[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2627 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2627
To provide for a biennial budget process and a biennial appropriations
process and to enhance oversight and the performance of the Federal
Government.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 13, 2008
Mr. Domenici (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Feingold,
Mr. Isakson, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Chambliss,
Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Corker, and Ms. Snowe)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on the Budget
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for a biennial budget process and a biennial appropriations
process and to enhance oversight and the performance of the Federal
Government.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Biennial Budgeting and
Appropriations Act''.
SEC. 2. REVISION OF TIMETABLE.
Section 300 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 631)
is amended to read as follows:
``timetable
``Sec. 300. (a) In General.--Except as provided by subsection (b),
the timetable with respect to the congressional budget process for any
Congress (beginning with the One Hundred Eleventh Congress) is as
follows:
``First Session
On or before: Action to be completed:
First Monday in February................ President submits budget recommendations.
February 15............................. Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees.
Not later than 6 weeks after budget Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees.
submission.
April 1................................. Budget Committees report concurrent resolution on the biennial budget.
May 15.................................. Congress completes action on concurrent resolution on the biennial
budget.
May 15.................................. Biennial appropriation bills may be considered in the House.
June 10................................. House Appropriations Committee reports last biennial appropriation
bill.
June 30................................. House completes action on biennial appropriation bills.
August 1................................ Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation.
October 1............................... Biennium begins.
``Second Session
On or before: Action to be completed:
February 15............................. President submits budget review.
Not later than 6 weeks after President Congressional Budget Office submits report to Budget Committees.
submits budget review.
The last day of the session............. Congress completes action on bills and resolutions authorizing new
budget authority for the succeeding biennium.
``(b) Special Rule.--In the case of any first session of Congress
that begins in any year immediately following a leap year and during
which the term of a President (except a President who succeeds himself
or herself) begins, the following dates shall supersede those set forth
in subsection (a):
``First Session
On or before: Action to be completed:
First Monday in April................... President submits budget recommendations.
April 20................................ Committees submit views and estimates to Budget Committees.
May 15.................................. Budget Committees report concurrent resolution on the biennial budget.
June 1.................................. Congress completes action on concurrent resolution on the biennial
budget.
July 1.................................. Biennial appropriation bills may be considered in the House.
July 20................................. House completes action on biennial appropriation bills.
August 1................................ Congress completes action on reconciliation legislation.
October 1............................... Biennium begins.''.
SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET AND IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL
ACT OF 1974.
(a) Declaration of Purpose.--Section 2(2) of the Congressional
Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621(2)) is amended
by striking ``each year'' and inserting ``biennially''.
(b) Definitions.--
(1) Budget resolution.--Section 3(4) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
622(4)) is amended by striking ``fiscal year'' each place it
appears and inserting ``biennium''.
(2) Biennium.--Section 3 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 622) is
further amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(11) The term `biennium' means the period of 2
consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-
numbered year.''.
(c) Biennial Concurrent Resolution on the Budget.--
(1) Section heading.--The section heading of section 301 of
such Act is amended by striking ``annual'' and inserting
``biennial''.
(2) Contents of resolution.--Section 301(a) of such Act (2
U.S.C. 632(a)) is amended--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by--
(i) striking ``April 15 of each year'' and
inserting ``May 15 of each odd-numbered year'';
(ii) striking ``the fiscal year beginning
on October 1 of such year'' the first place it
appears and inserting ``the biennium beginning
on October 1 of such year''; and
(iii) striking ``the fiscal year beginning
on October 1 of such year'' the second place it
appears and inserting ``each fiscal year in
such period'';
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking ``for the fiscal
year'' and inserting ``for each fiscal year in the
biennium''; and
(C) in paragraph (7), by striking ``for the fiscal
year'' and inserting ``for each fiscal year in the
biennium''.
(3) Additional matters.--Section 301(b)(3) of such Act (2
U.S.C. 632(b)) is amended by striking ``for such fiscal year''
and inserting ``for either fiscal year in such biennium''.
(4) Views of other committees.--Section 301(d) of such Act
(2 U.S.C. 632(d)) is amended by inserting ``(or, if applicable,
as provided by section 300(b))'' after ``United States Code''.
(5) Hearings.--Section 301(e)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
632(e)) is amended by--
(A) striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting
``biennium''; and
(B) inserting after the second sentence the
following: ``On or before April 1 of each odd-numbered
year (or, if applicable, as provided by section
300(b)), the Committee on the Budget of each House
shall report to its House the concurrent resolution on
the budget referred to in subsection (a) for the
biennium beginning on October 1 of that year.''.
(6) Goals for reducing unemployment.--Section 301(f) of
such Act (2 U.S.C. 632(f)) is amended by striking ``fiscal
year'' each place it appears and inserting ``biennium''.
(7) Economic assumptions.--Section 301(g)(1) of such Act (2
U.S.C. 632(g)(1)) is amended by striking ``for a fiscal year''
and inserting ``for a biennium''.
(8) Table of contents.--The item relating to section 301 in
the table of contents set forth in section 1(b) of such Act is
amended by striking ``Annual'' and inserting ``Biennial''.
(d) Committee Allocations.--Section 302 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 633)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)
(A) in paragraph (1), by--
(i) striking ``for the first fiscal year of
the resolution,'' and inserting ``for each
fiscal year in the biennium,'';
(ii) striking ``for that period of fiscal
years'' and inserting ``for all fiscal years
covered by the resolution''; and
(iii) striking ``for the fiscal year of
that resolution'' and inserting ``for each
fiscal year in the biennium''; and
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``April 15'' and
inserting ``May 15 or June 1 (under section 300(b))'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``budget year'' and
inserting ``biennium'';
(3) in subsection (c) by striking ``for a fiscal year''
each place it appears and inserting ``for each fiscal year in
the biennium'';
(4) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``for a fiscal year''
and inserting ``for a biennium'';
(5) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``the first fiscal
year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year of the biennium'';
(6) in subsection (f)(2)(A), by--
(A) striking ``the first fiscal year'' and
inserting ``each fiscal year of the biennium''; and
(B) striking ``the total of fiscal years'' and
inserting ``the total of all fiscal years covered by
the resolution''; and
(7) in subsection (g)(1)(A), by striking ``April'' and
inserting ``May''.
(e) Section 303 Point of Order.--
(1) In general.--Section 303(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
634(a)) is amended by--
(A) striking ``the first fiscal year'' and
inserting ``each fiscal year of the biennium''; and
(B) striking ``that fiscal year'' each place it
appears and inserting ``that biennium''.
(2) Exceptions in the house.--Section 303(b)(1) of such Act
(2 U.S.C. 634(b)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``the budget
year'' and inserting ``the biennium''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the fiscal
year'' and inserting ``the biennium''.
(3) Application to the senate.--Section 303(c)(1) of such
Act (2 U.S.C. 634(c)) is amended by--
(A) striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting
``biennium''; and
(B) striking ``that year'' and inserting ``each
fiscal year of that biennium''.
(f) Permissible Revisions of Concurrent Resolutions on the
Budget.--Section 304(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 635) is amended--
(1) by striking ``fiscal year'' the first two places it
appears and inserting ``biennium''; and
(2) by striking ``for such fiscal year'' and inserting
``for such biennium''.
(g) Procedures for Consideration of Budget Resolutions.--Section
305 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 636(3)) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``fiscal year'' and
inserting ``biennium''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``fiscal year'' and
inserting ``biennium''.
(h) Completion of House Action on Appropriation Bills.--Section 307
of such Act (2 U.S.C. 638) is amended--
(1) by striking ``each year'' and inserting ``each odd-
numbered year'';
(2) by striking ``annual'' and inserting ``biennial'';
(3) by striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium'';
and
(4) by striking ``that year'' and inserting ``each odd-
numbered year''.
(i) Completion of Action on Regular Appropriation Bills.--Section
309 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 640) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``of any odd-numbered calendar year''
after ``July'';
(2) by striking ``annual'' and inserting ``biennial''; and
(3) by striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting ``biennium''.
(j) Reconciliation Process.--Section 310(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
641(a)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``any fiscal year'' and inserting ``any biennium''; and
(2) in paragraph (1) by striking ``such fiscal year'' each
place it appears and inserting ``any fiscal year covered by
such resolution''.
(k) Section 311 Point of Order.--
(1) In the house.--Section 311(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
642(a)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and inserting
``for a biennium'';
(B) by striking ``the first fiscal year'' each
place it appears and inserting ``either fiscal year of
the biennium''; and
(C) by striking ``that first fiscal year'' and
inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium''.
(2) In the senate.--Section 311(a)(2) of such Act is
amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``for the
first fiscal year'' and inserting ``for either fiscal
year of the biennium''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by striking ``that first fiscal year''
the first place it appears and inserting ``each
fiscal year in the biennium''; and
(ii) by striking ``that first fiscal year
and the ensuing fiscal years'' and inserting
``all fiscal years''.
(3) Social security levels.--Section 311(a)(3) of such Act
is amended by--
(A) striking ``for the first fiscal year'' and
inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium''; and
(B) striking ``that fiscal year and the ensuing
fiscal years'' and inserting ``all fiscal years''.
(l) MDA Point of Order.--Section 312(c) of the Congressional Budget
Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 643) is amended--
(1) by striking ``for a fiscal year'' and inserting ``for a
biennium'';
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the first fiscal year''
and inserting ``either fiscal year in the biennium'';
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ``that fiscal year'' and
inserting ``either fiscal year in the biennium''; and
(4) in the matter following paragraph (2), by striking
``that fiscal year'' and inserting ``the applicable fiscal
year''.
SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 31, UNITED STATES CODE.
(a) Definition.--Section 1101 of title 31, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph:
``(3) `biennium' has the meaning given to such term in
paragraph (11) of section 3 of the Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(11)).''.
(b) Budget Contents and Submission to the Congress.--
(1) Schedule.--The matter preceding paragraph (1) in
section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended to
read as follows:
``(a) On or before the first Monday in February of each odd-
numbered year (or, if applicable, as provided by section 300(b) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974), beginning with the One Hundred
Eleventh Congress, the President shall transmit to the Congress, the
budget for the biennium beginning on October 1 of such calendar year.
The budget of the United States Government transmitted under this
subsection shall include a budget message and summary and supporting
information. The President shall include in each budget the
following:''.
(2) Expenditures.--Section 1105(a)(5) of title 31, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``the fiscal year for which
the budget is submitted and the 4 fiscal years after that
year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium for
which the budget is submitted and in the succeeding 4 fiscal
years''.
(3) Receipts.--Section 1105(a)(6) of title 31, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``the fiscal year for which
the budget is submitted and the 4 fiscal years after that
year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium for
which the budget is submitted and in the succeeding 4 years''.
(4) Balance statements.--Section 1105(a)(9)(C) of title 31,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``the fiscal year''
and inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium''.
(5) Functions and activities.--Section 1105(a)(12) of title
31, United States Code, is amended in subparagraph (A), by
striking ``the fiscal year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year
in the biennium''.
(6) Allowances.--Section 1105(a)(13) of title 31, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``the fiscal year'' and
inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium''.
(7) Allowances for uncontrolled expenditures.--Section
1105(a)(14) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``that year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in the
biennium for which the budget is submitted''.
(8) Tax expenditures.--Section 1105(a)(16) of title 31,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``the fiscal year''
and inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium''.
(9) Future years.--Section 1105(a)(17) of title 31, United
States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``the fiscal year following the
fiscal year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in the
biennium following the biennium'';
(B) by striking ``that following fiscal year'' and
inserting ``each such fiscal year''; and
(C) by striking ``fiscal year before the fiscal
year'' and inserting ``biennium before the biennium''.
(10) Prior year outlays.--Section 1105(a)(18) of title 31,
United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``the prior fiscal year'' and
inserting ``each of the 2 most recently completed
fiscal years,'';
(B) by striking ``for that year'' and inserting
``with respect to those fiscal years''; and
(C) by striking ``in that year'' and inserting ``in
those fiscal years''.
(11) Prior year receipts.--Section 1105(a)(19) of title 31,
United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``the prior fiscal year'' and
inserting ``each of the 2 most recently completed
fiscal years'';
(B) by striking ``for that year'' and inserting
``with respect to those fiscal years''; and
(C) by striking ``in that year'' each place it
appears and inserting ``in those fiscal years''.
(c) Estimated Expenditures of Legislative and Judicial Branches.--
Section 1105(b) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking
``each year'' and inserting ``each even-numbered year''.
(d) Recommendations To Meet Estimated Deficiencies.--Section
1105(c) of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``the fiscal year for'' the first place it
appears and inserting ``each fiscal year in the biennium for'';
(2) by striking ``the fiscal year for'' the second place it
appears and inserting ``each fiscal year of the biennium, as
the case may be, for''; and
(3) by striking ``for that year'' and inserting ``for each
fiscal year of the biennium''.
(e) Capital Investment Analysis.--Section 1105(e)(1) of title 31,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``ensuing fiscal year'' and
inserting ``biennium to which such budget relates''.
(f) Supplemental Budget Estimates and Changes.--
(1) In general.--Section 1106(a) of title 31, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by--
(i) inserting after ``Before July 16 of
each year'' the following: ``and February 15 of
each even-numbered year''; and
(ii) striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting
``biennium'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``that fiscal
year'' and inserting ``each fiscal year in such
biennium'';
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``fiscal year''
and inserting ``biennium''; and
(D) in paragraph (3), by striking ``fiscal year''
and inserting ``biennium''.
(2) Changes.--Section 1106(b) of title 31, United States
Code, is amended by--
(A) striking ``the fiscal year'' and inserting
``each fiscal year in the biennium'';
(B) inserting after ``Before July 16 of each year''
the following: ``and February 15 of each even-numbered
year''; and
(C) striking ``submitted before July 16'' and
inserting ``required by this subsection''.
(g) Current Programs and Activities Estimates.--
(1) In general.--Section 1109(a) of title 31, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``On or before the first Monday
after January 3 of each year (on or before February 5
in 1986)'' and inserting ``At the same time the budget
required by section 1105 is submitted for a biennium'';
and
(B) by striking ``the following fiscal year'' and
inserting ``each fiscal year of such period''.
(2) Joint economic committee.--Section 1109(b) of title 31,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``March 1 of each
year'' and inserting ``within 6 weeks of the President's budget
submission for each odd-numbered year (or, if applicable, as
provided by section 300(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974)''.
(h) Year-Ahead Requests for Authorizing Legislation.--Section 1110
of title 31, United States Code, is amended by--
(1) striking ``May 16'' and inserting ``March 31''; and
(2) striking ``year before the year in which the fiscal
year begins'' and inserting ``calendar year preceding the
calendar year in which the biennium begins''.
SEC. 5. TWO-YEAR APPROPRIATIONS; TITLE AND STYLE OF APPROPRIATIONS
ACTS.
Section 105 of title 1, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:
``Sec. 105. Title and style of appropriations Acts
``(a) The style and title of all Acts making appropriations for the
support of the Government shall be as follows: `An Act making
appropriations (here insert the object) for each fiscal year in the
biennium of fiscal years (here insert the fiscal years of the
biennium).'.
``(b) All Acts making regular appropriations for the support of the
Government shall be enacted for a biennium and shall specify the amount
of appropriations provided for each fiscal year in such period.
``(c) For purposes of this section, the term `biennium' has the
same meaning as in section 3(11) of the Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 622(11)).''.
SEC. 6. MULTIYEAR AUTHORIZATIONS.
(a) In General.--Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``authorizations of appropriations
``Sec. 316. (a) Point of Order.--It shall not be in order in the
House of Representatives or the Senate to consider--
``(1) any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or
conference report that authorizes appropriations for a period
of less than 2 fiscal years, unless the program, project, or
activity for which the appropriations are authorized will
require no further appropriations and will be completed or
terminated after the appropriations have been expended; and
``(2) in any odd-numbered year, any authorization or
revenue bill or joint resolution until Congress completes
action on the biennial budget resolution, all regular biennial
appropriations bills, and all reconciliation bills.
``(b) Applicability.--In the Senate, subsection (a) shall not apply
to--
``(1) any measure that is privileged for consideration
pursuant to a rule or statute;
``(2) any matter considered in Executive Session; or
``(3) an appropriations measure or reconciliation bill.''.
(b) Amendment to Table of Contents.--The table of contents set
forth in section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act of 1974 is amended by adding after the item relating to
section 315 the following new item:
``Sec. 316. Authorizations of appropriations.''.
SEC. 7. GOVERNMENT PLANS ON A BIENNIAL BASIS.
(a) Strategic Plans.--Section 306 of title 5, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``September 30, 1997''
and inserting ``September 30, 2009'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``five years forward'' and
inserting ``6 years forward'';
(B) by striking ``at least every three years'' and
inserting ``at least every 4 years''; and
(C) by striking beginning with ``, except that''
through ``four years''; and
(3) in subsection (c), by inserting a comma after
``section'' the second place it appears and adding ``including
a strategic plan submitted by September 30, 2009 meeting the
requirements of subsection (a)''.
(b) Budget Contents and Submission to Congress.--Paragraph (28) of
section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking
``beginning with fiscal year 1999, a'' and inserting ``beginning with
fiscal year 2010, a biennial''.
(c) Performance Plans.--Section 1115 of title 31, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter before paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``section 1105(a)(29)'' and
inserting ``section 1105(a)(28)''; and
(ii) by striking ``an annual'' and
inserting ``a biennial'';
(B) in paragraph (1) by inserting after ``program
activity'' the following: ``for both years 1 and 2 of
the biennial plan'';
(C) in paragraph (5) by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon,
(D) in paragraph (6) by striking the period and
inserting a semicolon; and inserting ``and'' after the
inserted semicolon; and
(E) by adding after paragraph (6) the following:
``(7) cover a 2-year period beginning with the first fiscal
year of the next biennial budget cycle.'';
(2) in subsection (d) by striking ``annual'' and inserting
``biennial''; and
(3) in paragraph (6) of subsection (f) by striking
``annual'' and inserting ``biennial''.
(d) Managerial Accountability and Flexibility.--Section 9703 of
title 31, United States Code, relating to managerial accountability, is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the first sentence by striking ``annual'';
and
(B) by striking ``section 1105(a)(29)'' and
inserting ``section 1105(a)(28)'';
(2) in subsection (e)--
(A) in the first sentence by striking ``one or''
before ``years'';
(B) in the second sentence by striking ``a
subsequent year'' and inserting ``a subsequent 2-year
period''; and
(C) in the third sentence by striking ``three'' and
inserting ``4''.
(e) Pilot Projects for Performance Budgeting.--Section 1119 of
title 31, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) of subsection (d), by striking
``annual'' and inserting ``biennial''; and
(2) in subsection (e), by striking ``annual'' and inserting
``biennial''.
(f) Strategic Plans.--Section 2802 of title 39, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) is subsection (a), by striking ``September 30, 1997''
and inserting ``September 30, 2009'';
(2) by striking ``five years forward'' and inserting ``6
years forward'';
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ``at least every three
years'' and inserting ``at least every 4 years''; and
(4) in subsection (c), by inserting a comma after
``section'' the second place it appears and inserting
``including a strategic plan submitted by September 30, 2009
meeting the requirements of subsection (a)''.
(g) Performance Plans.--Section 2803(a) of title 39, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking ``an
annual'' and inserting ``a biennial'';
(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting after ``program
activity'' the following: ``for both years 1 and 2 of the
biennial plan'';
(3) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(4) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(5) by adding after paragraph (6) the following:
``(7) cover a 2-year period beginning with the first fiscal
year of the next biennial budget cycle.''.
(h) Committee Views of Plans and Reports.--Section 301(d) of the
Congressional Budget Act (2 U.S.C. 632(d)) is amended by adding at the
end ``Each committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives
shall review the strategic plans, performance plans, and performance
reports, required under section 306 of title 5, United States Code, and
sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31, United States Code, of all agencies
under the jurisdiction of the committee. Each committee may provide its
views on such plans or reports to the Committee on the Budget of the
applicable House.''.
(i) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall
take effect on March 1, 2009.
(2) Agency actions.--Effective on and after the date of
enactment of this Act, each agency shall take such actions as
necessary to prepare and submit any plan or report in
accordance with the amendments made by this Act.
SEC. 8. BIENNIAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.
(a) In General.--Title III of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
(2 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``consideration of biennial appropriations bills
``Sec. 317. It shall not be in order in the House of
Representatives or the Senate in any odd-numbered year to consider any
regular bill providing new budget authority or a limitation on
obligations under the jurisdiction of any of the subcommittees of the
Committees on Appropriations for only the first fiscal year of a
biennium, unless the program, project, or activity for which the new
budget authority or obligation limitation is provided will require no
additional authority beyond 1 year and will be completed or terminated
after the amount provided has been expended.''.
(b) Amendment to Table of Contents.--The table of contents set
forth in section 1(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act of 1974 is amended by adding after the item relating to
section 316 the following new item:
``Sec. 317. Consideration of biennial appropriations bills.''.
SEC. 9. REPORT ON TWO-YEAR FISCAL PERIOD.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Director of OMB shall--
(1) determine the impact and feasibility of changing the
definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on
that definition to a 2-year fiscal period with a biennial
budget process based on the 2-year period; and
(2) report the findings of the study to the Committees on
the Budget of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as provided in section 7, this Act and the amendments made
by this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2009, and shall apply to
budget resolutions and appropriations for the biennium beginning with
fiscal year 2010.
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