(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
Establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2017 and sets forth budgetary levels for FY2018-FY2026.
TITLE I--RECOMMENDED LEVELS AND AMOUNTS
(Sec. 101) Recommends levels and amounts for FY2017-FY2026 for:
(Sec. 102) Recommends levels of new budget authority and outlays for FY2017-FY2026 for each major functional category, including:
TITLE II--RECONCILIATION AND RELATED MATTERS
(Sec. 201) States the policy of this resolution that, during the second session of the 114th Congress, the House will consider legislation that:
(Sec. 202) Includes reconciliation instructions directing 12 House authorizing committees to submit to the House Budget Committee, within 90 days of adoption of this resolution, legislation to reduce the deficit by specified amounts over FY2017-FY2026. (Under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.)
Permits the chairman of the House Budget Committee to revise the allocations, aggregates, and functional levels of this budget resolution to reflect the impact of reconciliation legislation.
(Sec. 203) States the policy of this resolution that, early in the second session of the 114th Congress, the House will consider legislation outside of the reconciliation process that achieves mandatory savings of at least $30 billion over FY2017-FY2018 and $140 billion over FY2017-FY2026.
(Sec. 204) States the policy of this resolution that the House will consider a measure to control new mandatory spending.
(Sec. 205) States the policy of this resolution that the House will consider the following federal budget process reforms during the 114th Congress:
TITLE III--BUDGET ENFORCEMENT
Subtitle A--Budget Enforcement in The House of Representatives
(Sec. 301) Requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to estimate whether legislation (other than appropriations measures) would cause a net increase in direct spending in excess of $5 billion over any of the 4 consecutive 10-year periods beginning in FY2026. Establishes a point of order against legislation (other than appropriations measures) with a net effect of increasing direct spending by more than $5 billion in any of the 4 consecutive 10-year periods.
(Sec. 302) Provides the House Appropriations Committee with a separate allocation for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism and specifies procedures for enforcing and adjusting the allocation.
(Sec. 303) Establishes a point of order restricting the inclusion of certain changes in mandatory programs (CHIMPs) in appropriations legislation for FY2017-FY2019. Limits CHIMPs that reduce budget authority in the budget year but do not decrease outlays over the period of the total of the current year, budget year, and all fiscal years covered under the most recently agreed to budget resolution. Limit the CHIMPS to: $19.1 billion for FY2017, $17 billion for FY2018, and $15 billion for FY2019.
(Sec. 304) Requires the Government Accountability Office to submit to the chair of the House Budget Committee a comprehensive list of all current direct spending programs. Requires the chair to publish the list in the Congressional Record and on the committee's website.
(Sec. 305) Permits the chair of the House Budget Committee to direct the CBO to include changes in debt service costs in estimates of legislation except for authorizations of discretionary programs or appropriation measures.
Specifies that: (1) this section applies to changes in the authorization level of appropriated entitlements, and (2) the estimates are advisory and may not be used for budget enforcement.
(Sec. 306) Requires the CBO, upon request of the chairman of the House Budget Committee, to include supplemental fair-value estimates in estimates for legislation establishing or modifying a loan or loan guarantee program.
Requires the CBO to provide a supplemental fair-value estimate for legislation establishing or modifying a loan or loan guarantee program for student financial assistance or housing (including residential mortgage).
Requires the CBO to include estimates, on a fair-value and credit reform basis, of loan and loan guarantee programs for student financial assistance, housing (including residential mortgage), and other major loan and loan guarantee programs in its "Budget and Economic Outlook: 2018 to 2027."
(A fair-value estimate is an alternative to federal credit program estimates required by the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 [FCRA]. Under FCRA, cash flows are discounted using Treasury interest rates for estimating subsidy costs. The fair-value method incorporates market risk by using market rates.)
(Sec. 307) Requires the CBO to estimate outlay changes during the second and third decades of enactment for any direct spending legislative provision if:
(Sec. 308) Requires the CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation to incorporate macroeconomic effects in estimates of specified legislation (commonly referred to as dynamic scoring).
(Sec. 309) Authorizes the chairman of the House Budget Committee to adjust committee allocations and levels in this resolution if legislation decreases direct spending in any fiscal year and authorizes appropriations for the same purpose.
(Sec. 310) Prohibits advanced appropriations unless: (1) the appropriation is provided for an account listed as an exception in the report accompanying this resolution, and (2) total advanced appropriations do not exceed specified limits. (Under this resolution, an advanced appropriation is any new discretionary budget authority provided in appropriations legislation for the fiscal year following FY2017.)
(Sec. 311) Directs the CBO to estimate legislation that affects the use of energy savings performance contracts or utility energy service contracts on a net present value basis (in today's dollars) using calculations that meet specified requirements. Specifies that the contracts are to be scored as direct spending and that savings resulting from the contracts may be not be used as an offset for budget enforcement purposes.
(Under an energy savings performance contract, a private party agrees to fund energy-efficient upgrades for a federal facility, and the federal agency agrees to pay the private party from reductions in the agency's energy costs. Under a utility energy service contract, the services and equipment are provided by a utility.)
(Sec. 312) Requires the CBO to include specified details in its estimates for legislation conveying federal land to a non-federal entity.
(Sec. 313) Requires transfers of funds from the general fund of the Treasury to the Highway Trust Fund to be counted as new budget authority and outlays in the year the transfer occurs.
(Sec. 314) Prohibits increases in Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) guarantee fees from being used for budget enforcement purposes. (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchase mortgages and charge the fees to guarantee the payment of principal and interest. This section prevents the fee increases from being used to offset provisions that increase the deficit in determining whether a budget point of order applies to legislation.)
(Sec. 315) Prohibits transfers of surpluses of the Federal Reserve System from being counted as offsets for budget enforcement purposes. (This section prevents the transfers from being used to offset provisions that increase the deficit in determining whether a budget point of order applies to legislation.)
Subtitle B--Other Provisions
(Sec. 321) Specifies that the administrative expenses of the Social Security Administration and the United States Postal Service are reflected in the allocation to the House Appropriations Committee to ensure that the Committee retains control over the expenses through the annual appropriations process.
Requires the administrative expenses to be included in the cost estimates used to determine if an appropriations bill exceeds the spending limits in this resolution.
(Sec. 322) Sets forth procedures for the adjustment of allocations, aggregates, and other levels included in this resolution.
(Sec. 323) Authorizes the chair of the House Budget Committee to adjust the aggregates, allocations, and other levels in this resolution for any change in budgetary concepts and definitions pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
(Sec. 324) Authorizes the chair of the House Budget Committee to adjust the aggregates, allocations, and other levels in this resolution for any changes that the CBO makes to its baseline in March 2016.
(Sec. 325) Authorizes the chair of the House Budget Committee to adjust the aggregates, allocations, and other levels in this resolution for any legislation that designates an emergency under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (PAYGO).
(Sec. 326) Affirms that the adoption of this budget resolution is an exercise of the House's rulemaking power and that the House has the constitutional right to change these rules.
TITLE IV--RESERVE FUNDS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Establishes reserve funds that permit the chairman of the House Budget Committee to adjust the levels and allocations included in the budget resolution to accommodate health, tax reform, trade, education, retirement, and transportation legislation that meets specified conditions.
(Reserve funds provide the House Budget Committee Chairman with flexibility in applying budget enforcement rules to legislation that meets specified criteria.)
(Sec. 401) Establishes a deficit-neutral reserve fund for legislation that reduces poverty and increases opportunity and upward mobility, without adversely impacting job creation or increasing the deficit over the period of FY2017-FY2026.
(Sec. 402) Establishes a reserve fund for legislation that repeals or modifies the Affordable Care Act and the health care-related provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
(Sec. 403) Establishes a deficit-neutral reserve fund for health care reform legislation that would not increase the deficit over the FY2017-FY2026 period.
(Sec. 404) Establishes a deficit-neutral reserve fund for legislation that reforms, expands access to, and improves graduate medical education programs and would not increase the deficit over the FY2017-FY2026 period.
(Sec. 405) Establishes a deficit-neutral reserve fund for legislation that implements a trade agreement and would not increase the deficit over the FY2017-FY2026 period.
(Sec. 406) Establishes a deficit-neutral reserve fund for legislation that reforms the tax code and would not increase the deficit over the FY2017-FY2026 period.
(Sec. 407) Establishes a deficit-neutral reserve fund for legislation that decreases revenue and would not increase the deficit over the FY2017-FY2026 period.
(Sec. 408) Establishes a deficit-neutral reserve fund for legislation that reforms, improves, and updates the federal retirement system and would not increase the deficit over the period of FY2017-FY2026.
(Sec. 409) Establishes a deficit-neutral reserve fund for legislation that addresses the immediate funding shortfall in coal miner pension and health care funds and would not increase the deficit over the period of FY2017-FY2026.
(Sec. 410) Establishes a reserve fund for legislation that commercializes the air traffic control system and reduces discretionary spending limits by the amount that was appropriated to the Federal Aviation Administration for air traffic control.
TITLE V--ESTIMATES OF DIRECT SPENDING IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
(Sec. 501) Provides estimates for the rate of growth in means-tested and non-means-tested direct spending and proposes changes to Medicaid and Medicare.
TITLE VI--POLICY STATEMENTS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
(Sec. 601) States the policy of this resolution that committees in the House should consider in the 115th Congress recommendations developed by the Speaker's task forces on health care reform; reducing regulatory burdens; poverty, opportunity, and upward mobility; national security; tax reform; and restoring constitutional authority.
(Sec. 602) States the policy of this resolution that Congress should propose a balanced budget constitutional amendment for ratification by the states.
(Sec. 603) States the policy of this resolution that Congress should restructure its procedures for making budgetary decisions and reassert its power over spending and revenue by promoting spending control, efficient and timely action, and greater transparency.
(Sec. 604) States the policy of this resolution to promote faster economic growth and job creation through policies such as fundamental tax reform.
(Sec. 605) States that the policy of this resolution on federal regulatory budgeting and reform is to:
(Sec. 606) States the policy of this resolution that Congress should enact legislation that provides comprehensive tax reform to promote economic growth, create jobs, increase wages; and benefit consumers, investors, and workers.
(Sec. 607) States that the policy of this resolution on trade is:
(Sec. 608) States that the policy of this resolution on Social Security is to:
(Sec. 609) States the policy of this resolution to repeal the Affordable Care Act and promote health care reforms to enhance affordability, accessibility, quality, innovation, choices, and responsiveness in coverage for all Americans.
(Sec. 610) States the policy of this resolution to save Medicare for those in or near retirement and strengthen the program for future beneficiaries. Sets forth the assumptions of this resolution regarding Medicare reform.
(Sec. 611) States the policy of this resolution to support the work of medical innovators through: (1) continued strong funding for the agencies that engage in lifesaving research, and (2) removing obstacles that impede the adoption of medical technologies.
(Sec. 612) States the policy of this resolution that the House should, within available budgetary resources, provide continued support for research, prevention, and public health preparedness programs to ensure the nation's ability to respond efficiently and effectively to potential public health threats.
(Sec. 613) States the policy of this resolution that: (1) combating opioid abuse, using available budgetary resources, is a high priority, and (2) Congress, in a bipartisan manner, should examine the federal response to the opioid abuse crisis and support essential activities, including rehabilitation, to reduce and prevent substance abuse.
(Sec. 614) States the policies of this resolution for addressing higher education affordability and workforce development.
(Sec. 615) States the policy of this resolution to support the continued oversight efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs by Congress and its committees.
(Sec. 616) States the policy of this resolution that Congress should adopt reforms of budget and accounting practices to enable the public to better understand the fiscal situation of the United States and the options best suited to improving it.
(Sec. 617) States the policy of this resolution that congressional committees and federal agencies should work to reduce unnecessary and wasteful spending such as duplicative programs, improper payments, and inappropriate expenditures.
(Sec. 618) States the policy of this resolution on reducing the deficit by cancelling unobligated balances of funds that are no longer needed.
(Sec. 619) States the policy of this resolution to identify savings that can be achieved through greater productivity and efficiency gains in the operation and maintenance of the House of Representatives.
(Sec. 620) States the policy of this resolution that Congress must: (1) reassert its constitutional prerogative to control spending and conduct oversight; and (2) subject all agency fees received from the public to annual appropriations or authorization legislation, except fees that are for business-like activities or necessary to fund current operations.
(Sec. 621) States the policy of this resolution that Congress should enact legislation to improve border security by utilizing technology along the southern and northern borders, constructing fencing along southern border, and increasing border personnel.
(Sec. 622) States the policy of this resolution to support policies that prevent the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and the transfer or release of detainees.
(Sec. 623) States the policy of this resolution that the United States should: (1) suspend admission of refugees from such high-risk areas as Syria and Iraq until it can ensure that terrorists cannot exploit its refugee resettlement programs and vetting processes, and (2) make protecting Americans its highest priority before resettling additional refugees.
(Sec. 624) States the policy of this resolution that all receipts and disbursements of the U.S. Postal Service should be included in the congressional budget and the budget of the government.
(Sec. 625) States the policy of this resolution that the House should enforce this resolution by:
(Sec. 626) States the policy of this resolution that rules relating to unauthorized appropriations should be reviewed and reformed to ensure that unauthorized programs are either reauthorized, reformed, or terminated.
[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 125 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 356
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 125
[Report No. 114-470]
Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government
for fiscal year 2017 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels
for fiscal years 2018 through 2026.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 23, 2016
Mr. Tom Price of Georgia, from the Committee on the Budget, reported
the following concurrent resolution; which was committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to
be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government
for fiscal year 2017 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels
for fiscal years 2018 through 2026.
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
SECTION 1. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017.
(a) Declaration.--The Congress determines and declares that this
concurrent resolution establishes the budget for fiscal year 2017 and
sets forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2018 through
2026.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this concurrent
resolution is as follows:
Sec. 1. Concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2017.
TITLE I--RECOMMENDED LEVELS AND AMOUNTS
Sec. 101. Recommended levels and amounts.
Sec. 102. Major functional categories.
TITLE II--RECONCILIATION AND RELATED MATTERS
Sec. 201. Fiscal year 2017 budgetary agenda.
Sec. 202. Reconciliation in the House of Representatives.
Sec. 203. Policy statement on mandatory savings outside of the
reconciliation process.
Sec. 204. Policy statement on new mandatory spending controls.
Sec. 205. Policy statement on other budget process reforms.
TITLE III--BUDGET ENFORCEMENT
Subtitle A--Budget Enforcement in the House of Representatives
Sec. 301. Point of order against increasing long-term direct spending.
Sec. 302. Allocation for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on
Terrorism.
Sec. 303. Limitation on changes in certain mandatory programs.
Sec. 304. GAO report.
Sec. 305. Estimates of debt service costs.
Sec. 306. Fair-value credit estimates.
Sec. 307. Estimates of major direct spending legislation.
Sec. 308. Estimates of macroeconomic effects of major legislation.
Sec. 309. Adjustments for improved control of budgetary resources.
Sec. 310. Limitation on advance appropriations.
Sec. 311. Scoring rule for Energy Savings Performance Contracts.
Sec. 312. Estimates of land conveyances.
Sec. 313. Limitation on transfers from the general fund of the Treasury
to the Highway Trust Fund.
Sec. 314. Prohibition on the use of guarantee fees as an offset.
Sec. 315. Prohibition on use of Federal Reserve surpluses as an offset.
Subtitle B--Other Provisions
Sec. 321. Budgetary treatment of administrative expenses.
Sec. 322. Application and effect of changes in allocations and
aggregates.
Sec. 323. Adjustments to reflect changes in concepts and definitions.
Sec. 324. Adjustments to reflect updated budgetary estimates.
Sec. 325. Adjustment for certain emergency designations.
Sec. 326. Exercise of rulemaking powers.
TITLE IV--RESERVE FUNDS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Sec. 401. Deficit-neutral reserve fund to reduce poverty and increase
opportunity and upward mobility for
struggling Americans.
Sec. 402. Reserve fund for the repeal of the President's health care
law.
Sec. 403. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for promoting health care
reform.
Sec. 404. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for graduate medical education.
Sec. 405. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for trade agreements.
Sec. 406. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for reforming the tax code.
Sec. 407. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for revenue measures.
Sec. 408. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for Federal retirement reform.
Sec. 409. Deficit-neutral reserve fund for coal miner pension and
health care funds.
Sec. 410. Reserve fund for commercialization of Air Traffic Control.
TITLE V--ESTIMATES OF DIRECT SPENDING IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Sec. 501. Direct spending.
TITLE VI--POLICY STATEMENTS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Sec. 601. Policy statement on developing a bold agenda.
Sec. 602. Policy statement on a balanced budget amendment.
Sec. 603. Policy statement on reforming the congressional budget
process.
Sec. 604. Policy statement on economic growth and job creation.
Sec. 605. Policy statement on Federal regulatory budgeting and reform.
Sec. 606. Policy statement on tax reform.
Sec. 607. Policy statement on trade.
Sec. 608. Policy statement on Social Security.
Sec. 609. Policy statement on repealing the President's health care law
and promoting real health care reform.
Sec. 610. Policy statement on Medicare.
Sec. 611. Policy statement on medical discovery, development, delivery,
and innovation.
Sec. 612. Policy statement on public health preparedness.
Sec. 613. Policy statement on addressing the opioid abuse epidemic.
Sec. 614. Policy statement on higher education and workforce
development opportunity.
Sec. 615. Policy statement on the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 616. Policy statement on Federal accounting.
Sec. 617. Policy statement on reducing unnecessary and wasteful
spending.
Sec. 618. Policy statement on deficit reduction through the
cancellation of unobligated balances.
Sec. 619. Policy statement on responsible stewardship of taxpayer
dollars.
Sec. 620. Policy statement on expenditures from agency fees and
spending.
Sec. 621. Policy statement on border security.
Sec. 622. Policy statement on preventing the closure of the Guantanamo
Bay detention facility.
Sec. 623. Policy statement on refugees from conflict zones.
Sec. 624. Policy statement on moving the United States Postal Service
on budget.
Sec. 625. Policy statement on budget enforcement.
Sec. 626. Policy statement on unauthorized appropriations.
TITLE I--RECOMMENDED LEVELS AND AMOUNTS
SEC. 101. RECOMMENDED LEVELS AND AMOUNTS.
The following budgetary levels are appropriate for each of fiscal
years 2017 through 2026:
(1) Federal revenues.--For purposes of the enforcement of
this concurrent resolution:
(A) The recommended levels of Federal revenues are
as follows:
Fiscal year 2017: $2,692,937,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018: $2,799,875,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019: $2,902,418,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020: $3,040,763,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021: $3,168,226,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022: $3,301,656,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023: $3,443,940,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024: $3,595,338,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025: $3,762,041,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026: $3,936,429,000,000.
(B) The amounts by which the aggregate levels of
Federal revenues should be changed are as follows:
Fiscal year 2017: $10,700,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018: $26,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019: $43,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020: $41,400,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021: $42,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022: $41,900,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023: $43,400,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024: $43,400,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025: $42,200,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026: $41,000,000,000.
(2) New budget authority.--For purposes of the enforcement
of this concurrent resolution, the appropriate levels of total
new budget authority are as follows:
Fiscal year 2017: $3,086,332,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018: $2,984,016,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019: $3,084,551,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020: $3,192,964,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021: $3,254,411,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022: $3,319,284,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023: $3,443,779,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024: $3,551,204,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025: $3,624,651,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026: $3,704,462,000,000.
(3) Budget outlays.--For purposes of the enforcement of
this concurrent resolution, the appropriate levels of total
budget outlays are as follows:
Fiscal year 2017: $3,072,428,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018: $2,990,509,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019: $3,071,424,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020: $3,182,999,000,000
Fiscal year 2021: $3,252,237,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022: $3,321,899,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023: $3,420,907,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024: $3,509,889,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025: $3,578,931,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026: $3,675,084,000,000.
(4) Deficits (on-budget).--For purposes of the enforcement
of this concurrent resolution, the amounts of the deficits (on-
budget) are as follows:
Fiscal year 2017: -$379,491,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018: -$190,634,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019: -$169,006,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020: -$142,236,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021: -$84,011,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022: -$20,243,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023: $23,033,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024: $85,449,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025: $183,110,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026: $261,345,000,000.
(5) Debt subject to limit.--The appropriate levels of debt
subject to limit are as follows:
Fiscal year 2017: $19,848,354,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018: $20,314,389,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019: $20,647,523,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020: $20,904,600,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021: $21,161,285,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022: $21,296,902,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023: $21,510,772,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024: $21,598,523,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025: $21,373,459,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026: $21,412,056,000,000.
(6) Debt held by the public.--The appropriate levels of
debt held by the public are as follows:
Fiscal year 2017: $14,400,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018: $14,726,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019: $14,976,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020: $15,190,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021: $15,436,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022: $15,576,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023: $15,808,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024: $15,934,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025: $15,812,000,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026: $15,960,000,000,000.
SEC. 102. MAJOR FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES.
The Congress determines and declares that the appropriate levels of
new budget authority and outlays for fiscal years 2017 through 2026 for
each major functional category are:
(1) National Defense (050):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $559,254,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $566,461,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $593,759,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $574,049,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $607,553,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $592,442,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $619,761,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $605,138,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $631,991,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $617,088,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $644,193,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $634,044,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $657,101,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $641,635,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $670,425,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $649,501,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $683,163,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $667,016,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $698,114,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $681,216,000,000.
(2) International Affairs (150):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $39,780,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $43,705,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $39,778,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $40,260,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $39,777,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $39,273,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $38,852,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $38,830,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $38,726,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $38,404,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $39,784,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $38,893,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $40,805,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $39,506,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $41,694,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $40,102,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $42,622,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $40,735,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $43,596,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $41,473,000,000.
(3) General Science, Space, and Technology (250):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $30,215,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $30,451,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $30,855,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $30,654,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $31,500,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $31,174,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $32,174,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $31,732,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $32,879,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $32,297,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $33,585,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $32,957,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $34,326,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $33,678,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $35,070,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $34,390,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $35,845,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $35,148,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $36,658,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $35,933,000,000.
(4) Energy (270):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, -$2,914,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,442,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $1,601,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,119,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $1,675,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,239,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $1,683,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,155,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $1,747,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,164,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $1,816,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,186,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $1,888,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,218,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $1,959,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,243,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $2,029,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $1,263,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, -$189,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$927,000,000.
(5) Natural Resources and Environment (300):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $38,641,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $41,170,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $39,185,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $41,109,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $39,720,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $40,846,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $40,862,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $42,022,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $40,712,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $41,151,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $41,518,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $41,802,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $42,878,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $43,057,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $43,874,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $43,489,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $44,845,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $44,369,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $44,026,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $43,059,000,000.
(6) Agriculture (350):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $23,809,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $24,912,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $23,344,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $22,883,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $21,067,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,267,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $20,012,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,399,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $19,674,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,097,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $19,600,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,021,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $19,934,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,502,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $19,961,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,463,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $20,283,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $19,760,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $20,724,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,195,000,000.
(7) Commerce and Housing Credit (370):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, -$3,096,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$17,777,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, -$4,977,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$22,531,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, -$7,162,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$21,735,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, -$9,990,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$23,337,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, -$11,207,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$25,448,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, -$11,154,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$26,187,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, -$11,122,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$28,281,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, -$11,361,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$29,993,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, -$10,905,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$30,126,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, -$11,363,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$30,184,000,000.
(8) Transportation (400):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $87,879,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $90,628,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $89,099,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $89,793,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $90,727,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $91,114,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $84,831,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $92,137,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $64,777,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $86,962,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $65,727,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $77,691,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $66,762,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $73,991,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $67,794,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $73,041,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $68,887,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $72,534,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $70,000,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $72,380,000,000.
(9) Community and Regional Development (450):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $7,561,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $20,693,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $6,381,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $17,774,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $5,721,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $15,678,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $5,749,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $13,538,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $5,815,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $11,435,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $6,021,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $8,929,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $6,250,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $8,113,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $6,683,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $6,908,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $8,183,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $8,278,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $8,374,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $8,442,000,000.
(10) Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services
(500):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $78,795,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $91,997,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $84,083,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $85,833,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $85,451,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $86,078,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $86,862,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $87,440,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $88,102,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $88,757,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $88,818,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $89,802,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $93,490,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $92,500,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $94,414,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $95,172,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $95,476,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $96,493,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $96,049,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $97,506,000,000.
(11) Health (550):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $465,184,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $458,633,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $366,670,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $375,603,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $369,978,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $370,695,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $381,404,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $380,274,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $390,584,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $388,437,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $398,225,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $395,694,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $407,107,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $404,121,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $416,534,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $413,211,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $426,598,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $422,901,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $454,051,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $449,930,000,000.
(12) Medicare (570):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $590,086,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $590,068,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $583,750,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $583,690,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $643,371,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $643,267,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $684,911,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $684,816,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $731,321,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $731,237,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $817,737,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $817,648,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $834,731,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $834,638,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $839,165,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $839,021,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $914,301,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $914,164,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $973,544,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $973,401,000,000.
(13) Income Security (600):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $497,523,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $491,960,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $471,709,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $461,357,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $480,783,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $473,392,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $491,841,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $483,961,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $479,718,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $472,117,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $488,273,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $486,470,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $497,873,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $491,557,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $507,892,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $495,442,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $518,397,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $507,575,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $529,675,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $525,323,000,000.
(14) Social Security (650):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $37,199,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $37,227,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $40,124,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $40,141,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $43,373,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $43,373,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $46,627,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $46,627,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $50,035,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $50,035,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $53,677,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $53,677,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $57,540,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $57,540,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $61,645,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $61,645,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $66,076,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $66,076,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $70,376,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $70,376,000,000.
(15) Veterans Benefits and Services (700):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $174,766,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $182,047,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $173,539,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $174,275,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $187,777,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $187,312,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $194,202,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $193,407,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $200,763,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $199,856,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $217,151,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $216,047,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $214,690,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $213,505,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $211,449,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $210,297,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $229,055,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $227,790,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $236,447,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $235,210,000,000.
(16) Administration of Justice (750):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $64,515,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $58,672,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $59,085,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $59,739,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $60,630,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $62,389,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $62,172,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $64,685,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $63,250,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $64,691,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $64,866,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $65,051,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $66,560,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $66,555,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $68,275,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $68,059,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $70,357,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $69,986,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $73,432,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $73,381,000,000.
(17) General Government (800):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $23,367,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $22,749,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $22,293,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $21,650,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $22,087,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $21,516,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $21,924,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $21,629,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $21,758,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $21,565,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $23,680,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $23,221,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $23,932,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $23,647,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $24,183,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $23,924,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $24,426,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $24,177,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $24,620,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $24,391,000,000.
(18) Net Interest (900):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $393,678,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $393,678,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $446,615,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $446,615,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $499,334,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $499,334,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $540,201,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $540,201,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $569,849,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $569,849,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $594,309,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $594,309,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $620,683,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $620,683,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $638,813,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $638,813,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $648,404,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $648,404,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $655,665,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $655,665,000,000.
(19) Allowances (920):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, -$39,520,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$20,821,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, -$52,890,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$38,653,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, -$54,216,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$48,261,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, -$57,006,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$52,626,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, -$59,733,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$56,411,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, -$61,661,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$59,168,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, -$63,814,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$61,148,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, -$65,767,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$63,141,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, -$67,933,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$65,208,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, -$65,057,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$64,663,000,000.
(20) Government-wide savings and adjustments (930):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $34,478,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $14,610,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $32,662,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $46,700,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, -$29,983,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$22,263,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, -$37,042,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$29,889,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, -$45,175,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$37,802,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, -
$115,840,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$107,032,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, -$68,634,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$59,149,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, -$13,285,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$3,260,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, -$81,290,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$74,838,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, -
$131,037,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$113,780,000,000.
(21) Undistributed Offsetting Receipts (950):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, -$88,561,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$88,561,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, -$89,314,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$89,314,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, -$81,278,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$81,278,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, -$83,732,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$83,732,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, -$87,842,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$87,842,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, -$91,041,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$91,041,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, -$99,201,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$99,201,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, -
$108,213,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$108,213,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, -
$114,167,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$117,567,000,000.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, -
$123,243,000,000.
(B) Outlays, -$123,243,000,000.
(22) Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on
Terrorism (970):
Fiscal year 2017:
(A) New budget authority, $73,693,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $38,485,000,000.
Fiscal year 2018:
(A) New budget authority, $26,666,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $27,762,000,000.
Fiscal year 2019:
(A) New budget authority, $26,666,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $25,573,000,000.
Fiscal year 2020:
(A) New budget authority, $26,666,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $25,592,000,000.
Fiscal year 2021:
(A) New budget authority, $26,666,000,000.
(B) Outlays, $25,598,000,000.
Fiscal year 2022:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $8,884,000,000.
Fiscal year 2023:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $3,240,000,000.
Fiscal year 2024:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $776,000,000.
Fiscal year 2025:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $0.
Fiscal year 2026:
(A) New budget authority, $0.
(B) Outlays, $0.
TITLE II--RECONCILIATION AND RELATED MATTERS
SEC. 201. FISCAL YEAR 2017 BUDGETARY AGENDA.
It is the policy of this concurrent resolution that during the
second session of the 114th Congress, the appropriate committees of
jurisdiction and the House of Representatives will consider the
following:
(1) Reconciliation savings.--Legislation considered
pursuant to section 202 to achieve significant mandatory
savings as a down payment on the deficit reduction necessary to
achieve a balanced budget by fiscal year 2026.
(2) Mandatory savings outside of reconciliation.--
Legislation pursuant to section 203, that achieves mandatory
savings of not less than $30 billion outside of the
reconciliation process.
(3) Controls on new mandatory spending.--A measure to
control new mandatory spending, as described in section 204.
(4) Reform of the federal budget process.--Each measure to
reform the Federal budget process listed under paragraphs (1)
through (4) of section 205.
SEC. 202. RECONCILIATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
(a) Submission Providing for Deficit Reduction.--In order to carry
out section 201(1), not later than 90 days after the adoption of this
resolution, the committees named in subsection (b) shall submit their
recommendations on changes in laws within their jurisdictions to the
Committee on the Budget that would achieve the specified reduction in
the deficit for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
(b) Instructions.--
(1) Committee on agriculture.--The Committee on Agriculture
shall submit changes in laws within its jurisdiction sufficient
to reduce the deficit by $1,000,000,000 for the period of
fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
(2) Committee on armed services.--The Committee on Armed
Services shall submit changes in laws within its jurisdiction
sufficient to reduce the deficit by $100,000,000 for the period
of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
(3) Committee on education and the workforce.--The
Committee on Education and the Workforce shall submit changes
in laws within its jurisdiction sufficient to reduce the
deficit by $1,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2017
through 2026.
(4) Committee on energy and commerce.--The Committee on
Energy and Commerce shall submit changes in laws within its
jurisdiction sufficient to reduce the deficit by $1,000,000,000
for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
(5) Committee on financial services.--The Committee on
Financial Services shall submit changes in laws within its
jurisdiction sufficient to reduce the deficit by $1,000,000,000
for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
(6) Committee on homeland security.--The Committee on
Homeland Security shall submit changes in laws within its
jurisdiction sufficient to reduce the deficit by $15,000,000
for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
(7) Committee on the judiciary.--The Committee on the
Judiciary shall submit changes in laws within its jurisdiction
sufficient to reduce the deficit by $1,000,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
(8) Committee on natural resources.--The Committee on
Natural Resources shall submit changes in laws within its
jurisdiction sufficient to reduce the deficit by $100,000,000
for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
(9) Committee on oversight and government reform.--The
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform shall submit
changes in laws within its jurisdiction sufficient to reduce
the deficit by $1,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal years
2017 through 2026.
(10) Committee on transportation and infrastructure.--The
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure shall submit
changes in laws within its jurisdiction sufficient to reduce
the deficit by $100,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2017
through 2026.
(11) Committee on veterans' affairs.--The Committee on
Veterans' Affairs shall submit changes in laws within its
jurisdiction sufficient to reduce the deficit by $1,000,000,000
for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
(12) Committee on ways and means.--The Committee on Ways
and Means shall submit changes in laws within its jurisdiction
sufficient to reduce the deficit by $1,000,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
(c) Revision of Budgetary Levels.--
(1) In general.--In the House of Representatives, the chair
of the Committee on the Budget may file appropriately revised
allocations, aggregates, and functional levels upon the
consideration of a reconciliation measure under section 310 of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 or amendment thereto, or
the submission of a conference report to the House of
Representatives pursuant to this section, if it is in
compliance with the reconciliation directives by virtue of
section 310(c) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
(2) Revision.--Allocations and aggregates revised pursuant
to this subsection shall be considered to be the allocations
and aggregates established by this concurrent resolution on the
budget pursuant to section 301 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974.
SEC. 203. POLICY STATEMENT ON MANDATORY SAVINGS OUTSIDE OF THE
RECONCILIATION PROCESS.
(a) Policy Statement.--In order to carry out section 201(2), it is
the policy of this concurrent resolution that early in the second
session of the 114th Congress the House will consider legislation that
achieves mandatory savings of not less than $30,000,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years 2017 and 2018 and not less than $140,000,000,000
for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026 outside of the
reconciliation process.
(b) Savings to Be Achieved by Authorizing Committees.--The
following committees will consider legislation to achieve the savings
set forth in subsection (a):
(1) The Committee on Agriculture.
(2) The Committee on Energy and Commerce.
(3) The Committee on Financial Services.
(4) The Committee on the Judiciary.
(5) The Committee on Ways and Means.
(c) Major Reforms.--The major reforms to implement this section may
include, but are not limited to, the following policies:
(1) Recovering improper Obamacare subsidy payments.
(2) Eliminating enhanced Medicaid payments for prisoners.
(3) Ending Medicaid payments for lottery winners.
(d) Procedures.--Consideration in the House of Representatives of a
measure described in subsection (a) will be pursuant to such procedures
as the House may prescribe, including--
(1) as a stand-alone measure; and
(2) in conjunction with another measure or measures with a
fiscal impact.
(e) Scoring.--In the House of Representatives, for purposes of
budget enforcement of legislation introduced under this section, any
changes in direct spending and outlays resulting from the measure shall
be counted against the appropriate authorizing committee's allocation
under section 302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
SEC. 204. POLICY STATEMENT ON NEW MANDATORY SPENDING CONTROLS.
In order to carry out section 201(3), it is the policy of this
concurrent resolution that during the 114th Congress the appropriate
committees of the House of Representatives will consider a measure to
control new mandatory spending. The measure may include the following:
(1) Limitations on the authorization of new mandatory
spending programs, except for programs authorized to replace or
restructure existing programs as part of welfare reform and
health care reform and other structural reforms of existing
programs.
(2) A requirement that mandatory spending programs are
periodically reviewed or reauthorized.
(3) Focusing statutory pay-as-you-go procedures on
legislation increasing mandatory spending.
(4) Permitting reconciliation bills to include provisions
to control mandatory spending.
(5) Strict limitations on the ability to reclassify
historically discretionary spending programs into mandatory
spending programs as a means of circumventing discretionary
spending limits.
SEC. 205. POLICY STATEMENT ON OTHER BUDGET PROCESS REFORMS.
In order to carry out section 201(4), it is the policy of this
concurrent resolution that during the 114th Congress, the appropriate
committees of the House of Representatives will consider the following
Federal budget process reforms:
(1) An amendment to the Constitution providing for a
balanced budget.
(2) A baseline budgeting measure.
(3) Requirements relating to unauthorized programs.
(4) Such other proposals and reforms addressing budget
process reform as may be recommended by the appropriate
committees of jurisdiction.
TITLE III--BUDGET ENFORCEMENT
Subtitle A--Budget Enforcement in the House of Representatives
SEC. 301. POINT OF ORDER AGAINST INCREASING LONG-TERM DIRECT SPENDING.
(a) Congressional Budget Office Analysis of Proposals.--The
Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall, to the extent
practicable, prepare an estimate of whether a measure would cause a net
increase in direct spending in the House of Representatives, in excess
of $5,000,000,000 in any of the 4 consecutive 10-fiscal year periods
beginning with the first fiscal year that is 10 fiscal years after the
budget year provided for in the most recently agreed to concurrent
resolution on the budget in the House of Representatives, for each bill
or joint resolution other than an appropriation measure and any
amendment thereto or conference report thereon.
(b) Point of Order.--It shall not be in order in the House of
Representatives to consider any bill or joint resolution, or amendment
thereto or conference report thereon, that would cause a net increase
in direct spending in excess of $5,000,000,000 in any of the 4
consecutive 10-fiscal year periods described in subsection (a).
(c) Limitation.--In the House of Representatives, the provisions of
this section shall not apply to any bills or joint resolutions, or
amendments thereto or conference reports thereon, for which the chair
of the Committee on the Budget has made adjustments to the allocations,
levels, or limits contained in this concurrent resolution pursuant to
section 402 or 410.
(d) Determinations of Budget Levels.--For purposes of this section,
the levels of net increases in direct spending shall be determined on
the basis of estimates provided by the chair of the Committee on the
Budget of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 302. ALLOCATION FOR OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS/GLOBAL WAR ON
TERRORISM.
(a) Separate Allocation for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global
War on Terrorism.--In the House of Representatives, there shall be a
separate allocation of new budget authority and outlays provided to the
Committee on Appropriations for the purposes of Overseas Contingency
Operations/Global War on Terrorism, which shall be deemed to be an
allocation under section 302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974. Section 302(a)(3) of such Act shall not apply to such separate
allocation.
(b) 302 Allocations.--The separate allocation referred to in
subsection (a) shall be the exclusive allocation for Overseas
Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism under section 302(b) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. The Committee on Appropriations
of the House of Representatives may provide suballocations of such
separate allocation under such section 302(b).
(c) Application.--For purposes of enforcing the separate allocation
referred to in subsection (a) under section 302(f) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974, the ``first fiscal year'' and the ``total of fiscal
years'' shall be deemed to refer to fiscal year 2017. Section 302(c) of
such Act shall not apply to such separate allocation.
(d) Designations.--New budget authority or outlays shall only be
counted toward the allocation referred to in subsection (a) if
designated pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
(e) Adjustments.--For purposes of subsection (a) for fiscal year
2017, no adjustment shall be made under section 314(a) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 if any adjustment would be made under
section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985.
(f) Adjustments to Fund Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War
on Terrorism.--In the House of Representatives, the chair of the
Committee on the Budget may adjust the allocations, aggregates, and
other appropriate budgetary levels related to Overseas Contingency
Operations/Global War on Terrorism or the allocation under section
302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to the Committee on
Appropriations set forth in the report or joint explanatory statement
of managers, as applicable, accompanying this concurrent resolution to
account for new information.
SEC. 303. LIMITATION ON CHANGES IN CERTAIN MANDATORY PROGRAMS.
(a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``change in mandatory
programs'' means a provision that--
(1) would have been estimated as affecting direct spending
or receipts under section 252 of the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (as in effect prior to
September 30, 2002) if the provision was included in
legislation other than appropriation Acts; and
(2) results in a net decrease in budget authority in the
budget year, but does not result in a net decrease in outlays
over the period of the total of the current year, the budget
year, and all fiscal years covered under the most recently
agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget.
(b) Point of Order in the House of Representatives.--
(1) In general.--A provision in a bill or joint resolution
making appropriations for a full fiscal year that proposes a
change in mandatory programs that, if enacted, would cause the
absolute value of the total budget authority of all such change
in mandatory programs enacted in relation to a full fiscal year
to be more than the amount specified in paragraph (3), shall
not be in order in the House of Representatives.
(2) Amendments and conference reports.--It shall not be in
order in the House of Representatives to consider an amendment
to, or a conference report on, a bill or joint resolution
making appropriations for a full fiscal year if such amendment
thereto or conference report thereon proposes a change in
mandatory programs that, if enacted, would cause the absolute
value of the total budget authority of all such change in
mandatory programs enacted in relation to a full fiscal year to
be more than the amount specified in paragraph (3).
(3) Amount.--The amount specified in this paragraph is--
(A) for fiscal year 2017, $19,100,000,000;
(B) for fiscal year 2018, $17,000,000,000; and
(C) for fiscal year 2019, $15,000,000,000.
(c) Determination.--For purposes of this section, budgetary levels
shall be determined on the basis of estimates provided by the chair of
the Committee on the Budget.
SEC. 304. GAO REPORT.
(a) GAO Submission.--At a date specified by the chair of the
Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives, the
Comptroller General, in consultation with the chair, the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office, and the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, shall submit to the chair a comprehensive list
of all current direct spending programs of the Government.
(b) Publication.--The chair of the Committee on the Budget shall
cause to be printed in the Congressional Record the list submitted
under subsection (a). The chair shall publish such list on the
Committee's public Web site. Such publication shall be searchable,
sortable, and downloadable.
SEC. 305. ESTIMATES OF DEBT SERVICE COSTS.
In the House of Representatives, the chair of the Committee on the
Budget may direct the Congressional Budget Office to include in any
estimate prepared under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 with respect to any bill or joint resolution, or an estimate of an
amendment thereto or conference report thereon, an estimate of any
change in debt service costs (if any) resulting from carrying out such
bill or resolution. Any estimate of debt servicing costs provided under
this section shall be advisory and shall not be used for purposes of
enforcement of such Act, the Rules of the House of Representatives, or
this concurrent resolution. This section shall not apply to
authorizations of discretionary programs or to appropriation measures,
but shall apply to changes in the authorization level of appropriated
entitlements.
SEC. 306. FAIR-VALUE CREDIT ESTIMATES.
(a) All Credit Programs.--Whenever the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office provides an estimate of any measure that
establishes or modifies any program providing loans or loan guarantees,
the Director shall, to the extent practicable, provide a supplemental
fair-value estimate of any loan or loan guarantee program if requested
by the chair of the Committee on the Budget.
(b) Student Financial Assistance and Housing Programs.--The
Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall provide a
supplemental fair-value estimate as part of any estimate for any
measure establishing or modifying a program providing loans or loan
guarantees for student financial assistance or housing (including
residential mortgage).
(c) Baseline Estimates.--The Congressional Budget Office shall
include estimates, on a fair-value and credit reform basis, of loan and
loan guarantee programs for student financial assistance, housing
(including residential mortgage), and such other major loan and loan
guarantee programs, as practicable, in its Budget and Economic Outlook:
2018 to 2027.
SEC. 307. ESTIMATES OF MAJOR DIRECT SPENDING LEGISLATION.
The Congressional Budget Office shall prepare, to the extent
practicable, an estimate of the outlay changes during the second and
third decade of enactment for any direct spending legislative
provision--
(1) that proposes a change or changes to law that the
Congressional Budget Office determines has an outlay impact in
excess of 0.25 percent of the gross domestic product of the
United States during the first decade or in the tenth year; or
(2) for which the chair of the Committee on the Budget of
the House of Representatives requests such an estimate.
SEC. 308. ESTIMATES OF MACROECONOMIC EFFECTS OF MAJOR LEGISLATION.
(a) CBO and JCT Estimates.--During the 114th and 115th Congresses,
any estimate provided by the Congressional Budget Office under section
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 or by the Joint Committee
on Taxation to the Congressional Budget Office under section 201(f) of
such Act for major legislation considered in the House of
Representatives shall, to the extent practicable, incorporate the
budgetary effects of changes in economic output, employment, capital
stock, and other macroeconomic variables resulting from such major
legislation.
(b) Contents.--Any estimate referred to in subsection (a) shall, to
the extent practicable, include--
(1) a qualitative assessment of the budgetary effects
(including macroeconomic variables described in subsection (a))
of major legislation in the 20-fiscal year period beginning
after the last fiscal year of the most recently agreed to
concurrent resolution on the budget that sets forth budgetary
levels required under section 301 of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974; and
(2) an identification of the critical assumptions and the
source of data underlying that estimate.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Major legislation.--The term ``major legislation''
means a bill or joint resolution, or amendment thereto or
conference report thereon--
(A) for which an estimate is required to be
prepared pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 and that causes a gross budgetary
effect (before incorporating macroeconomic effects and
not including timing shifts) in a fiscal year in the
period of years of the most recently agreed to
concurrent resolution on the budget equal to or greater
than 0.25 percent of the current projected gross
domestic product of the United States for that fiscal
year; or
(B) designated as such by--
(i) the chair of the Committee on the
Budget of the House of Representatives for all
direct spending and revenue legislation; or
(ii) the Member who is Chairman or Vice
Chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation for
revenue legislation.
(2) Budgetary effects.--The term ``budgetary effects''
means changes in revenues, direct spending outlays, and
deficits.
(3) Timing shifts.--The term ``timing shifts'' means--
(A) provisions that cause a delay of the date on
which outlays flowing from direct spending would
otherwise occur from one fiscal year to the next fiscal
year; or
(B) provisions that cause an acceleration of the
date on which revenues would otherwise occur from one
fiscal year to the prior fiscal year.
SEC. 309. ADJUSTMENTS FOR IMPROVED CONTROL OF BUDGETARY RESOURCES.
(a) Adjustments of Discretionary and Direct Spending Levels.--In
the House of Representatives, if a committee (other than the Committee
on Appropriations) reports a bill or joint resolution, or any amendment
thereto is offered or any conference report thereon is submitted,
providing for a decrease in direct spending (budget authority and
outlays flowing therefrom) for any fiscal year and also provides for an
authorization of appropriations for the same purpose, upon the
enactment of such measure, the chair of the Committee on the Budget may
decrease the allocation to such committee and increase the allocation
of discretionary spending (budget authority and outlays flowing
therefrom) to the Committee on Appropriations for fiscal year 2017 by
an amount equal to the new budget authority (and outlays flowing
therefrom) provided for in a bill or joint resolution making
appropriations for the same purpose.
(b) Determinations.--In the House of Representatives, for purposes
of enforcing this concurrent resolution, the allocations and aggregate
levels of new budget authority, outlays, direct spending, revenues,
deficits, and surpluses for fiscal year 2017 and the period of fiscal
years 2017 through 2026 shall be determined on the basis of estimates
made by the chair of the Committee on the Budget and such chair may
adjust the applicable levels in this concurrent resolution.
SEC. 310. LIMITATION ON ADVANCE APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--In the House of Representatives, except as
provided for in subsection (b), any bill or joint resolution, or
amendment thereto or conference report thereon, making a general
appropriation or continuing appropriation may not provide advance
appropriations.
(b) Exceptions.--An advance appropriation may be provided for
programs, projects, activities, or accounts identified in the report or
the joint explanatory statement of managers, as applicable,
accompanying this concurrent resolution under the heading--
(1) General.--``Accounts Identified for Advance
Appropriations''.
(2) Veterans.--``Veterans Accounts Identified for Advance
Appropriations''.
(c) Limitations.--The aggregate level of advance appropriations
shall not exceed--
(1) General.--$28,852,000,000 in new budget authority for
all programs identified pursuant to subsection (b)(1).
(2) Veterans.--$66,385,032,000 in new budget authority for
programs in the Department of Veterans Affairs identified
pursuant to subsection (b)(2).
(d) Definition.--The term ``advance appropriation'' means any new
discretionary budget authority provided in a bill or joint resolution,
or any amendment thereto or conference report thereon, making general
appropriations or continuing appropriations, for the fiscal year
following fiscal year 2017.
SEC. 311. SCORING RULE FOR ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS.
(a) In General.--The Director of the Congressional Budget Office
shall estimate provisions of any bill or joint resolution, or amendment
thereto or conference report thereon that affects the use of any
covered energy savings contract on a net present value basis.
(b) NPV Calculations.--The net present value of any covered energy
savings contract shall be calculated as follows:
(1) The discount rate shall reflect market risk.
(2) The cash flows shall include, whether classified as
mandatory or discretionary, payments to contractors under the
terms of their contracts, payments to contractors for other
services, and direct savings in energy and energy-related
costs.
(3) The stream of payments shall cover the period covered
by the contracts but not to exceed 25 years.
(c) Definition.--As used in this section, the term ``covered energy
savings contract'' means--
(1) an energy savings performance contract authorized under
section 801 of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act; or
(2) a utility energy service contract, as described in the
Office of Management and Budget Memorandum on Federal use of
energy savings performance contracting, dated July 25, 1998 (M-
98-13), and the Office of Management and Budget Memorandum on
the Federal use of energy saving performance contracts and
utility energy service contracts, dated September 28, 2012 (M-
12-21), or any successor to either memorandum.
(d) Enforcement in the House of Representatives.--In the House of
Representatives, if any present value calculated under subsection (b)
results in a net savings, then such savings may not be used as an
offset for purposes of budget enforcement.
(e) Classification of Spending.--For purposes of budget
enforcement, the estimated net present value of the budget authority
provided by the measure, and outlays flowing therefrom, shall be
classified as direct spending.
(f) Sense of the House of Representatives.--It is the sense of the
House of Representatives that--
(1) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in
consultation with the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office, should separately identify the cash flows under
subsection (b)(2) and include such information in the
President's annual budget submission under section 1105(a) of
title 31, United States Code; and
(2) the scoring method used in this section should not be
used to score any contracts other than covered energy savings
contracts.
SEC. 312. ESTIMATES OF LAND CONVEYANCES.
In the House of Representatives, the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office shall include in any estimate prepared under section 402
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 with respect to any measure
that conveys Federal land to any non-Federal entity--
(1) the methodology used to calculate such estimate;
(2) a detailed justification of its estimate of any change
in revenue, offsetting receipts, or offsetting collections
resulting from such conveyance;
(3) if requested by the chair of the Committee on the
Budget, any information provided by the Bureau of Land
Management or other applicable Federal agency, including the
source and date of such information, that supports the estimate
of any change in revenue, offsetting receipts, or offsetting
collections;
(4) a description of any efforts to independently verify
such agency estimate; and
(5) a statement of the assumptions underlying the estimate
of the budgetary effects that would be generated by such parcel
in CBO's baseline projections as of the most recent publication
or update.
SEC. 313. LIMITATION ON TRANSFERS FROM THE GENERAL FUND OF THE TREASURY
TO THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND.
In the House of Representatives, for purposes of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974, the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control
Act of 1985, and the rules or orders of the House of Representatives, a
bill or joint resolution, or an amendment thereto or conference report
thereon, that transfers funds from the general fund of the Treasury to
the Highway Trust Fund shall be counted as new budget authority and
outlays equal to the amount of the transfer in the fiscal year the
transfer occurs.
SEC. 314. PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF GUARANTEE FEES AS AN OFFSET.
In the House of Representatives, any provision of a bill or joint
resolution, or amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that
increases, or extends the increase of, any guarantee fees of the
Federal National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation shall not be counted for purposes of enforcing the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this concurrent resolution, or clause
10 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 315. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL RESERVE SURPLUSES AS AN OFFSET.
In the House of Representatives, any provision of a bill or joint
resolution, or amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that
transfers any portion of the net surplus of the Federal Reserve System
to the general fund of the Treasury shall not be counted for purposes
of enforcing the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this concurrent
resolution, or clause 10 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
Subtitle B--Other Provisions
SEC. 321. BUDGETARY TREATMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
(a) In General.--In the House of Representatives, notwithstanding
section 302(a)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, section
13301 of the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990, and section 2009a of title
39, United States Code, the report or the joint explanatory statement,
as applicable, accompanying this concurrent resolution shall include in
its allocation under section 302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 to the Committee on Appropriations amounts for the discretionary
administrative expenses of the Social Security Administration and the
United States Postal Service.
(b) Special Rule.--In the House of Representatives, for purposes of
enforcing section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974,
estimates of the level of total new budget authority and total outlays
provided by a measure shall include any discretionary amounts described
in subsection (a).
SEC. 322. APPLICATION AND EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ALLOCATIONS AND
AGGREGATES.
(a) Application.--In the House of Representatives, any adjustments
of allocations and aggregates made pursuant to this concurrent
resolution shall--
(1) apply while that measure is under consideration;
(2) take effect upon the enactment of that measure; and
(3) be published in the Congressional Record as soon as
practicable.
(b) Effect of Changed Allocations and Aggregates.--Revised
allocations and aggregates resulting from these adjustments shall be
considered for the purposes of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 as
the allocations and aggregates contained in this concurrent resolution.
(c) Budget Committee Determinations.--For purposes of this
concurrent resolution, the budgetary levels for a fiscal year or period
of fiscal years shall be determined on the basis of estimates made by
the chair of the Committee on the Budget of the House of
Representatives.
(d) Aggregates, Allocations and Application.--In the House of
Representatives, for purposes of this concurrent resolution and budget
enforcement, the consideration of any bill or joint resolution, or
amendment thereto or conference report thereon, for which the chair of
the Committee on the Budget makes adjustments or revisions in the
allocations, aggregates, and other budgetary levels of this concurrent
resolution shall not be subject to the points of order set forth in
clause 10 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives or
section 301 of this concurrent resolution.
SEC. 323. ADJUSTMENTS TO REFLECT CHANGES IN CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS.
In the House of Representatives, the chair of the Committee on the
Budget may adjust the appropriate aggregates, allocations, and other
budgetary levels in this concurrent resolution for any change in
budgetary concepts and definitions in accordance with section 251(b)(1)
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
SEC. 324. ADJUSTMENTS TO REFLECT UPDATED BUDGETARY ESTIMATES.
In the House of Representatives, the chair of the Committee on the
Budget may revise the appropriate aggregates, allocations, and other
budgetary levels in this concurrent resolution to reflect any
adjustments to the baseline made by the Congressional Budget Office in
March 2016.
SEC. 325. ADJUSTMENT FOR CERTAIN EMERGENCY DESIGNATIONS.
In the House of Representatives, the chair of the Committee on the
Budget may adjust the appropriate aggregates, allocations, and other
budgetary levels for any bill or joint resolution, or amendment thereto
or conference report thereon, that designates an emergency under
section 4(g)(2) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.
SEC. 326. EXERCISE OF RULEMAKING POWERS.
The House of Representatives adopts the provisions of this title
and title II--
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the House of
Representatives, and as such they shall be considered as part
of the rules of the House of Representatives, and such rules
shall supersede other rules only to the extent that they are
inconsistent with such other rules; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of
the House of Representatives to change those rules at any time,
in the same manner, and to the same extent as is the case of
any other rule of the House of Representatives.
TITLE IV--RESERVE FUNDS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEC. 401. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND TO REDUCE POVERTY AND INCREASE
OPPORTUNITY AND UPWARD MOBILITY FOR STRUGGLING AMERICANS.
In the House of Representatives, the chair of the Committee on the
Budget may revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
budgetary levels in this concurrent resolution for any bill or joint
resolution, or amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that
reduces poverty and increases opportunity and upward mobility for
struggling Americans on the road to personal and financial independence
by the amounts provided in such legislation for those purposes, if such
legislation would neither adversely impact job creation nor increase
the deficit over the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
SEC. 402. RESERVE FUND FOR THE REPEAL OF THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE
LAW.
In the House of Representatives, the chair of the Committee on the
Budget may revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
budgetary levels in this concurrent resolution for the budgetary
effects of any bill or joint resolution, or amendment thereto or
conference report thereon, that repeals the Affordable Care Act and the
health care related provisions of the Health Care and Education
Reconciliation Act of 2010.
SEC. 403. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR PROMOTING HEALTH CARE
REFORM.
In the House of Representatives, the chair of the Committee on the
Budget may revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
budgetary levels in this concurrent resolution for the budgetary
effects of any bill or joint resolution, or amendment thereto or
conference report thereon, that promotes health care reform if such
measure would not increase the deficit over the period of fiscal years
2017 through 2026.
SEC. 404. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION.
In the House of Representatives, the chair of the Committee on the
Budget may revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
budgetary levels in this concurrent resolution for any bill or joint
resolution, or amendment thereto or conference report thereon, if such
measure reforms, expands access to, and improves graduate medical
education programs if such measure would not increase the deficit over
the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
SEC. 405. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR TRADE AGREEMENTS.
In the House of Representatives, the chair of the Committee on the
Budget may revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
budgetary levels in this concurrent resolution for the budgetary
effects of any bill or joint resolution reported by the Committee on
Ways and Means, or amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that
such chair determines are necessary to implement a trade agreement, and
the budgetary levels for any companion measure that offsets such trade
measure, if the combined cost of each measure would not increase the
deficit over the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
SEC. 406. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR REFORMING THE TAX CODE.
In the House of Representatives, if the Committee on Ways and Means
reports a bill or joint resolution that reforms the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, the chair of the Committee on the Budget may revise the
allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate budgetary levels in this
concurrent resolution for the budgetary effects of any such bill or
joint resolution, or amendment thereto or conference report thereon, if
such measure would not increase the deficit over the period of fiscal
years 2017 through 2026.
SEC. 407. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR REVENUE MEASURES.
In the House of Representatives, the chair of the Committee on the
Budget may revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
budgetary levels in this concurrent resolution for the budgetary
effects of any bill or joint resolution reported by the Committee on
Ways and Means, or amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that
decreases revenue if such measure would not increase the deficit over
the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
SEC. 408. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR FEDERAL RETIREMENT REFORM.
In the House of Representatives, the chair of the Committee on the
Budget may revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
budgetary levels in this concurrent resolution for any bill or joint
resolution, or amendment thereto or conference report thereon, if such
measure reforms, improves, and updates the Federal retirement system
and would not increase the deficit over the period of fiscal years 2017
through 2026.
SEC. 409. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND FOR COAL MINER PENSION AND
HEALTH CARE FUNDS.
In the House of Representatives, the chair of the Committee on the
Budget may revise the allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate
budgetary levels in this concurrent resolution for any bill or joint
resolution, or amendment thereto or conference report thereon, to
address the immediate funding shortfall in coal miner pension and
health care funds if such measure would not increase the deficit over
the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
SEC. 410. RESERVE FUND FOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL.
(a) In General.--In the House of Representatives, the chair of the
Committee on the Budget may make the adjustments under subsection (b)
for a bill or joint resolution, or amendment thereto or conference
report thereon, that commercializes the operations of the air traffic
control system if such measure reduces the discretionary spending
limits in section 251(c) of the Balanced and Emergency Deficit Control
Act of 1985 by the amount that was appropriated to the Federal Aviation
Administration for air traffic control.
(b) Adjustments.--For the measure described in subsection (a), the
chair of the Committee on the Budget may adjust the section 302(a)
allocations of the appropriate committees of jurisdiction by the amount
of new budget authority provided by such measure and outlays flowing
therefrom, make corresponding changes to the aggregate levels of new
budget authority and outlays in this concurrent resolution, and reduce
the revenue aggregate in such resolution by the amount of the reduction
in revenue resulting from such measure.
TITLE V--ESTIMATES OF DIRECT SPENDING IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEC. 501. DIRECT SPENDING.
(a) Means-Tested Direct Spending.--
(1) Findings.--The House of Representatives finds the
following:
(A) For means-tested direct spending, the average
rate of growth in the total level of outlays during the
10-year period preceding fiscal year 2017 is 7.3
percent.
(B) For means-tested direct spending, the estimated
average rate of growth in the total level of outlays
during the 10-year period beginning with fiscal year
2017 is 4.3 percent under current law.
(2) Proposed reforms.--The following reforms are proposed
under this concurrent resolution by the House of
Representatives for means-tested direct spending:
(A) In 1996, a Republican Congress and a Democratic
President reformed welfare by limiting the duration of
benefits, giving States more control over the program,
and helping recipients find work. In the 5 years
following passage, child-poverty rates fell, welfare
caseloads fell, and workers' wages increased. This
concurrent resolution assumes the enactment of
proposals to reduce poverty and increase opportunity
and upward mobility for struggling Americans on the
road to personal and financial independence. Based on
the successful welfare reforms of the 1990s, these
proposals would improve work requirements and provide
flexible funding for States to help those most in need
find gainful employment, escape poverty, and move up
the economic ladder.
(B) For Medicaid, this concurrent resolution is
predicated on a framework proposed by the chairs of the
committees of jurisdiction of the House of
Representatives, to modernize and improve the program
while increasing State flexibility and protecting the
most vulnerable populations. This concurrent resolution
also assumes the repeal of the Medicaid expansions in
the President's health care law.
(b) Nonmeans-Tested Direct Spending.--
(1) Findings.--The House of Representatives finds the
following:
(A) For nonmeans-tested direct spending, the
average rate of growth in the total level of outlays
during the 10-year period preceding fiscal year 2017 is
5.1 percent.
(B) For nonmeans-tested direct spending, the
estimated average rate of growth in the total level of
outlays during the 10-year period beginning with fiscal
year 2017 is 5.5 percent under current law.
(2) Proposed reforms.--For Medicare, this concurrent
resolution advances policies to put seniors, not the Federal
Government, in control of their health care decisions. Putting
seniors in charge of how their health care dollars are spent
will encourage providers to compete against each other on price
and quality. Improvements to Medicare are necessary to extend
the life of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and
protect the program for future generations.
TITLE VI--POLICY STATEMENTS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEC. 601. POLICY STATEMENT ON DEVELOPING A BOLD AGENDA.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, has called for a bold, pro-
growth agenda to reestablish a confident America.
(2) Today's challenges require solutions based on the
principles that have served as the cornerstone of American
strength, free enterprise, compassion, and exceptionalism.
(3) On February 4, 2016, the Speaker announced the
formation of 6 task forces. Each task force will submit
recommendations in the following areas:
(A) National security.--This task force is
responsible for developing an overarching strategy and
the required military capabilities to confront 21st
century national security threats.
(B) Tax reform.--This task force will seek to
create jobs, grow the economy, and raise wages by
reducing tax rates, removing special interest
exceptions, and making the tax code simpler and fairer.
(C) Reducing regulatory burdens.--This task force
is charged with reducing bureaucracy in the regulatory
system, facilitating investment and productivity,
constructing infrastructure, and removing regulatory
obstacles on small businesses and employers. These
goals will be achieved while retaining protections for
the environment, public safety, and consumer interests.
(D) Health care reform.--This task force will
review appropriate methods to repeal and replace
Obamacare with a patient-centered system giving
patients more choice and control, increasing quality,
and reducing costs.
(E) Poverty, opportunity, and upward mobility.--
This task force will identify ways to strengthen the
safety net and reform educational programs to make them
more effective and accountable, help people move from
welfare to work, and empower productive lives.
(F) Restoring constitutional authority.--This task
force will strive to reclaim power ceded to the
executive branch by reforming the rulemaking process,
checking agency authority, exercising the power of the
purse, and enhancing congressional oversight.
(4) This concurrent resolution promotes and advances an
agenda to address the Nation's challenges.
(b) Policy on Developing a Bold Agenda.--It is the policy of this
concurrent resolution that the appropriate committees of jurisdiction
in the House should consider in the 115th Congress recommendations
developed by the Speaker's task forces on health care reform; reducing
regulatory burdens; poverty, opportunity, and upward mobility; national
security; tax reform; and restoring constitutional authority.
SEC. 602. POLICY STATEMENT ON A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) The Government will collect approximately $3.4 trillion
in taxes, but spend more than $3.9 trillion to maintain its
operations, borrowing 14 cents of every Federal dollar spent.
(2) At the end of 2015, the national debt of the United
States was more than $18.9 trillion.
(3) A majority of States have petitioned the Government to
hold a constitutional convention to adopt a balanced budget
amendment to the Constitution.
(4) Forty nine States have fiscal limitations in their
State constitutions, including the requirement to annually
balance the budget.
(5) Numerous balanced budget amendment proposals have been
introduced on a bipartisan basis in the House. Currently in the
114th Congress, 17 joint resolutions proposing a balanced
budget amendment have been introduced, including a resolution
offered by Representative Dave Brat of Virginia and a
resolution offered by Representative Tom McClintock of
California.
(6) In the 111th Congress, the House considered H. J. Res.
2, sponsored by Representative Robert W. Goodlatte of Virginia,
although it received 262 aye votes, it did not receive the two-
thirds required for passage.
(7) In 1995, a balanced budget amendment to the
Constitution passed the House with bipartisan support, but
failed to pass by one vote in the United States Senate.
(8) Four States, including Georgia, Alaska, Mississippi,
and North Dakota, have agreed to the Compact for a Balanced
Budget, which is seeking to amend the Constitution to require a
balanced budget through an Article V convention by April 12,
2021.
(b) Policy on a Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment.--It is
the policy of this concurrent resolution that Congress should propose a
balanced budget constitutional amendment for ratification by the
States.
SEC. 603. POLICY STATEMENT ON REFORMING THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
PROCESS.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) Enactment of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act of 1974 was the first step toward restoring
constitutionally endowed legislative responsibility over
fundamental budget decision making.
(2) The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 specifically set
forth its purposes in section 2. It was designed to--
(A) establish congressional control over the budget
process;
(B) provide for annual congressional determination
of a level of taxes and spending;
(C) set important national budget priorities; and
(D) find methods to facilitate the access of
Members of Congress to the most accurate, objective,
and high-quality information available to assist them
in discharging their duties.
(3) However, the congressional budget process has neither
constrained spending nor inhibited the expansion of Government.
The growth of the Government, primarily through a multiplicity
of mandatory programs and other forms of direct spending, has
largely been financed through borrowing and high tax rates.
(4) The enforcement of the current budget process,
including congressional points of order and statutory spending
limits, have been too often waived or circumvented. This
contributes to a lack of accountability, which has led to broad
agreement that reforming the system is a high necessity.
(b) Policy on Reforming the Congressional Budget Process.--It is
the policy of this concurrent resolution that Congress should--
(1) restructure the fundamental procedures of budget
decision making;
(2) reassert congressional power over spending and revenue,
restore the balance of power between Congress and the President
as the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 intended, and attain
the maximum level of accountability for budget decisions
through efficient and rigorous enforcement of budget rules;
(3) improve incentives for lawmakers to budget as intended
by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, especially by adopting
an annual budget resolution;
(4) encourage more effective control over spending,
especially currently uncontrolled direct spending;
(5) revise the methodology used in developing the baseline,
which is intended to reflect an objective projection of the
budgetary effects of current laws and policies for future
fiscal years, by removing any tendency toward assuming higher
spending levels;
(6) promote efficient and timely budget actions to ensure
lawmakers complete their budget actions before the start of the
new fiscal year;
(7) provide access to the best analysis of economic
conditions available and increase awareness of how fiscal
policy directly impacts economic growth and job creation;
(8) eliminate the complexity of the budget process and the
biases that favor higher spending;
(9) include procedures that treat extensions of current tax
laws on a comparable basis to the extension of mandatory
programs; and
(10) require procedures that make the budgetary effects of
Government policies on individual taxpayers more apparent, such
as requiring the President's annual budget submission to
Congress provide an estimate of the pro rated share of any
projected debt for the current fiscal year to any individual
who files an income tax return.
(c) Legislation.--The Committee on the Budget of the House intends
to draft legislation during the 114th Congress that rewrites the
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to fulfill the
goals of making the congressional budget process more effective in
ensuring taxpayers' dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. Such
legislation shall--
(1) attain greater simplicity without sacrificing the rigor
required to address--
(A) the complex issues of the domestic and world
economy;
(B) national security responsibilities; and
(C) the appropriate roles of rulemaking and
statutory enforcement mechanisms;
(2) establish a new structure that assures the
congressional role in the budget process is applied
consistently without reliance on reactive legislating;
(3) improve the elements of the current budget process that
have fulfilled the original purposes of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974; and
(4) rebuild the foundation of the budget process to provide
a solid basis from which additional reforms may be developed.
SEC. 604. POLICY STATEMENT ON ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) Although the United States economy technically emerged
from recession nearly 7 years ago, the subsequent recovery has
felt more like a malaise than a rebound. Real gross domestic
product (GDP) growth since 2010 has averaged just over 2
percent annually, well below the 3 percent historical trend
rate of growth in the United States. The Nation remains in the
midst of the weakest economic recovery of the modern era.
Sluggish economic growth has also contributed to the country's
fiscal woes because revenue levels are lower than they would
otherwise be while Government spending (including welfare and
income-support programs) is higher. There is dire need for
policies that will initiate higher rates of economic growth and
greater, higher-quality job opportunities.
(2) Even more disturbing, estimates of future economic
growth have been falling in recent years. In 2010, the
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) expected real GDP to grow by
a relatively brisk 3 percent annual average over the budget
window. In its latest economic forecast, CBO expects growth to
average just 2.1 percent over the next decade. This anemic
growth rate is insufficient to increase job opportunities and
incomes to acceptable levels.
(3) Although the overall trend of job gains has been solid
of late, other aspects of the labor market remain relatively
weak. For example--
(A) the labor force participation rate stands at
just 62.9 percent, down roughly 3 percentage points
since early 2009, and near its lowest level since 1978;
(B) long-term unemployment remains a problem, and
of the 7.8 million people who are currently unemployed,
slightly more than 2 million (28 percent) have been
unemployed for more than 6 months; and
(C) long-term unemployment erodes an individual's
job skills and detaches such individual from job
opportunities, and undermines the long-term productive
capacity of the economy.
(4) Wage gains and income growth have been subpar for
middle-class Americans. Average hourly earnings of private-
sector workers have increased by 2.4 percent over the past
year. Prior to the recession, growth in average hourly earnings
was tracking close to 4 percent. Similarly, average incomes
have remained flat in recent years. Real median household
income has declined by roughly $800 in 2014 to $53,657. This
represents a sharp fall of 6.5 percent, or $3,700, since 2007.
(5) The unsustainable fiscal trajectory casts a shadow on
the country's economic outlook. Investors and businesses make
decisions on a prospective basis. They know that today's high
debt levels are simply tomorrow's tax hikes, interest rate
increases, or inflation--and they act accordingly. This debt
overhang, and the uncertainty it generates, can weigh on
growth, investment, and job creation.
(6) Nearly all economists, including those at CBO, conclude
that reducing budget deficits (thereby bending the curve on
debt levels) is a net positive for economic growth over time.
(7) In contrast, if the Government remains on the current
fiscal path, future generations will face even-higher debt
service costs, a decline in national savings, and a ``crowding
out'' of private investment. This dynamic will eventually lead
to a decline in economic output and a diminution in our
country's standard of living.
(8) The key economic challenge is determining how to expand
the economic pie, not how best to divide up and redistribute a
shrinking pie.
(9) A stronger economy is vital to lowering deficit levels
and eventually balancing the budget. According to CBO, if
annual real GDP growth is just 0.1 percentage point higher over
the budget window, deficits would be reduced by $327 billion.
(b) Policy on Economic Growth and Job Creation.--It is the policy
of this concurrent resolution to promote faster economic growth and job
creation by embracing pro-growth policies, such as fundamental tax
reform, that will help foster a stronger economy, greater
opportunities, and more job creation. By putting the budget on a
sustainable path, this concurrent resolution ends the debt-fueled
uncertainty holding back job creators. Tax reform will put American
businesses and workers in a better position to compete and thrive in
the 21st century global economy. This concurrent resolution targets the
regulatory red tape and cronyism that favor special interests. The
reforms in this concurrent resolution serve as a means to the larger
end of helping the economy grow and expanding opportunity for all
Americans.
SEC. 605. POLICY STATEMENT ON FEDERAL REGULATORY BUDGETING AND REFORM.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) Excessive Federal regulation--
(A) has hurt job creation, investment, wages,
competition, and economic growth, slowing the Nation's
recovery from the economic recession and harming
American households;
(B) operates as a regressive tax on poor and lower-
income households;
(C) displaces workers into long-term unemployment
or lower-paying jobs;
(D) adversely affects small businesses, the primary
source of new jobs; and
(E) impedes the economic growth necessary to
provide sufficient funds to meet vital commitments and
reduce the Federal debt.
(2) Federal agencies routinely fail to identify and
eliminate, minimize, or mitigate excess regulatory costs
through post-implementation assessments of their regulations.
(3) The estimated cost of Federal regulations are as high
as $1.88 to $2.03 trillion per year.
(4) The estimated annual level of Federal regulatory
costs--
(A) equals roughly $15,000 per United States
household, or 30 percent of average household income;
(B) exceeds both individual and corporate Federal
income rates; and
(C) exceeded 11 percent of United States gross
domestic product in 2015.
(5) If regulatory costs represented an independent economy,
the estimated annual level of these costs would qualify as one
of the world's top 10 economies, ranking between India and
Russia, roughly equaling one-half of Germany's economy and 40
percent of Japan's economy.
(6) Since President Obama's inauguration in 2009, the
administration has issued more than 556,000 pages of
regulations and accompanying documentation in the Federal
Register, including 81,910 pages in 2015.
(7) Since 2009, the White House has imposed more than $728
billion in additional Federal regulatory costs, with over $100
billion in further costs proposed since the beginning of 2015.
(8) The United States Code of Federal Regulations now
contains over 175,000 pages of regulations in 235 volumes.
(9) Notwithstanding the size and growth of Federal
regulations, Congress lacks an effective mechanism to manage
the level of new Federal regulatory costs imposed each year.
Other nations, meanwhile, have successfully implemented the use
of regulatory budgeting to control excess regulation and
regulatory costs.
(10) Federal regulatory agencies routinely fail to analyze
both the costs and benefits of new regulations.
(11) While the Obama administration has routinely failed to
analyze both the costs and benefits of its new regulations, the
United States has experienced zero real wage growth since 2007.
(12) While the Obama administration has sharply increased
Federal regulatory costs, it has produced the weakest recovery
from economic recession since World War II.
(13) If the Obama administration had produced even an
average recovery, Americans would have six million more jobs.
Instead, labor force participation is near historic lows and
over 90 million Americans over the age of 16 are out of the
workforce.
(14) Dodd-Frank (Public Law 111-203) alone has resulted in
more than $39.3 billion in regulatory compliance costs and has
imposed as much as 76.6 million hours of proposed and final
regulatory compliance paperwork on job creators.
(15) Implementation of the Affordable Care Act has resulted
in 177.9 million annual hours of regulatory compliance
paperwork, $37.1 billion of regulatory compliance costs on the
private sector, and $13 billion in regulatory compliance costs
on the States.
(16) Agencies impose costly regulations without relying on
sound science through the use of judicial consent decrees and
settlement agreements and the abuse of interim compliance costs
imposed on regulated entities that bring legal challenges
against newly promulgated regulations.
(17) The highest regulatory costs come from rules issued by
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Among major new and
proposed EPA regulations are those that would vastly expand
EPA's control of land use through Clean Water Act permitting
programs, commonly referred to as the Waters of the United
States (WOTUS) rule; limit development in counties in nearly
every State under Clean Air Act ozone regulations; and impose a
de-facto ban on new United States coal-fired power plants.
(18) EPA's power plant rules exemplify the impact of
excessive regulation.
(19) In June 2014, the EPA proposed a rule to cut carbon
pollution from the Nation's power plants. The proposed
standards are unachievable with current commercially available
technology, resulting in a de-facto ban on new coal-fired power
plants.
(20) Coal-fired power plants provide roughly 40 percent of
the United States electricity at a low cost. Unfairly targeting
the coal industry with costly and unachievable regulations will
increase energy prices, disproportionately disadvantaging
energy-intensive industries like manufacturing and
construction. This will make life more difficult for millions
of low-income and middle class families already struggling to
pay their bills.
(21) Three hundred thirty coal units are proposed for
retirement or conversion as a result of EPA regulations.
Combined with the defacto prohibition on new plants, these
retirements and conversions may further increase the cost of
electricity.
(22) A recent study by Energy Ventures Analysis Inc., an
energy market analysis group, estimates the average energy bill
in West Virginia will rise $750 per household by 2020, due in
part to EPA regulations. West Virginia receives 95 percent of
its electricity from coal.
(23) The Heritage Foundation found that a phase out of coal
would cost 600,000 jobs by the end of 2023, resulting in an
aggregate gross domestic product decrease of $2.23 trillion
over the entire period and reducing the income of a family of 4
by $1,200 per year. Of these jobs, 330,000 will come from the
manufacturing sector, with California, Texas, Ohio, Illinois,
Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Indiana, North Carolina,
Wisconsin, and Georgia seeing the highest job losses.
(b) Policy on Federal Regulatory Budgeting and Reform.--It is the
policy of this concurrent resolution that the House should, in
consultation with the public, consider legislation that--
(1) promotes--
(A) economic growth, job creation, higher wages,
and increased investment by eliminating unnecessary red
tape and streamlining, simplifying and lowering the
costs of Federal regulations; and
(B) the adoption of least-cost regulatory
alternatives to meet the objectives of Federal
regulatory statutes;
(2) protects--
(A) the poor and lower-income households from the
regressive effects of excessive regulation; and
(B) workers against the unnecessary elimination of
jobs and loss or reduction of wages;
(3) requires--
(A) an annual, congressional regulatory budget that
establishes annual costs of regulations and allocates
these costs amongst Federal regulatory agencies;
(B) cost-benefit and regulatory impact analysis for
new regulations proposed and promulgated by all Federal
regulatory agencies;
(C) advance notice of proposed rulemaking and makes
evidentiary hearings available for critical disputed
issues in the development of new major regulations;
(D) congressional approval of all new major
regulations before the regulations can become
effective, ensuring that Congress can better prevent
the imposition of unsound costly new regulations; and
(E) post-implementation cost-benefit analysis of
all new major regulations on at least a decennial
basis, to ensure that regulations operate as intended
and impose no more costs than necessary;
(4) strengthens--
(A) requirements to assure the use and disclosure
of sound science, including models, data, and other
evidentiary information in the development of new
regulations;
(B) transparency in regulatory development and
improves opportunities for hearings on disputed issues
in high-cost major rulemaking;
(C) requirements to avoid, minimize, and mitigate
significant adverse impacts of new major regulations on
small businesses, the primary source of new jobs;
(D) judicial review of legal, scientific,
technical, and cost-benefit determinations made by
Federal regulatory agencies to support the promulgation
of new regulations;
(E) protections against unnecessary or abusive
imposition of regulatory compliance costs during
litigation challenging the promulgation of new, high-
cost major regulation;
(F) protections against the abuse of regulatory
consent decrees and settlement agreements to force the
unfair imposition of new regulations; and
(G) protections against the abuse of interim
rulemaking;
(5) reduces--
(A) regulatory barriers to entry into markets and
other regulatory impediments to competition and
innovation; and
(B) the imposition of new Federal regulation that
duplicates, overlaps or conflicts with State, local,
and Tribal regulation or that impose unfunded mandates
on State, local, and Tribal governments; and
(6) eliminates the abuse of guidance to evade legal
requirements applicable to the development and promulgation of
new regulations.
SEC. 606. POLICY STATEMENT ON TAX REFORM.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) A world-class tax system should be simple, fair, and
promote (rather than impede) economic growth. The United States
tax code fails on all 3 counts: it is complex, unfair, and
inefficient. The tax code's complexity distorts decisions to
work, save, and invest, which leads to slower economic growth,
lower wages, and less job creation.
(2) Standard economic theory holds that high marginal tax
rates lessen the incentives to work, save, and invest, which
reduces economic output and job creation. Lower economic
output, in turn, mutes the intended revenue gain from higher
marginal tax rates.
(3) Roughly half of United States active business income
and half of private sector employment are derived from business
entities (such as partnerships, S corporations, and sole
proprietorships) that are taxed on a ``pass-through'' basis,
meaning the income is taxed at individual rates rather than
corporate rates. Small businesses, in particular, tend to
choose this form for Federal tax purposes, and the highest
Federal rate on such small business income can reach nearly 45
percent. For these reasons, sound economic policy requires
lowering marginal rates on these pass-through entities.
(4) The top United States corporate income tax rate
(including Federal, State, and local taxes) is slightly more
than 39 percent, the highest rate in the industrialized world.
Tax rates this high suppress wages, discourage investment and
job creation, distort business activity, and put American
businesses at a competitive disadvantage with foreign
competitors.
(5) By deterring potential investment, the United States
corporate tax restrains economic growth and job creation. The
United States tax rate differential fosters a variety of
complicated multinational corporate practices intended to avoid
the tax, which have the effect of moving the tax base offshore,
destroying American jobs, and decreasing corporate revenue.
(6) Recent and coming developments in the global arena,
specifically the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS)
project recommendations, heighten the importance of the need to
reform and modernize our international tax system so that
American businesses and workers are not disadvantaged.
(7) The ``world-wide'' structure of United States
international taxation essentially taxes earnings of United
States firms twice, putting them at a significant competitive
disadvantage with competitors that have more competitive
international tax systems.
(8) Reforming the tax code would boost the competitiveness
of United States companies operating abroad and significantly
reduce tax avoidance.
(9) The tax code imposes costs on American workers through
lower wages, consumers in higher prices, and investors in
diminished returns.
(10) Increasing taxes to raise revenue and meet out-of-
control spending would sink the economy and Americans' ability
to save for their children's education and retirement.
(11) Closing tax loopholes to finance higher spending does
not constitute fundamental tax reform.
(12) Tax reform should curb or eliminate loopholes and use
those savings to lower tax rates across the board, not to fund
more wasteful Government spending. Washington has a spending
problem, not a revenue problem.
(13) Many economists believe that fundamental tax reform,
including a broader tax base and lower tax rates, would lead to
greater labor supply and increased investment, which would have
a positive impact on total national output.
(b) Policy on Tax Reform.--It is the policy of this concurrent
resolution that Congress should enact legislation to comprehensively
reform the tax code to promote economic growth, create American jobs,
increase wages, and benefit American consumers, investors, and workers
that--
(1) simplifies the tax code to make it fairer to American
families and businesses and reduces the amount of time and
resources necessary to comply with tax laws;
(2) substantially lowers tax rates for individuals and
consolidates the current seven individual income tax brackets
into fewer brackets;
(3) repeals the Alternative Minimum Tax;
(4) reduces the corporate tax rate; and
(5) transitions the tax code to a more competitive system
of international taxation.
SEC. 607. POLICY STATEMENT ON TRADE.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) Opening foreign markets to American exports is vital to
the United States economy and beneficial to American workers
and consumers. The Commerce Department estimates that every $1
billion of United States exports support more than 5,000 jobs
here at home.
(2) The United States can increase economic opportunities
for American workers and businesses through the elimination of
foreign trade barriers to United States goods and services.
(3) Trade agreements have saved the average American family
of four more than $10,000 per year as a result of lower duties.
Trade agreements also lower the cost of manufacturing inputs by
removing duties.
(4) American businesses and workers have shown that, on a
level playing field, they can excel and surpass international
competition.
(5) When negotiating trade agreements, United States laws
on Intellectual Property (IP) protection should be used as a
benchmark for establishing global IP frameworks. Strong IP
protections have significantly contributed to the United
States' status as a world leader in innovation across sectors
(including in the development of life-saving biologic
medicines). The data protections afforded to biologics under
Federal law, including 12 years of data protection, allow
continued development of pioneering medicines to benefit
patients both in the United States and abroad. To maintain the
cycle of innovation and achieve 21st century trade agreements,
it is vital that our negotiators insist on the highest
standards for IP protections.
(b) Policy on Trade.--It is the policy of this concurrent
resolution--
(1) to pursue international trade, global commerce, and a
modern and competitive tax system to promote domestic job
creation;
(2) that the United States should continue to seek
increased economic opportunities for American workers and
businesses through high-standard trade agreements that satisfy
negotiating objectives, including--
(A) the expansion of trade opportunities;
(B) adherence to trade agreements and rules by the
United States and its trading partners, and
(C) the elimination of foreign trade barriers to
United States goods and services by opening new markets
and enforcing United States rights; and
(3) that any trade agreement entered into on behalf of the
United States should reflect the negotiating objectives and
adhere to the provisions requiring improved consultation with
Congress.
SEC. 608. POLICY STATEMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) More than 55 million retirees, individuals with
disabilities, and survivors depend on Social Security. Since
enactment, Social Security has served as a vital leg of the
``three-legged stool'' of retirement security, which includes
employer provided pensions as well as personal savings.
(2) Lower-income Americans rely on Social Security for a
larger proportion of their retirement income. Therefore,
reforms should take into consideration the need to protect
lower income Americans' retirement security.
(3) The Social Security Trustees Report has repeatedly
recommended that Social Security's long-term financial
challenges be addressed soon. The financial condition of Social
Security and the threat to seniors and those receiving Social
Security disability benefits becomes more pronounced each year
without reform. For example--
(A) in 2022, the Disability Insurance Trust Fund
will be exhausted and program revenues will be unable
to pay scheduled benefits;
(B) in 2034, the combined Old-Age and Survivors and
Disability Trust Funds will be exhausted, and program
revenues will be unable to pay scheduled benefits; and
(C) with the exhaustion of the Trust Funds in 2034,
benefits will be cut nearly 21 percent across the
board, devastating those currently in or near
retirement and those who rely on Social Security the
most.
(4) The recession and continued low economic growth have
exacerbated the looming fiscal crisis facing Social Security.
The most recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projections
find that Social Security will run cash deficits of more than
$1.3 trillion over the next 10 years.
(5) The Disability Insurance program provides an essential
income safety net for those with disabilities and their
families. According to CBO, between 1970 and 2012 the number of
disabled workers and their dependent family members receiving
disability benefits has increased by more than 300 percent from
2.7 million to over 10.9 million. This increase is not due
strictly to population growth or decreases in health. Scholars
David Autor and Mark Duggan have found that the increase in
individuals on disability does not reflect a decrease in self-
reported health. CBO attributes program growth to changes in
demographics and the composition of the labor force as well as
Federal policies.
(6) In the past, Social Security has been reformed on a
bipartisan basis, most notably by the ``Greenspan Commission'',
which helped address Social Security shortfalls for more than a
generation.
(7) Americans deserve action by the President and Congress
to preserve and strengthen Social Security to ensure that
Social Security remains a critical part of the safety net.
(b) Policy on Social Security.--It is the policy of this concurrent
resolution that the House should work on a bipartisan basis to make
Social Security sustainably solvent. This concurrent resolution
assumes, under a reform trigger, that--
(1) if in any year the Board of Trustees of the Federal
Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal
Disability Insurance Trust Fund annual Trustees Report
determines that the 75-year actuarial balance of the Social
Security Trust Funds is in deficit, and the annual balance of
the Social Security Trust Funds in the 75th year is in deficit,
the Board of Trustees should, no later than September 30 of the
same calendar year, submit to the President recommendations for
statutory reforms necessary to achieve a positive 75-year
actuarial balance and a positive annual balance in the 75th
year, and any recommendations provided to the President must be
agreed upon by both Public Trustees of the Board of Trustees;
(2) not later than December 1 of the same calendar year in
which the Board of Trustees submit their recommendations, the
President should promptly submit implementing legislation to
both Houses of Congress including recommendations necessary to
achieve a positive 75-year actuarial balance and a positive
annual balance in the 75th year, and the majority leader of the
Senate and the majority leader of the House should introduce
the President's legislation upon receipt;
(3) within 60 days of the President submitting legislation,
the committees of jurisdiction should report a bill, which
should be considered by the House or Senate under expedited
procedures; and
(4) legislation submitted by the President should--
(A) protect those in or near retirement;
(B) preserve the safety net for those who count on
Social Security the most, including those with
disabilities and survivors;
(C) improve fairness for participants;
(D) reduce the burden on and provide certainty for
future generations; and
(E) secure the future of the Disability Insurance
program while addressing the needs of those with
disabilities today and improving the determination
process.
(c) Policy on Disability Insurance.--It is the policy of this
concurrent resolution that Congress and the President should enact
legislation on a bipartisan basis to reform the Disability Insurance
program prior to its insolvency in 2022 and should not raid the Social
Security retirement system without reforms to the Disability Insurance
system. This concurrent resolution assumes reform that--
(1) ensures benefits continue to be paid to individuals
with disabilities and their family members who rely on them;
(2) prevents an 11 percent across-the-board benefit cut;
(3) improves the Disability Insurance program; and
(4) promotes opportunity for those trying to return to
work.
(d) Policy on Social Security Solvency.--It is the policy of this
concurrent resolution that any legislation Congress considers to
improve the solvency of the Disability Insurance Trust Fund must also
improve the long-term solvency of the combined Old Age and Survivors
Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Fund.
SEC. 609. POLICY STATEMENT ON REPEALING THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW
AND PROMOTING REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) The President's health care law put Washington's
priorities before those of patients'. The Affordable Care Act
(ACA) has failed to reduce health care premiums as promised.
Instead, the law mandated benefits and coverage levels, denying
patients the opportunity to choose the type of coverage that
best suits their health needs and driving up health coverage
costs. A typical family's health care premiums were supposed to
decline by $2,500; instead, average premiums have increased by
$3,775. A recent study conducted by the nonpartisan
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates premiums to
continue rising over the next decade, projecting an average
increase of 8 percent per year between 2016 and 2018, and
increasing by nearly 60 percent by 2026.
(2) The President pledged, ``If you like your health care
plan, you can keep your health care plan.'' Instead, CBO now
estimates 7 million Americans will lose employment-based health
coverage due to the President's health care law, further
limiting patient choice.
(3) Then-Speaker of the House Pelosi stated that the
President's health care law would create 4 million jobs over
the life of the law and almost 400,000 jobs immediately.
Instead, CBO estimates that by 2025 Obamacare will reduce the
number of hours worked by approximately 2 million full-time
equivalent workers, mostly lower wage workers, compared with
what would have occurred in the absence of the law.
Additionally, a study by the Mercatus Center at George Mason
University estimates that Obamacare will reduce employment by
up to 3 percent, or about 4 million full-time equivalent
workers.
(4) The President has charged the Independent Payment
Advisory Board, a panel of unelected bureaucrats, with cutting
Medicare by an additional $36.4 billion over the next 10 years.
(5) Since the ACA was signed into law, the administration
has repeatedly failed to implement it as written. The
President's unilateral actions have resulted in 43 changes,
delays, and exemptions. The President has signed into law
another 24 changes made by Congress. The Supreme Court struck
down the forced expansion of Medicaid; ruled the individual
``mandate'' could only be characterized as a tax to remain
constitutional; and rejected the requirement that closely held
companies provide health insurance to their employees even if
it violates the companies' religious beliefs. More than 5 years
after enactment, the Supreme Court continues to evaluate the
legality of how the President's administration has implemented
the law. All of these changes prove the folly of the underlying
law; health care in the United States cannot be run from a
centralized bureaucracy.
(6) The President's health care law is unaffordable,
intrusive, overreaching, destructive, and unworkable. Its
complex structure of subsidies, mandates, and penalties
perversely impact individuals, married couples, and families.
Those who previously had insurance along with those who did not
have been funneled into a new system that is providing less
access to doctors and treatments. Millions of Americans have
been added to a broken Medicaid system that is incapable of
providing the care promised. Cuts made to Medicare to fund a
new entitlement are undermining the health security of seniors.
Taxes and mandates are distorting the insurance market and
harming the broader economy, resulting in fewer jobs and less
opportunity. By design, the President's law puts Washington at
the center of our health care system, at the expense of
patients, families, physicians, and businesses. The ACA should
be fully repealed, allowing for real patient-centered health
care reform that puts patients first, not Washington, DC.
(b) Policy on Promoting Real Health Care Reform.--It is the policy
of this concurrent resolution that the President's health care law
should be fully repealed and real health care reform should be enacted
to enhance affordability, accessibility, quality, innovation, choices,
and responsiveness in coverage for all Americans. Real health care
reform should put patients, families, and doctors in charge, not
Washington, DC, and encourage increased competition and transparency.
Under the President's health care law, Government controls Americans'
health care choices. Patient-centered reform should be enacted in
accordance with the following principles:
(1) Affordability.--Real reform should ensure that all
Americans, no matter their age, income, or health status, can
afford health care coverage. Currently, those who receive
insurance through an employer receive assistance through the
tax code, while those purchasing insurance on their own do not
receive the same benefit. Individuals should not be priced out
of the health insurance market due to pre-existing conditions.
Policies should provide protections for patients with pre-
existing conditions to guarantee affordable coverage, reward
those who maintain health coverage, create more equity between
benefits offered through employers to individuals and families
purchasing coverage on their own, and give States, who are
better equipped to respond to the needs of their communities,
more control over insurance regulation. Individuals should also
be allowed to voluntarily join together to pool risk through
mechanisms such as Individual Health Pools and Small Employer
Membership Associations to gain the purchasing power of
thousands.
(2) Accessability.--Instead of Washington dictating the
ways Americans cannot use their health insurance, reforms
should make health coverage more portable. Individuals should
be able to own their insurance and have it follow them in and
out of jobs throughout their career. Small business owners
should be permitted to band together across State lines through
their membership in bona fide trade or professional
associations to purchase health coverage for their families and
employees at a low cost. This will increase small businesses'
bargaining power, volume discounts, and administrative
efficiencies while giving them freedom from State-mandated
benefit packages. Also, insurers licensed to sell policies in
one State should be permitted to offer them to residents in any
other State, and consumers should be permitted to shop for
health insurance across State lines, as they are with other
insurance products online, by mail, by phone, or in
consultation with an insurance agent.
(3) Quality.--Incentives for providers to deliver high-
quality, responsive, and coordinated care will promote better
patient outcomes and drive down health care costs.
Additionally, reforms that restore the patient-physician
relationship by reducing administrative burdens will promote
quality coverage for all Americans and allow physicians to do
what they do best--care for patients. Reforms should also
empower the patient by creating a marketplace for health care,
allowing providers to compete on cost and quality for the
patients' choice.
(4) Choices.--Individuals and families should be free to
secure the health care coverage that best meets their needs,
rather than instituting one-size-fits-all directives from
Federal bureaucracies such as the Internal Revenue Service, the
Department of Health and Human Services, and the Independent
Payment Advisory Board. Patient-centered health care should
enhance, not diminish coverage options for individuals.
Additionally, patients are often unable to compare costs for
health care goods and services due to a lack of price
transparency. The inability of consumers to compare costs
distorts the health marketplace at the expense of patients by
denying them the opportunity to make informed care decisions,
further reducing competition and only serving select special
interests.
(5) Innovation.--Instead of stifling health care
innovation, a reformed health care system should encourage
research, development, and innovation. New technologies provide
patients and providers with instant connection and access to
life saving diagnostic tools and treatments. Groundbreaking
applications, software, and devices not only enhance the
delivery of health care to be more effective and efficient, but
also less costly. Federal regulations, however, too often slow
and prevent widespread adoption of these medical advancements
and hinder the transformation of America's health delivery
system.
(6) Responsiveness.--Reform should return authority to
States where possible to make the system more responsive to
patients and their needs. Instead of tying States' hands with
Federal requirements for Medicaid, the Government should return
control over to the States. Not only does the current Medicaid
program drive up Federal debt and threaten to bankrupt State
budgets, but States are better positioned to provide quality
and affordable care to those who are eligible for the program
and to identify and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.
Beneficiary choices in the State Children's Health Insurance
Program (SCHIP) and Medicaid should be improved. States should
offer private insurance, Health Savings Accounts, and other
competitive insurance options to their Medicaid and SCHIP
beneficiaries, but should not require enrollment.
(7) Reforms.--Reforms should prevent lawsuit abuse and curb
the practice of defensive medicine, which significantly
increase health care costs. The burden of proof in medical
malpractice cases should be based on compliance with best
practice guidelines, and States should be free to implement
those policies to best suit their needs.
SEC. 610. POLICY STATEMENT ON MEDICARE.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) More than 50 million Americans depend on Medicare for
their health security.
(2) The Medicare Trustees Report has repeatedly recommended
that Congress address Medicare's long-term financial
challenges. Each year without reform, the financial condition
of Medicare becomes more precarious and the threat to those in
or near retirement more pronounced. According to the Medicare
Trustees Report--
(A) the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be
exhausted in 2030 and unable to pay the full scheduled
benefits;
(B) Medicare enrollment is expected to increase
more than 50 percent in the next two decades, as 10,000
baby boomers reach retirement age each day;
(C) due to extended life spans, enrollees remain in
Medicare three times longer than at the outset of the
program five decades ago;
(D) notwithstanding the program's Trust Fund
arrangement, current workers' payroll tax contributions
pay for current Medicare beneficiaries;
(E) the number of workers supporting each
beneficiary continues to fall; in 1965, the ratio was
4.5 workers per beneficiary, and by 2030, when the baby
boom generation will have fully aged into the program,
the ratio will be only 2.3 workers per beneficiary;
(F) most Medicare beneficiaries receive about three
dollars in Medicare benefits for every one dollar paid
into the program;
(G) Medicare is growing faster than the economy at
a projected rate of 6 percent per year over the next 10
years; and
(H) by 2026, Medicare spending will reach nearly
$1.3 trillion, almost double the 2015 spending level of
$634 billion.
(3) Failing to address Medicare's collapsing finances will
leave millions of American seniors without adequate health
security and younger generations burdened with having to pay
for these unsustainable spending levels.
(b) Policy on Medicare Reform.--It is the policy of this concurrent
resolution to save Medicare for those in or near retirement and
strengthen the program for future beneficiaries.
(c) Assumptions.--This concurrent resolution assumes transition to
an improved Medicare program that ensures--
(1) Medicare is preserved for current and future
beneficiaries;
(2) future Medicare beneficiaries select, from competing
guaranteed health coverage options, a plan that best suits
their needs, with support from a defined contribution toward
their premiums;
(3) traditional fee-for-service Medicare remains as a plan
option;
(4) Medicare provides additional assistance for lower
income beneficiaries and those with greater health risks; and
(5) Medicare spending is put on a sustainable path and
becomes solvent over the long term.
SEC. 611. POLICY STATEMENT ON MEDICAL DISCOVERY, DEVELOPMENT, DELIVERY,
AND INNOVATION.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) For decades, the Nation's commitment to the discovery,
development, and delivery of new treatments and cures has made
the United States the biomedical innovation capital of the
world, bringing life-saving drugs and devices to patients and
well over a million high-paying jobs to local communities.
(2) Americans were responsible for the first of many
scientific discoveries, including creating the first vaccine
for polio and numerous other scientific and medical
breakthroughs that have improved and prolonged human health and
life for countless people in America and around the world.
(3) The United States has led the way in early discovery
because of visionary and determined innovators throughout the
private and public sectors, including industry, academic
medical centers, and Federally funded activities, such as the
National Institutes of Health (NIH). United States leadership
is threatened, however, when other countries contribute more to
basic research from both public and private sources.
(4) The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development predicts that China, for example, will outspend the
United States in total research and development by the end of
the decade.
(5) Federal policies should foster investment in health
care innovation. America should maintain its world leadership
in medical science by encouraging competition in the delivery
of cures and therapies to patients.
(b) Policy on Medical Innovation.--This concurrent resolution calls
for--
(1) Congress to support the important work of medical
innovators throughout the country through continued strong
funding for the agencies that engage in life saving research
and development; and
(2) Washington to unleash the power of innovation by
removing obstacles that impede the adoption of medical
technologies - the bureaucracy and red-tape in Washington too
often hold back medical innovation, increasing rather than
decreasing costs, and prevent new lifesaving treatments from
reaching patients.
SEC. 612. POLICY STATEMENT ON PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) The Nation's ability to respond quickly and effectively
to emergent health care threats must be a top priority.
(2) Through international trade and travel, natural
geographic barriers are removed, increasing the likelihood and
speed of transmission for communicable diseases.
(3) While the health care infrastructure enables rapid
response to domestic public health threats, the most effective
and efficient way to protect American lives from threats that
emerge overseas is to halt the spread of disease before it
reaches America's borders.
(4) United States leadership in international public health
preparedness and response is far reaching. Multiple agencies
support activities to prevent, detect, prepare for, and respond
to emerging threats, as follows:
(A) The Department of Health and Human Services
coordinates with domestic agencies. For example--
(i) the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention serves as the first line of defense
in global disease detection by providing
domestic and international support through
various activities, including coordinating
technical assistance with partners worldwide in
disease prevention and detection and providing
a multitude of resources, including logistics,
analytics, tracing of data and disease
contacts, laboratory testing, health education,
and more;
(ii) the National Institutes of Health
conducts research activities for treatments and
vaccines for infectious diseases; and
(iii) the Biomedical Advanced Research and
Development Authority provides an integrated
and systematic approach in developing and
acquiring the necessary medical resources in a
public health emergency.
(B) The United States Agency for International
Development assists other nations in building
infrastructure and health systems for surveillance,
identifying, and responding to infectious diseases.
(C) The Department of Defense maintains a
surveillance and response system, as well as a network
of laboratories, domestically and abroad, that support
surveillance and research and development.
(5) Emerging infectious diseases are unpredictable and pose
a continuous threat. The United States must be vigilant and
prepared to act at home and abroad. For example--
(A) in 2003, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
was first identified, and before the disease was
contained, it spread to more than two dozen countries
in North and South America, Europe, and Asia;
(B) the H1N1 virus, a type of swine flu, caused a
global flu pandemic in 2009, killing thousands;
(C) in 2012, an outbreak of measles resulted in
approximately 122,000 deaths; a disease that was
declared to be eliminated from the United States in
2010;
(D) Ebola was identified in West Africa in March of
2014; due to the highly infectious nature of the
disease, at the peak of the outbreak transmission rates
reached as high as a thousand new cases per week and
resulted in approximately 28,000 cases and over 11,000
deaths; and
(E) on February 1, 2016, the World Health
Organization declared a ``Public Health Emergency of
International Concern'' due to potential health risks
posed by the Zika virus.
(b) Policy on Public Health Preparedness.--It is the policy of this
concurrent resolution that the House should, within available budgetary
resources, provide continued support for research, prevention, and
public health preparedness programs to ensure the Nation's ability to
respond efficiently and effectively to potential public health threats.
SEC. 613. POLICY STATEMENT ON ADDRESSING THE OPIOID ABUSE EPIDEMIC.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) Sixty-one percent of all drug overdose deaths in the
United States were related to opioids in 2014, primarily
prescription pain relievers and heroin. Prescription opioid
overdose deaths have quadrupled since 1999, with 44 deaths
every day.
(2) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
has found that people in rural counties are almost twice as
likely to overdose on prescription painkillers as those in
large cities.
(3) One of the leading factors in the rise of opioid abuse
is considered to be the ready availability of prescription
painkillers:
(A) From 1999 to 2013, the sale of prescription
painkillers in the United States quadrupled.
(B) In 2012, there were enough opioids prescribed
for every adult in the United States to each have their
own one month's supply.
(C) Nearly 2 million Americans reported opioid
abuse or dependency in 2013.
(4) According to the CDC, every day nearly 7,000 people are
treated in emergency departments for using opioids in a manner
other than as directed.
(5) Prescription opioid abuse is also associated with a
rise in heroin use and overdoses:
(A) From 2002 to 2013, heroin use in the United
States nearly doubled, and heroin-related overdose
deaths nearly quadrupled.
(B) According to the CDC, ``past misuse of
prescription opioids is the strongest risk factor for
heroin initiation and use.''
(b) Policy on Opioid Abuse.--It is the policy of this concurrent
resolution that combating opioid abuse, using available budgetary
resources, is a high priority to assist those who are suffering from
this tragic epidemic. Congress, in a bipartisan manner, should examine
the Federal response to the opioid abuse crisis and support essential
activities, including rehabilitation, to reduce and prevent substance
abuse.
SEC. 614. POLICY STATEMENT ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY.
(a) Findings on Higher Education.--The House finds the following:
(1) A well-educated workforce is critical to economic, job,
and wage growth.
(2) Roughly 20 million students are enrolled in American
colleges and universities.
(3) Over the past decade, tuition and fees have been
growing at an unsustainable rate. Between the 2005-2006
Academic Year and the 2015-2016 Academic Year, published
tuition and fees at--
(A) public 4-year colleges and universities
increased at an average rate of 3.4 percent per year
above the rate of inflation;
(B) public 2-year colleges and universities
increased at an average rate of 2.6 percent per year
above the rate of inflation; and
(C) private nonprofit 4-year colleges and
universities increased at an average rate of 2.4
percent per year above the rate of inflation.
(4) Federal financial aid for higher education has
dramatically increased. The portion of the Federal student aid
portfolio composed of Direct Loans, Federal Family Education
Loans, and Perkins Loans with outstanding balances grew by 135
percent between fiscal year 2007 and fiscal year 2015. This
increased spending has failed to make college more affordable.
(5) In his 2012 State of the Union Address, President Obama
noted: ``We can't just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition;
we'll run out of money.''
(6) American students are chasing ever-increasing tuition
with ever-increasing debt. According to the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System, total student debt now stands at
$1.3 trillion. This makes student loans the second largest
balance of consumer debt, after mortgage debt.
(7) Students are carrying large debt loads. Too many
students fail to complete college or end up defaulting on their
loans due to high debt burdens and a weak economy and job
market.
(8) The Pell Grant program is on an unsustainable funding
path. The Congressional Budget Office projects that the program
will experience a future multi-billion funding gap that is
predicted to increase in subsequent years in the current budget
window.
(9) Failure to address these problems will jeopardize young
people's access to higher education because it will remain
unaffordable.
(b) Policy on Higher Education Affordability.--It is the policy of
this concurrent resolution to address the root drivers of tuition
inflation and promote college affordability by--
(1) targeting Federal financial aid to those most in need;
(2) streamlining aid programs to increase their
effectiveness and make it easier for students and families to
assess their options for financing postsecondary education;
(3) putting the Pell Grant program on a more stable path
and maintaining the maximum Pell grant award level of $5,815 in
each year of the budget window; and
(4) removing regulatory barriers in higher education that
increase costs, limit access, and restrict innovative teaching,
particularly non-traditional models such as online course work
and competency-based learning.
(c) Findings on Workforce Development.--The House finds the
following:
(1) 7.8 million Americans are currently unemployed.
(2) Despite billions of dollars in spending, those looking
for work are stymied by a broken workforce development system
that fails to connect workers with assistance and employers
with trained personnel.
(3) The House Committee on Education and the Workforce
successfully consolidated 15 job training programs in the
recently enacted Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
(d) Policy on Workforce Development.--It is the policy of this
concurrent resolution to build on the success of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act by--
(1) further streamlining and consolidating Federal job
training programs; and
(2) empowering States with the flexibility to tailor
funding and programs to the specific needs of their workforce.
SEC. 615. POLICY STATEMENT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) For years, there has been serious concern regarding the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) bureaucratic mismanagement
and continuous failure to provide veterans timely access to
health care.
(2) In 2015, for the first time, VA health care was added
to Government Accountability Office's (GAO) ``high-risk'' list,
due to mismanagement and oversight failures, which have
resulted in untimely and inefficient health care. According to
GAO, ``the absence of care and delays in providing care have
harmed veterans.''.
(3) The VA's failure to provide timely and accessible
health care to our veterans is unacceptable. While Congress has
done its part for more than a decade by providing sufficient
funding for the VA, the administration has mismanaged these
resources, resulting in proven adverse effects on veterans and
their families.
(b) Policy on the Department of Veterans Affairs.--It is the policy
of this concurrent resolution that--
(1) the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs continue its
oversight efforts to ensure the VA reassesses its core mission,
including--
(A) reducing the number of bureaucratic layers;
(B) reducing the number of senior and middle
managers;
(C) streamlining the disciplinary process;
(D) improving performance measure metrics;
(E) strengthening the administration and oversight
of contractors; and
(F) supporting opportunities for veterans to pursue
other viable options for their health care needs; and
(2) the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the
Committee on the Budget should continue to closely monitor the
VA's progress to ensure VA resources are sufficient and
efficiently provided to veterans.
SEC. 616. POLICY STATEMENT ON FEDERAL ACCOUNTING.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) Current accounting methods fail to capture and present
in a compelling manner the full scope of the Government and its
fiscal situation.
(2) Most fiscal analyses produced by the Congressional
Budget Office (CBO) are conducted over a 10-year time horizon.
The use of generational accounting or a longer time horizon
would provide a more complete picture of the Government's
fiscal situation.
(3) The Federal budget currently accounts for most programs
on a cash accounting basis, which records revenue and expenses
when cash is actually paid or received. However, it accounts
for loan and loan guarantee programs on an accrual basis, which
records revenue when earned and expenses when incurred.
(4) The Government Accountability Office has advised that
accrual accounting may provide a more accurate estimate of the
Government's liabilities than cash accounting for some
programs, specifically insurance programs.
(5) Accrual accounting under the Federal Credit Reform Act
of 1990 (FCRA) understates the risk and thus the true cost of
some Federal programs, including loans and loan guarantees.
(6) Fair value accounting better reflects the risk
associated with Federal loan and loan guarantee programs by
using a market based discount rate. CBO, for example, uses fair
value accounting to measure the cost of Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac.
(7) In comparing fair value accounting to FCRA, CBO has
concluded that ``adopting a fair-value approach would provide a
more comprehensive way to measure the costs of Federal credit
programs and would permit more level comparisons between those
costs and the costs of other forms of Federal assistance''.
(8) The Treasury Department, when reporting the principal
financial statements of the United States entitled Balance
Sheet and Statement of Operations and Changes in Net Position,
may omit some of the largest projected Government expenses,
including social insurance programs. The projected expenses of
these programs are reported by the Treasury Department in a
statement of Social Insurance and Statement of Changes in
Social Insurance Amounts.
(9) This concurrent resolution directs CBO to estimate the
costs of credit programs on a fair value basis to fully capture
the risk associated with Federal credit programs.
(b) Policy on Federal Accounting Methodologies.--It is the policy
of this concurrent resolution that the House should, in consultation
with CBO and other appropriate stakeholders, reform government-wide
budget and accounting practices so Members and the public can better
understand the fiscal situation of the United States and the options
best suited to improving it. Such reforms may include the following:
(1) Providing additional metrics to enhance our current
analysis by considering the Nation's fiscal situation
comprehensively, over an extended time horizon, and how it
affects Americans of various age cohorts.
(2) Expanding the use of accrual accounting where
appropriate.
(3) Accounting for certain Federal credit programs using
fair value accounting to better capture market risk.
SEC. 617. POLICY STATEMENT ON REDUCING UNNECESSARY AND WASTEFUL
SPENDING.
(a) Findings on Reducing Unnecessary and Wasteful Spending.--The
House finds the following:
(1) The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has
identified dozens of examples of waste, duplication, and
overlap in Federal programs.
(2) In its report to Congress on Government Efficiency and
Effectiveness, the Comptroller General has stated that
addressing the identified waste, duplication, and overlap in
Federal programs could ``lead to tens of billions of dollars of
additional savings''.
(3) From 2011 through 2014, the GAO issued reports showing
excessive duplication and redundancy in Federal programs
including--
(A) 209 Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics education programs in 13 different Federal
agencies at a cost of $3 billion annually;
(B) 200 overlapping Department of Justice grant
programs with an annual cost of $3.9 billion in 2010;
(C) 20 different Federal entities administer 160
housing programs and other forms of Federal assistance
for housing with a total cost of $170 billion in 2010;
(D) 17 separate Homeland Security preparedness
grant programs that spent $37 billion between fiscal
years 2002 and 2011;
(E) 14 grant and loan programs and 3 tax benefits
to reduce diesel emissions that obligated at least $1.4
billion between fiscal years 2007 and 2011;
(F) 94 separate initiatives run by 11 different
agencies to encourage ``green building'' in the private
sector;
(G) 23 agencies implemented approximately 670
renewable energy initiatives in fiscal year 2010 at a
cost of nearly $15 billion; and
(H) 18 separate domestic food and nutrition
assistance programs across 4 agencies at a cost of $90
billion in fiscal year 2010.
(4) The Government spends more than $80 billion each year
for approximately 1,400 information technology investments. GAO
has identified broad acquisition failures, waste, and
unnecessary duplication in the Government's information
technology infrastructure. Experts have estimated that
eliminating these problems could reduce costs by 25 percent or
$20 billion.
(5) GAO has identified strategic sourcing as a potential
source of spending reductions. In 2011, GAO estimated that
saving 10 percent of total Federal procurement could generate
more than $50 billion in savings annually.
(6) Federal agencies reported an estimated $125 billion in
improper payments in fiscal year 2014.
(7) Under clause 2 of rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, each standing committee must hold at least one
hearing during each 120-day period following its establishment
on waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement in Government
programs.
(b) Policy on Reducing Unnecessary and Wasteful Spending.--It is
the policy of this concurrent resolution that--
(1) each authorizing committee of the House should identify
duplicative programs and make recommendations as to which
programs should be reduced or eliminated in its annual Views
and Estimates submission to the Committee on the Budget;
(2) the Committee on the Budget should aggressively
investigate reports of improper payments; and
(3) Federal agencies should be held accountable for their
inability to reduce such inappropriate expenditures.
SEC. 618. POLICY STATEMENT ON DEFICIT REDUCTION THROUGH THE
CANCELLATION OF UNOBLIGATED BALANCES.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) According to the most recent estimate from the Office
of Management and Budget, Federal agencies held $896 billion in
unobligated balances at the end of fiscal year 2015.
(2) These funds comprise both discretionary appropriations
and authorizations of mandatory spending that remain available
for expenditure.
(3) In many cases, agencies are provided appropriations
that remain indefinitely available for obligation.
(4) The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires the
Office of Management and Budget to make funds available to
agencies for obligation and prohibits the administration from
withholding or cancelling unobligated funds unless approved by
an Act of Congress.
(b) Policy on Deficit Reduction Through the Cancellation of
Unobligated Balances.--It is the policy of this concurrent resolution
that--
(1) greater congressional oversight is required to review
and identify potential savings from canceling unobligated
balances of funds that are no longer needed;
(2) the appropriate committees in the House should identify
and review accounts with unobligated balances and rescind such
balances that would not impede or disrupt the fulfillment of
important Federal commitments;
(3) the House, with the assistance of the Government
Accountability Office, the Inspectors General, and appropriate
agencies, should continue to review unobligated balances and
identify savings for deficit reduction; and
(4) unobligated balances in dormant accounts should not be
used to finance increases in spending.
SEC. 619. POLICY STATEMENT ON RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF TAXPAYER
DOLLARS.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) The budget of the House is $188 million less than it
was when the Republicans last attained the majority in 2011.
(2) The House has achieved significant savings by
consolidating operations and renegotiating contracts.
(b) Policy on Responsible Stewardship of Taxpayer Dollars.--It is
the policy of this concurrent resolution that--
(1) the House should be a model for the responsible
stewardship of taxpayer resources, and identify any savings
that can be achieved through greater productivity and
efficiency gains in the operation and maintenance of House
services and resources, including printing, conferences,
utilities, telecommunications, furniture, grounds maintenance,
postage, and rent;
(2) the House should review policies and procedures for the
acquisition of goods and services to eliminate unnecessary
spending;
(3) the Committee on House Administration should review the
policies pertaining to services provided to Members and
committees of the House, and identify ways to reduce any
subsidies paid for the operation of the House gym, barbershop,
salon, and the House dining room;
(4) no taxpayer funds should be used to purchase first
class airfare or to lease corporate jets for Members of
Congress; and
(5) retirement benefits for Members of Congress should not
include free, taxpayer-funded health care for life.
SEC. 620. POLICY STATEMENT ON EXPENDITURES FROM AGENCY FEES AND
SPENDING.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) A number of Federal agencies and organizations have
permanent authority to collect and spend fees and other
offsetting collections.
(2) The Office of Management and Budget estimated the total
amount of offsetting fees and offsetting collections to be $525
billion in fiscal year 2016.
(3) Agency budget justifications are, in some cases, not
fully transparent about the amount of program activity funded
through offsetting collections or fees. This lack of
transparency prevents effective and accountable Government.
(b) Policy on Agency Fees and Spending.--It is the policy of this
concurrent resolution that Congress should reassert its constitutional
prerogative to control spending and conduct oversight. Congress should
subject all agency fees received from the public to annual
appropriations or authorization legislation, except for such fees that
are for business-like activities or necessary to fund current
operations.
SEC. 621. POLICY STATEMENT ON BORDER SECURITY.
(a) Findings on Border Security.--The House finds the following:
(1) In fiscal year 2015, the United States Customs and
Border Protection apprehended 337,117 persons crossing our
international borders illegally between the ports of entry.
There is no statistical information to determine the number of
persons who were not apprehended and entered the country
illegally.
(2) The Government Accountability Office has reported that
while the number of apprehensions provides a proxy for the flow
of illegal migration, it is not a suitable measure of border
security effectiveness.
(3) The Department of Homeland Security stopped reporting
miles of the border under operational control in 2011, but has
failed to replace that measure with an alternative, or other
reliable indicators that measure border security effectiveness.
(b) Policy on Border Security.--It is the policy of this concurrent
resolution that Congress should pass legislation bolstering our border
security by--
(1) installing technology along the southern and northern
borders of the U.S., including tower-based surveillance,
subterranean detection, radar surveillance, unmanned aerial
vehicles, and other resources in order to gain a full
understanding of the threat and vulnerabilities along the
border;
(2) constructing new fencing and replace ineffective
fencing and barriers, maintain or build vehicle access roads,
and establish forward operating bases along the southern
border; and
(3) increasing the current levels of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection Officers and U.S. Border Patrol Agents.
SEC. 622. POLICY STATEMENT ON PREVENTING THE CLOSURE OF THE GUANTANAMO
BAY DETENTION FACILITY.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) The Guantanamo Bay detention facility is a critical
tool in America's continuing fight against terrorism.
(2) Of the 653 Guantanamo Bay detainees that have left the
facility, 117 (17.9 percent) are ``confirmed'' and 79 (12.1
percent) are ``suspected of reengaging'' in ``terrorist or
insurgent activities'' according to the latest unclassified
report issued in September 2015 by the Office of the Director
of National Intelligence.
(3) President Obama's support of closing the Guantanamo Bay
detention facility would significantly increase risk to our
national security.
(b) Policy on Preventing the Closure of the Guantanamo Bay
Detention Facility.--This concurrent resolution supports policies,
consistent with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2016 (Public Law 114-92), that would prevent the--
(1) closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility;
(2) modifications of facilities in the United States to
house Guantanamo Bay detainees; and
(3) transfer or release of detainees to certain countries.
SEC. 623. POLICY STATEMENT ON REFUGEES FROM CONFLICT ZONES.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) Since the Syrian civil war broke out in March 2011, an
estimated 4.6 million Syrians have fled the country, with
approximately 500,000 attempting to seek asylum in Europe or
elsewhere in the West, including the United States.
(2) According to the House Committee on Homeland Security
report entitled Syrian Refugee Flows: Security Risks and
Counterterrorism Challenges, ``the administration proposal to
resettle Syrian refugees in the United States will have limited
impact on alleviating the refugee crisis; however, it could
have serious ramifications for U.S. homeland security.''.
(3) In response to a letter from chair Michael McCaul of
the House Committee on Homeland Security, the National
Counterterrorism Center stated that, ``the refugee system, like
all immigration programs, is vulnerable to exploitation from
extremist groups seeking to send operatives to the West.''.
(4) In 2011, the FBI arrested two Kentucky-based Iraqi
refugees attempting to send weapons and explosives from
Kentucky to Iraq and conspiring to commit terrorism while in
Iraq. It was later discovered that a flaw in background
screening of Iraqi refugees allowed these two Al Qaeda-linked
terrorists to settle in Kentucky.
(5) On November 13, 2015, the Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria (ISIS) launched a terrorist attack targeting civilians in
Paris, killing at least 129 people, including one American. At
least one of the attackers may have infiltrated France using
the cover of the unprecedented Syrian refugee flow into Europe.
(b) Policy on Refugee Screening and Resettlement.--It is the policy
of this concurrent resolution that the United States should suspend
admission of refugees from such high-risk areas as Syria and Iraq until
it can ensure that terrorists cannot exploit its refugee resettlement
programs and vetting processes. While the United States should continue
its proud tradition of refugee resettlement, it should make protecting
Americans its highest priority before resettling additional refugees.
SEC. 624. POLICY STATEMENT ON MOVING THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
ON BUDGET.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) The President's Commission on Budget Concepts
recommends that the budget should ``as a general rule, be
comprehensive of the full range of Federal activity''.
(2) The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-
239) moved the United States Postal Service (USPS) off budget
and exempted it from sequestration.
(3) The USPS has a direct effect on the fiscal posture of
the Government, through--
(A) the receipt of direct appropriations of $96
million in fiscal year 2016;
(B) congressional mandates such as requirements for
mail delivery service schedules;
(C) incurring $15 billion in debt from the
Treasury, the maximum permitted by law;
(D) continued operating deficits since 2007;
(E) defaulting on its statutory obligation to
prefund health care benefits for future retirees; and
(F) carrying $125 billion in total unfunded
liabilities with no foreseeable pathway of funding
these liabilities under current law.
(b) Policy on Moving the USPS on Budget.--It is the policy of this
concurrent resolution that all receipts and disbursements of the USPS
should be included in the congressional budget and the budget of the
Government.
SEC. 625. POLICY STATEMENT ON BUDGET ENFORCEMENT.
It is the policy of this concurrent resolution that the House
should--
(1) adopt an annual budget resolution before spending and
tax legislation is considered in either House of Congress;
(2) assess measures for timely compliance with budget rules
in the House;
(3) pass legislation to strengthen enforcement of the
budget resolution;
(4) comply with the discretionary spending limits set forth
in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of
1985;
(5) prevent the use of accounting gimmicks to offset higher
spending;
(6) modify scoring conventions to encourage the
commercialization of Government activities that can best be
provided by the private sector; and
(7) discourage the use of savings identified in the budget
resolution as offsets for spending or tax legislation.
SEC. 626. POLICY STATEMENT ON UNAUTHORIZED APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Findings.--The House finds the following:
(1) Article I of the Constitution vests all legislative
power in the Congress.
(2) Central to the legislative powers of Congress is the
authorization of appropriations necessary to execute the laws
that establish agencies and programs and impose obligations.
(3) Clause 2 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives prohibits the consideration of appropriations
measures that provide appropriations for unauthorized programs.
(4) More than $310 billion has been appropriated for
unauthorized programs in fiscal year 2016, spanning 256
separate laws.
(5) Agencies such as the Department of State have not been
authorized for 14 years.
(b) Policy on Unauthorized Appropriations.--In the House, it is the
policy of this concurrent resolution that rules relating to
unauthorized appropriations should be reviewed and reformed to ensure
that unauthorized programs are either reauthorized, reformed, or
terminated.
Union Calendar No. 356
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 125
[Report No. 114-470]
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government
for fiscal year 2017 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels
for fiscal years 2018 through 2026.
_______________________________________________________________________
March 23, 2016
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union
and ordered to be printed
Introduced in House
The House Committee on the Budget reported an original measure, H. Rept. 114-470, by Mr. Price, Tom.
The House Committee on the Budget reported an original measure, H. Rept. 114-470, by Mr. Price, Tom.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 356.
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