Securing America's Future Economy Commission Act or SAFE Commission Act - Establishes the Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission to develop legislation designed to address: (1) the unsustainable imbalance between long-term federal spending commitments and projected revenues; (2) increases in net national savings to provide for domestic investment and economic growth; (3) the implications of foreign ownership of federally issued debt instruments; and (4) revision of the budget process to place greater emphasis on long-term fiscal issues.
Requires the Commission to: (1) hold at least one town-hall style public hearing within each federal reserve district; and (2) develop one or two methods for estimating the cost of legislation as a supplement to the estimates and assumptions provided by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Requires the Commission to submit a legislative proposal to Congress and the President that relies on such estimates and assumptions.
Sets forth procedures for consideration of such legislation.
Requires CBO to prepare a long-term cost estimate and have it published in the Congressional Record as expeditiously as possible whenever requested to do so by the Commission, the President, or the chairman or ranking minority member of the Committee on the Budget of either chamber.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1056 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1056
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 14, 2009
Mr. Voinovich (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, and Mr. Isakson) introduced
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee
on the Budget
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Securing America's Future Economy
Commission Act'' or the ``SAFE Commission Act''.
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'').
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:
(1) The unsustainable imbalance between long-term Federal
spending commitments and projected revenues.
(2) Increasing net national savings to provide for domestic
investment and economic growth.
(3) The implications of foreign ownership of debt
instruments issued by the United States Government.
(4) Improving the budget process to place greater emphasis
on long-term fiscal issues.
(b) Policy Solutions.--Legislation developed to address the issues
described in subsection (a) may include the following:
(1) Reforms necessary to ensure that the programs are
fiscally sustainable.
(2) Reforms that strengthen the safety net functions of
entitlement programs to provide assistance to the neediest
people.
(3) Reforms that make United States tax laws more efficient
and more conducive to encouraging economic growth.
(4) Incentives to increase private savings.
(5) Any other reforms designed to address the issues
described in subsection (a).
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.
(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.
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:
(1) A detailed description of the activities of the
Commission.
(2) A summary of comments and suggestions generated from
the town hall style public hearings.
(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.
(4) A detailed description of the long-term fiscal problems
faced by the United States.
(5) A list of policy options for addressing those problems.
(6) Criteria for the legislative proposal to be developed
by the Commission.
(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.
(c) Optional Development of Cost Estimate Alternatives.--
(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).
(2) Specifically.--Any such alternative method must--
(A) be designed to supplement the method currently
used with regard to estimating the positive economic
effects of legislation; and
(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.
(3) Limitation.--Any alternative developed pursuant to this
subsection shall generally comply with subsections (b), (c),
and (d) of section 12.
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.
(b) Proposal Requirements.--The proposal must, to the extent
feasible, be designed--
(1) to achieve generational equity and long-term economic
stability;
(2) to address the comments and suggestions of the public;
and
(3) to meet the criteria set forth in the Commission
report.
(c) Inclusion of Cost Estimate.--The Commission shall submit with
the proposal--
(1) a long-term CBO cost estimate prepared under section 12
for the proposal; and
(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.
SEC. 7. MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS.
(a) Membership.--
(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).
(2) Voting members.--The Commission shall be composed of 18
voting members of whom--
(A) 1 shall be the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget;
(B) 1 shall be the Secretary of the Treasury;
(C) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives;
(D) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of
the House of Representatives;
(E) 3 shall be appointed by the majority leader of
the Senate;
(F) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of
the Senate;
(G) 1 shall be the chair of the Committee on
Finance or a designee from the committee;
(H) 1 shall be the ranking member of the Committee
on Finance or a designee from the committee;
(I) 1 shall be the chair of the Committee on Ways
and Means or a designee from the committee; and
(J) 1 shall be the chair of the Committee on Ways
and Means or a designee from the committee.
(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.
(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.
(b) Limitations as to Members of Congress.--
(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.
(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.
(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.
(d) Terms.--
(1) In general.--The term of each member is for the life of
the Commission.
(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.
(e) Pay and Reimbursement.--
(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.
(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.
(f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet upon the call of the
chairperson or a majority of its voting members.
(g) Quorum.--Six voting members of the Commission shall constitute
a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
SEC. 8. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION.
(a) Director.--
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(f) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or
donations of services or property.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate the earlier of--
(1) 60 days after submitting its legislative proposal; or
(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--
(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;
and
(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.
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.
(b) In the House of Representatives.--
(1) Privileged consideration.--
(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.
(B) Discharge.--If the House Committee on the
Budget has not reported the legislation within 60 days
after introduction under subsection (a)--
(i) committee shall be discharged from
consideration of the legislation;
(ii) the legislation shall be placed on the
appropriate calendar; and
(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.
(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.
(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.
(c) In the Senate.--
(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)--
(A) the committee shall be discharged from
consideration of the legislation; and
(B) a motion to proceed to the consideration of the
legislation is highly privileged and is not debatable.
(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.
(d) No Amendments.--No amendment to the legislation submitted by
the Commission shall be in order in the Senate and the House of
Representatives.
(e) Prohibition on Concurrent Consideration of Other Budget-Related
Legislation.--
(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--
(A) provides new budget authority for any fiscal
year;
(B) provides for an increase in outlays for any
fiscal year;
(C) provides a decrease in revenues during any
fiscal year; or
(D) provides an increase in the public debt limit
to become effective during any fiscal year.
Subparagraphs (A) through (D) shall be applied on a provision-
by-provision basis.
(2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) does not apply--
(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;
(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; or
(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.
(3) Waiver.--
(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.
(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.
(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.
(g) Rules of Senate and House of Representatives.--This section is
enacted by Congress--
(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; and
(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.
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.
(b) Content.--A long-term CBO cost estimate shall include--
(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; and
(2) a statement of any estimated future costs not reflected
by the estimate described in paragraph (1).
(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.
(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.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
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