget resolution substitutes, these substitutes differ from a 'traditional' budget resolution in several ways."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2018-04-10
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Budget Control Act: Frequently Asked Questions [June 22, 2017]
"When there is concern with deficit or debt levels, Congress will sometimes implement budget enforcement mechanisms to mandate specific budgetary policies or fiscal outcomes. The Budget Control Act of 2011(BCA; P.L. 112-25), which was signed into law on August 2, 2011, includes several such mechanisms. The BCA as amended has three main components that currently affect the annual budget. One component imposes annual statutory discretionary spending limits for defense and non-defense spending. A second component requires annual reductions to the initial discretionary spending limits triggered by the absence of a deficit reduction agreement from a committee formed by the BCA. Third are annual automatic mandatory spending reductions triggered by the same absence of a deficit reduction agreement. Each of those components is described in further detail in this report. The discretionary spending limits (and annual reductions) are currently scheduled to remain in effect through FY2021, while the mandatory spending reductions are scheduled to remain in effect through FY2025."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Driessen, Grant A.; Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2017-06-22
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Deeming Resolutions: Budget Enforcement in the Absence of a Budget Resolution [June 26, 2017]
From the Summary: "The budget resolution reflects an agreement between the House and Senate on a budgetary plan for the upcoming fiscal year. When the House and Senate do not reach final agreement on this plan, it may be more difficult for Congress to reach agreement on subsequent budgetary legislation, both within each chamber and between the chambers. In the absence of agreement on a budget resolution, Congress may employ alternative legislative tools to serve as a substitute for a budget resolution. These substitutes are typically referred to as 'deeming resolutions,' because they are deemed to serve in place of an annual budget resolution for the purposes of establishing enforceable budget levels for the upcoming fiscal year."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2017-06-26
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Budget Reconciliation Process: Stages of Consideration [January 4, 2017]
"The purpose of the reconciliation process is to enhance Congress's ability to bring existing spending, revenue, and debt limit laws into compliance with current fiscal priorities and goals established in the annual budget resolution. In adopting a budget resolution, Congress is agreeing upon its budgetary goals for the upcoming fiscal year. Because it is in the form of a concurrent resolution, however, it is not presented to the President or enacted into law. As a consequence, any statutory changes concerning spending or revenues that are necessary to implement these policies must be enacted in separate legislation. Budget reconciliation is an optional congressional process that operates as an adjunct to the budget resolution process and occurs only if reconciliation instructions are included in the budget resolution. Reconciliation instructions are the means by which Congress can establish the roles that specific committees will play in achieving these budgetary goals. Reconciliation consists of several different stages, which are described in this report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne; Saturno, James
2017-01-04
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Budget Resolution and Spending Legislation [March 27, 2009]
"During the week of March 23, 2009, both the House Budget Committee and the Senate Budget Committee approved their respective versions of a FY2010 budget resolution. The budget resolution establishes congressional priorities by dividing spending among the 20 major functional categories of the federal budget. These 20 categories do not correspond to the committee system by which Congress operates, and as a result these spending levels must be 'crosswalked' to the House and Senate committees having jurisdiction over both discretionary and direct spending. These amounts are known as 302(a) allocations and hold committees accountable for staying within the spending limits established by the budget resolution. [...] It is inevitable that Members will consider the impact on particular programs or agencies when they consider a budget resolution. While the budget resolution does not allocate funds among specific agencies or programs, congressional assumptions or desires underlying the amounts set forth in the functional categories are frequently communicated through the budget resolution. Report language accompanying the budget resolution, as well as certain provisions in the budget resolution, can sometimes express non-binding programmatic assumptions and desires. Budget resolutions also often include procedural provisions such as reserve funds or reconciliation instructions. These provisions may also reflect underlying program assumptions or desires of Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2009-03-27
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'Deeming Resolution': A Budget Enforcement Tool [June 12, 2013]
"'Deeming resolution' is a term that refers to legislation deemed to serve as an annual budget resolution for purposes of establishing enforceable budget levels for a budget cycle. A deeming resolution is used when the House and Senate have not agreed on a budget resolution. The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 provides for the annual adoption of a budget resolution establishing aggregate levels of revenues, spending, the debt limit, and the surplus or deficit, as well as allocations of spending. Enforcement of the budget resolution relies primarily upon points of order and reconciliation procedures. With regard to the enforcement of budget aggregates and committee spending allocations, the major points of order are found in Sections 311 and 302 of the act, respectively. The term 'deeming resolution' is not officially defined, nor is there any specific statute or rule authorizing such legislation. Instead, the use of a deeming resolution simply represents the House and Senate employing regular legislative procedures to deal with the issue on an ad hoc basis. The form and content of a deeming resolution is not prescribed, so it may be shaped to meet the particular needs at hand. For example, the House and Senate have used simple resolutions as the legislative vehicle in the past, but a deeming resolution may be incorporated into a bill, such as an annual appropriations act, as a single provision. At a minimum, deeming resolutions provide new spending allocations to the Appropriations Committees, but they also may set new aggregate budget levels, provide revised spending allocations to other House and Senate committees, or provide for other related purposes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2013-06-12
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Provisions in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 as an Alternative to a Traditional Budget Resolution [May 8, 2014]
"The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (P.L. 113-67) included as Title I, Subtitle B, a section titled, 'Establishing a Congressional Budget' designed to serve as a substitute for a traditional congressional budget resolution for FY2014 and potentially for FY2015. This report provides an explanation of such provisions, highlights how those provisions compare with a traditional budget resolution, and places them within the context of the budget process for FY2014 and FY2015.This report assumes a general understanding of the congressional budget process. For more information on the budget resolution and the congressional budget process generally, see CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report 98-721, 'Introduction to the Federal Budget Process,' coordinated by Bill Heniff Jr."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2014-05-08
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Earmark Disclosure Rules in the House: Member and Committee Requirements [May 21, 2015]
"Earmark disclosure rules in both the House and Senate establish certain administrative responsibilities that vary by chamber. Under House rules, a Member requesting that an earmark be included in legislation is responsible for providing specific written information, such as the purpose and recipient of the earmark, to the committee of jurisdiction. Further, House committees are responsible for compiling, presenting, and maintaining such requests in accord with House rules. In the House, disclosure rules apply to any congressional earmark, limited tax benefit, or limited tariff benefit included in either the text of a bill or any report accompanying the measure, including a conference report and joint explanatory statement. The disclosure requirements apply to earmarks in appropriations legislation, authorizing legislation, and tax measures. Furthermore, they apply not only to measures reported by committees but also to measures not reported by committees, 'manager's amendments,' and conference reports. This report will be updated as needed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2015-05-21
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Earmark Disclosure Rules in the Senate: Member and Committee Requirements [May 21, 2015]
"Earmark disclosure rules in both the House and the Senate establish certain administrative responsibilities that vary by chamber. Under Senate rules, a Senator requesting that an earmark be included in legislation is responsible for providing specific written information, such as the purpose and recipient of the earmark, to the committee of jurisdiction. Further, Senate committees are responsible for compiling and presenting such information in accord with Senate rules. In the Senate, disclosure rules apply to any congressional earmark, limited tax benefit, or limited tariff benefit included in either the text of a bill or any report accompanying the measure, including a conference report and joint explanatory statement. The disclosure requirements apply to earmarks in appropriations legislation, authorizing legislation, and tax measures. Furthermore, they apply not only to measures reported by committees but also to measures not reported by committees, floor amendments, and conference reports. This report will be updated as needed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2015-05-21
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Budget Reconciliation Process: Stages of Consideration [June 2, 2015]
"The purpose of the reconciliation process is to enhance Congress's ability to bring existing spending, revenue, and debt limit laws into compliance with current fiscal priorities and goals established in the annual budget resolution. In adopting a budget resolution, Congress is agreeing upon its budgetary goals for the upcoming fiscal year. Because it is in the form of a concurrent resolution, however, it is not presented to the President or enacted into law. As a consequence, any statutory changes concerning spending or revenues that are necessary to implement these policies must be enacted in separate legislation. Budget reconciliation is an optional congressional process that operates as an adjunct to the budget resolution process and occurs only if reconciliation instructions are included in the budget resolution. Reconciliation instructions are the means by which Congress can establish the roles that specific committees will play in achieving these budgetary goals. Reconciliation consists of several different stages, which are described in this report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne; Saturno, James
2015-06-02
